Why is "Slower Traffic Keep Right" so Hard to Understand?

"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
08/04/2015 at 09:19 • Filed to: None

I know that this topic has been beaten to death, heaven, and then to hell, but I wanted to add my voice into the mix after my freeway experience last night.

Over the course of my eight mile drive, I passed three people that were loitering in the left lane. That’s a left lane squatter almost every two miles. This brings me to my question: When I am in the right lane and I fly past a car in the left lane like they are going two miles per hour, why do they stay there?

Now, I have a theory about this, which I am building off of a concept created by Nick Murray. He mentions it in !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

It’s called the “Corolla Stare.” This is typically exhibited when Toyota Corolla drivers are on the freeway, going under the speed limit, as usual. They are entirely concentrated on the road ahead and they grip the steering wheel at the ten and two position as if they are flying a fighter jet through a war zone.

I believe this “Corolla Stare” is evolving. Not only is it spreading to other vehicles, especially SUV’s, but the stare is getting even more intense. These drivers can only see 30 feet into the lane directly in front of them. This fixation really becomes a problem when they somehow venture out into the left lane. They are too focused to make it back to where they belong. Passing cars barely register in their vision and you can forget about roads signs. They can’t even glance in their mirror to see the line of angry drivers and passengers they are holding up.

This makes it difficult for !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to work since these people won’t see cops in their rearview mirror. But, amazingly, a siren can break through their bubble of concentration. Until cops really begin enforcing the keep right law, the only option is to blast pass these Advanced Gawkers in the right lane like you’re the pilot of the enemy’s war plane.

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DISCUSSION (39)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 09:23

The siren usually make them hammer their brakes though. Even though they are already 10-15 under.

450X_FTW > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 09:26

German drivers - there is a process and procedure for everything

American drivers - whateva I do what I want!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 09:26

Actually, I have heard of some situations on Toronto’s Gardiner Express(hah!!)way where, in heavy traffic, cops will flip on their lights and sirens specifically to clear the left lane, so any drivers who were actually planning to be somewhere that day can jump in behind.

Piggies pushing out the hogs :)

Rainbow > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 09:28

Because it’s not enforced enough. They need to take a handful of cops in every city, make them dedicated “Left Lane Control” units for a couple of months, and then the problem will be solved.

Michael Woyahn > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/04/2015 at 09:28

Haha that’s awesome! I would definitely be okay with US cops doing this!

pip bip - choose Corrour > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 09:29

sadly it just is.

with some people it’s just ME ME ME!

Milky > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 09:32

They are also the same drivers that will slam on the brakes but steer straight into something when in a panic. Or other dumb moves like:

Michael Woyahn > Rainbow
08/04/2015 at 09:32

This is true. That would definitely make a difference!

crowmolly > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 09:34

TheRealBicycleBuck > Rainbow
08/04/2015 at 09:34

I propose they use snow plows for this purpose. Give them the proper set of red/blue lights, mount a siren, then have them direct their plow to the right. Tell the drivers to run at 5mph over the speed limit. Anyone who doesn’t move right in a timely fashion will be relocated by force. Mounting the plow on a reasonably fast car helps.

Kinja'd!!!

smobgirl > Milky
08/04/2015 at 09:36

Wow.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 09:39

Trust me. Im in Florida

We would need to double our police force to enforce the move over law. I wish they would though. If I had a dollar for every driver I passed on the right, I wouldn’t have to work again for another few years.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > pip bip - choose Corrour
08/04/2015 at 09:40

I have these moments myself sometimes... at least the youleftanopportunitysofuckyoui’mhavingit kind.

Wanna know something interesting? If certain things (left lane rules being one) were enforced, I probably wouldn’t do this. I’ll bet you many others who do this feel the same.

So—eliminate left lane hogs, eliminate part-time “I’m sick of your shit today” idiots.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheRealBicycleBuck
08/04/2015 at 09:41

Lanesplitting V-plow trucks

pip bip - choose Corrour > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/04/2015 at 09:41

COTD!

MyOtherBathtubIs-aSAAB900 > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 09:47

These people are just the worst. I’ve a rant about it in another thread that pretty well describes my recent experience and the gnawing ulcer it creates in me every time I hit the freeway.

Birddog > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 09:54

I run into this daily here in the great (snicker) State (hehe) of Illinois (BWAHAAHA). Sorry bout that..

Uhm.. Anyway.

It isn’t the Corolla Stare causing it here. Its that these people are assholes. In their mind it is “Their lane” and as long as they’re doing the speed limit nobody else has a right to use “Their lane” at any other speed.

