White knuckle driving

[Caprice]

the left lane is legally the passing lane

It is not reffered to as the "passing lane" in everywhere.

Why go in the left lane when you'v got 2 other lanes that are as good and that let you drive the same way? If only to piss off the faster drivers?

The driver that changes lanes repeatedly (to satisfy the faster drivers) is just as dangerous as the faster drivers. Once I change lanes, I stay there until I'm required to change lanes again due to traffic or road hazzards.

So you're argument seems to state that the fact that speeding drivers are required to slow down and/or become irritated negates the fact that they should not be going so fast in the first place? Seems to me like the blame is being placed on the wrong driver.

Some things aren't dictated by the law, like common sence and courtesy.

Wouldn't it be more courteous of the speeding drivers to slow the heck down?

 

[De Lorimier]

@Raisin and DeLorimier: Two curvs in Montreal,
-the one when your on Decarie and you merge on the 720 east. Awesome, plus you got 2 lanes so you can pass slow cars.
- The "S" when your on the 40 west bound to get on Decarie, especially during the night when there's no one on the road. (which doesn't happen often)

Funny. I live in Rosemont and I work at the Dorval airport so I know both of those curves pretty well and since I sometimes begin and/or finish my shifts late at night I have the opportunity to go through those curves at unreasonable speeds. Quite exquisite!

 

[GoldEagle]

I just started driving...but I just got back from Minneapolis, man do they drive bad there!!!

 

[Rhymes]

The driver that changes lanes repeatedly (to satisfy the faster drivers) is just as dangerous as the faster drivers. Once I change lanes, I stay there until I'm required to change lanes again due to traffic or road hazzards.

Changing lanes is not dangerous when you know how to drive. Not the least. Also, if you don't go in the left lane you wont have to change lane to get back in the middle, pretty simple.

So you're argument seems to state that the fact that speeding drivers are required to slow down and/or become irritated negates the fact that they should not be going so fast in the first place? Seems to me like the blame is being placed on the wrong driver.

I think that both these kind of drivers are dangerous: the fast drivers who keep changing lanes to pass everyone else and the slow drivers who doesn't want to let the fatser drivers pass.

Wouldn't it be more courteous of the speeding drivers to slow the heck down?

And finally, I just don't understand why someone who drives at an average or slow speed would want so bad to drive in the left lane, i don't think it's much to ask them to stay out of it unless necessary. It doesn't take anything away from how they drive and it lets the others do as they want, and its also safer.

 

[De Lorimier]

The left lane is the passing lane everywhere in North America on highways. It's the only secure way to pass other drivers. Anyone driving in that lane at the same speed or slower than people in the middle and right lane should get out of the left lane. It is courtesy, it is more secure and it's logical.

 

[Caprice]

The left lane is the passing lane everywhere in North America on highways. It's the only secure way to pass other drivers. Anyone driving in that lane at the same speed or slower than people in the middle and right lane should get out of the left lane. It is courtesy, it is more secure and it's logical.

Logical, yeah probably. But if you haven't noticed, not everyone is logical.

I disagree with your assertion that "everywhere in North America" the left lane is specifical designated as a "passing lane." I guess I only say that because I have simply never heard it reffered to as such, but I'm guessing that I would have by now if that were in fact true across the board, either from other drivers, family, or perhaps the driver's ed instructor back when I was in school.

I don't spend a lot of time in the left lanes honestly... being I stick to the speed limit pretty stubbornly. I wish other drivers would bother to do the same.

 

[Rhymes]

I don't spend a lot of time in the left lanes honestly... being I stick to the speed limit pretty stubbornly. I wish other drivers would bother to do the same.

live and let live

 

[De Lorimier]

Since passing other cars on the right is illegal, my guess is the left is indeed the passing lane.

 

[North King]

Fairly well, though not without absentminded points.

"What stop sign?"

 

[sanabas]

If you want to improve your driving, along with completing some sort of advanced driver training course, which should be a compulsory part of becoming licensed IMO, ride either a bicycle or motorbike in traffic for 6 months or so. Your reflexes, powers of observation, and sixth sense will improve dramatically, and so will your ability to avoid the stupidities of all the other muppets on the road. Far better and safer to be able to avoid the guy running the red light than to collide and be able to say 'I'm still a good driver, the accident was his fault'.

 

[adog]

Since passing other cars on the right is illegal, my guess is the left is indeed the passing lane.

That is absolutely false.

