Keeping Left Unless Overtaking

Reapered on 28/08/2017 - 14:13
Last edited 29/08/2017 - 14:23

Probably one of my biggest pet-peeves is the fact that people drive slow or the same pace as other cars in the neighbouring lanes.

IMO I believe that if the road is 80km/h or more, all drivers should just keep left where safe to do so. If you see someone approaching you at a greater speed from behind, let them pass by going into the free lane to your left.

I've been seeing people occupying lanes driving over 10km/h below the limit and sit in the right lanes and it almost seems intentional.

It might be just me but I enjoy sitting at cruising speed not worrying about slow drivers blocking multiple lanes.

Should this be enforced or at least signed?

What are your opinions OzBargainers?

EDIT 29/8:
Not sure where the hate is coming from but yes I was a little misinformed about the overtaking rules. I don't think I made this post look like I'm wanting a huge uproar. I had made a misinformed, assumption on overtaking rules due to the fact that there were so many people on the road not keeping left.

Anyways, was just looking for general opinion from the Ozbargain community. Wasn't looking to get attacked for my opinions.

Poll Options

  • 12
    Drive Whatever Lane You Want
  • 297
    Law Enforced Keep Left Unless Overtaking
  • 19
    Keep Left Unless Overtaking Signage
  • 28
    Suck it up Princess
  • 26
    Buy an 80K car with Radar Cruise Control for an Investment
Automotive

Comments

  • Euphemistic on 28/08/2017 - 14:24
    +31

    Go and learn your local traffic rules please. It is signed, it is a rule but unfortunately it isn't policed very well.

    Oh,and we need less signs not more - but everyone needs to learn the rules properly.

      • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 17:32
        +6

        You're welcome. Glad to be the voice of reason. :)

    • kazozza on 01/09/2017 - 12:04

      *fewer

      Speaking of needing to learn the rules properly: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/usage/less-or-fewer

      • Euphemistic on 01/09/2017 - 12:40

        maybe I 'dont know grammar rules, but I reckon I have a better grasp on road rules than a lot of others (might not follow all of them though)

  • dylanando on 28/08/2017 - 14:28
    +6

    It is the law. But as mentioned earlier doesnt seem to be policed that well. NSW Fb page does upload pictures of them getting right lane hoggers which is great.
    Drives me nuts when both cars in both lanes are doing the same speed.. That and indicators, Well, lack off..

    • wozz on 30/08/2017 - 08:36

      I've seen this enforced twice now thankfully! Once on the M2, police bike started tailing a truck sitting in the overtaking lane for about 2km with no one in middle or left lane. Pulled over.

      And again recently near Wollongong, some car sitting in the 90 zone in overtaking lane. I was behind him, hwy patrol came flying up right on my arse, so I moved over. He then tailed the slow car for about 30 seconds then pulled him over (I could've overtaken him on left lane but I'd prefer just be patient with a baby in the car these days)

      • tomsco on 30/08/2017 - 09:11
        +2

        The sad thing, rather than learning from their mistakes, they will cry foul about how the police don't catch real criminals.

        Completely ignoring two wrongs don't make a right.

    • MrBear on 30/08/2017 - 09:41
      -1

      it is the law

      Only in areas marked > 80km/h.

      • No ONE on 30/08/2017 - 13:06
        +1

        No, it's the law in NSW, not sure about states. There does not have to be a sign for that.

      • SteveBuscemi on 30/08/2017 - 18:51
        +2

        In NSW it's the law on ALL >80km/h multilane roads and all roads with posted signs regardless of limit.

        http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/downloads/top-10-misu…

        On multi-lane roads with a speed limit of more than 80km/h, motorists must not drive in the right-hand lane unless they are:
        • overtaking
        • turning right or making a U-turn • avoiding an obstacle
        • driving in congested traffic
        • driving in a special purpose lane or if there is a Left Lane Must Turn Left sign or a l

        If a Keep Left Unless Overtaking sign is displayed, the requirement applies regardless of the speed limit.

