Which driver is "in the right"?

[radcen]

Two vehicles are traveling down a two-lane highway. Vehicle #1 is in front and is travelling at 53 MPH. They come to a passing lane. There are two signs for the passing lane.



Vehicle #1 stays in the left lane and continues at 53 MPH. The driver of Vehicle #2 wants to travel at 65 MPH, and wants to pass Vehicle #1, but the driver of Vehicle #1 refuses to move to the right lane.

Which driver is "in the right"?

Some points...

- The driver of Vehicle #1 is obeying the posted speed limit.

- The driver of Vehicle #1 is not moving to the right lane as directed by the other sign, and is hence hindering Vehicle #2.

- The driver of Vehicle #2 wants to speed and technically break the law.

Discuss & vote.

Disclaimer: Please note this question is not about how easy it would be for Vehicle #2 to just pass on the right.

 

[Summerwind]

Two vehicles are traveling down a two-lane highway. Vehicle #1 is in front and is travelling at 53 MPH. They come to a passing lane. There are two signs for the passing lane.

View attachment 67192358 View attachment 67192359

Vehicle #1 stays in the left lane and continues at 53 MPH. The driver of Vehicle #2 wants to travel at 65 MPH, and wants to pass Vehicle #1, but the driver of Vehicle #1 refuses to move to the right lane.

Which driver is "in the right"?

Some points...

- The driver of Vehicle #1 is obeying the posted speed limit.

- The driver of Vehicle #1 is not moving to the right lane as directed by the other sign, and is hence hindering Vehicle #2.

- The driver of Vehicle #2 wants to speed and technically break the law.

Discuss & vote.

Disclaimer: Please note this question is not about how easy it would be for Vehicle #2 to just pass on the right.

Vehicle one has the type of driver in it that drives other drivers into road rage, and he is in the wrong. It doesn't say, if you're going close to the speed limit, it says very specifically "Slower," we was slower, he's in the wrong unless he is in the process of passing an even slower vehicle. That's not indicated in your scenario so I'm assuming it isn't so. That said, driver #2 should just pass on the right and be done with it.

 

[mtm1963]

driver 2, pass on the right and go around driver 1. problem solved. happens all the time.

 

[radcen]

Vehicle one has the type of driver in it that drives other drivers into road rage, and he is in the wrong. It doesn't say, if you're going close to the speed limit, it says very specifically "Slower," we was slower, he's in the wrong unless he is in the process of passing an even slower vehicle. That's not indicated in your scenario so I'm assuming it isn't so. That said, driver #2 should just pass on the right and be done with it.

As none others were mentioned, the question presumes they are the only two on the road at that moment.

But yes, if V1 were passing an even slower vehicle that would change the whole equation. Then the question would become what does V1 do AFTER it has passed the even slower vehicle.

 

[pinqy]

driver 2, pass on the left and go around driver 1. problem solved. happens all the time.

Pass on the shoulder, or the median? It's been stipulated that Driver 1 is in the left lane.

 

[justabubba]

Two vehicles are traveling down a two-lane highway. Vehicle #1 is in front and is travelling at 53 MPH. They come to a passing lane. There are two signs for the passing lane.

View attachment 67192358 View attachment 67192359

Vehicle #1 stays in the left lane and continues at 53 MPH. The driver of Vehicle #2 wants to travel at 65 MPH, and wants to pass Vehicle #1, but the driver of Vehicle #1 refuses to move to the right lane.

Which driver is "in the right"?

Some points...

- The driver of Vehicle #1 is obeying the posted speed limit.

- The driver of Vehicle #1 is not moving to the right lane as directed by the other sign, and is hence hindering Vehicle #2.

- The driver of Vehicle #2 wants to speed and technically break the law.

Discuss & vote.

Disclaimer: Please note this question is not about how easy it would be for Vehicle #2 to just pass on the right.

the slower vehicle is the one in violation - as the sign indicates - slower traffic in the right lane

how do you know vehicle 2 "wants" to travel at 65 mph, because until reaching the passing lane said vehicle, behind the slow vehicle 1, vehicle 2 was traveling no faster than 53 mph

and vehicle 2 should have initially stayed in the fast lane and flashed its lights at vehicle 1 to move over

 

[Skeptic Bob]

Neither is in the right. It is common driving courtesy to stay to the right and leave the left lane open for passing, regardless of your speed. Vehicle 2 isn't in the right because he is speeding. But that has nothing to do with what vehicle 1 should do.

 

[Summerwind]

As none others were mentioned, the question presumes they are the only two on the road at that moment.

But yes, if V1 were passing an even slower vehicle that would change the whole equation. Then the question would become what does V1 do AFTER it has passed the even slower vehicle.

Then it doesn't really matter who is in the right as there is room for V2 to pass on the right, unless he/she waited too long to realize that the idiot in front was an asshole.

 

[mtm1963]

driver 2, pass on the right and go around driver 1. problem solved. happens all the time.

i'll add one more thing, never tailgate the driver in front of you to get them to move over!

 

[justabubba]

Neither is in the right. It is common driving courtesy to stay to the right and leave the left lane open for passing, regardless of your speed. Vehicle 2 isn't in the right because he is speeding. But that has nothing to do with what vehicle 1 should do.

actually, V2 could have passed in the right lane at 55mph, and thus would not have been in violation of the law

 

[mtm1963]

Pass on the shoulder, or the median? It's been stipulated that Driver 1 is in the left lane.

i corrected my post. i got my left and the right wrong.

