Would it be legal to mangle traffic in protest, by going the proper speed?

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Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Originally posted by: amdhunter
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
It actually IS illegal because you're blocking traffic, and not using the lanes properly.

...it should be noted that this has been done many times, and EVERY time it pissed off alot of people and screwed up traffic for miles and hours. And in the end, nothing changed.

Damn...that sucks.

What is the proper use of lanes then? I usually don't change lanes much when driving unless I am in a hurry and speeding through.

Generally... right lane for travelling, other lanes for passing. If you're on a stretch of highway with more than two lanes and frequent exists, then it's good to leave the right lane open for people to merge more easily.
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
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Originally posted by: amdhunter
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
It actually IS illegal because you're blocking traffic, and not using the lanes properly.

...it should be noted that this has been done many times, and EVERY time it pissed off alot of people and screwed up traffic for miles and hours. And in the end, nothing changed.

Damn...that sucks.

What is the proper use of lanes then? I usually don't change lanes much when driving unless I am in a hurry and speeding through.

If you're in the left lane, and there's nobody infront of you, and there is someone behind you. Move right.

...don't feel bad, I don't think 99% of the population knows this either.
 

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
19,441
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just leaving a forwarding address for condolences. your bound to piss off someone who is packing.

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

If driving 40 is creating an unsafe environment, why don't they increase the speed limit? THAT IS THE POINT OF THIS THREAD AND A LOT OF YOU PEOPLE ARE MISSING IT.


If the speed gets bumped up to 55, then people will drive 75-80. So keep it at 40 and if it gets out of hand the police can write tickets.
 
Jan 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Originally posted by: amdhunter
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
It actually IS illegal because you're blocking traffic, and not using the lanes properly.

...it should be noted that this has been done many times, and EVERY time it pissed off alot of people and screwed up traffic for miles and hours. And in the end, nothing changed.

Damn...that sucks.

What is the proper use of lanes then? I usually don't change lanes much when driving unless I am in a hurry and speeding through.

If you're in the left lane, and there's nobody infront of you, and there is someone behind you. Move right.

...don't feel bad, I don't think 99% of the population knows this either.

Or to put it more simply:

Move, bitch.

Get out the way.

Get out the way, bitch

Get out the way.


:D

- M4H
 

Garet Jax

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2000
6,369
0
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Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
If driving 40 is creating an unsafe environment, why don't they increase the speed limit? THAT IS THE POINT OF THIS THREAD AND A LOT OF YOU PEOPLE ARE MISSING IT.

No one has said that speed limits are perfect. It is generally understood that the average speed is usually above the posted limit. There are many potential reasons for this and it would be a great topic of debate

But knowingly and purposely blocking all lanes of traffic is extremely dangerous and should be punished accordingly.
 

bonkers325

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
13,076
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Originally posted by: amdhunter
For example, in Manhattan, the FDR drive has a speed limit of 40MPH, but generally traffic flows ~55-65 when you can...

How illegal would it be to gather around 20 people, and have them all hover around 39MPH on the highway, on both the Northbound and Southbound lanes? I say 20 people are necessary so that they could avoid blocking all lanes in a single line, but maintain a position where no cars can pass (illegally, since to pass they'd have to speed.)

They wouldn't be breaking any laws, would they...or would the city tie in some obscure terror law or something to find a way to arrest or charge anyone who tried this?

i'd laugh because i take the subway
 

IceBergSLiM

Lifer
Jul 11, 2000
29,932
3
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Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
Originally posted by: waggy
why would it be against the law to go the speed limit? and what judge would rule against you if you faught it?

it could be considered reckless driving. impeding the flow of traffic. or some similar violation.

for following the SPEED LIMIT?

i doubt highly any judge is going to rule against anyone doing the speed limit. hell it would make a heck of a story in the news also.

If you are creating an unsafe driving environment for others on the road most definitely you can be ticketed.

If driving 40 is creating an unsafe environment, why don't they increase the speed limit? THAT IS THE POINT OF THIS THREAD AND A LOT OF YOU PEOPLE ARE MISSING IT.

Why don't they let me buy beer on sundays? If Its ok for me to buy beer everyother day? Stupid isn't it? Thats the point of this thread.
 

5to1baby1in5

Golden Member
Apr 27, 2001
1,250
109
106
Originally posted by: amdhunter
For example, in Manhattan, the FDR drive has a speed limit of 40MPH, but generally traffic flows ~55-65 when you can...

