What gives with traffic on I-5 between Seattle and Tacoma? (Bothell: school, live in)

[rodentraiser]

I know this is the millionth traffic thread started but I just have to vent.

I drove around through Tacoma and up to Bothell and back a couple days ago. This was between 11am and 2pm, so it wasn't exactly commute traffic. I like to stay in the fast lane on I-5 because the road is so much better and also because I want to get that drive over with as fast as possible. But this time.....!

I ended up in the slower two lanes practically the entire time. Why? Because every van, semi, delivery truck, tractor-trailer, bus, and everything else larger than a car was in the two fast lanes. Not the HOV lane on the extreme left. I'm talking about the far left and the lane next to that one.

So all those vehicles were in the fast lanes doing about 60mph and the rest of us were passing them on the inside in the other lanes. There were semis passing semis on the inside lane. The whole way up, and the whole way back.

I've seen that once or twice before, but never so consistently in a single afternoon. WTF?

OK, I feel sort of better now that I've gotten that out.

[tobester]

FYI - maximum speed allowed is 60 mph, so what's the problem?

[Kayela]

How long have you lived here? The left lane is rarely the 'fast lane'. You have to go someplace like CA for that.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by tobester

FYI - maximum speed allowed is 60 mph, so what's the problem?

it's illegal to drive in the left lane. It's for passing only unless there is bumper to bumper traffic.

[CrazyDonkey]

The inside lanes have a nasty habit of turning into Exit-Only lanes around here. Easier to just stay out of them. I-5, built in the 1960s, also has quite a few outside-lane exits - sticking to the middle lanes means not having to cross four lanes to exit.

[rodentraiser]

Guys, do any of you live in the Puget Sound area? Normally, if I went 60 in the slow lane of I-5 between Tacoma and Seattle, I'd get mowed over by a school bus doing 70.

I don't drive that section all that often, but 10 years ago, I used to drive around the Sound every month. I can tell you for sure the speed people were going on that freeway was about 70 to 75 mph, and many times I was going 80. That was keeping up with the traffic. At 75, most people would be passing me.

Originally Posted by Botev1912

it's illegal to drive in the left lane. It's for passing only unless there is bumper to bumper traffic.

HA! I defy you to get out there on that stretch of freeway in the "fast" lane and try to "pass" at the legal limit of 60 or a little more. After a Volkswagon bug rolls over you, would you like to be buried or cremated when we pick your mortal remains up off the pavement? Just so you know, those people drive in any lane they want.

I drive in the fast lane because I really don't want to change the shock absorbers on my car after every trip. The fast lane isn't the smoothest lane in the world, but it far better than the bonebreaker other lanes. I could make cream into butter just carrying it in a jar and driving in the slow lane.

[rodentraiser]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

The inside lanes have a nasty habit of turning into Exit-Only lanes around here. Easier to just stay out of them. I-5, built in the 1960s, also has quite a few outside-lane exits - sticking to the middle lanes means not having to cross four lanes to exit.

Understood, and I've been caught out a few times myself on those. But there's four lanes! Can't the trucks at least stay in the two lanes closest to the slow lane?

But yeah, I've had the thrill of coming by the Tacoma Dome and trying to get across 4 lanes of traffic to get on 16. I suppose I can relate to that.

[Ira500]

I don't drive that section all that often, but 10 years ago, I used to drive around the Sound every month. I can tell you for sure the speed people were going on that freeway was about 70 to 75 mph, and many times I was going 80. That was keeping up with the traffic. At 75, most people would be passing me.

Those were the good old days.

[Botev1912]

This is the only solution.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZhdvl_P1Zc

[CrazyDonkey]

These days the "fast" lane is whichever lane is moving.