"I drive 55mph" on the 65mph interstate.

[XYZ]

HyperemilerAX leaped to songman's defense in saying

He was talking about one-lane roads. Obviously, if 5 cars are following it's because there is only one lane.

No, we aren't talking about one-lane roads, and neither is he. Here is the proof:

Songman now continues to say "This means move out of the slow lane and into whatever, if anything, is available - hard shoulder, layby, roadside diner etc."

"Move out of the slow lane" He just said it again right now - "the slow lane". Since in his stated scenario there is a "slow lane" then there must be another lane available. No roads have merely one lane called the "slow lane". That states (or strongly implies) that in songman's intended scenario there IS more than one lane.

As such, to be required to thus "pull over" if I'm doing 60 in a 65 maximum speed limit is absurd by any sane definition.

We are talking here about American highways that have more than one lane of travel and posted maximum and minimum speed limits. No highway here is a one-lane road with a speed limit of 65 MPH and a minimum of 45 MPH. That is absurd as it doesn't exist. After 18 pages of discussion, don't pretend that you didn't understand the highways being discussed, or that you meant something else.

I would have to check back to ensure that this was what the original poster intended when he said "pull over", or whatever it was he said. In the meantime, WTF is with the fury here? I get the keyboard warrior mentality on politics forums right enough, but hypermiling?

Here is the OP's original statement that began the thread

I'd like to get some advice, tips and personal experience from those that drive 55mph or slower on the 65mph highways. Here in the Northeast, the interstate highways have a 65mph speed limit.

Isn't it clear that we are talking about interstate highways? They are all highways with at least two lanes of travel - i.e. having a passing lane.

To you, being held accountable for your statement is "rude" and you find it threatening. The only anger being displayed here is by you, in your now desperate attempt to change what you said to save face.

[songman]

Originally Posted by XYZ

Here is the OP's original statement that began the thread. Isn't it clear that we are talking about interstate highways? They are all highways with at least two lanes of travel - i.e. having a passing lane.

For crying out loud, get over yourself. We aren't limited to responding only to the first post of the thread, I was responding to this one, as already stated:

Originally Posted by bestclimb

In AK there is a law that if you are driving below the PSL and 5 or more cars are following, you are required to use a pull out to let them pass. So your options are to pull out and let traffic flow, or speed up to the PSL to make the law no longer applicable. It does not mean that I don't have a right to cruse at some speed lower than the PSL it means that I have to be aware of my presence in the traffic flow. If others seem oblivious it does not negate my responsibility.

This is not about pulling over to the right, it's about pulling off the carriageway. The number of lanes is irrelevant. You misunderstood both the poster above and myself in responding, who were both referring to pulling off the highway, and not just pulling right. Pulling (and driving) right is standard good behaviour - it doesn't need saying. Pulling off the highway is another thing entirely, and an absurd requirement - as I and I'm sure many others see it - when doing potentially barely under the maximum limit, and when the redneck racers behind can simply overtake if they're that desperate to indulge their redneck delinquencies, and when it might in itself put you in breach of the maximum limit! It's lunacy.

It's not hard to understand the difference. Get over yourself.

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by songman

This is not about pulling over to the right, it's about pulling off the carriageway. The number of lanes is irrelevant. You misunderstood both the poster above and myself in responding, who were both referring to pulling off the highway, and not just pulling right. Pulling (and driving) right is standard good behaviour - it doesn't need saying. Pulling off the highway is another thing entirely, and an absurd requirement - as I and I'm sure many others see it - when doing potentially barely under the maximum limit, and when the redneck racers behind can simply overtake if they're that desperate to indulge their redneck delinquencies, and when it might in itself put you in breach of the maximum limit! It's lunacy.

Lunacy my a$$. Disagree and rant all you want. The topic under discussion is the law in many states about slower traffic allowing others to pass.

