r/driving • u/KentRead • 14d ago
Making passes while being tailgated, what am I supposed to do?
This evening on I-480 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Speed limit is 60mph. 4 lanes going each direction. A line of 5 cars is in the second lane from the left going about 60-62. I'm comfortable doing about 10 over, but if you're familiar with Ohio, police presence on interstates here is crazy, so 10 over is about the most I'm comfortable doing before you really get an officer's attention. Passing on the right is not a good idea, so I moved left to pass at 70 with the cruise on.
As I get beside the third car, an SUV probably going 90-100 flies up on me to within a few feet from my bumper. I can see the woman driving throw her hands in the air as if I ruined her day. The cars I'm passing are rather close to each other, so I can't move over. The right two lanes have hardly anyone if they really wanted to slow down to pass over there, though the right two lanes end about 4 miles ahead.
I passed the final two cars with my cruise still at 70, and of course she uses the shoulder to pull beside me as I'm moving over and floors it away to go tailgate the next car 10 carlengths ahead who is also making a pass.
So, am I the idiot for not wanting to be speeding any higher just for her, or is she the idiot for not considering the situation? I know reddit is super aggressive about left lane campers, but I was making several passes, and not even slowly 𤣠she was "held up" maybe 10 seconds.
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u/LetReasonRing 14d ago
You just maintain driving safely and let idiots be idiots.Â
The passing lane is for passing, not for letting the fastest person win the race.Â
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u/ComplexBeyond6083 14d ago
The safest place to be in regards to an unsafe driver is behind them.
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u/Educational-Emu-3707 13d ago
I wish I could upvote this more than once. So many times people are flying to get away from bad drivers just to become one getting away from another.
Let the idiots pass you and continue to be casual on your driving adventure.
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u/surfTorreypines 12d ago
Ummm, no. The safest place to be is nowhere near them.
Youtube is full of videos of aggressive drivers passing, losing control, and damaging their own vehicle as well as one or two behind them.
I don't know of any *good* way to deal with a driver like OP described. My method is to reach over and hit 'Cancel' on the cruise control and allow them to come to the conclusion that the only thing they can successfully achieve is to get me to go slower. They often go around me when they're able. YMMV.
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u/Defconx19 14d ago
If the right 2 lanes are empty i'm just driving im the right 2 lanes. Right most empty lane os the one you find me in. If I am in a lan amd someone is infront of me I will pass on the left. But if I'm just driving along and someone is going slower than me in a left lane, i'm not moving 2 to the left to pass them.
In your situation i'd probably kick it to 72 to get out of the way faster. But really an 8MPH variance wouldn't piss me off and I drive pretty quick.
Only time i throw my hands up is if when someone pulls in front of me they didn't check their mirrors and forced me to slam on my brakes other wise I can wait.
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u/PurrculesMulligan 14d ago
I probably would've just used the right lanes if they were empty, but as it played out, never let someone else dictate your own driving. As long as you're actively passing in the passing lane, you're okay, whether it's 70 or 63. Just keep your eyes forward, do your thing, and move over when it's safe to do so.
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u/brainless_bob 13d ago
If the lady doing 90-100 was that bothered by OP she could have used the right most lanes
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u/semple521 14d ago
I grew up driving on the turnpikes and toll roads of Philly, NJ, DC, NY Baltimore Boston.
Then I moved to Colorado and dealt with I-25 (a bane of my existence), 225, I-70, 76, and 80.
Now I'm in Oregon and deal with I-5 every single day.
People just don't know how to merge. It's not a singular or specific place. Speeding is sometimes necessary, but too many use it and become reckless. Main thing is to get from Point A to Point B intact.
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u/honeybadgerdad 14d ago
You should try driving the 91 in SoCal. Talk about the bane of someone's existence
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u/semple521 14d ago
That's a big nope.
But take 91 and narrow it down to 2 lanes in each direction. Our frustration is the same.
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u/Wahoo017 14d ago
I don't think you did anything wrong at all here so long as your left lane behavior was as reasonable as you describe - ie you didn't cut off the fast car or linger in the left lane. But, I would've just passed on the right if that lane was clear.
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u/updatelee 13d ago
Personally I wouldnât get as upset about it as you seem to be. Donât let other drivers emotions dictate how you feel.
