TheFordFocusWagon’s Lins writes about John Gormley’s questionable crusade against drivers who use the left lane of a 4 lane highway, at or slightly below the speed limit. While I have some sympathy for people in a hurry, the general truth is that impatience on the highway can kill, and letting the urge to drive faster than all other people overtake your thoughts, is the highway to a high gas bill, speeding tickets, higher insurance, and more serious accidents. Unless you’re drunk, high, talking on a cell, an ambulance, police, firecrew, or a frantic parent with sick child, you have no reason to be driving on average more than 20km/h above the posted speed limit for your highway. Cars and especially SUVs can’t respond quickly enough at that speed to human reflexes when a road hazard such as deer, children, or potholes jump in front of your vehicle. And in SK, you know all about potholes jumping in front of your wheels.
Instead of worshiping vigilante patron saints like Trevor [or was it Tyler?] the former producer of Gormley’s CKOM radio show who is the “patron saint of left lane bandits”, we should be encouraging people to slow down, save their temper, save gas, save a little doe, and save lives. I have a radical idea. Instead of passing someone who’s driving slower than you by 5km/h, ask yourself why they are driving so much more slowly. Surely they want to get where they are going as quickly as possible too? Maybe they have a good reason for going the speed limit, other than it being the law.
Perhaps we should feature some kind of entertainment on the back of vehicles, making it undesirable to pass in most cases? The Entertainment would have to be engaging, yet not distracting. Maybe retrofit all vehicles to have a flat screen television on the back bumper? It can’t be any more dangerous than driving while on a cell phone, right?
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Ross | 27-May-06 at 3:26 pm | Permalink
no matter what the speed there is no need for someone to be driving in the left lane of a double lane highway such as #11 between regina and stoon or the transcanada unless they are overtaking someone. as someone who spends most of their time travelling there is nothing more infuriating than trying to pass someone traveling in the right light only to be obstructed by someone traveling nearly the same speed in the left lane. the rcmp should ticket anyone traveling in the left lane if they are not passing another vehicle even if they are traveling at or below the speed limit to discourage people from using that lane when not passing.
Saskboy | 27-May-06 at 3:34 pm | Permalink
Ross, I’d agree with you, except that I find myself in the left lane sometimes, to protect my own safety. This comes about when you need to make a left lane exit, as is the case when going to Yorkton off the Trans-Canada, or in a city where exits often are set up that way, since we don’t have the space or money to make clover-leaf right lane exits for busy intersections.
I’ve been passed while signaling a left turn, ouside of Rockglen. If I hadn’t looked in my mirror and did a shoulder check, I might have been a smear on their front bumper when I turned. Why aren’t speeders ticketed more thouroughly? Why the call to ticket people obeying the speed laws, even if they hamper illegal speeders?
Brandon | 27-May-06 at 4:52 pm | Permalink
It’s your responsibility as a driver to properly shoulder check and safely make a lane change, regardless as to why or where you’re making a lane change. If you don’t make a lane change properly and get “smeared”, that’s your fault.
Saskboy | 27-May-06 at 5:03 pm | Permalink
That’s a matter of opinion, and wrong in the case I referred to. There is a solid yellow line preventing people from legally passing at intersections on 2 lane highways, so the fault is to the driver illegally passing. I’m sure SGI would make sure to use your argument as well, so the blame goes to everyone involved and they’d have to pay the least themselves.
Stephen Glauser | 27-May-06 at 5:06 pm | Permalink
Left Lane Bandits…
Lins over at The Ford Focus Wagon and Saskboy of Abandoned Stuff have been chatting about Left Lane Bandits — the idiots that believe driving ten kilometres below the posted speed limit in the left lane of a four-lane highway……
Stephen Glauser | 27-May-06 at 5:08 pm | Permalink
I agree with Ross. The Left Lane should be reserved for overtaking, however, in a situation where travelling 120km/h between Saskatoon and Regina you will most likely spend most of your time in the left lane, just the way it is I suppose.
Brandon | 27-May-06 at 5:23 pm | Permalink
“That’s a matter of opinion, and wrong in the case I referred to. There is a solid yellow line preventing people from legally passing at intersections on 2 lane highways, so the fault is to the driver illegally passing.”
.. I don’t think that the argument against left-lane drivers applies to situations where left lane passing would be illegal. And I don’t think it’s at all fair to use such an argument against those who use the left lane for legal passing.
Saskboy | 27-May-06 at 5:26 pm | Permalink
To clarify I don’t think someone driving only in the left lane is any less of a danger when they are in the presence of someone driving >5km/h faster than they are. The left lane is for left-turning, passing, emergency vehicles, and speeders. It’s not reasonable to drive in the left lane for more than a km or two when it’s safe and possible to drive in the right lane.
