Slower Traffic Keep Right (move to, cell phone, driving)

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Haver

We honestly must have one of the most poorly designed highway systems in the country, when 3 lanes becomes 2 becomes 1 becomes 2 again and then 1, with left lane exit on top of left lane exit while oposing traffic is trying to merge in at 30 miles an hour below freeway speeds because of the ramp design, or having 2 freeway systems trying to merge together within a single lane like crosstown or 394.

Who's responsible for this mess? Has anyone documented what's going on with our road system and why it is the way it is? And why is it whenever there's road construction an entire neighborhood or part of the city is fubared because all the alternate routes magically sprout construction at the same time?

Who is responsible, time and population growths. The Crosstown with 2 lanes and the current set up was fine 30 years ago but more traffic and growth in the metro has made it obsolete, thus the redesign. Time and money are the main causes of a lot of these odd lane changes. Support more taxes to change the outdated roads faster I guess.

[MJ1986]

Here's an interesting link... Personally, I don't think I would ever put one of these stickers on my windshield... Left Lane Drivers Unite!

[ms.username]

Floridians are the worst drivers IMO. I'm pretty sure they've never heard of the "slower traffic keep right" since you can get your driving permit online without taking the driver's ed class. On top of this, the state is too CHEAP to buy/make signs letting drivers know when a lane ends, right turn only, speed limit, etc. And I wonder why there's all these accidents and why car insurance is so expensive.

I'll rather drive in MN than in Florida.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by ms.username

I'll rather drive in MN than in Florida.

I'd much rather drive in MN than here in GA, or in IL around the Chicago area.

[Oildog]

I hate when I return to MN the people driving 50 in the left lane or 5 mph under what the speed limit is. Stay in the right lane where you belong. I remember being taught that all lanes were the same speed. But after living in 5 states this is backward as he%&. I've got places to go, people to meet and babes to kiss.

And another thing....they should take all the country people off the road and teach them how to use and entrance ramp on the freeway. Somewhere outside the cities like Forest lake or Northfield there should be a practice station (especially for Iowans).

[Haakon]

This thread is amusing. MN may not have the best drivers in the world, but they're a whole lot better than WA drivers, and especially western WA drivers. It's not just due to the roads that the Seattle area has some of the worst traffic in the country. This place has some of the worst drivers in the country, they have all of the issues listed here plus are as easily distracted as a 2 year old. A pop can or piece of retread on the side of the road is enough to cause a traffic jam.

I've seen all of the usual weird things people do in cars, reading, eating, putting on makeup but the strangest was a guy playing a full size guitar while driving down interstate 5.

Every time I come home to MN I'm amazed at how good most drivers are compared to what I'm used to seeing every day.

[Thegonagle]

I tend to drive at 2-3 above the speed limit, and I even take my speedometer error into account (it reads about 3-4 MPH high at highway speeds when I calculate my speed from mile posts). I even move over to the right WHEN practical, just to keep the peace, and in order to NOT be the next guy the State Patrol pulls over. (Talk about defeating the supposed purpose of your excess speed!)

I think some of your problems stem from the fact that the speed limit seems to mean nothing to some of you. In other words, the problem exists in your own head. Which means it's not my problem--never has been, never will be--and I really just don't care about moving right for speeders.

Yeah, I'll move over, after I pass whomever I'm passing, (or I'll stay there until I take that left lane exit), but if I'm already over the limit, well, boo hoo.

[Astron1000]

This thread addresses my greatest pet peeve of all time!

The rule is: DRIVE FASTER THAN THE PERSON ON YOUR RIGHT!

IF YOU DON'T, THEN YOU SHOULD MOVE TO THE RIGHT!!! It doesn't matter if you feel you're traveling at the "speed limit." MOVE!!!

[huttah]

Ha, you all think MN traffic sucks? Try driving in Bismarck, ND! Due to the recent growth of the city, noone here knows how to drive in traffic except for the high schoolers who have just recently gotten their licenses and are used to it. All the older people who lived here when there was still no poplulation here still drive like there should be no cars! If you're driving on the interstate from north Bismarck to Mandan and there's 5 cars, everyone freaks out and slams on their breaks and before you know it you're going 40 in a 60 because everyone gets freaked out by five other cars being around them! No joke!

[marmac]

I believe the problem is complicated further by cruise control. Many drivers (some have stated this on threads in other newspapers) set their cruise at around 70.

They then come up behind a semi going 69. Common sense would say you slow down and set your cruise a little slower or speed up to pass the semi.

But, no, posters have stated they pass the semi with their cruise control on.

It takes a looooong time for a car going 70 to pass a semi going 69.