        • MrBear on 31/08/2017 - 16:51

          driving in congested traffic

          Well see, I live in Sydney. It is only congested traffic.

    • iDroid on 30/08/2017 - 16:58
      +1

      Not sure if it's still the same now, but back when I took my learners there were 4 compulsory questions that all applicants must get right before you can sit the theory exam. One of those questions what about "Keeping as left as practical at all times".

      For myself, the law is irrelevant - what's more important is being considerate to others. Keeping left is a great way to do this.

  • oscargamer on 28/08/2017 - 14:41
    +27

    The speed limit needs to be MORE than 80 for the rule to apply.

    • jorf on 28/08/2017 - 14:50
      +1

      Legally, yes, although all roads would benefit traffic-wise (and it would also massively reduce road rage and people doing dumb stuff) if everyone kept left where possible.

      At the very least, if you're in the right lane, you should be moving faster than the traffic on your left.

      • geek001 on 28/08/2017 - 15:36
        +43

        Well the thing is, on low speed limit suburban roads, most people on the right lane are probably planning to turn right at some point in the near future. It is unreasonable to expect someone to keep left on roads with low speed limits.

        I think the most effective way to reduce road rage is for people to calm down and not do dumb stuff? Just a thought.

        • jorf on 28/08/2017 - 15:48
          +10

          If you're turning right in the near future, then that would fall outside of what I said about "keeping left where possible". If you're turning right 5km from where you are, then maybe you need to rethink your need to be in the right lane so early.

          "Just calm down".. World Peace achieved!! Well done!

          In reality though, courtesy goes a long way. Try driving somewhere like the UK. Need to change lane in heavy traffic? Just put your indicator on, people will make space. Need to overtake? Change into the right lane, overtake, then move straight back over. Drive in the right lane for no reason? Get abused by everyone. It's a good system.

        • munecito on 29/08/2017 - 08:28
          +2

          That rule only applies in roads with 80km/h or more. So all you said doesn't apply.

        • geek001 on 29/08/2017 - 08:41

          @munecito: I was merely replying to hcca's comment about all roads.

          … although all roads would benefit traffic-wise (and it would also massively reduce road rage and people doing dumb stuff) if everyone kept left where possible.

        • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 11:17
          +5

          @geek001: 'where possible' is the problem. A lot of roads 80 and under are too heavily trafficked to allow for vehicles to all be in the left lane 'unless overtaking', and the rest of the time it doesn't really matter because you shouldn't be held up much by the lighter traffic

        • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2017 - 14:26
          +4

          @geek001:

          Probably more-so than "all roads would benefit from keeping left unless overtaking" would be a harsh, no tolerance, single strike and you lose your license type thing for rule breakers.

          There is an overwhelming angst for people to drive their one tonne death machines 5km/h faster than the person beside them because they will save 2 minutes. This is not really a scalable solution; it encourages diverging patterns in driving which cause accidents. If people were to drive slowly of fear of losing the ability to drive their pride and joy; they would pay more attention and be forced to be more patient, making the point of "awww keeep left i need ta go 10km/h faster than ya" a moot point.

      • xravisher on 11/09/2017 - 11:39

        how many roads are there in Sydney that are below 80 and are dual carriage?
        (not many at all)

    • dogboy on 28/08/2017 - 15:35
      +5

      I would prefer if it was enforced regardless of the speed.

    • tomsco on 28/08/2017 - 16:41

      Or if signposted.

  • fantombloo on 28/08/2017 - 14:41
    +10

    Don't need laws, need education. The combination of lack of road skills and courteousness of drivers in Australia is IMO amongst the worst I've seen anywhere. WA and Tassie drivers seem to be more courteous than the rest. NSW and QLD the worst.

    • airzone on 28/08/2017 - 15:24
      +12

      You haven't driven in Melbourne?

      • fantombloo on 28/08/2017 - 15:26
        +1

        Yeah they're bad too.

