Joey Ledford - Staff
Sunday, June 29, 2003
You see it every day on the freeway --- one car or truck is cruising along in the left-most lane, with scores of frustrated followers tailing along behind. In front of them is at least a half-mile of vacant pavement.
I've always called them "Left Lane Laggards." They feel perfectly justified in obstructing traffic, refusing to yield to those who want to pass.
The National Motorists Association, the Wisconsin-based organization credited with the lobbying effort that ended the national 55 mph freeway speed limit, has designated June as "Lane Courtesy Month." I usually ignore such designations, but this one has merit, even as June fades into July.
How about a little lane courtesy for a change?
Lane courtesy, also known as lane discipline, had its American roots in the days when roads were almost all two lanes and curvy, and passing was difficult to impossible. In those days, motorists cared enough about their fellow man to recognize that some folks might be able to safely travel a little faster. They'd pull off to the side and let others pass.
When more roads became multilaned, the concept evolved. Drivers were taught to stay right except to pass and to yield the left lane when faster traffic approached.
Most of today's drivers aren't trained at all. The few who are trained aren't taught lane courtesy. The only roadway reminder of lane courtesy is ignored more than the sign that says "Speed Limit 55." It says "Slower Traffic Keep Right." I've always thought it might have more of an impact if it said "Stay Right Except to Pass."
Granted, when traffic is congested, all lanes fill up, and it's only natural that many vehicles will travel in the left lane. But when traffic is freely flowing, it's common courtesy to limit your use of the left lane to passing.
"There seems to be this mentality that I'm going the speed limit, and there's no reason for me to move over for lawbreakers," said Eric Skrum of the National Motorists Association. "That's a dangerous attitude."
Skrum notes that an obstructing driver has no idea why frustrated followers want by. Perhaps they have an emergency situation. Maybe they don't. But it is not the job of the obstructionist to enforce the speed limit, and the right thing to do is restore the free flow of traffic by yielding.
Blocking the left lane is a noted precursor to road rage. Left laners complain about tailgaters, never seeming to comprehend WHY they're being tailgated. Blocking the left lane also leads to passing on the right, since the motorist who wants to travel faster has no choice when his discourteous fellow motorists fail to take the hint.
Skrum said the NMA is trying to popularize a new set of driver-to-driver signals. It wants a brief flashing of the left turn signal to provide a clue to a left laner that he or she should yield. If that is unsuccessful, the organization suggests the more common flash of the headlights, which is inexplicably considered an insult by many left laners.
"There really isn't a legitimate reason not to do the courteous thing and get into that right lane when it is safe for you to do so," said Skrum.
It is also relevant that two Georgia Code sections make "lane courtesy" the law. One of them prohibits drivers in noncongested traffic from "traveling side by side . . . while in adjacent lanes."
Try a little lane courtesy today. It might help unclog your favorite freeway.
traffic@ajc.com
Sunday, June 29, 2003
You see it every day on the freeway --- one car or truck is cruising along in the left-most lane, with scores of frustrated followers tailing along behind. In front of them is at least a half-mile of vacant pavement.
I've always called them "Left Lane Laggards." They feel perfectly justified in obstructing traffic, refusing to yield to those who want to pass.
The National Motorists Association, the Wisconsin-based organization credited with the lobbying effort that ended the national 55 mph freeway speed limit, has designated June as "Lane Courtesy Month." I usually ignore such designations, but this one has merit, even as June fades into July.
How about a little lane courtesy for a change?
Lane courtesy, also known as lane discipline, had its American roots in the days when roads were almost all two lanes and curvy, and passing was difficult to impossible. In those days, motorists cared enough about their fellow man to recognize that some folks might be able to safely travel a little faster. They'd pull off to the side and let others pass.
When more roads became multilaned, the concept evolved. Drivers were taught to stay right except to pass and to yield the left lane when faster traffic approached.
Most of today's drivers aren't trained at all. The few who are trained aren't taught lane courtesy. The only roadway reminder of lane courtesy is ignored more than the sign that says "Speed Limit 55." It says "Slower Traffic Keep Right." I've always thought it might have more of an impact if it said "Stay Right Except to Pass."
Granted, when traffic is congested, all lanes fill up, and it's only natural that many vehicles will travel in the left lane. But when traffic is freely flowing, it's common courtesy to limit your use of the left lane to passing.
"There seems to be this mentality that I'm going the speed limit, and there's no reason for me to move over for lawbreakers," said Eric Skrum of the National Motorists Association. "That's a dangerous attitude."
Skrum notes that an obstructing driver has no idea why frustrated followers want by. Perhaps they have an emergency situation. Maybe they don't. But it is not the job of the obstructionist to enforce the speed limit, and the right thing to do is restore the free flow of traffic by yielding.
Blocking the left lane is a noted precursor to road rage. Left laners complain about tailgaters, never seeming to comprehend WHY they're being tailgated. Blocking the left lane also leads to passing on the right, since the motorist who wants to travel faster has no choice when his discourteous fellow motorists fail to take the hint.
Skrum said the NMA is trying to popularize a new set of driver-to-driver signals. It wants a brief flashing of the left turn signal to provide a clue to a left laner that he or she should yield. If that is unsuccessful, the organization suggests the more common flash of the headlights, which is inexplicably considered an insult by many left laners.
"There really isn't a legitimate reason not to do the courteous thing and get into that right lane when it is safe for you to do so," said Skrum.
It is also relevant that two Georgia Code sections make "lane courtesy" the law. One of them prohibits drivers in noncongested traffic from "traveling side by side . . . while in adjacent lanes."
Try a little lane courtesy today. It might help unclog your favorite freeway.
traffic@ajc.com
