Do You Ride In The Middle Lane?

they are scary nuff as it is

 

Giggles, I think I can help you fix the problem in your sig.....dontcha know you gotta press 1 for English?????
Back on topic, yes I do ride in the 2nd lane from the right IF there is no one behind me wanting to go faster. If there is, I step to the right let traffic pass then step left. If there is a steady flow of traffic passing me I have no problem riding in the right lane. As to merging traffic, if you watch the ramps usually you can back off a little and give the 4's room to merge except when there is a steady stream of traffic coming down the ramp then I'm in the #2 lane... deal with it! . You don't lose that much time. It shouldnt be us against them, we are supposed to be the professionals and we all know what the 4 drivers are be a pro and share the road.

 

I think there might be a misinterpretation of when drivers ride in lane #2. If the highway has 4 or more lanes, then riding in lane #2 is perfectly fine. However, if the highway has 3 or less, riding in lane #2 is not fine.

 

NO !!!!! Its not fine. I take back "POST #22" !!!! Let me guess why you changed your mind. NAH......not worth the argument,..... WSYROB must of sent you a "PM"........ as a matter a fact, Im really surprise he hasn't chimed in here. he loves the middle lane.

 

Without a doubt trucks need room from 4-wheelers, but at the same time 4-wheelers need room from trucks. Your comment about "give an inch" got me thinking about the issue of trying to protect the space in front of you in order to try and prevent getting cut off by cars trying to merge. Actually, if you give a LOT of space in front of you, then 4-wheelers have a much easier time of merging.

This also applies particularly when we get a "choo-choo train" of trucks in the middle lane, all trying to stay close to each other so they don't get "cut off" by those danged 4-wheelers. But the practical effect is that it creates a WALL of trucks that makes it extremely difficult for 4-wheelers to get from the left lane over to their exit and vice versa.

Suppose you are in a choo-choo train of trucks in the middle lane, and you are within a truck length of the truck in front of you (to prevent 4-wheelers from taking your space). Let's suppose the choo-choo train is chugging along at 62 mph and the left lane traffic is going 70 mph. How in heck is a 4-wheeler supposed to get from the left lane over to the upcoming exit?

He has to merge into that truck length space in front of you and put on the brakes to slow down from 70 to 62 mph. Then the trucker has the audacity to complain, "Hey! That 4-wheeler just cut me off and put on his brakes right in front of me!!!"

Well, what do you expect if you don't give enough room for traffic to flow? If you leave a tight space in front of you (tailgating) and there is no other space available, then you can expect to be "cut off" frequently.

 

to clarify, i dont tailgate....never have....always leave plenty of space.....i meant in addition to that.....then they want even more...guess it did kind of sound that way, however i do NOT tailgate....

 

Uh ok whatever you say lol.. ya know I'm just messin with ya

 

We've lost a few long time members to this thread. Well that sucks.

 

This is what State of Indiana thinks about it... IC 9-21-8-13
Interstate highways consisting of at least three lanes; lane use restrictions for trucks
Sec. 13. Except when entering or leaving a highway or where a special hazard exists that requires, for safety reasons, the use of an alternate lane, a person may not operate a truck, truck tractor, road tractor, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer on an interstate highway consisting of at least three (3) lanes in one (1) direction in any lane other than the two (2) far right lanes.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

And yes, they encourage use of the middle lane by trucks through Indy to " improve flow of traffic". So
someone with a governed , slower truck could argue that unless they have 7 sec of following distance which is almost never in metro area ,they could cruise in middle lane all day long at 55 . And you could pass them in the third left lane if they are driving slower than the speed limit for safety reason.
Now we all know when you get a ticket doing that the burden of proving that you are innocent will be on you.
It is easier for O/O if you are stuck behind a drag@sser like that. I just think about all that fuel I save. Even if I drive 50 I am ok. For co driver there is not much you can do if you want to keep your record clean. Having said that I would just go to the left lane and just drive passing everybody with the flow of traffic . Got 1 third lane violation ticket in 3 years, so what? Got dismissed anyways

 

Topic is huge pet peeve to me! x 10 in states w/ left lane truck restrictions!!

Slower traffic keep right, Keep right except to pass, or however your state(s) words it.
Its not a hard concept to grasp? If your in a city w/ heavy merging traffic, middle lane is fine... You are passing them correct? <--- If they are passing you, time to find a new career and give your white knuckles some blood flow again.

Chicago I80/94, I294 are perfect example of this(I'm sure many more). Yes posted speed limit is 55mph, but traffic moves @ 65mph. All 3+ lane interstate, but trucks only allowed right 2. Not a day goes by some short bus window licker is driving 55 in middle lane. Go left to pass and chance $300 fine, and inevitable go right to pass and find a 55mph car/truck that does understand the rules.

Everyone that has responded to this thread does get the idea, so can assume most in middle lane bee-bopping to their tunes @ 55 just stuck their middle finger out window at you. In essence they said I'm in no hurry, and too important to be inconvenienced with looking in my mirror, adjust speed, ... #### I bet they laughing too when you try right lane and can't pass.

Myself, I run middle lane, and keep pace... will increase speed to 9mph over then move right when traffic behind looks aggressive. I'm happy to move over and get the bear bait out front.

My gosh people, if traffic is moving above posted speed limit, USE IT, or move right.