GTFO of the passing lane.

[BoomerD]

Here is California, the left lane is a fast lane here. The worst are old people who go 50 mph in the lane and think they are zooming by.

No offense to old people, they just seem to drive slower than they should.

What is annoying too is when the fast lane is also a carpool lane. You have soccer moms with a bunch of kids going 65 mph in it.

No. There is no "Fast Lane" anywhere on the California highway system. The leftmost lane is the passing lane...or in some cases, the carpool lane. You can still be ticketed for exceeding the posted limit in that lane.

This seems to be a common misconception. In just about every city, county, and state in the US of A, there is no "Fast Lane" on the freeway. Passing lanes do not give you carte blanche to drive faster than the posted limit...only to drive faster than those folks who are driving slower than the posted limit.

And yes, if you're in the left-most lane and everyone is driving faster than you...move the fuck over...even if you're driving at the posted limit.
I've seen the CHP issue tickets for "impeding the flow of traffic" for driving slower than the flow of traffic in any lane except the rightmost lane.
I drove truck cranes for decades...10-15 MPH up steep hills...you know the "vroom-vroom commuters" hated me in the morning...
BUT, I was always in the far right lane...where I belonged.

 

[DCal430]

No. There is no "Fast Lane" anywhere on the California highway system. The leftmost lane is the passing lane...or in some cases, the carpool lane. You can still be ticketed for exceeding the posted limit in that lane.

This seems to be a common misconception. In just about every city, county, and state in the US of A, there is no "Fast Lane" on the freeway. Passing lanes do not give you carte blanche to drive faster than the posted limit...only to drive faster than those folks who are driving slower than the posted limit.

And yes, if you're in the left-most lane and everyone is driving faster than you...move the fuck over...even if you're driving at the posted limit.
I've seen the CHP issue tickets for "impeding the flow of traffic" for driving slower than the flow of traffic in any lane except the rightmost lane.
I drove truck cranes for decades...10-15 MPH up steep hills...you know the "vroom-vroom commuters" hated me in the morning...
BUT, I was always in the far right lane...where I belonged.

No where in the California law book does it mention anything about a passing lane, or any lane that is to be used for only passing. It specifically mentions a lane most lane that is to be used only for faster traffic.

 

[TecHNooB]

marked

 

[IcePickFreak]

cop was tailgating like a son of a bitch, which is every bit as bad as just going the speed limit in the passing lane. Dude should have slammed on his breaks.

I was kind of thinking that, even though I don't agree with it. I got a ticket for following too close once. I was in the left lane on a 3-lane highway, lady in front of me, and a semi-truck in the the middle lane going a bit under the speed limit with a cop no more than 3 car lengths behind him. She would speed up and get to the front of the semi, then slow down all the way to the back of the semi. After 2 or 3 times, I just sat slightly behind the semi because I don't like driving next to them tbh.. had one blow out a tire next to me before.

So here I am sitting in the left lane, slightly in front of the cop and this lady is yo-yo'ing from the front to the back of the semi for about 15 miles, but when she'd slow down to the back I had cruise set at 5 under, to give her the fucking hint, she'd slow to about 1 car length in front of me before speeding up a bit to the front again. So what does the cop do?

Pull up about 5 feet behind my rear bumper and flip his lights on to pull me over for "following to closely". He was a dick right out of the box, and once he gave me the ticket I pointed out the sign about 30 yards up the side of the interstate that said "Slower traffic keep right" and told him he should enforce those too since I was doing 5 under in the left lane and he could plainly see this lady screwing around. Not to mention he was only a few cars behind a semi, and then pulled up right on my bumper to where I couldn't even see his headlights, when he knows I'm going to have to hit my brakes to pull over.

Got even better when I took a half day from work to go to court for it, and find their court house in the middle of the ghetto with only street parking... where I literally see a drug deal going down as I'm looking for parking on the street surrounding their damn court house. Good thing he was out breaking up the real crimes on the morning work commute way on the edge of their shit-hole county.

