I have several pet peeves when it comes to driving safety. Those who know me, know my hatred for impaired driving and my passion to raise seat belt and child passenger safety device usage. But on a lighter note there are two things that drive me crazy on almost a daily basis and that is what goes on in the left hand lane. Now for our international friends, in the USA the left hand lane on a multi-lane roadway is meant for passing SLOW MOVING vehicles. It is NEVER to be used as a driving lane, PASSING ONLY. Nearly every state in the USA has laws regarding the use of the left hand lane, but they are hardly ever enforced. So my two pet peeves are:
1) people who drive UNDER the speed limit in the left hand lane, especially when they can easily move over one lane (no traffic in either lane). If they wish to drive 55 mph in a 65 or 70 mph zone for any reason, they need to be all the way over to the right hand lane.
2) people who think there is NO speed limit in the left hand lane. Somehow they think that if they are in that lane that everyone driving the speed limit should get out of their way so that can drive at any speed their little heart desires. It is really crazy in heavy traffic, when you can see miles ahead and it is bumper to bumper traffic (e.g. no where to go fast) and you have this person swerving out into the median emergency lane, flashing their lights, even honking their horn to get you out of their way. We have to remember DEFENSIVE DRIVING is the key to our safety and even the moron behind us. When you get the chance just move over and let them go by and don’t just pull back over and begin to tailgate them (Road Rage??) Let them get well ahead of you, and this may take a wile due to the heavy traffic, before you resume your travels.
Becky thinks I am crazy, but I swear there must be some type of underground driving club that has members who believe if they drive slowly in the left hand lane that they are somehow saving the environment by slowing down drivers or making people more safe by slowing down drivers. I know all of you have experienced passing someone on a wide open interstate on their right hand side. Some people will wake up and realize they are in the wrong lane and move over after a few folks pass them, but there are those who can be passed by dozens of vehicles and they continue on their way in the left hand lane.
It really does seem that as a society we have lost the meaning of defensive driving and more and more drivers are moving to the “offensive” mode. Couple this with cell phone usage, applying the morning cosmetics, drinking the morning cup of coffee, cars not being maintained as well due to economic conditions and we see higher risks emerging. Simply by making correct decisions (defensive driving) we can manage these risks, thus lowering the risk to ourselves and our families.
What are your pet driving peeves?