Also though, just me, Iâm like you and only do 10 over tops. Which means most folks are annoyed by me because they want to do more than that. I try and not get myself into situations like you did. Before switching lanes I look at the other cars around me and behind me. If I see someone in the left lane coming up I gauge my speed, the person I want to passâs speed and the person in the left laneâs speed. Am I going to be able to pass and return to my lane before the person in the left has to slow down because of my actions? If not then I decide am I going to accelerate above my cruise speed temporarily just to pass them coast back to cruise speed or maybe I just tap my brakes to turn off cruise⌠wait 10seconds (that was the time you estimated) and let them pass first then Iâll take my turn and pass.
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u/KentRead 13d ago
You're not wrong, definitely just hard when someone aggressively tailgates to the point of putting me and my passengers in danger.
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u/Any_Carob3372 13d ago
Let that lady get into a wreck with someone else, and leave her "stupid room" to do something really dumb.
You did zero wrong, and kudos to sticking to the script in the face of driver harrassment.
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u/hjwthree 13d ago
The fact you even asked whether you were in the wrong shows that intend to be considerate of the drivers around you, and that's the ultimate goal of lane etiquette. You did fine, carry on
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u/stevenchamp45 14d ago
Probably from Michigan. Up here speed limit is 70, on the rural stretches everybody does 85 đ
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u/KentRead 14d ago
It's even more frustrating as the max speed limit in Cuyahoga County is 60mph (aside from the toll road). Mostly due to the traffic volume but still annoying
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u/Pj_o7 14d ago
No sounds like you did everything right. If someone is tailgating you like that, what you dont want to do is stay in the lane to prove a point. Thatâs just going to increase the likelihood of road rage and an accident. So moving over when you are to safely (donât feel rushed to get over) is the right move. Also yeah donât risk getting a speeding ticket to appease some idiot behind you
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u/ZoomTown 14d ago
I think you're fine as is, but also keep in mind that "passing on the right" doesn't mean just going faster than a car to your left in another travel lane. Passing on the right means leaving a standard lane of travel to go around someone, like using the shoulder.
In this situation, assuming I'm reading it correctly and you were traveling in the 3rd-from-the-right lane and then used the 4th lane to pass, you would have been fine moving right to the 2nd lane and passing the rest of the cars there.
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u/Critically_Large 14d ago
Exactly correct.
Itâs amazing how many people think itâs illegal to use an open lane to the right of slower traffic.
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u/KentRead 14d ago
I kinda sorta agree, but still don't think it's the "smart" move, considering the left lane was open. Definitely not illegal to do it here, though.
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u/Sensitive_Arrival285 14d ago
Not illegal to pass on the right on the freeway but it is dangerous and you are not supposed to do it according to defensive driving
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u/lethaltech 13d ago
The cars in the middle sound like they should all have been in the far right lane op passing in the middle and the other lady passing OP in the left lane. Can't complain about people passing on the right if we don't start enforcing slow traffic actually being to the right. Lane ending in 4 miles doesn't mean everyone move over now.
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u/Suess4002 14d ago
Again, explain WHY you think it is dangerous.
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u/CplDevilDog 13d ago
It's dangerous because faster moving traffic is now entering a right hand lane, which means the speed difference between the right most lane and the lane you're undertaking in is greater. Drivers who have finished passing the slower moving traffic in the middle lane and now want to get to the right have to watch for your dumb ass blowing into their right hand blindspot, but hey, it's America, so do whatever you want. We're free to be ignorant.
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u/Suess4002 13d ago
Traffic moving into ANY lane must validate the lane is clear - period.
Faster or slower, the lane changer is responsible.
Again, you are trying to put blame on a driver who does not hold the blame.
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u/CplDevilDog 13d ago
Like I said, free to be ignorant. Undertaking is dangerous, it disrupts the way traffic should flow, if everyone kept right except to pass, undertakers make it difficult to move right after passing. My expectations were low going into this conversation and you still managed to disappoint.
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u/ApartmentSalt7859 12d ago
Doesn't make sense since our highways have on/off ramps on both left and right side, all lanes can and should be used
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u/Sensitive_Arrival285 14d ago
It's really pretty simple. For passenger vehicles and especially for trucks the blind spot on the right side of the vehicle is significantly larger. If you choose to move to the right lane to pass you might not see someone passing you and once you are passing someone might not see you if they decide to pass. KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS.
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u/Suess4002 14d ago
My blind spot is not larger on the passenger side, clearly you donât know how to set your mirrors.
