How Do You Deal With Lane Hogs?

"marshknute" (marshknute) 01/26/2017 at 12:32 • Filed to: None

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Personally, I’ve found the most effective technique is to approach them REALLY fast. At least 25mph faster than their speed. Then brake hard on their bumper before dropping back to a generous following distance. It usually makes them think they were going so slow that I had to panic-brake to avoid hitting them. By the time they regain their composure, they’ve already moved over to let me by.

I find that flashing the headlights either has no effect, or makes them slow down/brake-check you in retaliation.

Side note: I’ve never had someone speed up to block me from overtaking. I’ve heard that it happens, but I’ve never been a victim of it myself.

facw > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 12:37

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I follow, hopefully at a safe distance, and pass when safe. Boring yes, but not really much else you can do.

Toby F., Manager > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 12:39

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I just go around them if I’m able to (99% on the left, 1% on the right). It also helps that I anticipate their “slowness,” which allows me to change lanes well before I’m on their ass.

DipodomysDeserti > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 12:39

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You should try those techniques on the I10 in between Phoenix and Tucson, preferably after dark. Report back if you can.

Urambo Tauro > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 12:40

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If there are multiple forward lanes, and they’re in the left one, pass on the right. That should at least give them the sense that they’re going too slow. Passing on the left is one thing, but passing on the right sends a message.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 12:42

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When I moved to California back in ‘98 I learned that the lane right of the lane hog was a legitimate passing lane. People in the mid-west generally don’t drive in the fast lane unless they are going fast or passing.

Chariotoflove > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 12:43

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Side note: I’ve never had someone speed up to block me from overtaking. I’ve heard that it happens, but I’ve never been a victim of it myself.

This is common practice in Texas. It happens to me most of the time.

Also, I must say I wouldn’t feel safe using your technique. It sounds like it reduces margin to react of the person gets flustered and does something unexpected or decides to brake check at the same time.

Textured Soy Protein > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 12:44

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I hate getting tailgated, especially because so often it happens even when there’s nothing I can do to help the person tailgating me and they won’t accomplish anything by tailgating.

Believing in karma and whatnot, I really don’t like tailgating other people. I wish more people understood flash-to-pass is the courteous way of requesting they kindly get out of your lane. But in my experience, most everyone interprets flashing the brights as a much more aggressive communication than tailgating.

Since I usually keep a nice gap to the car in front of me, if someone is clearly blocking a lane, and they’re not being held up by traffic in front of them, and they have a clear path out of that lane, I will close the gap quickly enough for it to be noticeable and then back off.

25 mph higher than them might be a bit much though.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Urambo Tauro 01/26/2017 at 12:46

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If I pass on the right, I tend to speed up.

#1, So I can get by the “sui-side” as quick as possible.

#2, To try and drive home the “why”of my passing on the right.

Rico > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 12:49

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I too have never had someone speed up to block me from overtaking either, their car is usually too slow to do it lol. Torque!!!!

jimz > Urambo Tauro 01/26/2017 at 12:57

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That should at least give them the sense that they’re going too slow.

that assumes self-awareness.

Urambo Tauro > jimz 01/26/2017 at 13:02

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LOL you’re right.

AuthiCooper1300 > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 13:03

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Next time you feel the urge to perform your late-braking technique on someone (irrespective how stupid they may be) consider the fact that you two may be unfortunate enough for your rapidly approaching, rapidly braking vehicle hitting a patch of spilt diesel, black ice, or even some loose gravel.

E90M3 > Chariotoflove 01/26/2017 at 13:15

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When I lived in Texas, I’ve had someone *try* to block me, 3rd gear dealt with them pretty quick.

Urambo Tauro > Textured Soy Protein 01/26/2017 at 13:16

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Yeah, tailgating is definitely a bad idea. I certainly don’t want to show myself to be just as bad a driver as the other guy. It’s frustrating trying to maintain a morally higher ground and find something that works within the confines of the law. You can’t tailgate, you can’t lean over the lane markings... well what CAN you do, then?

