Driving poll

baconsmom

You're in the left lane of a three-lane highway (freeway, interstate, what-have-you.). Someone flashes her brights at you. Do you:

loveshine1

I would let her pass.

But that's only if there's not a magoo in the next lane over, and I can easily get back into the left lane.

baconsmom

OK, which Coloradan answered "Nothing"? 

baconsmom

If there's a ton of traffic, it probably won't make a difference.

I got stuck (again) behind some moron cruising in the left lane last night, despite there being no one in the middle lane. I flashed my lights, and he did nothing. After I got fed up and passed on the right - because there was NO ONE in that lane - he moved over. 

I should post this on my local. I'm dying to know why they pull this crap - right-passing seems to be expected. 

Butter Cookie

That depends on the rest of traffic and how fast I'm going. If I'm doing reasonably above the speed limit, passing someone in the left lane, and some a-hole hauls up on my ass flashing their brights I will respond by staying put, because I assume they're not stable.

If I'm riding down the left lane doing 35 in a 55 and someone flashes their brights at me... well I would assume something was mentally wrong with me.

loveshine1

Maybe it's the altitude that gets to them. It's the same concept that the heat in FL gets to people.

I don't understand why, during rush hour, people drive as if they have no where to be. PICK UP THE PACE. I want to get home, to the gym, to the store or wherever. I don't want to hit every light!

baconsmom

See, I was taught that flashing brights is the polite way to say, "I'd like to go faster, please move over" when driving at night. I was also taught that you shouldn't pass on the right, ever, but I have been behind people doing 45 in a 55 in the left lane and had to pass on the right because they refused to move over.

I don't ride asses, either. I just don't think it's too much to ask to be able to speed 5-10 mph in the left lane. 55 is effing slow, yo. 

loveshine1

I agree with your assessment of CT drivers. One of my roommates in college was from CT and she was the most timid driver ever.

I remember her dad came down and took us to dinner one time. He drove, and I've never been so scared driving with a parent in my life.

GBCK

I'd be wondering if they WANT to get shot...
but that might be where I drive.
(no, it's nto that whole 'flasing bright urban legend' thing..it's that...I don't drive in especially safe areas--I drive wehre I work :_P)

*Barbie*

my action TOTALLY depends on my mood. I said "slow down" b/c when I'm in the left lane, I'm usually already going 10-15mph over the speed limit (with the exception of areas where i KNOW there's a speed trap). If the person is flashing their lights and riding my ass, and I'm going 10-15mph over the speed limit, i'm going to slow down, preferably next to a car in the middle lane, just so they CAN'T get around me. 

I'm a bitch like that. 

If I'm driving slower than the speed limit (which almost never happens) I'm not in the left lane, so this is a non-issue. 

*Candi*

I would immediately think it was a cop, because I always speed in the left lane on the highway.

If it was just a person that then went around me because 80 isn't fast enough I would give them the DIAF look. Fck you, if I'm going 10-15 over the speed limit I'm not getting in the next lane so you can do 20 over.

In your case, I'm you and I would skip the light flashing and just pass them.

6fsn

I don't normally drive in the left lane if I'm not passing.  Every once in awhile I pass and just forget to get back over.  I'd rather someone just pass on the right though.  Flashing brights can really mess with my eyes.
If you can pass on the right do it and move on.

baconsmom

Zzilla, around here people brake for fun. I'm not kidding. They brake when someone next to them brakes. They brake when they think the person behind them is going too fast. They brake when there's no one in front of them. They brake a half a mile before a red light. 

I'm beginning to suspect that Colorado car dealers attach a crack dispenser to the brake pedal and an electric shock to the gas. 

PharmacyBride

If I was in the left lane and someone obviously wanted to get past me.. I would move over.  But in Illinois- the left lane is considered the passing lane- so it would be illegal on my behalf to not get over.

I once got pulled over while passing someone on the right.  (luckily I was only given a warning)  At the time- I was going 10-12 MPH over the speed limit and this wasn't even mentioned (I was going the "speed of traffic" so I wasn't in the wrong for speeding).  He only scolded me on the dangers of passing on the right.

Every once in a while- you need to honk at a stupid car in the left lane- but they usually have out-of-state plates.  Either way.. the slow car is in the wrong... I would be really pissed if they retaliated by tailgating me (also illegal).

The only time I ever saw lights flashed was to let someone know their lights weren't on.