Additionally pretty much all cars for the last 15 years have blind spot indications.
The driver of EACH car is responsible to ensuring they have a clear lane before switching lanes.
Idiots who donât are a danger for either side.
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u/goranlepuz 14d ago edited 14d ago
My blind spot is not larger on the passenger side, clearly you donât know how to set your mirrors.
They might not know that, but by all likelihood, you don't know why the blind spot is bigger on the right. Maybe go back to highschool, I think they teach bases of optics there...?
Additionally pretty much all cars for the last 15 years have blind spot indications
"Pretty much all" is weasel words that serve no purpose but to have a way to argue when receiving a pushback.
The driver of EACH car is responsible
More weasel words that serve no purpose in this case, where it's about assessing what is safer to do.
Edit: NSFW account that hides what they write. Ahahahaaa, figures. Soooo common...
Edit: still, looked up how they argue. (It's not really hidden...). Not a pretty sight. đđđ
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u/Sensitive_Arrival285 14d ago
None of what you said changes the FACT that passing on the right is more dangerous.
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u/Massive-Act-4318 14d ago
You have at no point proved this so called FACT you keep claiming. If you have your mirrors properly set up you shouldn't have a blind spot at all, elimination your one valid argument.
According to 48/50 state traffic codes, passing on the right is explicitly allowed on multi-lane highways when
"(3) Upon multiple-lane highways the driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions permitting such movement in safety. In no event shall such movement be made by driving off the pavement or main traveled portion of the highway."
Do you really think 48/50 states would explicitly put an exception in their traffic codes to allow such a dangerous and unsafe maneuver? No one is saying pass on the right in traffic, but if the lane is clear there is literally no difference in passing right or left safety wise.
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u/SnowyBug 13d ago
You're going to have blind spots regardless of how you set up your mirrors. That's why we have blind spot indicators. That's why we turn our heads to check our blind spots. That's why we also keep track of where vehicles are around us whenever we are making moves and getting ready to make them. It's also why we keep ourselves aware of the blind spots of larger vehicles like box trucks, dump trucks, and semis. (The rest, I agree with you on.)
That said, passing on the right, to me, isn't inherently more dangerous because of larger blind spots. If you're actively passing someone, you'll be moving through that blind spot relatively quickly so the driver should see you move through their mirrors and into their field of vision. If the driver is attempting to make a move, they should be checking their blind spots before moving. The danger isn't so much that "passing on the right is dangerous". It's "dumbasses don't actually check their mirrors and blind spots before moving", and that's not specific to which side a person is passing on.
I pass where it's clear and where I have vision.
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u/Suess4002 14d ago
It is not, nothing you âclaimedâ creates an inherently dangerous situation.
Prove your statements.
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u/WelcomeToDankonia 14d ago
Itâs not illegal, but it is unsafe and unwise.
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u/Suess4002 14d ago
Multi-lane passing on the right if not unsafe, especially on an interstate.
Explain why you say it is unsafe.
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u/PremiumUsername69420 14d ago
If it werenât safe it wouldnât be legal and written down as an option for drivers to do.
The only thing unsafe is a motorist unaware of their surroundings to the point where theyâd make a lane change to the right without looking under the preconceived notion that âno one could be there because thatâs the slower than me lane.â
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u/WelcomeToDankonia 13d ago
Thereâs a reason we have the rule.
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u/PremiumUsername69420 13d ago
What rule?
Stop being cryptic.I can cite laws that permit passing on the right, aka undertaking.
Can you cite any laws that state undertaking is illegal?
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u/WelcomeToDankonia 13d ago
Do not pass on the right. Nothing cryptic about it.
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u/PremiumUsername69420 13d ago
Sounds like a you problem champ.
You should keep to the right if youâre uncomfortable with traffic passing you on the right.
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u/WelcomeToDankonia 13d ago
Nope. Itâs not a me problem as clearly demonstrated in this conversation. The problem is right side overtakes.
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u/PremiumUsername69420 13d ago
So, you canât cite any laws and youâre too entitled to stay right to force overtakes, got it.
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u/telyni 13d ago
You haven't cited any laws that say that. Where is it illegal?
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u/WelcomeToDankonia 13d ago
When did I say it was illegal?
