Jeff, I agree with you that cell phone use by drivers is out of control (trust me, I ride my bicycle about 100 miles per week, and you would not believe how many near-misses I have had with inattentive drivers)...but I have to disagree with you regarding some aspects of the driver behavior you encountered in the 'passing' lane (your words). The reason you (and everyone else) call it the passing lane is because that's the lane you should be in if you are passing. There is no other reason to be traveling in the far left lane. In fact, the National Motorists Association has declared June 2008 'Lane Courtesy Month <http://www.motorists.org/lanecourtesy/ho...> To quote the NMA, 'The bottom line is that no valid purpose is served by blocking the left lane when other vehicles wish to pass. Let the police sort out the reckless and irresponsible drivers.' True, it is discourteous to bear-down aggressively on slower drivers, but slower drivers should always move to the right lane as soon as it is safe to do so after passing another vehicle. They should not be sitting in the left hand lane. Having driven in Europe on the major expressways (which operate at higher speeds and with smoother traffic flow) I can advise from first-hand experience that driving is a pleasure when everyone exercises 'Lane Courtesy'. As for those drivers who are uncomfortable with expressway driving, they should feel free to travel on Routes 7, 9, 20, or whatever other roadways get them safely to their destination. Thank you.
December 1, 2008
Posted on May 9 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jeff,
I agree with you that cell phone use by drivers is out of control (trust me, I ride my bicycle about 100 miles per week, and you would not believe how many near-misses I have had with inattentive drivers)...but I have to disagree with you regarding some aspects of the driver behavior you encountered in the 'passing' lane (your words).
The reason you (and everyone else) call it the passing lane is because that's the lane you should be in if you are passing.
There is no other reason to be traveling in the far left lane. In fact, the National Motorists Association has declared June 2008 'Lane Courtesy Month <http://www.motorists.org/lanecourtesy/ho...>
To quote the NMA, 'The bottom line is that no valid purpose is served by blocking the left lane when other vehicles wish to pass. Let the police sort out the reckless and irresponsible drivers.'
True, it is discourteous to bear-down aggressively on slower drivers, but slower drivers should always move to the right lane as soon as it is safe to do so after passing another vehicle. They should not be sitting in the left hand lane.
Having driven in Europe on the major expressways (which operate at higher speeds and with smoother traffic flow) I can advise from first-hand experience that driving is a pleasure when everyone exercises 'Lane Courtesy'.
As for those drivers who are uncomfortable with expressway driving, they should feel free to travel on Routes 7, 9, 20, or whatever other roadways get them safely to their destination.
Thank you.
On Fear and Loathing on the New York State Thruway