Can someone explain this highway driving action to me?

&CDFiXER% · January 28, 2012

Why do I see so many vehicles overtaking slower vehicles, slow down, and then stay behind the slower vehicle for quite a long distance before finally passing. Usually then within a car length or less.

I am talking no adverse weather conditions (why this would excuse this I dunno), no close by traffic and multiple lanes.

The reasoning behind this escapes me. Enlighten me please.

wurgs · January 28, 2012

If in passing lane of a divided highway probably waiting for the idiot to move to the correct( slow) lane. I see it all the time where someone is in the passing lane driving below the speed limit oblivious to the fact they are backing up traffic behind them. If a 2 lane road not sure why they would do that then. Either way there's no excuse to be following that close.

Morgan1986 · January 28, 2012

most people dont like being behind trucks to ive notice .

doverarjim · January 28, 2012

I've seen this problem traveling abit, some states/places are worse than others. The one I hate the most is the driver that goes like heck to catch up with you gets to your rear bumper/ blind spot and rides there when you have your cruise set at a steady speed, and as soon as you either speed up to pull over or tap the brakes to slow down due to traffic they then speed back up and pass you. On one trip in 150 miles I had one car pass and catch up to me and then I had to pass them again 10 times!!!

waumo1 · January 28, 2012

I have noticed that I will be driving with my cruise control on. I will be overtaking a slower vehicle, I pull out in the passing lane to go around and they speed up to match my speed, leaving me to either hang there, back off and get behind them (then they slow back down) or speed up to pass them. This happens so often we call them "pacers". More often than not, they are gabbing on cell phone and I think they are not paying attention to their driving and their mind is on "cruise control".

Morgan1986 · January 29, 2012

i dislike people that RIDE he passing lane

j-ten-ner · January 29, 2012

Know what you're talking about. Made me wondering too.

It took me quit a while to get used to the driving style here in Vancouver.

Another sample;

"on ramp" to the highway. I went down the on ramp and put the pedal to the metal . The guy in front of me suddenly slowed down almost to a stop. It was pretty close and I just managed to swerve to avoid a collision.

The funny thing is the cars on the highway slowed down as well!!?? Later I've learned that it is not unusually to slow down to let the guy on the on ramp merge in .

I should explain that the on ramp to the Autobahn is called "acceleration lane". And that for some reason. No one will slow down for you when you want to merge. They will move to the fast lane to give you some room but that's about it.

The on ramps are long enough to accelerate to 80 or 90 km/h. So why people don't use it ? It is so easy to merge when your speed is already the same with the cars on the highway.

so long

j-ten-ner

(hope I won't get deported now... )

&CDFiXER% · January 29, 2012

I've seen this problem traveling abit, some states/places are worse than others. The one I hate the most is the driver that goes like heck to catch up with you gets to your rear bumper/ blind spot and rides there when you have your cruise set at a steady speed, and as soon as you either speed up to pull over or tap the brakes to slow down due to traffic they then speed back up and pass you. On one trip in 150 miles I had one car pass and catch up to me and then I had to pass them again 10 times!!!

Oh yeah, that is also a very popular thing to do around here. I drive with my cruise on most of the time (my commute is 90% interstate) and this happpens at least 4 times a week.

&CDFiXER% · January 29, 2012

j-ten-ner, I've seen that too. Thankfully it has only happened a few times. I did not realize that perhaps the drivers that came to a stop when 'merging' did sobecause they were following the convention of their home area. All I can say to that though,is WTF?!?!? Seems dangerous to me

j-ten-ner · January 29, 2012

Maybe the only way to get the slow drivers out of the fast lane...

so long

j-ten-ner

&CDFiXER% · January 29, 2012

That. Video. Made. My. Morning.

They passed a law here in the State of ILL (get it?) covering slow drivers camping in the passing lane. Not sure what the exact wording is though.

doverarjim · January 29, 2012

When I lived in Arizona they passed a law called "impedeing traffic flow" it does not matter what lane you are in you MUST move over if there are more than 3 cars behind you. The Highway Patrol used it alot where I lived in the east valley.

00Silverado4x4 · January 29, 2012

That was a great video. Need to see that more often from the cops. Their jobs (cops) can't be easy with drivers like that on the road.

highspeedvehicle · January 29, 2012

It is so frustrating how oblivious some people are that they can't understand that you keep right except to pass. And when you have to stomp on the gas to go around them then the douchebags change lanes.

NitroCherokee · January 30, 2012

I noticed here in Michigan, mostly when riding my motorcycle (because I am going much faster, and pass alot more vehicles) the far left lane will be lined up like a damn train with people flashing lights and flipping each other off while I am traveling 20-30 MPH faster in the far right lane with no traffic. Cracks me up actually. Idiots