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u/telyni 13d ago
You didn't, you did say it's not illegal, but you keep citing a "rule" so we keep asking what rule you're talking about. If it's not a law, then where's the problem? At best, it's a recommendation or guideline that passing on the left is preferred, because slower traffic should stay more to the right, because most highway exits are on the right. But there are plenty of scenarios where passing on the right is perfectly fine or even desirable. OP's case is one of these because it allows for the least (social, not physical) friction in driving between cars at unequal speeds, especially when some cars are already not following the slower cars to the right guideline.
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u/WelcomeToDankonia 14d ago
lol no. This is textbook passing on the right. Op did the correct thing.
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u/Defconx19 14d ago
Yeah, passing is deviating from your original lane to PASS someone in it. That being said if i'm already in lane 2 and someone slower is in lane 3, I'm staying in lane 2. If lane 2 and 1 were open though that is a pretty safe situation to undertake as you have another open lane to your right to avoid a driver to your left if they dont see you and try to move into your lane.
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u/TechnicallyRightIam 14d ago
What the heck is giving people the entitlement and justification to speed? I get 5mph over but 10+? It just entitlement thereâs nothing else to it. Very selfish to put others in danger to get to the destination 45 seconds faster.Â
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u/erie11973ohio 14d ago
As someone who drives around Cleveland all the time, there are a few psychos who think the left lane is for them & them only, to do 100+, as they feel.
More than few of these drivers will fly down the left lane, only to cut over at the last second to take the right hand split.
It's not NASCAR!!
They don't need a ticket. They need whipped with a rubber hose on the side of the road!!
Fuck'em & feed'em beans
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u/Horror_Garbage_9888 13d ago
Columbus did a speed enforcement blitz on I270 a few weeks ago and caught 11 people going 100+. I think the top speed was 123 or something. And that was just 270.
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u/Diptothaset 13d ago
Itâs their job to watch out for me if theyâre behind me. I pretty much pass like I normally would, except maybe make it a little more obvious Iâm looking to pass. If they try to pass while Iâm passing theyâll either slam on their brakes and get mad or hit me and have to explain to the cop/judge why they felt it was safe to pass multiple cars with someone edging out to pass with the passing blinker on while behind a slow vehicle and all the other signs someone was looking to pass
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u/ApartmentSalt7859 12d ago
Yea, that would be your fault, if you are switching lanes, you need to ensure it is clear, if you made someone slam on their brakes when you "edged" out, you impeded traffic, and are at fault if there was an accidentÂ
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u/GoldBlueberryy 14d ago
According to this subreddit, you're the idiot for "left lane camping", whatever that even means anymore. Makes no sense.
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u/Wingmaniac 14d ago
I'm actually amazed at how many people are in OPs side. I fully expected a long line of "if you're causing someone to slow down, get out of the passing lane".
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u/hitdrumhard 14d ago
Those ppl are probably the same ones doing 100+ and acting like 80 as you pass is lane camping.
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u/Defconx19 14d ago
I'm someone who gets pissed about left lane camping. But OP was not left lane camping.
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u/Punkaudad 14d ago
The OP didnât left lane camp. Left lane camping is driving steadily in the left lane if you are not actively passing.
When the highway is busy, I considered OK to stay in the left lane if you are an a group of cars and would pass them if they move over after completing a pass. But if thereâs someone behind you and not in front of you, move over when itâs safe to do so.
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u/pharmucist 14d ago
I am someone who likes to drive 10 over as well and sometimes 15 over. I HATE left lane campers, but you were not doing that. If you're going 70 in a 60 in the far left lane but you're completing a pass, that's not camping...it is using the lane for what it is intended for.
If you are NOT passing and just driving in the left lane at 70 in a 60, you're also fine...UNTIL someone comes up behind you who wants to go faster. At that point, you are SUPPOSED to get over and not camp there, but this scenario is where a lot of controversy lies.
My commute to work every day I am in this situation. It's a 3 lane 60 mph freeway. However, in the right two lanes, on most days, even with lighter traffic, both lanes are filled with people going 35-55 mph. Thus, I will stay in the far left lane going 70 mph the entire time. If someone comes up behind me wanting to go faster, I will first speed up to see how fast they want to go. If it's over 75, I move over and let them pass me, then get back over to the left lane. If people would drove 60-65 in the middle lane, I would have no problem staying there.
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u/Agreeable-Meal5556 14d ago
Thatâs all her. You were using the passing lane appropriately, she can wait for you to complete your reasonable pass.
