Is this a new driver training technique?

As long as there's 3 lanes, nothing wrong with that.

 

Probably.

 

except for Calif. where trucks have to be in right 2 lanes only.

 

It's training that utilizes the Smith System of defensive driving. The rationale behind it it that the slow lane has to deal with merging traffic, so that's not where you want to be. You can look up the bullet points of the Smith System. Knight teaches this, or used to before the covid b.s. at their orientations.

 

I drive in the middle lane to avoid tge brain dead idiots that can’t merge onto the highway.

 

So it's okay to drive slower in the middle lane and make faster trucks pass you on the right? You might want to consider coming back to driving, you'd fit right in these days.

 

Since the first road that had 3 lanes going in one direction, this has existed. It’s not just trucks

 

I remember someone referring to the middle lane as the 'safety lane'.

I prefer the right lane in most situations. Much easier to keep some space around you without p'ing people off.

 

Rural areas you'll find me in the right lane but in a congested metro area I'm in the #2 lane, or the #1 lane if the d-heads are loose, going 5 over.