You obviously do not understand what a turnout is. Go look at post #165 which gives actual photos of signs for turnouts (AKA slow vehicle lanes) http://ecomodder.com/forum/384408-post165.html

As for your comments about those who want to drive at a speed that is legally permissible as being "rednecks" your perpetual rants reek of bias, bigotry and anger.

Better stay in England. You wouldn't last long in Alaska.

[Fat Charlie]

The law where I am isn't "keep right except to pass." That's sign speak, an over simplification. It also isn't "move right, even off the road, to let others pass." It states that one must travel in "the rightmost available lane." "Keep right except to pass" sums that up, but doesn't give me any obligation to move further right than the right lane. If I'm in the right lane then I'm not in anyone's way. The slowpokes clogging up the left lane(s) are your enemies.

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

The law where I am isn't "keep right except to pass." That's sign speak, an over simplification. It also isn't "move right, even off the road, to let others pass." It states that one must travel in "the rightmost available lane." "Keep right except to pass" sums that up, but doesn't give me any obligation to move further right than the right lane. If I'm in the right lane then I'm not in anyone's way. The slowpokes clogging up the left lane(s) are your enemies.

I have no enemies.

You're an American driver. You get it, and you've summed it up very well.

There is nothing left to argue about.

[songman]

Originally Posted by XYZ

Lunacy my a$$. Disagree and rant all you want. The topic under discussion is the law in many states about slower traffic allowing others to pass.

We're allowed to post and respond to any and all posts that occur over the development of the thread. The post that Bestclimb made, to which I responded, are examples of such. If you have an issue with that, contact the mods and have them run it by you.

You obviously do not understand what a turnout is. Go look at post #165 which gives actual photos of signs for turnouts (AKA slow vehicle lanes) http://ecomodder.com/forum/384408-post165.html

In the same way I don't need to know the exact composition of the moon to know what the moon basically is, I infer from the part of Bestclimb's post I quoted that a "turnout" is a part of the road structure that permits moving off the main carriageway, for whatever purpose (in our case, to let others pass, whether or not this is its main or only purpose). In the absence of any suggestion to the contrary, I'm assuming this is correct.

As for your comments about those who want to drive at a speed that is legally permissible as being "rednecks" your perpetual rants reek of bias, bigotry and anger.

That's your opinion. The impression I've gained from several posts in this thread is a almost manic level of anger and intolerance from just those same drivers. I suspect you may be one such. In that case, I would expect your opinion to be thus. My opinion is that furious boy-racers (or old man racers for that matter) are rednecks of one kind or another. We differ on that one.

Better stay in England. You wouldn't last long in Alaska.

You're a very angry, confrontational poster, do you know that? And I thought I could get worked up .

I've never driven abroad, including in the US - public transport has always been adequate. I do suspect that the actual situation on US roads isn't quite the fury bin of permanent ego meltdown it's portrayed as in this thread. I suspect we have our fair share of like-minded rednecks and speed freaks. That said, I'll keep my eyes peeled for those "minimum speed limit" signs I've learnt about in this thread if the occasion ever arises, which I'd be delighted if it did.

[bestclimb]

Originally Posted by songman

Here's the quote:

(bestclimbs post)

He's not saying you have to keep right, he's saying you have to either:

1) Move off the road or

2) Speed up to the speed of the approaching nednecks.


Happy now? "Pull over" means "pull off the road", not "keep right (slowest lane)". And since, again, you should keep right anyway and in all circumstances, this should speak for itself. I suspect that, as a speed freak who is unlikely to obey any road conventions, you don't respect this convention and hence your misunderstanding.

Originally Posted by songman

This is not about pulling over to the right, it's about pulling off the carriageway. The number of lanes is irrelevant. You misunderstood both the poster above and myself in responding, who were both referring to pulling off the highway, and not just pulling right. Pulling (and driving) right is standard good behaviour - it doesn't need saying. Pulling off the highway is another thing entirely, and an absurd requirement - as I and I'm sure many others see it - when doing potentially barely under the maximum limit, and when the redneck racers behind can simply overtake if they're that desperate to indulge their redneck delinquencies, and when it might in itself put you in breach of the maximum limit! It's lunacy..