How illegal would it be to gather around 20 people, and have them all hover around 39MPH on the highway, on both the Northbound and Southbound lanes? I say 20 people are necessary so that they could avoid blocking all lanes in a single line, but maintain a position where no cars can pass (illegally, since to pass they'd have to speed.)

They wouldn't be breaking any laws, would they...or would the city tie in some obscure terror law or something to find a way to arrest or charge anyone who tried this?

If you really want to mangle traffic, then just briefly slow down to 20-40 MPH below the speed limit and then back to crusing speed (in the passing lane of course). Guarantee everyone else will be doing it for the rest of the rush-hour. As more and more traffic accumulates on the road, the problem will geometricly increase until the entire hiway is jammed. The other lanes would be forced to slow down due to people that are now at a standstill cutting others off trying to get into the lane that is still moving. Wouldn't take more than one car, and if you had 20 friends of a like mind, you could shut down the whole city.

That being said, one granny in the passing lane or one person cutting another person off causing them to hit their brakes has a similar effect and occurs on a daily basis.

The legality of something like this would range from being a public nuisence to murder if someone gets killed in a pile-up. This would probably apply to the OP's method too. Much less likely to get caught my way though. ;)

This raises the question that if society in general left a little space between cars for others to merge without cutting someone off (thus causing them to hit their brakes), used the passing lane for passing, and drove at a little more uniform speed, wouldn't traffic flow a little faster. We should be teaching future generations to not drive like pricks.
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
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Originally posted by: amdhunter
For example, in Manhattan, the FDR drive has a speed limit of 40MPH, but generally traffic flows ~55-65 when you can...

How illegal would it be to gather around 20 people, and have them all hover around 39MPH on the highway, on both the Northbound and Southbound lanes? I say 20 people are necessary so that they could avoid blocking all lanes in a single line, but maintain a position where no cars can pass (illegally, since to pass they'd have to speed.)

They wouldn't be breaking any laws, would they...or would the city tie in some obscure terror law or something to find a way to arrest or charge anyone who tried this?


Why would you want to do that? If you want to drive slow, do so in the right most lanes. If you want to speed, do so in the left lanes.
 

slsmnaz

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2005
4,016
1
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Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
Originally posted by: bignateyk
Isnt it illegal to drive in the left lane for more than a mile or something?

No....thats the most insane thing i've heard today.

Really?? Many states dictate the left lane is passing only. Look here
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
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do it to fix the system.

There are alot of speedlimits in town that are set to just generate ticket revenue.

We have a 35mph commuter road that moves faster than I-95 in rush hour...even at the 35mph rate...however; 45-50mph is easy on this road as it has a lot of lighted intersections and it's 4 lanes.

However; Pedaling Pigs (motorcycle cops) are usually at each few blocks to pullover about a half dozen at a time.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
Originally posted by: bignateyk
Isnt it illegal to drive in the left lane for more than a mile or something?
No....thats the most insane thing i've heard today.
It is, however, illegal in most states to be in the passing lane (i.e. left lane) if you are not actively overtaking another vehicle. It is almost never enforced, but it is a law.

ZV
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
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Just to add, it's rare; but our local south florida rednecks love to travel across lanes at the speed limit or often like 20-30mph while talking and even passing stuff truck to truck.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
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Originally posted by: Garet Jax
Originally posted by: amdhunter
For example, in Manhattan, the FDR drive has a speed limit of 40MPH, but generally traffic flows ~55-65 when you can...

How illegal would it be to gather around 20 people, and have them all hover around 39MPH on the highway, on both the Northbound and Southbound lanes? I say 20 people are necessary so that they could avoid blocking all lanes in a single line, but maintain a position where no cars can pass (illegally, since to pass they'd have to speed.)

They wouldn't be breaking any laws, would they...or would the city tie in some obscure terror law or something to find a way to arrest or charge anyone who tried this?

Two guys in Canada drove the speed limit in side by side cars on the 2 lane 401 from Kingston to Toronto protesting a speeding ticket one of them received. No one could get by since the shoulder is largely non-existant.

The resulting traffic jam made the news as did the ticket both of them received.

hahaha now that is a ticket i would accept with a smile. :D

 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
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Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
It is, however, illegal in most states to be in the passing lane (i.e. left lane) if you are not actively overtaking another vehicle. It is almost never enforced, but it is a law.

ZV
Absolutely. Also, just for completeness, in CA it is illegal to go a different speed than traffic. That means if traffic is doing 90 and you are doing 55 with a speed limit of 55, you get the ticket.

AFAIK, CA is the only state with that law.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: Evadman
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
It is, however, illegal in most states to be in the passing lane (i.e. left lane) if you are not actively overtaking another vehicle. It is almost never enforced, but it is a law.

