this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2024
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You are most welcome.
There is only one bone I have to pick with people who make "slower traffic keep right", "the left lane is for passing", and "the flow of traffic" type of comments. That is in the case of a commercial vehicle travelling 65mph passing another travelling 63mph. This is a perfectly valid use of the passing lanes on a highway, unless signs or local rules indicate otherwise (e.g. no trucks this lane). In this case, 65mph is the flow of traffic in that area and everyone behind should be aware that they are travelling faster than the flow of traffic until the pass has completed.
The worst part about this scenario is both trucks believe they're in the right. They're likely both set to cruise at the speed limit, but slightly out of calibration making them travel at slightly different speeds.
The usual scenario I see is the difference in load weight and the ability to maneuver around curves and hills causes the "elephant race". Taking 2 minutes to pass is still passing, neither truck driver is wrong to do that.
Not technically wrong but kind of an asshole if there's a ton of cars they're holding up just to go 2 mph faster than the guy on the right of them. Maybe step on it a bit to get past him and clear the lane then slow back to what they want to go would be a good compromise. Where I used to live the law was actually that you had to pass within 1/2 a mile if you where in the left lane which I thought was pretty reasonable but I never witnessed that be enforced.
I 100% agree and have no problem with it, as long as they exit the passing lane as soon as it is safe to do so. Trucks almost always get this right, big SUVs almost never do.
Btw, it's not safe to pass a big truck until you can see both headlights in your rear view mirror, assuming flat terrain. If you're going downhill, give them even more space since stopping such a big rig can be very difficult.
It's interesting you say that, cause in the last few years I've noticed more and more trucks that never exit the left lane. They can be the only vehicle on the road for a few hundred feet in either direction but they'll still sit in the left, even when a car caravan catches up and is forced to pass them on the right.
It's honestly the most egregious in a few sections of highway I drive where there are "Left lane js for passing only" signs every few hundred feet (literally every 10-20 seconds driving).
Really? I've seen pretty much no semi trucks in the left lane. In fact, it's illegal in my area on highways with more than 2 lanes for big rigs to be in the left lane.
I just did a big road trip (800+ miles one way, ~2000 miles total) and only had to pass a big rig on the right once, and that was my fault because I didn't see the truck pulled off to the side of the road that they were giving space to.
I see a lot of pickup trucks, big SUVs, and minivans camping in the left lane, but that's not what I'm talking about.
I know what you mean, but yeah, in the Midwest I've been seeing more and more semis camping the left lane all the time. It's gotten really bad for my road trips.
...nothing at all wrong with overtaking at a 1 MPH differential as long as you keep right afterward...
Exactly. Though for anyone that doesn't have a speed limiter and towing a 53ft trailer are best advised to pass trucks at a brisk pace, as it's dangerous for smaller cars and light pickups to stay in the drivers' blindspots.