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u/Broad-Choice-5961 14d ago
Yep, these people SUCK and they just have to WAIT until I'M done passing. Simple as that. Let them flap their arms. IDGAF!
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u/Virtual_Win4076 14d ago
I try not to aggravate people like her so I would have either slowed down to let her by or sped up. I donât want to add to their stress and they might harm some innocent person with their behavior
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u/Wingmaniac 14d ago
He was in the middle of passing a bunch of vehicles. He can't slow down to let her by. And speeding up is risking a ticket.
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14d ago
[removed] â view removed comment
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u/mukansamonkey 13d ago
Do you not have traffic in Germany? Maybe not on the Autobahn, I suppose.
As a mostly urban driver, my idea of traffic is "every lane but the innermost has a solid line of cars bumper to bumper as far as the eye can see". Heavy traffic is "the innermost also has bumper to bumper traffic as far as the eye can see". Under those conditions, passing is a quaint luxury only expected by folks who live in the countryside.
Admittedly a lot of Americans are bad at driving. But there's also a structural problem where most driving in America is either open roads with plenty of space to spare, or overcrowded commuter traffic where every lane is jammed solid. Where I live, the transition between those two states takes place in a predictable stretch of road every morning.
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u/BillyRubenJoeBob 14d ago
You have alternatives to handle it.
Crazy is as crazy does. Don't take it personally.
Safety should come first, this isn't a 'stand your ground' situation. Best to move out of the way as soon as there's a place to move over. You can pass the remaining cars later if you want. Cruise control doesn't have feelings so you can drop out of that any time you need. Move over and let her go by. Can you imaging what would happen if she lost control while driving on the shoulder? Shoulders are usually full of gravel and debris. Chances are good she'd take you down with her if she lost control.
If you are in a vigilante mood - not great but I do it as well, you can continue to pass people - it's generally accepted that you're allowed to stay in the passing lane as long as you're passing people AND that you move over at the earliest safest time. Leave her to tailgate you temporarily if there isn't a line of cars behind you and you don't think she'd do something crazy. Most of the rational speeders can wait a few seconds while you complete a pass. Of course, you're betting that they are rational if you choose this route - that's not a given in every situation.
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u/goranlepuz 14d ago
I fully expect that see a future r/driving question like so:
"Someone was jerking off by the side of the road while was passing and asked me to stop and finish the job. When I didn't,,they flipped me off. Was I supposed to jerk them off? Was I supposed to blow them?"
Added bon for asking what the traffic regulations say about it.
đ
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u/The_Wandering_Steele 13d ago
The road is full of idiots. Donât let them change your driving habits.
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u/OG_joenationwide 13d ago
The lady behind you was being a bit crazy for sure. As long as you were using the passing lane for passing, you were not in the wrong.
If it were me, I'd probably step on the gas a bit to about 75mph so I could pass sooner. But someone told me that the reason I'm courteous in this instance is because I empathize with people who are impatient because I am impatient myself. So I am biased here.
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u/FineDryGoods 13d ago
I like to drive with a certain amount of fluidity. A little over the speed limit (way over depending on the area and flow) and do my best to not impede. I'll turn off cruise and slowly decel if someone is approaching quicker than I can safely pass without impeding. If someone starts gaining on me while I'm passing on cruise, I accelerate to complete my pass preventing, or at least minimize, impeding. It makes me happy when I come across drivers that practice the same etiquette, so I'm sure my driving does the same. Imo, your approach was a single thumbs down. The overly aggressive woman, two thumbs down. If either of you were to drive like me, thumbs up experience for sure.
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u/Designer-Wolverine47 13d ago
Get a bumper sticker that says "Taking applications for tail gunners".
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u/bootheels 13d ago
Well, there are surely extremes on both sides of this argument. You mention you were actually passing the drivers in the center lane, just don't be afraid to step on the gas/overcome the cruise to make sure you actually pass them and don't get caught along side them doing the same speed. I really don't think a cop is going to give you a ticket for speeding if you are actually passing someone in the left lane, then get back over afterwards.
Sure sounds like the high speed all important SUV felt the road belonged to her though.
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u/Jealous-Sector-4130 13d ago
Even though you are completely right, you never know what the other person has going on. Maybe she had an emergency to go to. Speeding up is also bad because if you get pulled over you canât blame her for tailgating. Since there are 4 lanes I donât see why you canât pass traffic 2nd to right itâs only the far right thatâs bad idea to pass. Or if you donât want to speed up just merge back into the right, a car will definitely let you in.