 

[North King]

That is absolutely false.

Hmm? You are not supposed to pass on the right, though many do it nonetheless.

 

[Rhymes]

That is absolutely false.

i once got a ticket for passing a cop on the right, believ my 150$ missing dollars its true.

 

[Raisin Bran]

That is absolutely false.

It is true ..... Also .... The right lane is for exiting and entering highways. On a 2 lane Highway you can be arrested simply by overtaking on the right ... its caller "conduite dangereuse" It is also mandatory to change to the left lane if you are driving in the right lane and someone wants to enter a highway.
Left = Overtaking
Right = Cruising

Its not better to stick in the left lane if there is no one in the right one (or the middle lane) even if you drive faster than the car you will overtake in a 30 seconds.

also
I just want to point out that the posters that like to drive fast and think tailgating is a good thing are from Montreal

@Rhymes and Delo: My fav curves
The 25-40 junction north on the 25 and going on the 40 west .... 2 lanes to do your weight transfer correctly and little bumps to keep you on the edge and shift your car 1 or 2 inch right when you transfer is just right!
and
the 132 - 25 juction west on the 132 to go north on the 25 a big left curve followed by a long Hairpin-apex style curve ... its doable in a Accent at 80 -100k's (try it first at lower speed its a killer curve if you don't know it well)
and
when you get off at St-michel westbound on the 40 the whole thing from st-michel to De Lorimier is quite fun (but there are police there often )

 

[Raisin Bran]

i once got a ticket for passing a cop on the right, believ my 150$ missing dollars its true.

It was not because you overtook him it was because you did it at 160 km/h

 

[ummmm........]

I'd say I'm a pretty safe driver, but I don't think anyone who's ridden with me would agree.

I don't drive fast (usually within 10 MPH of the speed limit), I always use my signal, I never tailgate and I'm compulsive about coming to a complete stop at stop signs.

OTOH, I have no tolerance for rudeness in other drivers. So if I signal I'd like to come over, and the driver in the other lane accelerates to prevent me from doing so, that guy's getting cut off. Also, I'll take an extra half hour to get where I'm going if it means I get to take empty roads, and if I'm by myself on the road I don't necessarily feel like I absolutely have to slow down just because the road gets a little bendy.

This is borne out in my accident history, which consists of three major wrecks. Twice I was the only car in sight, and the wrecks were caused solely because I was going way too fast around a corner and a road hazzard suddenly presented itself (first time a horse, second time a massive frickin' puddle). The only time I've ever been in a major accident involving another car, it was because I stopped at a yellow light and the guy behind me didn't.

So I guess I see the point when other people say I'm not safe, but I never endanger another car . . .

 

[De Lorimier]

@Rhymes and Delo: My fav curves
The 25-40 junction north on the 25 and going on the 40 west .... 2 lanes to do your weight transfer correctly and little bumps to keep you on the edge and shift your car 1 or 2 inch right when you transfer is just right!
and
the 132 - 25 juction west on the 132 to go north on the 25 a big left curve followed by a long Hairpin-apex style curve ... its doable in a Accent at 80 -100k's (try it first at lower speed its a killer curve if you don't know it well)
and
when you get off at St-michel westbound on the 40 the whole thing from st-michel to De Lorimier is quite fun (but there are police there often )

Keeping that theme in mind I would like to nominate the Ville-Marie tunnel in both directions, but especially east bound. No wonder Sly Stallone drove his Indy race car down there in the horribly bad Driven. Goes up, goes down, long fast curves. Just a great place to drive (if it's empty of course).

 

[CIVPhilzilla]

I've been driving for about a year, and had my license for about 7 months. No accidents, no tickets, I drive carefully, I do speed but it is to keep with the flow of traffic. I hope I never get in an accident or get a ticket, statistically unlikely but with careful driving its possible.

 

[adog]

Show me proof that it is illegal to pass on the right and I may believe you. Also, it is not mandatory that you get in the left lane when someone is merging onto a highway(more like an unwritten law of courtesy), they have to yield to oncoming traffic.

 

[downtown]

I'm used to driving crappy cars, so I have to drive very carefully. I rarely speed (10 MPH over, only when I'm sure I wont get caught), which makes other drivers mad when I go on the highways. I signal, obey traffic laws, all that jazz.

Truth be told, I dont actually like driving all that much. It stresses me out if a) I dont know where I'm going or b), there is a lot of traffic. Maybe when I have enough money (and a need), for a real car, things will be different