Which driver is "in the right"?

radcen · Nov 12, 2015

EdwinWillers said:
V1's driver is in violation of the traffic law governed by the "Slower Traffic Keep Right" sign - which is as binding as the speed limit sign is binding, regardless of how it may be enforced.

V1's driver is "hindering" V2's driver, regardless whether they are in a state in which traffic laws prohibit passing a vehicle on the right or not. Posted general safe driving practices discourage (and in some cases prohibit) passing on the right because it is a safety issue, the vehicle in front having less visibility (steering wheel being on the left in this country) of vehicles to their right than they do with vehicles on their left.

V1's driver is also guilty of reckless driving. Most reckless driving laws cover BOTH "deliberate" reckless driving and inattentive driving. Deliberately being reckless we all get: speeding, swerving, tailgating, etc. But not seeing the sign requiring them to move over, seeing it but it not registering for whatever reason, not remembering the law to move over, not seeing the driver behind them or their presence not registering is inattentive driving and therefore reckless driving - and fwiw - just as deliberate a violation of the law as doing it willfully.

V1's driver is also being a jerk. Whether willfully or not, they're being a jerk.

V2's driver is doing nothing wrong. They may want to drive faster, but until they actually GO faster, they're doing nothing wrong. In fact, in NOT taking advantage of the driving lane on their right to pass the reckless jerk in V1, they're being everything the violator in V1 isn't.

I pretty much agree with your take on V1. Your take on V2 is interesting, but not sure I agree. At least not fully.

Ostensibly, V2 was speeding. That's why they caught up to V1. Then, when the passing lane presents itself, they will speed again given the chance. While I think V2 is the less of the "wrong", I don't see V2 as wholly "in the right", either.

Bodi · Nov 12, 2015

Is it wrong to drive slow until the passing lane and then speed up so nobody can pass you and then slow down again? I like doing that...

EdwinWillers · Nov 12, 2015

radcen said:
I pretty much agree with your take on V1. Your take on V2 is interesting, but not sure I agree. At least not fully.

Ostensibly, V2 was speeding. That's why they caught up to V1. Then, when the passing lane presents itself, they will speed again given the chance. While I think V2 is the less of the "wrong", I don't see V2 as wholly "in the right", either.

I didn't read any of that in the OP - all I saw was that they were behind V1, "wanting" to go 65. Meh...

Aunt Spiker · Nov 13, 2015

radcen said:
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.

As others have stated - but I can't help but say it again - you can get ticketed for being the slow driver in the left lane.

Law is more likely to pull you over for obstructing traffic flow than they are to pull you over for going 10 mph over the speed limit when there's little traffic - or for passing on the right.

in fact, if someone doesn't pass you on the right then you're not SLOW - you're not seen as obstructing traffic flow UNTIL someone passes you on the right.

If you've ever been pulled over for being the slower moving vehicle ("But I wasn't SPEEDING, officer, everybody ELSE was speeding") you might be told "So what?" . . . slower moving traffic is more of a danger.

EdwinWillers · Nov 13, 2015

Aunt Spiker said:
As others have stated - but I can't help but say it again - you can get ticketed for being the slow driver in the left lane.

Law is more likely to pull you over for obstructing traffic flow than they are to pull you over for going 10 mph over the speed limit when there's little traffic - or for passing on the right.

in fact, if someone doesn't pass you on the right then you're not SLOW - you're not seen as obstructing traffic flow UNTIL someone passes you on the right.

If you've ever been pulled over for being the slower moving vehicle ("But I wasn't SPEEDING, officer, everybody ELSE was speeding") you might be told "So what?" . . . slower moving traffic is more of a danger.

Agreed - it is in fact a form of careless ("care-less") driving, reckless driving - whether one is driving inattentively or insensitively, they are driving carelessly and therefore recklessly.

Which driver is "in the right"?