These are the same people that tell you that you should have left earlier if you wanted to get somewhere earlier or on time.

They don’t care what the law says about left lane use because they’re self righteous pricks.

wiffleballtony > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 10:05

I think it’s more social injustice warriors, driving on their high horse because they believe no one should go faster than 65. Since they’re going the maximum legal speed they believe there shouldn’t be faster traffic and as such everyone else can stay right.

someassemblyrequired > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/04/2015 at 10:19

Not sure if it is still true but you could pass on the right legally on divided highways when I lived in Ontario.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > someassemblyrequired
08/04/2015 at 10:22

I don’t think it’s illegal to pass on the right anywhere in Ontario—it’s just not really a good habit in any case.

Depending on how you do it, though, you could probably get a dangerous or careless driving ticket out of it.

Tripper > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 10:47

My fiancee and I have this conversation frequently. We have come to the agreement that it is because people are fucking stupid!

someassemblyrequired > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/04/2015 at 11:39

I would disagree as avoiding situations where collisions are likely (e.g. getting stuck in the fast lane behind a left-lane bandit) is a good habit. Even here where it’s technically illegal I’ll pass on the inside rather than dealing with these clowns. You can’t fix stupid by flashing high-beams and tailgating, so might as well use available real estate to get yourself away from the danger.

Bob > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
08/04/2015 at 11:41

I went to Florida early this year for a trip that had me on the roads every day for very long stretches and you aren’t kidding, drivers enter the highway, immediately get in the left lane AND STAY THERE. I was so enraged after every drive that this is the first thing I remember about that vacation.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > someassemblyrequired
08/04/2015 at 11:43

Fair enough.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Bob
08/04/2015 at 12:12

So glad I have proof!

It’s terrible. And all the tricks like flashing your lights and flying up on them do nothing!

I feel so guilty passing on the right...

Bob > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
08/04/2015 at 12:13

Even a member of my Florida family does it. I asked her why she does it and she said because she’s going above the speed limit. WHAT?

Michael Woyahn > Milky
08/04/2015 at 16:16

That is so true! That video is just... amazing.

BRyan31122 > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 17:38

This really is getting ridiculous. I drove 3 hours on i-65 last weekend, and I swear I thought I was in the UK because everyone was in the left lane. The right lane became the fast lane, with me passing every damn car because nobody has a clue of what the hell they’re doing.

BRyan31122 > crowmolly
08/04/2015 at 17:40

*speeds up* “Hold on, we don’t have the stickers.” LOL

Michael Woyahn > Birddog
08/04/2015 at 17:59

Haha the good ol’ Illinois vs Wisconsin battle! We definitely have some of those self righteous people up here, but I think it is more just stupidity.

I gotta give you guys credit, though. When my family goes up to Northern Wisconsin, most of the people that we see with Illinois plates are pretty good about using the left lane for passing. I guess it’s more of a problem in people’s home states.

Michael Woyahn > Tripper
08/04/2015 at 18:01

Yup, I couldn’t agree more! My family has similar conversations whenever we go on the freeway together.

Michael Woyahn > MyOtherBathtubIs-aSAAB900
08/04/2015 at 18:05

They are just awful and they are getting even more common, unfortunately. I couldn’t agree more with everything you said in your comment.

Michael Woyahn > wiffleballtony
08/04/2015 at 18:08

Yeah, these entitled people are definitely not helping the situation.

Michael Woyahn > BRyan31122
08/04/2015 at 18:12

It’s almost to the point where we should switch to right hand drive haha! Left lane hogs almost make it easier for freeway driving since you can just put on your cruise control and sit in the right lane and pass. Of course, that’s not how it’s supposed to work, but I’m just trying to look for positives.

Michael Woyahn > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
08/04/2015 at 18:13

Florida drivers are definitely something else!

Birddog > Michael Woyahn
08/04/2015 at 20:00

The sad part is that I’m from Illinois. I just moved back from Iowa and I’m trying to escape again..

It has to be a home state thing. The Illinois plated cars out west were very good except for merging onto a highway. They’d damn near stop at the bottom of any on ramp.

ranwhenparked > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
08/04/2015 at 22:51

That, and people leaving their turn signals on for miles after their last turn. If that was a citable offense, Florida could make a mint.

Lightness, it's Important > Bob
08/25/2015 at 14:43

That happens here in California too. I have a friend that does it specifically so they don’t have to pay attention to two lanes of traffic while they’re driving. I silently scream any time they insist on driving anywhere.

Lightness, it's Important > 450X_FTW
08/25/2015 at 14:45

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