      • Baysew on 28/08/2017 - 15:45
        +20

        The tram drivers in Melbourne are the worst, always hogging the right hand lane.

        • JIMB0 on 29/08/2017 - 12:10
          +2

          And swerving all over the road.

    • MrTweek on 29/08/2017 - 15:34
      +7

      need education

      Absolutely this. Most European countries don't have this L-plate thing.
      Learning from parents may seem like a good idea, but realistically, if dad drives like a d*ck, his son won't learn anything better from him.

      To get a licence in Europe, you need to go to driving school and practice with a qualified instructor.
      You also need to go to theoretical lessons, and you actually need to study as you would for an exam at uni. Unless you know virtually all the rules in detail, you'll most likely fail.

      Yes, it's expensive, but driving is a lot more pleasant.
      You don't see many people changing 3 lanes at once without indicating because to avoid missing their exit.
      People stick to to the left (or right, depending on the country) when they are not overtaking. Overtaking on the left is illegal to and people don't do that. This reduces erratically changing lanes that happens in cities here all of the time a lot.

      • whooah1979 on 29/08/2017 - 16:23

        Yes, it's expensive,

        that's an understatement. some countries may charge >$3000 for ten lessons.

        • MrTweek on 29/08/2017 - 16:29
          +5

          I prefer that over having a country full of terrible drivers.
          It's a once in a lifetime cost.

      • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2017 - 16:59
        +5

        Learning from parents may seem like a good idea, but realistically, if dad drives like a d*ck, his son won't learn anything better from him.

        Completely agree. Bad drivers instructing new drivers is a recipe for creating another bad driver.

        I think another problem is that a lot of driving the learner does is usually the same routes over and over again. Letting them drive to and from school or running you up to the shopping centre doesn't expose them to a variety of conditions.

        When topics about driving come up on OzB it is breathtaking how many people either don't know the rules or argue in favour of breaking or ignoring them.

      • peteru on 29/08/2017 - 22:11
        +2

        Mostly agree with just about all comments you made, but you can be certain that even Europe has it's share of bad drivers. It's especially obvious in places like Germany, where you are comfortably cruising at 180km/h overtaking the ~130km/h and the ~100km/h lanes and then some dick just pulls out across two lanes without looking to overtake a truck at 110km/h. I mean FFS, look first and when you overtake, just use the next lane. Just because the truck is large does not mean you need an extra empty lane between! First rule on the Autobahn is that you look for traffic behind and if they are faster than you, you get the hell out of their way. Yes, there are drivers that regularly do 220km/h and faster and the last thing they want is some dweeb pulling out at 110km/h without looking.

        The European system (and probably Australian system too) also tends to produce drivers that get worse at knowing the rules as they get older. Sure, they may have known the relevant rules when they got their license, but rules change over time (for example bike lane splitting in NSW) and people forget things. Someone who got a license 40 years ago is less likely to know the rules than someone who get their license 3 years ago. Of course, that doesn't mean that they are a better or worse driver.

        • Euphemistic on 30/08/2017 - 06:46

          Yes, I can't see why we can't do a knowledge test every time we renew a licence. They have the software already for learners, a few extra terminals wouldn't cost much. I reckon it is just something that no political party would do becuase 'all the voters would hate it'.

        • konazz on 30/08/2017 - 09:59

          @Euphemistic: exactly. Computer test every 5 years, a driving test every 10-15 years wouldn't hurt.

    • MessyG on 30/08/2017 - 18:02
      +4

      I've lived in Sydney and Melbourne. Melbourne is far worse - the road rage is ridiculous, people get very emotional about lane ownership. God forbid you should change into their lane. They also don't seem to know it's against the law to speed up on someone changing into your lane. At least in Sydney you can change lanes quickly (which you have to in many situations) and no one gets upset by it.

  • bobbified on 28/08/2017 - 15:19
    +7

    all drivers should just keep left where safe to do so

    This is the problem - the sign literally says to "keep left unless overtaking". That is, no matter what speed you're travelling at, if you're not overtaking, then you should keep left.

