We try to cover a lot of the stories in which politics and automobiles intersect, and frankly, most of them are just plain depressing. From biofuel frauds to speed cameras, it seems that motorists as a political class tend to be reactive rather than proactive. Not so in Georgia, where 11Alive reports that a bill is moving through the state legislature that would establish a minimum fine for driving to slow in the passing lane. If there’s a cause that every driver can get behind, this is it. In case you don’t appreciate the depth of annoyance most feel about left-lane bandits, Georgia State Rep. Mark Butler is on hand to explain:


They’re causing a lot of frustration for the drivers behind them. They’re also causing people to weave in and out of traffic in order to get around the slower drivers, which also causes a much larger hazard…. The left-hand lane on these multi-lane roads is supposed to be used for passing only. We’re not trying to get people to go faster, we’re just trying to get people to quit clogging up the lane that’s supposed to be used for passing.

Indeed. Though any idiot can understand the idea of a speed limit, a vast reserve of anecdotal evidence suggests that few American motorists are well versed in the art of passing lane etiquette. Interestingly, the world’s best lane discipline is probably practiced on the German autobahn, where high to nonexistent speed limits make dawdling in the left lane a dangerous undertaking. Loath though we are to see motorists targeted for extra fees, bills like this one are long overdue.




Original story: http://www.11alive.com/news/news_sto...40839&catid=40

The Truth About Cars story (copied above):http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/geo...moves-forward/

 

Washington State has laws on impeding the flow of traffic, just law enforcement doesn't enforce it. I imagine the fine's a lot lower than the wreckless driving tickets they get to write for the people that have to perform multiple lane changes to get around these motherf$*$ing slow a$$ drivers.

 

I'd definitely get behind something like this in WA. Nothing pisses me off more than being stuck behind someone in the left lane that is going the same speed as someone in the right lane. It makes no sense!!!

 

honestly i've been considering tracking down the guy who has all the vinyl of snipers all over his evo and asking him to make me up a few of these nice little stickers for my back and side windows:

 

I think that driving slow should carry the same fines as speeding. If you drive 45 in a 55 then your ticket should be the same as doing 65 in a 55. It is almost more dangerous to impede traffic than it is to speed.

I live in Portland and can't stand how the hipster cyclists and tree hugging prius drivers impede traffic all day long and nothing is ever done about it. Effing ridiculous.

 

^ Totally agree.

 

Ryon (xturdfergusonx) also does vinyls and can size them appropriately for you! He is the one that did the vinyls on my car and they came out great!

 

If you all made something clever regarding cyclists and drivers who impede traffic I would totally buy at least one. Make that at least two. One for my car and one for the wife's car.

 

I don't know if there is something in the water here or what but it seems like most people in this state want to drive 5 - 10 mph under the limit. I would love to see something done like this.

 

Not true. I know several WA police officers who enforce this. People traveling in the left hand lane is one of my pet peeves. It is one of my favorite reasons to stop someone. Most of the time they respond that they were doing the speed limit, and didn't know it was against the law to travel in the left lane. I inform them, when they signed for the driver's license, that was an agreement that they, know or are required to know the rules of the road. Also, this dosen't apply to city streets.

 

^ Awesome! =D

 

I don't agree with this at all...

I'm all for advanced license endorsements to allow speeding... so don't think I LIKE someone going 45 in a 55. It usually pisses me off... and it's usually people 65 or older doing it. Drives me nuts.

Either way, sometimes there are reasons to go slower than 55 that others may not understand. Perhaps you're just tired and not paying attention. Perhaps the car isn't running perfectly. Perhaps someone missed the sign that went from 45 to 55 and still thinks it is 45. There are a hundred reasons that someone could not be going the speed limit. I don't think we need MORE laws, but less laws. We get fined for looking at cops funny now. We don't need to be giving them another excuse to pull you over.

Again, it drives me batty when people don't do the speed limit... but I'm not for adding more laws for it. I will say that people that people that are getting passed on the right for not going the speed limit and having ample opportunities to get over should be pulled over. And I'll also finish by saying people that are 65 or older should be tested annually / bi-annually.

 

I agree! People think the freeway speed limit is like 40-45 around here. I moved up here about a year ago from California and holy hell what a difference. It was almost scary/unsafe driving this slow on the freeway.

 

The only time you go slower than the speed limit is when conditions do not permit it. You don't just slow down cause your car is a POS or you "missed the sign" or you are "tired." Get that POS off the road if it can't keep up. Pay attention to signs. Get off the road and rest if you are tired.

 

Those were examples... and don't even pretend you haven't missed a sign before because I know you have, otherwise you don't drive.

There are other reasons as well (hauling something, thinking there may be issues up ahead, thinking something may be wrong and trying to listen for the issue, testing, etc). There are dozens of reasons someone could not be going the speed limit.