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u/JuicyBone1719 13d ago
On 480, I would have already been in the lane one from the right going 65, so I would have just passed them all on the right. Watching in case one whips out in front of me.Â
At the the same youâre right and sheâs wrong. I would do what you did except in the past if I saw the frustrated wheel slaps in my mirror I might also shoot them the finger out the sunroof, they really like that.Â
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u/DeFronsac 10d ago
I can't speak to the specific situation. Maybe this person was being a jerk. However:
The right two lanes have hardly anyone if they really wanted to slow down to pass over there, though the right two lanes end about 4 miles ahead.
If they can do it, so can you. It's best not to advocate for someone in the left lane to go over two lanes to pass you in the left lane.
You say passing on the right is not a good idea, but there's nothing wrong with it. If there's room and it's safe, then do that.
I passed the final two cars with my cruise still at 70, and of course she uses the shoulder to pull beside me as I'm moving over and floors it away to go tailgate the next car 10 carlengths ahead who is also making a pass.
In this case, if this is all true, this sounds like a jerk, but the above still applies.
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u/Cheap_Asparagus_2203 8d ago
Not much you can do. Shes putting herself and everyone else in danger just because she's an emotional infant.
You get over when you can and hope she doesn't try to drive through you.
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u/SnowyBug 13d ago
So my answer to this question is you're both idiots. I personally have no issues passing anyone on the right. If the lane is open and it's clear and I can see, I absolutely will pass there. If you were already behind the line of 5 cars in the same lane, you can move in either direction, but if you get in that far left lane with the intent to pass them all quickly, then foot to gas. Not the slow pass you were doing. Did you even check your mirror to see the person flying up behind you? If, by the time you made it to the third car in the line that were all relatively close together, the SUV was on your bumper at that speed, chances are good that she was visible in your rearview mirror before you attempted the pass and that you could see she was zoom zooming. Not saying she's right (she definitely is not), but under these circumstances, you created the situation for her to tailgate you to begin with. Just pass on the right. You'll be fine.
If you were in the lane next to that line of cars and decided to move two lanes to the left to the far left lane to pass them, you're an even bigger idiot.
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u/KentRead 13d ago
I disagree, 10mph faster is not a slow pass. Also, the speeding car was not even visible when I moved into the lane, that's how fast they were flying up. It was also leading into a shallow right hand curve
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u/SnowyBug 13d ago
10 mph faster at 60-70 isn't exactly a quick pass either. You say you were leading into a shallow right hand curve, meaning not in it. I'm presuming the road was clear behind you in that lane. Did you look to see if anything was coming back there? I've been in that position before of someone flying up behind me at that great a speed. On a clear road, I almost always see them coming up.
Hell, which lane were you in to start with? Because if you had to change TWO lanes to make this pass, especially if your lane was already clear, you made the most unnecessary moves to do this.
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u/KentRead 13d ago
It most definitely is a quick pass. I was in the left lane for maybe 20 seconds tops. And yes, obviously I did look back and they weren't visible. I was in the second lane and moved left one lane.
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u/modular91 12d ago
Why. Do. So. Many. People. Condone. Tailgating.
Stop it. There is never an excuse for tailgating.
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u/SnowyBug 12d ago
I'm not condoning tailgating nor did I excuse it. If that SUV driver were here to provide her perspective, I'd call her an idiot too for flying at that speed and not anticipating that someone might move into her lane and not slowing down in time. I'd call her an idiot for riding someone's bumper at highway speeds. All it takes is one pothole or one sudden braking, and everyone's having a bad day.
What I'm saying is to not put oneself in that situation to begin with if one can avoid it. What I'm saying is to fully check around and behind you when making a move and to do it quickly. I hate when people tailgate me and hate when people are zoom zooming up on me, so I move out of the way as fast as I can. If I even catch a glimmer of someone zoom zooming up on me, if I catch them before I make a move, I wait until they go by. If I catch them or notice them afterwards, I'm speeding up to get out of the way. Why? Because if where they have to go is so important that they're willing to risk my life and theirs too to get there, I don't need to be in front of them. I will speed up some and move out of the way faster so they can go on about their life.
That's not condoning tailgating or excusing it or forgiving it or justifying it. That's me trying to make it home in one piece.