ZV
Absolutely. Also, just for completeness, in CA it is illegal to go a different speed than traffic. That means if traffic is doing 90 and you are doing 55 with a speed limit of 55, you get the ticket.

AFAIK, CA is the only state with that law.

proving what the traffic was going at would be a problem in court though.

In Europe though passing on the right will get people physically stopping and beating you sometimes.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,600
1,005
126
Originally posted by: amdhunter
For example, in Manhattan, the FDR drive has a speed limit of 40MPH, but generally traffic flows ~55-65 when you can...

How illegal would it be to gather around 20 people, and have them all hover around 39MPH on the highway, on both the Northbound and Southbound lanes? I say 20 people are necessary so that they could avoid blocking all lanes in a single line, but maintain a position where no cars can pass (illegally, since to pass they'd have to speed.)

They wouldn't be breaking any laws, would they...or would the city tie in some obscure terror law or something to find a way to arrest or charge anyone who tried this?

And you would do this why exactly?

I hate it when people camp out in the left lane going the speed limit. :|
 

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: amdhunter
For example, in Manhattan, the FDR drive has a speed limit of 40MPH, but generally traffic flows ~55-65 when you can...

How illegal would it be to gather around 20 people, and have them all hover around 39MPH on the highway, on both the Northbound and Southbound lanes? I say 20 people are necessary so that they could avoid blocking all lanes in a single line, but maintain a position where no cars can pass (illegally, since to pass they'd have to speed.)

They wouldn't be breaking any laws, would they...or would the city tie in some obscure terror law or something to find a way to arrest or charge anyone who tried this?

And you would do this why exactly?

I hate it when people camp out in the left lane going the speed limit. :|

Yea that totally pisses me off.
Aholes who brake for no fuggin reason piss me off too.
Just wanna get in front of them and hard brake.
 
Sep 29, 2004
18,656
68
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Originally posted by: amdhunter
For example, in Manhattan, the FDR drive has a speed limit of 40MPH, but generally traffic flows ~55-65 when you can...

How illegal would it be to gather around 20 people, and have them all hover around 39MPH on the highway, on both the Northbound and Southbound lanes? I say 20 people are necessary so that they could avoid blocking all lanes in a single line, but maintain a position where no cars can pass (illegally, since to pass they'd have to speed.)

They wouldn't be breaking any laws, would they...or would the city tie in some obscure terror law or something to find a way to arrest or charge anyone who tried this?

Failure to yield the right of way is illegal. Seeing it enforced is antoher story though.

EDIT: I should add that if you drive hte speed limit in the right lane and ignore all others, you will be much happier.

I've done this in the past and talk about a relaxign drive. Going 65 when people are going by me doing 80. The best part is, I don't haveto worry about idiots driving to slow, etc.
 

PAB

Banned
Dec 4, 2002
1,719
1
0
Originally posted by: bignateyk
Isnt it illegal to drive in the left lane for more than a mile or something?

:what:

I drove from home to Daytona yesterday - most of it in the left lane for about 80 miles.
 
Sep 29, 2004
18,656
68
91
Originally posted by: PAB
Originally posted by: bignateyk
Isnt it illegal to drive in the left lane for more than a mile or something?

:what:

I drove from home to Daytona yesterday - most of it in the left lane for about 80 miles.

Legal or not, the left lane is intended for passing only.

MAN, the responses of this thread are amazing. Hasn't anyone taking a dviing course before?
 

SirStev0

Lifer
Nov 13, 2003
10,449
6
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Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: Garet Jax
Originally posted by: amdhunter
For example, in Manhattan, the FDR drive has a speed limit of 40MPH, but generally traffic flows ~55-65 when you can...

How illegal would it be to gather around 20 people, and have them all hover around 39MPH on the highway, on both the Northbound and Southbound lanes? I say 20 people are necessary so that they could avoid blocking all lanes in a single line, but maintain a position where no cars can pass (illegally, since to pass they'd have to speed.)

They wouldn't be breaking any laws, would they...or would the city tie in some obscure terror law or something to find a way to arrest or charge anyone who tried this?

Two guys in Canada drove the speed limit in side by side cars on the 2 lane 401 from Kingston to Toronto protesting a speeding ticket one of them received. No one could get by since the shoulder is largely non-existant.

The resulting traffic jam made the news as did the ticket both of them received.

hahaha now that is a ticket i would accept with a smile. :D

I agree... I hate when I am cruising at 80 with everyone else on the highway and you pass a cop. Its like russian roulette. One of you is going down... too bad you dont know who...