    Unfortunately, some people think that it's their job to police the road and sit in the right lane at or below the speed limit to stop others from going faster. Others might just be too chicken to change lanes.

    • dogboy on 28/08/2017 - 15:42
      +9

      So if someone had an emergency and needed to get to a hospital urgently, you would be that guy who blocks them in the right lane. I remember reading a case of this in the US where someone died in the car from a chainsaw accident because of a driver doing this. The blocking driver was later arrested and charged by the police.

      The fact is, sometimes there is a legitimate reason to speed and you never know the reasons behind someone speeding. To think that the government could completely stop speeding drivers through policing is just plain ridiculous.

      • whooah1979 on 28/08/2017 - 15:58
        -1

        So if someone had an emergency and needed to get to a hospital urgently,

        Hmm. Why are they speeding when the hospital is in the other direction? The reality it that motorists speed because there's little chance of them getting caught.

      • whooah1979 on 28/08/2017 - 16:19
        +4

        The fact is, sometimes there is a legitimate reason to speed and you never know the reasons behind someone speeding.

        there's no legitimate reason for speeding. if one is injured by a chainsaw, call 000. let the professionals do what they're trained to do. john or jane blow speeding at 100km/h down hume hwy puts all other road users at risk.

        • TheBilly on 28/08/2017 - 21:34
          +2

          Most of the hume highway is a 100kmh zone anyway. You can hardly call going the speed limit speeding.

        • whooah1979 on 28/08/2017 - 22:16

          @TheBilly:

          Most of the hume highway is a 100kmh zone anyway

          section a22 and a28 is 60km/h to 70km/h. m31 is 110km/h freeway speed.

        • TheBilly on 29/08/2017 - 08:36
          +2

          @whooah1979:

          So most of it is 110kmh. Great we can agree.

        • whooah1979 on 29/08/2017 - 09:04
          +1

          @TheBilly:
          A22 and a28 travels through densely populated residential burbs with plenty of school zone and shopping strips. While the m31 is kangaroos and koala territory.

          So yes we can agree that 110km/h is an appropriate speed limit for the m31 Hume hwy. Speeding down the Hume hwy a22 and a28 at 100km/h definitely isn't.

      • Betabotx on 28/08/2017 - 16:37
        -6

        Obviously there are extreme cases, which would involve hazard lights at the very least.
        Also if caught, they should be the ones getting charged with speeding and/or dangerous driving.

        As others have mentioned, there is no legitimate reason for you to speed.
        If you think otherwise, then you are breaking the law.

        It's like how people think it's okay to speed to overtake, good luck explaining that to a cop.
        There use to be a rule that +(5-10) was allowed for overtaking, however that's no longer around, and people don't want to acknowledge it.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2017 - 18:26
          -2

          Mayte…. dun ya no about right of way!!!

          Deep down we are all little schumacas able to drive 400km/h without a helmet.

          Honestly though. Speeding should result in automatic license suspension.

      • John Kimble on 28/08/2017 - 17:37

        I remember reading a case of this in the US where someone died in the car from a chainsaw accident because of a driver doing this. The blocking driver was later arrested and charged by the police.

        Link?

        • Baysew on 28/08/2017 - 17:45
          +1

          These Are Not the Droids You Are Looking For

          This may not be the link you are looking for.

          Chainsaw accident leads to speeding charges for victim's son

        • whooah1979 on 28/08/2017 - 17:54

          @Baysew:

          $350 for speeding at 160km/h.
          http://bangordailynews.com/2017/02/14/news/penobscot/man-acc…

          “The plea deal reflects the fact that the defendant was faced with a difficult decision that day, and chose to drive at speeds over 100 mph through school zones and downtown areas,”

        • bobbified on 28/08/2017 - 18:08
          +1

          @whooah1979:

          I've never been in that situation, but im pretty sure I'd do the same, especially if there was lots of blood and the ambulance is likely to take some time to even get to the location.