 

[blinblue]

No where in the California law book does it mention anything about a passing lane, or any lane that is to be used for only passing. It specifically mentions a lane most lane that is to be used only for faster traffic.

From the DMV handbook

Drive in the lane with the smoothest flow of traffic. If you can choose among three lanes, pick the middle lane for the smoothest driving. To drive faster, pass, or turn left, use
the left lane. When you choose to drive slowly or enter or turn off the road, use the right lane. If there are only two lanes in your direction, pick the right lane for the smoothest driving.

That's some very odd language in there. What is "smoothest"?

So you are kinda right. However it does say pick the middle lane in general. And the "To drive faster" could be (and should be) taken to mean "driver faster than the people to your right". But again, the language is very weak and it sounds like they are barely making a suggestion on which lane to pick.

I'm too lazy to go find the actual laws though, so maybe they are a bit stronger worded

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22348.htm

"(c) A vehicle subject to Section 22406 shall be driven in a lane designated pursuant to Section 21655, or if a lane has not been so designated, in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, the driver shall use either the designated lane, the lane to the immediate left of the right-hand lane, or the right-hand lane for traffic as permitted under this code. If, however, specific lane or lanes have not been designated on a divided highway having four or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction, a vehicle may also be driven in the lane to the immediate left of the right-hand lane, unless otherwise prohibited under this code. This subdivision does not apply to a driver who is preparing for a left- or right-hand turn or who is in the process of entering into or exiting from a highway or to a driver who is required necessarily to drive in a lane other than the right-hand lane to continue on his or her intended route."

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/traffic_lanes.htm

Choosing A Lane

Traffic lanes are often referred to by number. The left or "fast" lane is called the "Number 1 Lane." The lane to the right of the "Number 1 Lane" is called the "Number 2 Lane," then the "Number 3 Lane,
Drive in the lane with the smoothest flow of traffic. If you can choose among three lanes, pick the middle lane for the smoothest driving. To drive faster, pass, or turn left, use the left lane. When you choose to drive slowly or enter or turn off the road, use the right lane.

If there are only two lanes in your direction, pick the right lane for the smoothest driving.

Do not weave in and out of traffic. Stay in one lane as much as possible. "

"Passing Lanes

Before you pass, look ahead for road conditions and traffic that may cause other vehicles to move into your lane.

Never drive off the paved or maintraveled portion of the road or on the shoulder to pass. The edge of the main-traveled portion of the road may have a painted white line on the road’s surface. Passing other vehicles at crossroads, railroad crossings, and shopping center entrances is dangerous.

Pass traffic on the left. You may pass on the right only when:

* An open highway is clearly marked for two or more lanes of travel in your direction.
* The driver ahead of you is turning left and you do not drive off the roadway to pass. Never pass on the left, if the driver is signaling a left turn."

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/curriculum/Unit%207.pdf

"The right-hand lane(s) on a freeway is (are) for slower moving
traffic and leftmost lane(s) is (are) for faster traffic. Move to a
slower lane if a vehicle is following closely behind you, even
if you are obeying the speed limit. Left lanes should be used
for passing slower moving vehicles"



So...it appears that to a point, we're both right.

BUT, in no case, is it legal to drive faster than the posted limit in the "fast lane."

 

[airdata]

Yeah.. .police not adhering to laws they're supposed to enforce is awesome.

He followed too close, drove recklessly and also made multiple illegal lane changes. Where is his citation?

 

[McWatt]

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22348.htm

"(c) A vehicle subject to Section 22406 shall be driven in a lane designated pursuant to Section 21655, or if a lane has not been so designated, in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/traffic_lanes.htm

Good post. A note about this first link: Section 22406 is referring to giant trucks, anything with a trailer, buses, etc. In CA they have to stay on the right. I wish that were true here in MI.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Passing lane? WTF is a passing lane?

 

[JTsyo]

If the cop has his lights on, you would be screwed for brake checking. Even if he didn't you' would probably be the one in trouble.
If the cop comes up behind you and you don't move, he can either give you a ticket for speeding or disrupting the flow of traffic.