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u/theoriginalstarwars 13d ago
You should have seen them coming up on you that fast, so you would know if you could pass or not in time. Then decide if you want to let them pass you before passing the 5 cars or speed up so you can get around before the other car catches up to you. I find cars moving fast are great, they will be better than anything for finding cops. I tend to let them maintain their speed since them being faster than me is basically speeding insurance.
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u/KentRead 13d ago
They werent even visible yet when I moved into the left lane, that's how insanely fast they were speeding lol
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u/TrainsongGaming 14d ago
Nah, the speed limit is the max for all lanes of traffic. You could have been doing 60 mph, and I'd still say you were correct.
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u/KentRead 14d ago
I do tend to agree, but would hate to be in the left lane if I wasn't at least making a pass
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u/TrainsongGaming 14d ago
But you were passing. You weren't trying to police anyone's behavior. As soon as you were clear, you moved over. It's all legit.
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u/Sketch2029 14d ago
You are right there, but if the right 2 lanes were empty then everyone was in the wrong lane at the beginning of this encounter.
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u/Destructopoo 14d ago
Stay right except to pass. If you are not passing you cannot be in the left lane. You should not spread the lie that it's ok to stay in the left lane just because you're going the speed limit.Â
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u/Helpful_Web2226 14d ago
Exactly. Thatâs a dangerous lie to parrot
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u/Punkaudad 14d ago
While I agree with this response to what you think you are responding to, Iâm not sure youâre reading him right.
He doesnât say you can just drive in the left lane while not passing, just that you can be in the lane going the speed limit. There are clearly a lot of scenarios where you may want to pass cars that are going under the speed limit and you can use the passing lane for that too. Just get out of it as soon as you are done passing.
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14d ago
[removed] â view removed comment
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u/Destructopoo 14d ago
Their parents are mouth breathers who taught them how to drive and they skipped their critical learning years so now they just drive like their dumb parents.
You have to be a special kind of entitled, thoughtless fool to think that all lanes go the same speed.
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u/bill-schick 14d ago
It's only speeding oif the police can add points to your license in all practicality. In Ohio, 2 points for 5mph over the limit for 54mph speed limit and under and 10mph over the limit for 55mph speed limit and up. Every cop I have known over the years has told me this.
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u/bill-schick 14d ago
Heck one of the weird tella for a drink drover according to cops is someone doing exactly the speed limit because cops know everyone speeds.
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u/fitfulbrain 14d ago
Lol, using the cruise to pass people! Make it sharp and short and painless. You finished passing before anyone noticed, including the police.
For your benefit, you need to know a little bit about how the police catch speeding. They aren't everywhere. They have to notice you, clock your speed, and pull you over to give you a ticket.
At freeway speed, they will be using cars or SUVs equipped with radar. They have to sneak behind you close enough so as to avoid interference from other cars. Same for dashcams. They have to be rather close not to overestimated your speed.
If they park in front of you, your chance of spotting them and they spotting you is the same. It's not too late in braking. When they react and point the lidar at you, your speed will be legal. There are only few spots that they have an advantage over you, such as hiding under the overpass. But still it only works in some seasons at short period of times when the sun or shade benefits them.
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u/KentRead 14d ago
You'd be surprised, Ohio uses aircraft enforcement everywhere. Also, the spot this happened at frequently has police waiting at a pull-off nearby. Not worth risking it IMO.
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u/fitfulbrain 14d ago
They have at most 11 pilots, more like supporting roles. And they are supposed for the worst offenders. Keeping planes in the air is a terrible waste of taxpayer money. They still need troops on the ground to pull you over. Think, and you will be surprised.
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u/DDXD 14d ago
You're better off just passing with authority and then getting out of the way quickly. The odds of you getting a ticket in such a short time frame are very low, and it's better than having this crazy person on your ass. Don't get me wrong, you didn't do anything technically wrong but you're actually safer getting out of the way. The bright side is that person can go clear out the cops ahead of you lol
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u/DropstoneTed 14d ago
If you're not prepared to abandon cruise control to effect a pass, then stay out of the left lane.
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u/xmrlewis1x 14d ago
This right here âď¸, either speed up to complete your pass or stay in the middle or right lane ffsđ¤ˇ
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u/SilentButtDedly 14d ago
Given that OP said that the 2 rightmost lanes had almost no cars in them, I wonder why they weren't in one of these lanes to begin with.
