Filed under: Etc.
Left lane drivers of America want you to move over. You know who you are
A couple of years ago I was motoring down the highway at something above the speed limit, when I noticed in my rearview mirror that a Kenworth had snuck up on me. It's not easy for an 18-wheeler to sneak up on anything, but he was simply going so fast that one moment he wasn't there, and the next moment he was. The other surprising thing in the mirror, beyond that giant grill inches from my bumper, was a little sign just below the Kenworth logo that read "Move Over." Which I did. Quick smart.
Well, the "Move Over" movement isn't just for truckers anymore. It's gone mainstream with the Left Lane Drivers of America, whose mission it is "to get that left lane back!" from the slowpokes, cowpokes, and any other pokes who might be using it to do something other than pass the cars on the right. There are states where using the left lane only to pass is a law. However, like laws against jaywalking, it often, frustratingly, goes unheeded. Left Lane Drivers offers "Move Over" windshield stickers to let folks know what they need to do when you rock up behind them. It's even got an arrow so people know exactly where they're supposed to go. While we're all for anything to reduce road rage and the frustration of having to do 2 mph under the speed limit, we have a sinking feeling that some might see it as more automotive bullying and drive even worse out of spite. Maybe a "Move Over Pretty Please With A Cherry On Top" sticker could work better?
[Source: Left Lane Drivers via Winding Road]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 29)
bestmacs 4:10PM (6/12/2007)
Never, ever argue with a Kenworth.
In Australia, we have a great name for blokes who drive on your tail - we call them ``bumper stickers''.
Cheers
David McMahon
Reply
iBruce 4:24PM (6/12/2007)
In South Africa we call them arse-creepers.
Mike I 5:42PM (6/12/2007)
In America we call them Son of Biatches, Rednecks, Testosterone Overloads, etc.
What kind of a stupid post is this? Those of you who go around tailgating everyone: Leave your house earlier, you lazy idiots.
I'll start a new movement called "slam on your brakes when you're being tailgated."
M Brozins 7:43AM (6/14/2007)
I have a bumper sticker -
"TAILGATING IS TERRORISM"
Basically tailgaiters are arrogant a-holes
Joy 10:14AM (6/14/2007)
"never argue with a Kenworth"? Oh nooooooo, that's why they are getting ever-more aggressive. Too many people just let them get away with their bullying, so they think they own the roads now, can run everybody else off the road. I've had it. If they want to hit me because I don't instantly jump out of their way, they'll just have to suffer the consequences. And there will be BIG consequences.
ann marie 2:18PM (6/14/2007)
In Germany, people put on their right blinker when they want you to move over (at least they did when I visited 20 years ago). It seemed very civilized and no one took it as a rude gesture. It seemed a way to say "excuse me, please".
Why can't we come up with something civilized to help us navigate through our crowded world, rather being rude, which prompts most people to respond in kind. Oh, the race to the bottom around here ... it's sad to watch.
Phred 3:45AM (6/15/2007)
But doesn't the right blinker mean "I'm going to move over" as in "you don't have to"?
Phred 3:48AM (6/15/2007)
But doesn't the right blinker mean "I'm going to move over" as in "you don't have to"?
jat 12:52PM (6/15/2007)
I have to say, quite an interesting group of posts. For the record, you can see what Left Lane Drivers of America says for itself at the website: www.leftlanedrivers.org
smallfastforeign 2:45PM (6/18/2007)
What leftlanedrivers doesn't know is that there is a secret society of left lane drivers that have taken an oath to prevent anyone they can from exceeding the speed limit! Sneek into the next "Lions" meeting, if they all fall silent when you walk into the room, this is a sure sign that they just swore in a new member to the "stay in the left lane no matter what club!"
Joseph 3:43PM (6/18/2007)
In most states its also illegal for Kenworth or anyother tractor trailer to be in the left lane!
Mac 4:33PM (6/18/2007)
To Jeff (you're an idiot) and Mike and the rest of you who seem to be missing the point. It is absolutely not your job to enforce the speed limit. In fact, in some states it's against the law to not yield to the right when faster traffic approaches. If you can't move over because of traffic or if it's bumper to bumper traffic that's different, but to simply not move over because you want enforce your idea of the perfect speed on another person is moronic, unsafe, and selfish. Oh yeah, and for those of you in the "Slam on the brakes" club. Hope that nobody stops after the accident and reports that there was no reason for you to hit the brakes because if they do, you may find yourself slapped with an Assault with a deadly weapon charge, or worse! The left lane is for passing, if the guy you moved over for gets a ticket laugh as you pass him by
Roma 1:38PM (6/20/2007)
The left lane should be used to pass, not to cruise in or drive below the speed limit! It infuriates me that people such as some of you imbeciles don't have the common sense or courtesy to move over for someone who is in a hurry, no matter the reason. What does it hurt you to move over? I guess you just want to be an asshole, huh?
Cheryl 11:51PM (6/18/2007)
I love the name you folks have for rear bumper huggers... Oh how I hate it when an eighteen wheeler comes up fast and to close to my back bumper...and I normally drive about four to five mph above speed limit anyway. Lord help you if you have to stop fast cause they will flatten your car so fast you won't know what happened to you, nor will anyone else.
A very old bird from the US
Audra 8:33PM (6/18/2007)
These problems would be solved on city roads by people who want to make a right-hand turn actually pulling over to the right before slowing down--then people who want to "cruise" in the right lane wouldn't be forced to the left. I drive the speed limit in the left lane because there's too much brake-hitting and slowing-down-to-turn in the right...and people who are speeding shouldn't be accommodated, but arrested.
Likewise on the freeway, trucks shouldn't drive in the middle lane, forcing the "crusing" traffic into the left. Due to this I had one guy pretend to ram me with no way out and get an inch from my bumper to where my heart was in my throat--and my foot off the accelerator out of sheer shock (if I had put it down at that second I would've gone 100). In this situation, I agree with John Smith--the closer you get, the slower I go. Get some patience.
Shift head 4:13PM (6/12/2007)
The single most idiotic, road-rage producing behavior I know of. Everytime someone drives in this lane, and REFUSES, or has not clue to move over to the right, I wonder who taught them to drive and I have to exercise my best anger mgmt techniques.
The left lane is for faster traffic PERIOD
Reply
Noel 4:36PM (6/12/2007)
Right.. last time I checked the rule book I saw nothing saying that it is ok to "cruise" in the left lane just because you are doing the speed limit. The left lane is for PASSING regardless of speed. I was riding with someone (female) who was doing the speedlimit in the left lane and was screaming at "bumper stickers" (Thanks bestmacs) saying, "I am doing the speed limit, he is going to have to go around me". I started getting roadrage towards her and I was only in the co-driver seat. hahaha.
Jim Pease 4:54PM (6/12/2007)
Noel . . .you rock. I have several friends that I won't ride with because I get road rage because they cruise in the left lane.
Dan 7:02AM (6/14/2007)
I have one question for the people who DRIVE in the left lane..I'm not talking about people passing others, or people who passed and maybe forgot to move over, but do so when some one gets behind them. This is for the people who get on the interstate, and go directly to the far left lane and won't move come hell or high water....WHY???? Does your car get better gas mileage there? Is the view better? Is the road smoother?? You have to get over to the right to exit, so why drive in the left lane if you are not passing? I'll bet 99% of all interstate wrecks are caused by some one driving in the left lane...not by speed, but by diferrential speed, and if you would use the left lane only to pass, that would not be a factor.
jef 1:05PM (6/14/2007)
There's a reason it's called the speed LIMIT.
Look it up. (learn to read first).