 

[dmcowen674]

GTFO of the passing lane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKOJJzMDHjI&feature=player_embedded

They need to do that here in Chicago, it is the worst I've seen of slow ass pokes in the left lane.

 

[zerocool84]

No where in the California law book does it mention anything about a passing lane, or any lane that is to be used for only passing. It specifically mentions a lane most lane that is to be used only for faster traffic.

You have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[NoCreativity]

Might be a MI thing but cops around here tend to do 5-10 under on the freeway and of course, every moron within sight matches speed.

That cop was an ass though. No need to tailgate the guy. And no need to pass him while still traveling in the same lane. Sit behind him at a respectable distance. If he doesn't move, pull him over and ticket him.

That accomplished nothing because clueless driver is still clueless.

 

[TwiceOver]

Hrm. I thought the speed limit was the speed limit no matter what lane you are in. I would have tapped my breaks a few times. Fuck him for tailgating.

 

[QueBert]

No, it would not be the cops fault. If you think that, you're as dumb as Qbert.

Ok, change my scenario a bit, somebody cuts in front of the car that the cop's tailgating. Which forces said car to slam on the breaks to keep from hitting him. And the cop plows into the back of the car it was illegally tailgating. My example was simply to prove a point that the cop was being a bigger asshole of the 2 here, and the only 1 who was doing something illegal. What the cop should have done was flashes his headlights, but he decided to be a complete dick about wanting to pass and put himself and the person in front of him in danger.

Going 65 in the fast lane isn't illegal, but tailgating is, try doing what the cop was doing to a cop and see how that works out for you.

And it's QUEBERT not q-bert, not qbert, QUEBERT you idiot.

 

[dank69]

Hrm. I thought the speed limit was the speed limit no matter what lane you are in. I would have tapped my breaks a few times. Fuck him for tailgating.

Speed limits are for the lowest common denominator. It's the fastest you can drive safely with an IQ of 80 or below. Unfortunately, we can't deny driver's licenses to people with less than an 80 IQ, so the rest of us have to suffer. If I had to drive 25 mph anywhere but in a parking lot for more than 10 seconds I would have to blow my brains out from boredom.

 

[dank69]

Going 65 in the fast lane isn't illegal, but tailgating is, try doing what the cop was doing to a cop and see how that works out for you.

Cops don't have to follow the rules. Everyone knows this.

 

[bruceb]

Can't tell with 100% certainty but that looks like RT#287 around the Morristown area. Definitely not the NJ Tpke or Garden State Parkway, Route 80 / RT4 or RT17 .. And I was surprised at the outcome. I expected it to end with a traffic stop.

 

[guyver01]

No where in the California law book does it mention anything about a passing lane, or any lane that is to be used for only passing. It specifically mentions a lane most lane that is to be used only for faster traffic.

Wrong

http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/traffic_lanes.htm

Drive in the lane with the smoothest flow of traffic. If you can choose among three lanes, pick the middle lane for the smoothest driving. To drive faster, pass, or turn left, use the left lane. When you choose to drive slowly or enter or turn off the road, use the right lane.

While it does say the left most lane is the fast lane... it is also a PASSING lane.

 

[Drako]

Ok, change my scenario a bit, somebody cuts in front of the car that the cop's tailgating. Which forces said car to slam on the breaks to keep from hitting him. And the cop plows into the back of the car it was illegally tailgating. My example was simply to prove a point that the cop was being a bigger asshole of the 2 here, and the only 1 who was doing something illegal. What the cop should have done was flashes his headlights, but he decided to be a complete dick about wanting to pass and put himself and the person in front of him in danger.

Confirmed, Qbert is dumb.

 

[rudeguy]

Yeah.. .police not adhering to laws they're supposed to enforce is awesome.

He followed too close, drove recklessly and also made multiple illegal lane changes. Where is his citation?

lol

You're funny

 

[Kadarin]

Wow...the retard is strong with the speaker in that...

Yeah.