Slower drivers stay right? Ohio gets it

**StlouisX50** · 03-06-2007, 11:02 AM

Slower drivers stay right? Ohio gets it

March 6, 2007

BY MATT HELMS

FREE PRESS DRIVING COLUMNIST

There they were: traffic signs come down as if from the heavens, bringing clarity to all and civility and peace to weary travelers.

OK, so it was the Ohio Turnpike, one of the least exciting stretches of roadway on Earth, and the skies were gray and a bit of snow fell here and there last weekend during a trip to western Pennsylvania.

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But the signs. They brought joy to my heart, not the least because they were so clear and concise: “Trucks & Slower Traffic Use Right 2 Lanes.”

If only we in Michigan could adopt such simple sense. But no.

Instead, we reserve simple laws like this only for freeways with two lanes each way. On expressways with three or more lanes each way, there’s no law saying the left lane should be reserved for passing only, or for faster traffic.

And that lack of uniformity is like a line in the sand.

On one side are folks like me who say get out of the left lane if there are people behind you looking to go faster. On the other side are the drivers who believe they’re perfectly fine hitting the speed limit and staying in that left lane as long as they please because they’re obeying the speed limit and so should everyone else.

In Ohio, that kind of self-righteousness doesn’t belong in the left lane.

“Sometimes we have people who want to regulate traffic on their own – that’s law enforcement’s job,” Staff Lt. Monte Morgan, assistant district commander for the Ohio State Highway Patrol division that polices the Ohio Turnpike, told me. “If you’re not passing, you should adjust your speed accordingly, get into the right lane, and then maintain speed with the flow of traffic in the right lanes.”

That even applies to people going the speed limit, which is 65 m.p.h. on the turnpike. The Ohio state patrol doesn’t take kindly to situations such as when three cars line up astride, all going the speed limit, while drivers behind them would like to go faster but can’t pass.

That's bound to cause road rage, and Morgan said the Ohio patrol doesn’t want slow drivers encouraging hazardous driving among other motorists.

Besides, Morgan said, “in most circumstances, are most vehicles traveling 65 m.p.h. on the turnpike? Probably not.”

**ELVATO** · 03-06-2007, 01:08 PM

Yay for Ohio

**John_in_NC** · 03-06-2007, 02:59 PM

Here is my favorite sign, end all restrictions :-)
Wish the started putting these up on the highway!

**lordhamster** · 03-06-2007, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by John_in_NC

Here is my favorite sign, end all restrictions :-)
Wish the started putting these up on the highway!

Amen

but seriously, I live in Ohio and we have many many many left lane hogs.

**TSi+WRX** · 03-06-2007, 04:44 PM

^ +1 - way too many left-lane hogs in the Cleveland area.

If I'm in the passing lane, I'm actively passing.

Otherwise, I stay the heck "right."

I'm occasionally "cruising" in the middle lane(s), if I deem the far outside lane to be unsafe due to continually merging on-ramp traffic and depending on weather conditions. I figure that if I'm 5 to even 15-over PSL (highway, of course!) under such conditions and still in the middle lane(s), whoever wants to go faster can move into the passing lane, and I don't feel guilty about "cruising" as-such. Even so, at the first safe opportunity, I'll still "move right."

This country needs some serious lane-discipline lessons.

----

PS: I do confess to sometimes "cruising" in the far inside (i.e. "passing") lane.

ops: However, under such cases, I'm either actively passing *everyone* or I'm literally the only car on that stretch of the road. And yes, under such conditions, I actively scan my rearviews, and "move-right" (as well as signal such intent) well prior to the approach of any faster-movers.

**proudNMAmember** · 03-07-2007, 05:12 PM

Lane hogging sucks but when a semi truck is governed at a low speed, (let's say, 62-65mph), don't you think that is part of the problem? Governing these trucks at least at 70mph or more, would cause much smoother traffic flow. Just my .02 cents.

**NooB1FieD** · 03-14-2007, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by TSi+WRX

^ +1 - way too many left-lane hogs in the Cleveland area.

If I'm in the passing lane, I'm actively passing.

Otherwise, I stay the heck "right."

I'm occasionally "cruising" in the middle lane(s), if I deem the far outside lane to be unsafe due to continually merging on-ramp traffic and depending on weather conditions. I figure that if I'm 5 to even 15-over PSL (highway, of course!) under such conditions and still in the middle lane(s), whoever wants to go faster can move into the passing lane, and I don't feel guilty about "cruising" as-such. Even so, at the first safe opportunity, I'll still "move right."

This country needs some serious lane-discipline lessons.

OMG, we must have the same thinking or somthing... I think they call it common sense!

Yes, I too follow everything you stated.

----

PS: I do confess to sometimes "cruising" in the far inside (i.e. "passing") lane.

ops: However, under such cases, I'm either actively passing *everyone* or I'm literally the only car on that stretch of the road. And yes, under such conditions, I actively scan my rearviews, and "move-right" (as well as signal such intent) well prior to the approach of any faster-movers.

**NooB1FieD** · 03-14-2007, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by TSi+WRX

^ +1 - way too many left-lane hogs in the Cleveland area.

If I'm in the passing lane, I'm actively passing.

Otherwise, I stay the heck "right."

I'm occasionally "cruising" in the middle lane(s), if I deem the far outside lane to be unsafe due to continually merging on-ramp traffic and depending on weather conditions. I figure that if I'm 5 to even 15-over PSL (highway, of course!) under such conditions and still in the middle lane(s), whoever wants to go faster can move into the passing lane, and I don't feel guilty about "cruising" as-such. Even so, at the first safe opportunity, I'll still "move right."

This country needs some serious lane-discipline lessons.

OMG, we must have the same thinking or somthing... I think they call it common sense!

Yes, I too follow everything you stated.

----

PS: I do confess to sometimes "cruising" in the far inside (i.e. "passing") lane.

ops: However, under such cases, I'm either actively passing *everyone* or I'm literally the only car on that stretch of the road. And yes, under such conditions, I actively scan my rearviews, and "move-right" (as well as signal such intent) well prior to the approach of any faster-movers.

OMG, we must have the same thinking or somthing... I think they call it common sense!

Yes, I too follow everything you stated.

**Lucky225** · 03-14-2007, 11:32 AM

I have to disagree with this one being a native californian driver, Truckers you know what I'm talking about. All the trucks in the right lane, and all the LA traffic in the left.. then when you need to get to your exit you can't because everyones merging left and there's a bunch of trucks. It's ridiculous.

**StlouisX50** · 03-14-2007, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by Lucky225

I have to disagree with this one being a native californian driver, Truckers you know what I'm talking about. All the trucks in the right lane, and all the LA traffic in the left.. then when you need to get to your exit you can't because everyones merging left and there's a bunch of trucks. It's ridiculous.

No joke I agree 100%, Here in Missouri truckers have to pass on the left so they tend just to ride in the fast lane and not let other people pass. Which makes a hell of a time when you go to pass them on the right. Makes it very very dangerous. On top of that all the hills we have around here tend to slow the trucks down and cause even more backups.

I like the states that make trucks stay in a truck lane.