It turns out that in my state, the horn is only supposed to be used in emergencies, like to warn of an immediate hazard. But if you can’t tailgate, then you can’t create that hazard.

As near as I can tell, flashing lights is still technically an acceptable option (in my state). The law is explicitly worded against flashing oncoming traffic, but it doesn’t seem to say anything about the car directly ahead.

Textured Soy Protein > Urambo Tauro 01/26/2017 at 13:28

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The problem with flashing to pass is that it’s supposed to be the way to request the person move out of your way but nobody knows that in this country so they get pissed off. WHY IS THIS FUCKER BEHIND ME FLASHING THEIR BRIGHTS AT ME? FUCK THAT SHIT I’M GONNA BLOCK THEIR ASS!

Fun fact: the FC RX-7 has flash-to-pass lights for flashing to pass when the flip-up headlights are down. They’re above the turn signals.

On the JDM version pictured here they had dedicated bulbs, because they’re also the parking lights. But on the US model, the turn signals are the parking lights, and the flash-to-pass lights are just lenses that headlights shine through while they’re lowered.

Chariotoflove > E90M3 01/26/2017 at 13:32

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Yeah, just sucks that it always has to be that way.

miadaman? yes please > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 13:37

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I’d be inclined to think the reason he’s not moving from the left lane is because he is not checking his mirrors. If that’s the case isn’t doing the speed-up/braking putting yourself at unnecessary risk?

Personally I just follow along if I can’t change lane, whatever man I’m 20min late anyway.

brianbrannon > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 13:38

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We all need to keep flashing to pass until it becomes standard

marshknute > miadaman? yes please 01/26/2017 at 13:41

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Possibly, but by approaching/receding so quickly, your car gets bigger/smaller really quickly in their mirror. More movement = better chance of being noticed. And by the time they’ve noticed you, you’re retreating to a safe distance so they assume you’re not being aggressive, just that you were caught off guard by their slow speed.

marshknute > Textured Soy Protein 01/26/2017 at 13:46

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I normally keep a generous following distance. Far enough behind so I can see ahead of the car in front, and have plenty of space to accelerate before overtaking.

The only exception is that brief second when approaching them from behind. By the time they notice movement in their mirrors, I’m already retreating to a safe distance, so they think I was just caught off guard by their slow speed (as opposed to driving aggressively).

marshknute > AuthiCooper1300 01/26/2017 at 13:52

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To clarify, I’m closing the gap to a “normal” tailgating distance, if that makes any sense. Not inches from their bumper, but close enough to get noticed. But I see your point.

Usually I maintain an unusually generous following distance so I can see around them and have room to accelerate before undertaking them. I only try my late-brake technique when there’s no opportunity to undertake.

for Michigan > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/26/2017 at 14:06

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Have you ever driven in Indiana, Michigan, or Ohio? Because all of those Midwesterners are consistent left-lane hogs.

for Michigan > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 14:08

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I wait patiently and pass when there’s an opening so that I don’t put my passengers, other drivers, or myself at risk.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > for Michigan 01/26/2017 at 14:10

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Illinois drivers are the worst, however.

AuthiCooper1300 > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 14:14

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I am very glad you see my point. And I hope you realise that sort of antics may lead to something much more serious than the bother of dealing with a lane hog.

Even if you don’t get “too close” (how close is too close anyway?) the fact that the speed differential is “at least 25 mph faster” should be quite worrying enough.

With all due respect, I wouldn’t consider your approach safe even if you had the abilities of a top-notch rally/F1 driver (possible, but unlikely). It is a public road and you just never know what kind of danger lies ahead.

You or others may not agree with my point of view. I am not being confrontational: just trying to sound some alarm bells for your own benefit.

for Michigan > haveacarortwoorthree2 01/26/2017 at 14:19

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I’ve only ever been a passenger in Illinois, but it didn’t seem as bad as Detroit when I was there. Michigan is easily the worst of the three states I mentioned previously.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > for Michigan 01/26/2017 at 14:35

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Honestly, it’s been some time since I’ve driven extensively in the Midwest. However, back in the day (and get off my lawn!), I swear that 1 out of every 2 people I saw on the road doing something stupid had Illinois plates. It was so bad that my then-GF/now-wife even would joke about it. Those Illinois drivers would get me in MI, IA, MO, IN, and, of course, IL.

