Choosing a lane.... Safe strategies in congested areas

Multiple interstate lanes, I'll go 1 to the left unless I see trucks coming up on me and then I'll move over if it's safe.

On urban streets, I try to run the center on 3 lanes or left if there are 2 lanes with left turn lanes. (Because I always get cars that zip past me on the left and then cut over and slam on the beakes to make a right turn.) If there are separate right turn lanes, I'll run in the right lane.

 

Except in Texas, watch out because lots of cities have right lanes that turn into exit only lanes. Middle lanes are generally safest.
Mary

 

Lol.

If you're going the speed limit, then you're not holding up anyone - if they want to speed and break the law, let them go around you, don't accommodate them, I don't. I'm not gonna risk hitting someone for the sake of letting a lawbreaker continue to break the law.

Where cars can go faster, I stay to the right lane, or middle if there are only 3 consistent lanes. I don't like holding up other cars when they can go faster.

I go through Houston twice a week, every week, on US59.
On the way south, before I get into downtown, I get into the 2nd leftmost lane. After the I-10 merge, and I-45 and other lanes coming in and coming out, that lane is the one i will eventually need to be in anyways to stay on that highway, so I just get into that lane early so I don't have to switch lanes in the heavy traffic, which is normally going faster than me anyways and making it more dangerous. Speed limit is 60, so I go 60, everyone else likes going 65-70, but I ignore them, I just mind my own business and stay at 60, and I don't tailgate, I will back off if I need to.

 

I'm a local driver in the Baton Rouge/New Orleans area and have to drive through heavy traffic quite frequently with my job. First of all, leave yourself an out. If it's two lanes, try not to let traffic linger on your left side and ALWAYS check those mirrors every few seconds to know whats coming up. It's just my own personal preference, but when I'm in heavy traffic that is moving at a decent pace you'll find me in the right lane with the shoulder to my advantage. If I come up on stopped traffic there's ALWAYS that out. When I do get into congested areas, I generally move about 5 - 10 miles slower than the pace of traffic, that way when a driver cuts me off I have plenty of space in front of me to make up for it. I know it seems hard to keep 5-6 seconds between you and the car in front, but don't ever find yourself right on a bumper because you will hit it. When a car cuts me off I just knock it back to compensate for it, and repeat it about 50 million times before I get to the other side of the city.

 

Stay right/pass left, you want safe? take the bus.

(Safe,,,except of course for the muggers, pan handlers, gang bangers, thugs,,,)

 

The interstate highway system was designed for truckers. Automobile traffic was not its main focus. When they first opened up the system the far left hand lane was called the thru lane. It was for those going through the town. The Center lane was the travel lane. That was for people who may be exiting but not the next exit, you traveled on it. The right hand lane was the exit lane. That was used by folks who planned on exiting the next exit and for those who had just merged onto the highway. Not it seems that trucks are uninvited to the party. You are suppose to stay out of the left lane if there are more then 2 lanes. What causes most accidents with trucks is changing lanes. Pick the travel lane and stay there. Unless you plan on exiting and then move to the exit lane. Just the way it was designed.

 

Eisenhower brought the interstate bake from Germany's Autobahn to be used as a means of rapidly replying military forces.

Commerce was secondary

 

Laws like that in many states (PA included).

I travel Pittsburgh on a normal basis and am usually in the right lane unless I am passing. Some roads (I-79 around the 376 junction) I will stay in center of three as I know the right lane ends, that is unless someone is traveling to slow and wont get over, then I pass on the right (go ahead flame me haha!).

Sent from my DROIDX

 

Oh I pass on the right all the time,,, it's not my fault slow drivers hog up the center lane.

What Wooly said is interesting, I've often thought the highways would be more efficient if they tossed the commuters out of the HOV lanes and made them strictly for trucks bypassing the city. Instead you've got big rigs locked into the two right most lanes and the commuters complaining they can't get on the highway from the truck traffic, and then darting all he way over to the HOV lane. Only to get off less than 15 miles later.

As an aside, it does seem like anything more than 3 lanes confuses people (4 wheelers) anyway. I've seen better passing on 2 lanes than on 6 wide.

And does anyone else find it frustrating that on the NJTP though Newark we have a dedicated truck ROADWAY,,, but we're still restricted to two lanes? I'd love to ask Gov Christie for 75% of my fuel taxes back, since I'm only allowed to use 25% of that road.

 

on 6 lane roads through a city I always take the middle lane. No sense in interacting with merging traffic more then you have to. If I am holding someone up...tuff turkey, there are 2 other lanes to use.

In a city i also try to use the center lane to stay away from parked cars. Always know where you are going and plan way ahead for the left or right turn. Google earth is a great program to help you plan your trips to shippers and receivers as it allows you to see a actual view of where you are going.