Middle Lane Etiquette

And, if I was in the right lane, they would still be doing 80, just in the middle and left lane instead of the right. Either way, they choose to drive that way, nothing I can do to stop them. And what is it with the NE, I know people from that area like to be different and they will show it every chance they get. They can have it! I will let the NE drivers drive the NE. Rates don't pay for bleep coming back out anyway, not worth what they pay going in, to go...

 

We were both a little shook up over it but got down the road anyway. He is 2 days away from being done, he wont take off because of it. I gave him a pat on the back for handling it well though. It could have got ugly in several ways.

 

I heartily agree with your assessment that leaving as many "outs" as possible is critical. Oftentimes when driving 3 lanes or more, driving in the middle lane(s) will mean you are surrounded by vehicles and the only real "out" is leaving space in front of you. If anything happens that takes away the one out you are counting on, then you are stuck. The shoulder IS an out. This was a critical for me in a situation last year when I was driving the right lane in heavy traffic approaching Denver, plenty of space in front, when a pickup with a U-haul trailer lost a refrigerator in the right lane. The shoulder WAS the out and gave me plenty of time to put on the 4-way and slow GRADUALLY and move over to allow drivers behind me to see the danger.

If any truck needs to be in the right lane, I'd rather it was me. I say that because I drive with courtesy for merging traffic, slowing to allow them in as safe and necessary, or changing lanes when safe to do so.

The ONE thing I focus on in heavy traffic, other than maintaining space in general, is how I am spaced with other TRUCKS. The "roller skates" can take care of themselves. I want to avoid slowing another trucker and move over to the right lane when it is feasible and if I need to pass another truck or slow vehicle I'll wait until the choo-choo train of truckers afflicted with the heartbreak of severe cases of A.R.S. move on by before making my pass.

Which leads me to the situation where I'm in the middle lane BECAUSE the right lane is unsafe, short view entrances and exits for example. In that case I'm going to leave about 6-8 seconds following distance with the next big rig, slowing slightly if roller skates need to use that space. If I'm hanging in that middle lane for a while there is a purpose to it. Now, if Billy Big Rig just can't stand the fact that I have ALL THAT SPACE in front of me and just HAS TO make a pass and cut in front of me so he can fixate on his A.R.S., then that's his problem, not mine.

 

Following up on this last bit, I am appalled when a "choo-choo" train of truckers, all afflicted with A.R.S., create a wall of trucks in the middle lane. This leaves no room for passenger vehicles to merge from the hammer lane to exit or vice versa.

A.R.S. aka Anal Remora Syndrome (A-Nul Ree-Moe-Ruh Sin-Drome) - an affliction of drivers with an overpowering need to sniff the anal orifice of the vehicle in front of them.

 

I guess i better read the "Smith System".....

They had no such thing 30 years ago and there was no such thing as CDL school.

Maybe then I can figure out what the heck is wrong with what some of the drivers out there learned!
Does that program give them driver and traffic police training?......They get a CDL and a badge?

I'm a third generation driver and was taught by my Uncle who had almost 50 years experience.
Throw some of these newbies in a spring ride cab over with a twin stick! 99% of them will never figure it out.

Also why the hell would CDL schools train in a truck with an automatic? We have a newbie fresh out of school that can't drive a 10 speed!
He was trained with an auto.....WOW! Stupid!

OK,.....rant over!

 

With Schneider I'm stuck at 60, I try to do whatever I can to avoid impeding drivers who can hit the 65 or 70 mph speed limit.

 

I had a Schneider the other day that sure looked like a company truck who ran 75 with me....He had no radio I guess but hung in behind me...

 

Amen....I thought I was the only one who experienced this. And it is mentally draining. I've just developed the same trait....I slow down, generally ride in the right lane and let traffic go on by. It's not worth attempting to stay with the flow of traffic when you have drivers and even four wheelers, hanging out in the middle lane....our passing lane.....not willing to move over or run with traffic.

 

I do wonder if drivers do this stuff on purpose. A lot of times I think they just aren't aware. You can see them in the mirrors and I always try to watch the mirrors to see if they are looking to come over. Cause you know, most don't know what a turn signal is anymore. But they'll just jump over in front of you and not once look in mirror. I just don't get it. Then after they change lanes, their blinker will flick one time. lmao WTF But hey, it is what it is....

 

This is true. But it seems most drivers who can't run more than 62 or 63 think it's wrong for other drivers to actually run the speed limit. If the speed limit is 70, going 70 is not unsafe in good weather/driving conditions. I'm more apt to say that running 10-15 mph UNDER the speed limit is actually an unsafe practice. Just for the simple fact of how it causes four wheelers to act. They become way more aggressive when two trucks have traffic backed up for miles because they are taking forever to pass. Granted, that doesn't take away their responsibilities for aggressive and unsafe driving. But it makes them mad and in turn they become unsafe. All because they are waiting for 10 miles for a truck that is 10-15 mph slower than traffic to pass a truck that is running basically the same speed. And instead of letting the flow of traffic in left lane pass by before jumping out to start his pass, he just whipped right out in front of the four wheelers, making them get on their brakes.

That scenario happens every day. And there is no reason for it. We are suppose to be the professionals yet the majority of drivers out here today have no freakin clue what that is suppose to mean. They only care about their own little world and screw everyone else.

I have no issue with governed trucks or what lane people drive in. I used to get fired up about it but it does no good. Just like idiots shopping or showering or taking the 30 minute break while in fuel island. You can't fix stupid. You can't teach courtesy or common sense to people that have no desire to learn it. So I've just learned to slow my roll and relax cause their inconsiderate, rude and a lot of times dangerous behavior, doesn't bother them. Cause they don't care. And me getting all fired up only affects and hurts me. Which could cloud my judgement and that's not cool.