The Theory of the right lane.

[Redster]

I have a friend that has this theory about driving in the right lane in heavey traffic. I also noticed this phonomena when I used to take Super Shuttle to DFW when I lived in Texas.
My friend claims that you can make better progress by by sticking to the right lane in heavy traffic. Actually, he is pretty extreme about it. He will even stay in those exit only lanes until the last minute.
When I saw people do that, I was a little PO'd.
I tried it today minus the exit lane bit and passed an MM in the left lane that was quite a distance in front of me.
What do you think?

Cheers,

Rod

[Bluerauder]

What do you think?
It seems kinda counterintuitive; but your friend may be correct.

One would think that the left lane should move freely since it is only carrying through traffic. However, I think that the constant flow of in-bound traffic causes drivers to constantly move left. Therefore, you are always adding traffic and increasing the number of vehicles in those lanes. More traffic and more cars slows down those lanes strictly by virtue of the capacity that they can handle.

On the other hand, the right lane is always losing vehicles as they move to the left and thereby allow traffic to move faster.

I have grown accustomed to certain places on my daily commute where it is better to be in the right lane than the left.

[guspech750]

I myself have noticed when driving into and out of Chicago that the right lane tends to move a little quicker. When I drive the tractor trailer for work I tend to stay in the right lane. Seams as everyone is so focused on getting into the middle and left lanes that all they are doing is getting out of peoples way in the right lane. But when I dont feel like dealing with traffic merging onto the highway then I will drive in the middle lane and it seams to take me a bit longer. Hey. It is what it is. At least I can scope out the hot chicks from high up in the cab anyway.

[FordNut]

It wouldn't surprise me... Ever notice how many cars enter the highway and immediately move left, crowding the left lane and leaving the right lane open? One problem is the constantly merging traffic in the right lane trying to enter and exit causes a lot of "accordion" effect.

[boatmangc]

A lot of the time it is the only place to make time going through Miami/Lauderdale. :mad2:
I did just get my "If I passed you on the right you're in the wrong lane" magnets from Ts-Pa (shameless plug) I will be forced to stay toward the fast lane to enforce my type A personality!

[CBT]

I have a friend that has this theory about driving in the right lane in heavey traffic. I also noticed this phonomena when I used to take Super Shuttle to DFW when I lived in Texas.
My friend claims that you can make better progress by by sticking to the right lane in heavy traffic. Actually, he is pretty extreme about it. He will even stay in those exit only lanes until the last minute.
When I saw people do that, I was a little PO'd.
I tried it today minus the exit lane bit and passed an MM in the left lane that was quite a distance in front of me.
What do you think?

Cheers,

Rod
I believe it is 100% true. We have tunnels around here that cause everyone to slow down once they get in them for some unknown reason. But people still jam into the left lane right before the tunnel. It never fails, that lane comes to a crawl, and you are not supposed to change lanes. Shawn Criswell came by me in his DTR when I was trapped in the tunnel in the left lane and honked and waved. I immediately switched lanes and roared up behind him. This was how I managed to get my Viper kill, he was trapped, lol. All he could do was romp it for about 10 feet at a time and throw up his hands and point to the car in front of him. I of course was stomping it, drifting back, stomping it, drifting back. Him and his passenger gave me thumbs up and we waved before I blared out of the tunnel, many many many cars ahead. Everyone thinks that lane is faster, so it clogs up and end up being slower.

[rumble]

I have a friend that has this theory about driving in the right lane in heavey traffic. I also noticed this phonomena when I used to take Super Shuttle to DFW when I lived in Texas.
My friend claims that you can make better progress by by sticking to the right lane in heavy traffic. Actually, he is pretty extreme about it. He will even stay in those exit only lanes until the last minute.
When I saw people do that, I was a little PO'd.
I tried it today minus the exit lane bit and passed an MM in the left lane that was quite a distance in front of me.
What do you think?

Cheers,

Rod

Rod,

Very true!! I drive 75 every day in the Plano Richardson corridor and I can tell
you the left (4th) is a parking lot. I always do the 2nd or 3rd lane.

When driving through Oklahoma I've noticed that every one there drives in the left lane and leaves the right lane open.
I have no idea why but I've noticed it in Wisconsin too.



gary

[JimmyXR7]

I myself have noticed when driving into and out of Chicago that the right lane tends to move a little quicker. When I drive the tractor trailer for work I tend to stay in the right lane. Seams as everyone is so focused on getting into the middle and left lanes that all they are doing is getting out of peoples way in the right lane. But when I dont feel like dealing with traffic merging onto the highway then I will drive in the middle lane and it seams to take me a bit longer. Hey. It is what it is. At least I can scope out the hot chicks from high up in the cab anyway.
I see the people who donot want be bothered to properly drive in the fast lane drinking their coffee in the morning. The right lanes are for the professional drivers including tractor trailer drivers. They do not want to stop the load and try to travel at a uniform speed rather than constantly speeding up and braking. The right lanes may not always be faster in traffic but my vehicles get the better gas mileage in them. Of course, light traffic is totally different. Jim

[Mr. Man]

I find that no lane I'm in in a NYC area jam moves any faster than any other. They all creep because the numbnuts in front of me won't get out of my way.

[LordVader]

I never really noticed it until I started driving the company vehicle, which the policy states "shall be driven in the right lane, except for the reason of passing a vehicle operating below the speed limit or being driven in an unsafe manner". Since a lot of its Beltway driving..the right lane is where I have to stay and for the most part it moves okay.

[Egon Spengler]

My friend has put me on to this as well and 9 times out of 10 he has been right.

[Ms. Denmark]

....... I am forced to stay toward the fast lane to enforce my type A personality! Me too!! While commuting I'm a "left lane girl" all the way. Hammer down!:D (It's a 4 lane divided highway)

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

When I would drive home on the North 405, the right lane would always move faster except at on ramps. I would switch out just before the on ramp ( 10-20 cars trying to merge) and move 1 lane to my left. As soon as I passed the merge, I would get back over to the far right lane.

[Pat]

I can empathize..........., I guess. :lol:


http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/War_Wagon.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:;)

[Egon Spengler]

When I would drive home on the North 405, the right lane would always move faster except at on ramps. I would switch out just before the on ramp ( 10-20 cars trying to merge) and move 1 lane to my left. As soon as I passed the merge, I would get back over to the far right lane.
405 through Long Beach suuuuuuucks! Stayed in Long Beach and commuted to Wilmington. That same commute here in MA would have taken 1/4 or less of the time it would in Long Beach! I wasn't driving though, so I got to sleep or just watched the world go by sloooooowly