Maintaining Pace: Are Slow Drivers Just As Dangerous As Distracted Drivers?

If there are slow drivers (those driving less than the limit) in any lane other than the right lane, it's dangerous.
Those driving the limit, or close to it (97 to 105 km/h), I think they have the right to be in the middle lanes. IMO I can't be upset with them.
BUT I can't understand WHY people stay in the passing lane at 100 km/h and there are no cars in the lane beside them.

Driving slow is not the problem. Driving slow in the passing lane (AKA "the fast lane") is, same as passing to the right, aggressive driving, following too close, failing to signal, or breaking any other number of existing traffic laws.

Strangely, the stats tell us that driving above the legal speed limit, but doing so *prudently*, is not dangerous.

Is anyone reading this surprised?

For years - the people BEHIND you were their own problem - you were only involved with the ones who were next to you or in front of you. My grandfather (WHo applied for a drivers license and was sent one in the mail - without ANY tests) never used a rear view mirror - he adjusted it facing down to the floor - to keep the GLARE out of his eyes.

Older folks often stay in lanes to enforce the speed limit - so they think. oweer - one must also remember that it is always legal to drive at a speed below the legal limit (Although you must be within a certain range) - but it is NEVER legal to drive over the limit in ANY lane. So if a person is in the left lane driving at the legal speed limit - NO ONE SHOULD COMPLAIN - because none of you should be going any faster!

So Connecticut put up signs all along the 4 lane stretch of I-95 saying "No Passing on the Right". They didn't put up signs that said "Keep Right Except to Pass". Drivers would pile up behind slow drivers in the left lane slowing down the whole flow of traffic. Finally whole groups of cars would pull into the right lane when the opportunity availed to move on by the rolling blockade. The signs are now gone. Most states have laws that say "Keep Right except to Pass" which means don't go in the left lane unless you intend to pass a vehicle and then do so promptly and get back in the right. That was part of my drivers test years ago. Still do it today.

This is a discussion we're not gong to have here but... Have you ever wondered why the limits are what they are?

Have you ever wondered if we should challenge laws we disagree with?

Do you ever question how to tackle some of these issues?

If not, then I fully understand your comment.

@TomM - Yes we all should obey the laws of the road. One of which, in many states/provinces, is that you don't occupy the left lane unless you're passing. Which by my interpretation means, regardless of driving the legal limit don't stay in the left lane.
There are signs all over saying "Keep right except to pass" (they are here in Canada), "Slower traffic in right lane".
I'm sure we've all seen those drivers who get on the highway and cut directly across to the left lane. ??HUH??WHY??
Your grandfather experience is from a different time. The # of cars on the road then is nothing compared to now.

Clearly my reply was meant to be "tongue in cheek"

However - in many areas of the USA - there is simply too much traffic for all cars to be in the RIGHT lane except when passing - why bother having more than two lanes if you can only use the left lanes for passing? BUT - if you are a regular at this site - you also understand that the people who are using the left lanes - are not anywhere near the posted speed limits. Either the traffic is simply too great to approach them - OR - they are too busy weaving in and out of lanes at high speeds well beyond the limit. So - one should ALSO mention that - the left lanes are not meant for those people to exceed the speed limit as well.

I typically drive the speed limit or go with the flow of traffic. I go fast on the track. Slow drivers are as dangerous as drunk drivers.

Normally - I do the same - EXCEPT when the flow of traffic is more than 10MPH over the speed limit and I am out of my home state.(I will move right then). However - I do have a specific exemption that really bothers me - ON my normal route home - I do have to exit from one highway to another where the exit is ON THE LEFT. Since US9 is a three lane highway - YOU really do have to move into the left lane early - or you will miss the exit. ANd I do not care how fast a person WANTS to drive in the left lane - once the SIGN for the exit says - Route34 keep left - I do. I am probably already going far faster than the speed limit at that time(10MH over would be a joke) - but YOU can blink your lights all you want - I am not moving out of the EXIT TURN lane until the exit comes. If I do - I will never get back in. Living in the country means you don't have other routes.

I do note that when I am on vacation - am not familiar with the area or highway - I am more likely as I get older to simply slow down in the right lane if I am approaching where I think my exit off a highway will be - the speed limit is generally as fast as I will go in that case. I am not a slow driver - and I am still a special policeman in my town.

I'll admit, I'm a bit of an aggressive driver, however I'm not a pushy driver and tend to put a little forethought into my next move while driving. When it's evident the person behind me intends to go much faster than myself, I simply move out of the way out of respect. If people were a little more mindful of the traffic around them as well as planned their routes(doesn't take much thought), there would be a little more fluidity.

What absolutely rots me is when drivers at stop lights are messing with their phones when there's a green light, and they're not moving. Or the ones who come to a dead stop just to turn into a flat-plane driveway for a McDonalds or gas station. Or the ones that treat speed tables like they're 10 fkng feet high. Or that come out of steep driveways head on instead of at a fkng angle to keep from bottoming out the front of the car. Or the ones that insist on making u-turns at intersections that aren't designed for it even though it isn't marked; pull into the fkng gas station and turn around-refer back to planning your eff'ng route and save us all the trouble.

There's a special place in hell for drivers from Virgina, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Agree with most of the comments. Personally, would never stay in the L lane if there were a place to move over, and would never hold up anyone trying to drive faster than I was. However, since 99% of the time the road is clogged with people driving 3 abreast in the other 3 lanes, I find myself trying to pass continuously in the left lane.