          The only thing I'd probably do differently is stop and hand him over to the ambulance mid-say.

          But hey, it wasn't my father that day, so I can only speculate what I might do. Things might be a little different when the adrenaline kicks in. A speeding fine would not be the first thing on my mind.

        • whooah1979 on 28/08/2017 - 18:16

          @bobbified:

          how about this tool.
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO-Rded0JTw

        • bobbified on 30/08/2017 - 12:35

          @whooah1979:
          What about that tool? I didn't see anyone dying in his car.

      • Jackson on 29/08/2017 - 20:44

        It could easily be legislated that a car has a gps and map with speed limits programmed that is connected to the cars computer

    • bobbified on 28/08/2017 - 16:10
      +11

      I sometimes do it on purpose, to annoy drivers that I can see are going to try to speed
      The one part you are not mentioning, calibration. Everyone's car is going to be slightly different, and it would be almost impossible for everyone to have the same cruising speed.

      it's mostly about education

      You're damn right it's about education! YOUR education!

      The sign says: KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING It means just that!

      There's no reference to speed, no reference to anything else. So stop acting like it's your job to enforce the road rules.

      • Ryanek on 28/08/2017 - 16:26
        +2

        He is saying that Keep Left Unless Overtaking only applies to roads that have this signage or is over 80. Holding up speeders is questionable, but he does have every right to be on the right lane any time he wants when the road is under 80km/h.

        • bobbified on 28/08/2017 - 16:35
          +3

          but he does have every right to be on the right lane any time he wants when the road is under 80km/h

          Agree there - but there's common courtesy that should be observed on our roads. Unfortunately, common courtesy is not something that can be legislated.
          Intentionally blocking someone is not a good idea - you never know what kind of crazy person there is in the car behind so not only will you potentially open yourself up to road rage, it'll also put anyone else in the car at risk too.

        • tonyjzx on 28/08/2017 - 16:42
          +2

          this ^^^

          if someone want to speed I want them as far away from me as possible

          i don't know about you but I'm not paid to be a mobile road block to stop people from speeding. I derive no pleasure from this, nor do I want to expose myself, my car or my passengers to someone who wants to speed so even if I'm in a sub 80 zone, I will move to the left lane ASAP so these people can get the hell away from me.

        • Betabotx on 28/08/2017 - 16:54
          -4

          @bobbified:

          I wasn't referring to the case when there is a sign actually saying keep left.
          The OP doesn't say anything about a sign, so I didn't talk about that case.

          Yes I know it's questionable as well to stick to the lane (block it), and I don't do it that often.
          Honestly, if road rage comes into it, it's the other person's fault and they will be paying any damages.

          They say you are meant to be looking out for both yourself and other cars on the road, and I mostly agree with that.
          It's like a construction zone, and you see someone zooming up behind you. I hit that 40 (or whatever it is) and stick to it. It's the legal limit, who cares about the other person.

        • Scorpex on 29/08/2017 - 08:55
          -1

          And under my breath I say - go right ahead, pay my taxes…..

        • Ughhh on 29/08/2017 - 10:39

          @Betabotx:

          Honestly, if road rage comes into it, it's the other person's fault and they will be paying any damages

          What you're doing is encouraging road rage, you'll be at least partially at fault.

        • Betabotx on 30/08/2017 - 08:35
          -1

          @Ughhh:

          If I were obeying the road rules, then no I wouldn't be at fault.
          It's those people that think they can go above the rules, which are at fault.

          Doesn't matter how you explain it, if you were obeying the road rules, you can't be placed at fault.

        • Ughhh on 30/08/2017 - 10:35

          @Betabotx:

          If I were obeying the road rules, then no I wouldn't be at fault.

          Except you weren't. If you don't understand, then you are just as dangerous if not more than speeders. I'm sorry you don't realise.