Correctish if the road is 1 lane each way and you get 5 cars stacked up you need to use a pull off or section of wide shoulder to let the train of cars pass.

When traveling barely under the limit it is really not an issue. If traveling 10 under it may be an issue.

Passing lane means the road is typically undivided 1 lane each way. and a
second lane for one or both directions is there temporarily.

Pull out is a place designed for a vehicle to exit the road way.

This law is usually implemented for areas where passing is not an option due to terrain or congestion makes passing not an option. The reason the law was implemented is that we had a substantial number of people trying to pass slow moving vehicles when it was very unsafe resulting in numerous head on collisions. It may not be the best solution but it does work to reduce the number of accidents.

for 2 lanes each way this law is not a requirement because the other lane is available.

And come on up to Alaska. Once you get out of Anchorage and Wasilla areas most of us are quite laid back and friendly.

[SentraSE-R]

Are you folks are still arguing? To the ones who say you can't do it (we impede traffic, it's illegal, no one else does it, ad nauseum), poppycock. I just rented a car in Pennsylvania, averaged 40 mpg indicated by going 50-55 mph on the PA Turnpike (PSL 55-65 mph), and racked up 474 miles on ~12 gal. If I'd pushed as fast as everyone else on the turnpike, I'd have had to top off the tank again before returning the car.

Rather than talk about how you can't do it, you naysayers should get off your duffs and just do it. There's nothing sorrier than someone who says it can't be done while others are doing it.

[user removed]

My 2011 Fiesta did 434.3 miles on 8.223 gallons. 52.82 MPG at speeds from 50 to just over 70 MPH. No one was stuck behind me, even coasting downhill in a 70 MPH zone on I64 east coming home today. Even including a 4 mile crawl to Ocean City that took close to 40 minutes, numerous stops at antique shops all along the way. With a drafting partner on the Interstate, even with just Morons blasting past me at 80 helping break the wind, I still managed to get from 52.1 to 52.8 when I coasted off at my exit.
No engine off, just neutral coasting at every opportunity, even some AC use when it got really muggy and 90+.
And that is with an automatic transmission, or an automated manual 6 speed if you wish.
The Fiesta has a 49 MPG last 3 tank average. It's closing on 20k miles where it will get it's 3rd oil change. Not a single other repair or maintenance in over 16k miles.
Not one single car stuck behind me in the whole tank.
Not one other driver pissed off at my driving.
And it is recycled (the car).

regards
Mech

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by SentraSE-R

Are you folks are still arguing?

No, we're not, as apparently we put the argument to rest. Unless you insist upon continuing it...

To the ones who say you can't do it (we impede traffic, it's illegal, no one else does it, ad nauseum), poppycock.

Can't do WHAT? Please tell us what you think you or "we" "can't do". And tell us who you think is preventing you or anyone else from driving as slowly as you want to.

You have the privilege of driving slowly, providing you are not on a highway with a minimum speed limit. No one is taking that option away from you or anyone else.

YES! Please - by all means DO IT!!! Enjoy your slow ride. But it's time to stop complaining about any disapproval some may have voiced, and put it into perspective. After a 20 page thread we've mentioned many situations and scenarios and they all come down to the same basic principle: keep to the right to let others pass. So simply put, enjoy your slower ride as long as you don't do your slow jam in the leftmost, or passing lane. In other words, don't be a road hog or wannabe traffic cop, imposing your personal preferences upon anyone else by deliberately slowing the flow of other traffic.

Let faster drivers drive in the left lanes, and slower drivers drive in the right lanes. Faster on the left, slower on the right - it's really simple. It's not only a simple solution, but it's safest for everyone on the road. That includes letting the speeders, "rednecks" (although that pejorative term has nothing to do with speeding) and everyone else you might disapprove of, who wants to drive faster than you, to pass you.

They may piss away more $$$ than you on gasoline and they may get a speeding ticket. Let 'em! That's not our concern.