Urambo Tauro > Textured Soy Protein 01/26/2017 at 14:46

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For a long time, I didn’t know what flash-to-pass even was. It wasn’t brought up in driver’s ed, and it was never a feature in any of my cars. It wasn’t until somebody mentioned it on Oppo that I started to look into it.

Even now, I still think that signalling is sufficient, if performed correctly. A quick flash of the high beams is too easily misunderstood as road rage, particularly in Michigan where the practice is not on the books like it is in California.

But when passing isn’t an option, your only hope is to try to get the other driver’s attention in the hope that they will speed up or pull over. And flashing seems to be the only valid way I can think of to communicate that request.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > for Michigan 01/26/2017 at 15:01

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Was thinking more eastern montana, ND, and WY. Folks are generally fairly nice. Once you get to the more populated states like OH, MI, and MN just throw that out the window.

Textured Soy Protein > Urambo Tauro 01/26/2017 at 15:04

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Every car can flash to pass, there’s always some way to momentarily trigger the high beams without leaving them on. On my car you pull the turn signal stalk toward you to flash or push it forward to leave them on. Other cars you pull a little bit to flash or pull farther until it reaches a click to lock them on. The flash-to-pass lights are a creative solution for how to flash on a car where the headlights could be hidden away.

Urambo Tauro > Textured Soy Protein 01/26/2017 at 15:12

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Y’know, come to think of it, my Mustang might have something like that. I got used to driving GM vehicles that activated the high beams by pulling on the stalk, but once I got my first Ford, I was surprised to find that the same motion only flashed them. You had to push the stalk forward to get them to stay on.

Flashing the high beams is not an automatically integrated part of turn signal function, but I bet I could manipulate the stalk to get it to do both at the same time.

RallyWrench > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 15:27

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Depends on the range, but within about 100 yards I switch to the cannon.

miadaman? yes please > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 15:30

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I see your line of thoughts, but I would be concerned about performing an act that will increase the likelihood of collision just to have a chance at altering someone else’s behavior. Have you had a lot of success doing this?

However you do it, stay safe friend!

marshknute > miadaman? yes please 01/26/2017 at 15:47

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It works more than 50% of the time, which is surprisingly high considering I’ve NEVER had success flashing my lights.

My usual scenario is me cruising at 75-80 and approaching a car going 55 (the stupid speed limit on the Merritt Parkway). The flow of traffic is usually 70-75, so my speed is closer to the flow of traffic than the lane hog’s.

citrus > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 15:57

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I usually just follow at a normal distance and they get out of the way, I wonder why...

miadaman? yes please > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 16:03

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Could the location of your headlamp affect flash to pass? I know on my prelude the light is super low, so some cars with bad or high rear-view window you can’t really see my headlights change (or at all) unless it’s super dark.

I think it might be worthwhile trying new things and see if a more controlled method works just as well/better.

Tripper > marshknute 01/26/2017 at 16:28

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I keep a safe but firm distance behind them and give them at least 1 full minute to be an attentive, educated driver. After that I will calmly make the pass on the right, then even more calmly I will re enter the left lane within breathing distance of their front bumper. Then I execute the following smile.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > marshknute 03/30/2017 at 11:16

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I’m glad that it’s important that people don’t do things “weird” but it’s okay to approach a car at 30 over and then brake at the last minute, leaving no room for error and creating a legitimately unsafe condition.

Honeybunchesofgoats > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/30/2017 at 11:57

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I don’t want to pile on the OP, especially since this is an old thread, but—and I say this as someone who is obsessive about not impeding traffic in the passing lane—if someone pulled that shit with me, they’d very quickly find the two of us coasting down to a near stop.