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Old 06-21-2012, 06:21 PM   #131 (permalink)
pete c
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MPGranger View Post
The big road I use a lot has three lanes for each direction. I know normally being in the rightmost lane is considered the polite option, but I think me occupying the middle lane is the safest for everybody around. Speed LImit is 65 but people frequently do 10-15 over that. So when I go the speed limit in the right lane and traffic builds up behind me the middle lane becomes very hard to get into because people don't give others space down here. So I have moved to the center lane to allow traffic to flow around me on both sides for better flow and greater overall safety.

Am I inconsiderate for doing so? I don't think so, but if you ask the people who couldn't gauge my speed and have to slam on their brakes because they were edging on triple digits they would say otherwise.
I don't think you are inconsiderate, but, I do believe you are wrong.

Passing on the right is NEVER a good idea. When you drive, particularly at lower speeds, in the middle lane, you are reducing the number of safe passing lanes from 2 to 1. You are also inviting people to make unsafe passes on the right.

There is one situation where I will abandon the right lane for the middle. That is where the right lane has been hammered to bits by semis. In such a case, I will spare my suspension and drive in the smoother center. But, even then, I have my eye in the mirror for heavy traffic. If I see a numbe rof cars coming up simultaneously in a situation where some may try a right side pass, I will get over and deal with the rough pavement.

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