However, [excessive] speeders have a lot of nerve to not only proclaim that they have a right to take that chance, and at the same time deride similarly selfish and hazardous left lane pirates/bandits/dicks/drivers.
Stephen Glauser | 27-May-06 at 5:29 pm | Permalink
Alright, I agree that driving in the left lane for a km+ is responsible driving, even if going 15 – 20km/h over the limit.
It should be used simply for driving. However, when there are signs posted “slower traffic, stay in right lane”, but people driving under the limit decide to park themselves there, it is absolutely more dangerous than having someone speeding in that lane.
Saskboy | 27-May-06 at 5:30 pm | Permalink
“And I don’t think it’s at all fair to use such an argument against those who use the left lane for legal passing.”
Fair point, perhaps? 10km/h differences in speed can easily be attributed to not paying attention, or speedometer differences, but if someone is driving 100km/h and someone blows by at 115km/h in a so-called “legal” passing situation, is the car driving 115km/h really being legal? No.
Since there are more serious crimes the police can be chasing after than people going 115km/h, I’m discussing this mostly because it’s a fun hot-button issue, and I can’t let Gormley have all the fun. But also because I want to make it clear that it’s a game of mis-direction to get riled up about the “crime” of left lane driving, since it takes heat off of the real people who misuse the left lane, and that’s people driving well above a safe speed.
Ross | 27-May-06 at 7:38 pm | Permalink
you definately hit a hot button.
Brandon | 27-May-06 at 8:41 pm | Permalink
So since the police don’t have the resources to police the people who drive 10-15km/h over the limit, it’s therefore okay for the Joe Average to teach anyone who speeds excessively (in his opinion) a “lesson”? If that’s what you’re saying, I whole-heartedly disagree. For two primary reasons;
a) I have an issue with anyone trying to “teach me a lesson” because I’m not adhering to their opinion/values.
b) Someone trying to teach someone else a lesson by *intentionally* getting in their way in a traffic situation is, in my opinion, most of the time creating a traffic situation that is far more dangerous than whatever potential hazard someone who is speeding by 5- 15km/h is causing.
I say 5 – 15km/h because in my daily highway driving, I’d say that most people who pass are driving that much faster than the limit.
And as far as someone “blow[ing] by at 115km/h” .. I guess I personally define someone “blowing by me” differently than you do. An example which demonstrates why it’s wrong for someone to try to “teach me a lesson” on the road.
Lins | 27-May-06 at 9:57 pm | Permalink
Firstly, as I said in my own blog, if I drive over the limit and end up with a ticket, that’s my own fault. You can’t argue this.
The fact that I drive on the highway twice a day and have been doing so for more than two years, and haven’t once gotten a ticket, nor been in an accident proves that I’m not some idiot speed demon causes accidents.
Secondly, time is money for a lot of people. If I drive 120-130 kmh instead of 90-100 kmh, I WILL actually get to work/school/appointments on time if the instance is that I am running late.
Thirdly, the idea of “entertainment” on the backs of vehicles is competely preposterous. Whether it was a joke or not, it would be a hell of a lot more hazardous than talking on a cell phone. A cell phone does not take your eyes off of the road for extended periods of time. However, a flat screen television sure as hell would. As much as I think talking on the phone and driving is indeed unsafe, I really don’t think that it’s necessary for people to be watching TV as well. In any case, “driving a little fast” pales in comparison to the dangers of “driving a little distracted.”
Saskboy | 27-May-06 at 10:16 pm | Permalink
Brandon, I tend to define “blowing by” as about 15km/h for a large vehicle like a semi-truck, and >25km/h for other vehicles. Something where the passing vehicle is past the slower one in under a second.
Truckers speeding cause more road damage which does affect everyone. [There I go again creating research work to back up my statements...]
Accidents due to speeding create higher insurance rates for everyone.
Increased fuel consumption reduces the gasoline supply, increasing the price and pollution for everyone [even if it is only say 15% more consumed a year].
I’m not saying that people should be left lane bandits. I just don’t agree to their villification, while speeders are given a free pass when they too are breaking the law and creating expense and danger for others. Few things in life affect only the “self”. When on a public highway this is especially true.
Saskboy | 28-May-06 at 12:11 am | Permalink
Lins don’t worry, the “entertainment idea” was a complete joke. I was going for ‘absolutely absurd’ but I’ll settle for “competely preposterous” instead.
Stephen Glauser | 28-May-06 at 1:44 am | Permalink
I completely agree with Saskboy on the fact that truckers (mainly those carrying full-loads in 40 or 53 foot trailers) should not be allowed to travel at more than 115 or so km/h. It is completely unsafe for them to be travelling 130+.
On numerous occasions I’ve been clipping along at 135 or so between Saskatoon and Regina, only to be passed by a trucker going 140.
Even worse is heading between Saskatoon and Yorkton at 120, and being passed by a semi going 130. Absolutely terrifying.