why are trucks driving in the middle lane(s)?

The point the OP is trying to make is why do some trucks ride the middle lane in the middle of nowhere, outside of a city, no matter what time of day and road traffic condition?

If you are are on rural interstate, like the turnpike across Ohio, your place of duty is the right lane no matter how fast that truck goes. If have need the middle to let someone merge, use it for that. There is no reason for hibernating and homesteading out there like 70% you do.

The circumstance is obviously different in a big city, but usually it boils down to sheer laziness and lack of experience.

 

Another phenomenon I get while staying right is that just about every time a car decides to pass my truck, I'm approaching a temporary lane merging into mine. It's uncanny, someone will catch up from miles away at higher speed and then hover behind me in the other lane as if they're waiting for the worst time to pass by. That or stay behind me in the right lane, only to swing around at that particluar moment another vehicle may be intersecting in front of us. There's no way it's a random coincidence.

As it happens I think it only pisses people off that they lose this opportunity to interfere if a truck is in the middle lane. Still, I don't mind staying right, unless I'm not in a through lane, just saying. That's why I make the big bucks, yet the more courteous I am in letting others in from there, the more trucks I drive out into the middle lane, so it makes no difference for that matter. Or actually I slow everyone down even more for doing so, but they're never careful what they wish for are they...

 

What I want to know is, when I'm in the center lane and the hammer lane is open, why do 4wheelers attach themselves to my backside instead of just going around? So they sit there, flashing their lights, honking horns and just in general being asinine until they finally pull their heads from their backsides and go around, usually while giving the one finger salute.

I just shake my head or maybe, if I'm feeling particularly snarky that day, smile and wave!

Quit trying to prove whatever point you think you have and just drive people, it ain't that hard.

 

The short answer: because we've been banned from the left lane.

 

Basically, it's more safer for me when I do it. Even when I'm driving slow for a reason. I usually go to 60-65 MPH when I'm on a highway. Trust me a lot of cars pass by me and cut me off. When they do that, I blow my horn to let them know said hey you cut me and that wasn't a safe decision you had made.

 

The world would be a better place if we used our turn-signals more and our single finger salutes less...

I think the average 2,000 lb 4-Wheeler should consider this when dealing with a 80,000 lb truck....

Yes I will be in jail ( Maybe), but you and most everyone in your vehicle will be dead, So help me help you stay alive... give me some space.

 

I respectfully disagree.

The world would be a better place if we replaced our air horns with rocket launchers.

I didn't say I'd be a better place for EVERYONE!

 

Sorry for jumping on an old post but I have to say, That will never happen as long as city councils see every traveler on the road as potential sales tax revenue if only they would stop in their city. Case in point, a member of the local city council expressed just this concern about a proposed bridge over the river that would bypass the existing tunnel that gets congested. This new bridge would keep travelers away from 3 exits that lead into downtown if they take that route vs going through the existing tunnel.

 

It actually happens all the time. Look on youtube "abandoned roads pennsylvania". What happens is that the cost to maintain the tunnel and road will far outweigh a new bridge and some road way. So someday your town will lose the congestion, it is only a matter of time and money.

 

Many have told you already. Two things.

First off, trucks are governed. Limited to say 60, 61,62, 63 and that's about it. A few will run 65. YAY... a couple will do 70.

Arkansas is in process of raising to 75 on our roads as soon as the signs go up. It's law now. 55 mph rurals will go to 65. (It's a little fast but it's ok...)

Second off the trucks cannot be bothered to slow down, speed up (Slow down...) to deal with the merging BS that has become really out of hand to the right side. And fight with a herd of other governed trucks. All of them 1 mph separate causing clogged highways below the speed limit for dozens of miles. It's almost as if it's a secret conspiracy to cause a slow down in speed.

Why oh why do these company castrate the trucks? They are self insured. Ding something and its 250,000 dollars minimum settlement cash. Cheaper than having a expensive policy. Cost of fuel is the other thing. Now ignoring the idea that fuel was 5 mpg in the late 60's and they celebrate 7 mpg as some kind of epochal achievement... HA...

I am old enough to recall the days before all of this. And ran at whatever the engine and downgrade will give me. 130ish and even that is a estimate against the milemarkers and stop watch. When you cover a mile in a little over 24 seconds... you are around 150ish. I'll have to check the math on that. But there has been a few spots where a buck fiddy is busted for change. (The Fiddy means fifty. A baltimore thing...)

Anyhow... those days are gone forever. Prior to that we used to sort horses. The ones with the most gets first in line. Everyone heavy goes into the caboose. Rest in the middle. So when we hit a mountain, we are organized more or less.

Those days are gone too.

Even the old split speed limits. Those raised holy hell on the interstate system. I recall Texas back in 1993 or so had huge signs at the state line bigger than the side of my trailer detailing what can run how slow... ugh. Now you can get up and go 85. That's nice. But if you are stuck in a rig good for 61... you are in for terror.

Ive been governed at 55 with DM Bowman in the south among 70 to 80 mph traffic blowing my doors off and trash talking me. It's one of the reasons I quit. The money isnt worth it. I went into a outfit that was unlimited. And boy howdy did we roll.

Those days are over too.

Why is this all bad? Well at 20 over what you are doing it's enough to decapitate people when they hit the decap bar under that trailer doors. Anything faster you are looking at essentially a lethal wreck. Or multiples of same. I don't know if you noticed how small cars have gotten today, no more of them 20 foot steel barges that only crinkle a little bit good for the body shop once they trashbag your remains and swept the glass.