 

[radcen]

actually, V2 could have passed in the right lane at 55mph, and thus would not have been in violation of the law

Most passing lanes aren't 5 miles long.

 

[soot]

Your OP doesn't say anything about the driver of V1 deliberately traveling at 53 MPH.

Speedometers are notoriously inaccurate and replacing the tires on your car with thicker or thinner tires than the stock tires that were initially used for speedometer calibration can further effect speedometer accuracy.

It's completely plausible that the driver in the left hand lane thought he was doing 55 MPH or more when he was actually driving 53 MPH.

The driver of V2 has no way of knowing what the driver of V1 sees on his speedometer and consequently is being a petty bitch over a 2 MPH difference in speed.

He can either pass illegally on the right so he can continue to illegally speed, or not, but I fail to see how he can hold the driver of V1 responsible for a difference in speed well within the reasonable margin of error for actual speed/displayed speed.

I'm editing this to add that even if the driver of V1 is deliberately driving 53 MPH but is doing so because he knows that speedometers are notoriously inaccurate and is thus insuring that even if his speedometer is giving a low reading he is staying within the +/- 3% to 4% window common for inaccurate speedometers then he isn't really doing anything wrong.

 

[MaggieD]

U

Two vehicles are traveling down a two-lane highway. Vehicle #1 is in front and is travelling at 53 MPH. They come to a passing lane. There are two signs for the passing lane.

View attachment 67192358 View attachment 67192359

Vehicle #1 stays in the left lane and continues at 53 MPH. The driver of Vehicle #2 wants to travel at 65 MPH, and wants to pass Vehicle #1, but the driver of Vehicle #1 refuses to move to the right lane.

Which driver is "in the right"?

Some points...

- The driver of Vehicle #1 is obeying the posted speed limit.

- The driver of Vehicle #1 is not moving to the right lane as directed by the other sign, and is hence hindering Vehicle #2.

- The driver of Vehicle #2 wants to speed and technically break the law.

Discuss & vote.

Disclaimer: Please note this question is not about how easy it would be for Vehicle #2 to just pass on the right.

In Illinois, driver on the left could be ticketed.

 

[Summerwind]

U

In Illinois, driver on the left could be ticketed.

I believe in most states I've driven in, ... the same. All cars not actively passing another is considered a "slower" vehicle even if it's the only vehicle on the road. I think some states even use the more wisely presented sign, "Keep Right, except while passing".

 

[justabubba]

Most passing lanes aren't 5 miles long.

1.25 mile distance required, assuming 100' following distance between cars and 20' car length

 

[mtm1963]

here's an added catch, what if all the traffic in the right lane is going slower then 53 mph?

 

[justabubba]

here's an added catch, what if all the traffic in the right lane is going slower then 53 mph?

this is when my ole buddy, 'affectionately' known as 'reckless robert' would tap the bumper of the slower car in the fast lane
dale ernhardt was notorious for doing the same along the stretch of I-85 near his house, but unlike robert's, i was not a witness to such NASCAR craziness

 

[radcen]

U

In Illinois, driver on the left could be ticketed.

Could be in most states, but is rarely enforced unless the slower driver is doing something particularly egregious.

 

[radcen]

1.25 mile distance required, assuming 100' following distance between cars and 20' car length

Way to miss the point, but then again when I responded I thought you were being deliberately obtuse anyway, so all is good.

 

[mtm1963]

this is when my ole buddy, 'affectionately' known as 'reckless robert' would tap the bumper of the slower car in the fast lane
dale ernhardt was notorious for doing the same along the stretch of I-85 near his house, but unlike robert's, i was not a witness to such NASCAR craziness

today's nascar is just that if you have been watching the race for the cup. its disgusting what the drivers do today and nascar does next to nothing about because its what the fans like, not to mention the money!!

 

[American]

Driver #1 is wrong, and should move over to allow faster traffic.

 

[justabubba]

Way to miss the point, but then again when I responded I thought you were being deliberately obtuse anyway, so all is good.

ok, share the 'point' with me so i don't miss out

 

[Phys251]

Neither is in the right. It is common driving courtesy to stay to the right and leave the left lane open for passing, regardless of your speed. Vehicle 2 isn't in the right because he is speeding. But that has nothing to do with what vehicle 1 should do.

This. Veh #2 should obey the "slower traffic keep right" sign, but for Veh #1, two wrongs do not make a right. Veh #1 should just move to whichever lane is available.

 

[jet57]

Two vehicles are traveling down a two-lane highway. Vehicle #1 is in front and is travelling at 53 MPH. They come to a passing lane. There are two signs for the passing lane.

View attachment 67192358 View attachment 67192359

Vehicle #1 stays in the left lane and continues at 53 MPH. The driver of Vehicle #2 wants to travel at 65 MPH, and wants to pass Vehicle #1, but the driver of Vehicle #1 refuses to move to the right lane.

Which driver is "in the right"?

Some points...

- The driver of Vehicle #1 is obeying the posted speed limit.

- The driver of Vehicle #1 is not moving to the right lane as directed by the other sign, and is hence hindering Vehicle #2.

- The driver of Vehicle #2 wants to speed and technically break the law.

Discuss & vote.

Disclaimer: Please note this question is not about how easy it would be for Vehicle #2 to just pass on the right.

Vehicle 1 is wrong. It is a technicality, but he is wrong.