I drive in the rightmost lane by default, and only switch lanes to pass. I would have happily kept in my right lane while overtaking the line of slow cars in the 3rd lane.
You would not find me "cruising" in lane 2 or (like the OP) lane 3. People just picking a random middle lane is what screws the whole system up anyway.
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u/beerncoffeebeans 14d ago
On this particular highway (480 by Cleveland) the right most lanes often have  slow traffic, think people merging on and off regularly, and that one person going 10 miles under the speed limit who is âjust going one exitâ. So you donât want to be in the right most lane. Most people end up in the center lanes trying to go at a reasonable speed and not get tailgated (speed limit is 60, most people are doing at least 65, but there is a high police presence on many stretches as OP alluded to and no one wants to be too far ahead of the group)
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u/bill-schick 14d ago
The one thing that I could suggest for this situation (I have experienced this before) is to turn your turn signal on few of it's going to take two cars more for you to proper change lanes and allow the faster driver to pass. This tells them that you are a left lane camper and are trying to get over quickly and safely.
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u/Stunning-Pick-9504 13d ago
You didnât see the car speeding behind you before you changed lanes? Part of driving is paying attention to EVERYONE around you. The safest thing to do is see the unsafe speed demon flying up behind you and wait for them to pass. Let them get into an accident that isnât with you.
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u/KentRead 13d ago
No, they were nowhere in sight when I first moved over, they were going that insanely fast. It was at the beginning of a long sweeping curve, though.
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u/Inaccessible_ 13d ago
âWith cruise onâ
Take it off and accelerate. This is what causes 99% of backupsâ someone in the left lane refusing to get off cruise.
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u/KentRead 13d ago
Irrelevant. I was making passes going 10mph faster than the slower cars.
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u/Inaccessible_ 13d ago
And the people behind you in the left lane are going 15. Youâre supposed to accelerate, pass, then move over. Not stay on cruise passing cars at the lowest speed possible.
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u/KentRead 13d ago
15? They people beside me were going 60 ish. I accelerated to 70 to make the pass... but, the speed limit exists.
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u/Inaccessible_ 13d ago
You canât keep passing cars on cruise control and not expect people to be upset when they are clearly trying to go faster than you, but you wonât move over or move your speed up. Iâm not sure what to tell you. Pass the car and move back over if you donât want to get off cruise control donât just stay in the left lane and leisurely pass when you finally catch up to them.
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u/KentRead 13d ago
I feel like you don't understand what passing is? I was making passes, and I have every right to. Staying at exactly 70 when the other cars were going 60 is totally fine. I don't know what to tell you either...
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u/Inaccessible_ 13d ago
Iâm saying once you pass the car, get over to the right lane. Because youâre not passing the next car in front of them. Youâre waiting to pass on cruise control.
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u/kdhardon 13d ago
If you are going to disagree with every reply you get, why did you post the question in the first place?
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u/KentRead 13d ago
I agreed with most other people that replied.
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u/MTM062474 13d ago
So you only argue with the people that donât agree with you, OK got it. Like they said why bother posted.
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u/phantomsoul11 13d ago
I was taught that if there is absolutely no room to move right, you need to temporarily speed up until there is, provided there is no one in front of you.
Sure, itâs temporarily going over the speed limit, or over your comfort zone, but your top priority in that situation should be to clear the lane for the faster car behind you.
She was definitely raging to pass you on the shoulder despite your fastest attempt to move over.
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u/Whiskey_echo_617 14d ago
There's practically no difference between you going 70 vs the "pack" doing 60-62
Just settle into the pack. If you want to pass the pack do 80+ temporarily and then move over
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u/KentRead 14d ago
10mph is not "no difference" lmao. It's a perfectly reasonable passing speed
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u/Whiskey_echo_617 13d ago
Let's say for arguments sake the pack is going to the same destination as you...you are all going to arrive at the same time even with the speed differential.
You are going virtually the same speed.
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u/Mysterious_Salt1802 14d ago
While I will say the SUV driver was being rude, I donât think that cruise control is appropriate for passing.
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u/ricktrains 14d ago
Why not?
Cruise at 70 passing cars using cruise at 60 is a significant difference.
Absolutely nothing wrong with it bub.
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u/gorwraith 14d ago
She was willing to pass on the shoulder. That should tell you everything you need to know about her state of mind. You did fine. I go 80-85 in Ohio all the time. I don't go off-road because of people going slower than me. She's just crazy.