        • Betabotx on 30/08/2017 - 11:09
          -1

          @Ughhh:

          Please explain why I wouldn't have been obeying the rules in the specific case that I outlined.
          I believe you have misread something.

          Don't just say sorry that someone doesn't realise something, and then not explain why.

    • burningrage on 29/08/2017 - 16:38

      I stopped reading after end of paragraph 2.

      What a d**k.

      • Betabotx on 30/08/2017 - 08:44
        -1

        Glad you took the time to reply, and for how objective your comment was.

        Seriously if you can't take the time to read and think about it, why waste the time.
        If I'm obeying the rules, and not limiting someone else on the road (who is also obeying the rules), there is no harm done.

  • ESEMCE on 28/08/2017 - 16:57
    +17

    It also needs to be factored that if you're doing MORE than the speed LIMIT, then your "rights" to whine about someone who is overtaking but crawling past at the speed limit are null.
    Most of the complainants who whine about this topic (including friends of mine) are initially guilty themselves of breaking the law, a law they conveniently label as "revenue raising" as if there was no capability to prevent it from occurring. (PS yeah, I've been done speeding, and yes I was annoyed cause I missed the signage, but I've not been done many other times when I've inadvertently been speeding)

  • Ryballs on 28/08/2017 - 17:04
    -7

    The current unofficial way it works here is fine. If you're doing under the limit (which most drivers are), stay on the left. If you are doing the limit, and I mean the actual limit (usually +5-10% on speedo, check using GPS), then you stay on the right. If the people on the left are doing the limit then I stay left but that only happens very rarely.

    In my opinion there's no point using the right lane for overtaking and going back into the left, just to have to change back to the right to pass the next slowarse doing 10km under the limit. Also if everyone used one lane instead of two wouldn't there be less throughput/more congestion?

  • barbarella on 28/08/2017 - 19:13

    take a breath and relax…don't stress over the small stuff :)

    • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2017 - 20:14
      +1

      Get the (profanity) out of my lane.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2017 - 10:08
      +2

      It's not small stuff. It is a major factor in road rage which leads to people being injured or even killed.

      • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 11:19
        +2

        but in the scheme of things being held up behind a car doing a few kms under the speed limit will cost you what 30 seconds of your life? If you are that late you need to leave earlier.

        It is small stuff in the scheme of things, and those who let it get them into a rage on the roads need to take a breath and relax. We (mostly) live in busy cities and being held up in traffic is a fact of life.

        I also need to take a dose of my own medicine from time to time as I get annoyed by other drivers driving slow, weaving and generally being incompetent. But once you take a breath, it makes little difference to your day.

        • BobLim on 29/08/2017 - 13:52
          +1

          You might think that, but in traffic it can be much, much worse.
          Imagine every time the light turns green, 3 cars get ahead in your lane because the person in front of you accelerates so slowly. Because of this, you miss the next light and have to stop again. Same thing happens for the next 3 sets of lights. You come to your turnoff, and enter the right turn lane behind 15 other vehicles. All of those vehicles were previously behind you before you got stuck behind the slow driver. This set of lights only allows about 3 cars to turn per cycle.

          Doesn't take long to add up to plenty more than 30 seconds, and if it happens 3 times every trip, I hope you understand how annoyed some people might get. Anecdotally these people often also take it upon themselves to be a 'nice guy' and do things like let queue jumpers into the front of turning lanes. Inevitably the slow driver is the last one to make it around, leaving you further delayed and annoyed while the selfish road users happily proceed, both validated to do it all again tomorrow.

        • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 14:26
          -1

          @BobLim: Kinda funny that you expect to be overtaking people in traffic heavy enough that you get stuck at 3 sets of lights because of a couple of slow cars. I suspect it is more like you being part of the cause of the traffic (just being on the road) that delays everyone.

          Take a breath and relax, or drive at a different time.

        • BobLim on 29/08/2017 - 14:28
          +4

          @Euphemistic: 3 lane road with 80km/h limit, blocked by a slow driver in each lane doing 65 will mean that everyone stops at every set of lights. You see no problem with that? At least think of the extra environmental impact if not the time?

        • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 15:25

          @BobLim: I understand, and do see the problem, but there isn't much point getting all fired up about it. In most situations what you describe won't occur, and when it does, take a breath and try to relax. It'll make your day a lot better if you can chill out about the small stuff.

          Edit: and if you are stuck behind a car while all these other cars are getting in front of you and you are worried about it, change lanes and pass it yourself.

        • Mike88 on 29/08/2017 - 15:28
          +3

          i deal with this issue all the time in he inner suburbs of Melbourne. Plenty of single lane roads with 60km speed limits and the person in front cruising at 40. You end up hitting every red…
          It is very frustrating when you do a lot driving. Tail gating is dangerous and frowned upon, if you honk them they will take it is as aggression. There is no way of getting past the driver until they turn off in most cases.

        • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 15:33
          +3

          @Mike88: I'll go back to the first post in this section. Take a breath and relax, it'll make your day go better.

          If you are 'always' getting stuck behind slower drivers, add some extra time onto your journey. you probably only notice it when it happens and that makes you think it is always. human nature will pick out the noticeable events and think they occur more than they actually do. Check your speedo as well, you could be exaggerating the actual speed difference, they won't always be going 40 in a 60, or 65 in 80, just slower than you want to go - which might be speeding.

          The number of times my wife has to 'slam on the brakes' becuase of some idiot makes me think that she thinks any braking is slamming on the brakes. I drive in the much same traffic as her and very rarely have to 'slam on the brake', reasonably often I need to back off the accelerator, and sometimes I need to brake a bit, but I haven't used the ABS in anger in years.

        • BobLim on 29/08/2017 - 16:06
          +2

          @Euphemistic: As far as I can tell here no one's eyes are bulging when this happens, but it seems reasonably annoying to me and many others. It's possible to be annoyed at something and not fly off the handle when it occurs… The point is that it's impossible to predict whether we'll be stuck behind slow drivers - on a half hour journey to work my travel time varies by up to 15 minutes extra depending on traffic. This is not huge queues and bumper-to-bumper congestion, but just slow average speeds resulting in missing lots of lights, and if it's really dragging then a couple of timed 40 zones begin.

          I can easily relax, but it'd also be very easy for everyone to check their speedo regularly, and if they find they're below the speed limit to either hurry up or make sure they're not holding up anyone else.

          You also seem to think that this doesn't happen very often, but I can assure you for many it's a daily occurrence. Lucky you I guess?

        • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 16:23

          @BobLim: Yes, I am lucky. My commute can be as short as 10min until I'm standing in the office/house and if I'm unlucky one of the two sets of traffic lights might be red. I usually only drive when I have to drop my son off, which often leads me into crawling traffic for a bit though and no amount of keeping left would fix that, it's all about choke points like forming one lane or a busy roundabout.

          Still, getting back to the OP, getting some of those cars to keep left probably won't make much difference in your commute anyway. It's the other choke points that really cause the damage in traffic.

          Can't wait until we get smarter traffic lights too, ones that can anticipate the traffic movements and not leave a right turn on red while there is no oncoming traffic only to then stop the oncoming traffic to allow the turn.

        • HeWhoKnows on 29/08/2017 - 16:48
          +1

          @Euphemistic Time to take a dose of that medicine now. Seems you are stalking people here looking for an excuse to have a go at them.

        • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 17:17
          -2

          @Amayzingone: GET OFF MY B…. Breathe, breathe, OK, I'm all good now.

        • Mike88 on 29/08/2017 - 18:41
          +2

          @Euphemistic:
          You're experience is obviously different to mine. I can't add additional time to my journey as I drive between repair jobs, every time I get caught behind someone driving slowly it lengthens my working day. I do a large amount of driving every year and constantly find the same issues across most roads.
          I am not exaggerating the difference as I have plenty of time to check my speed while travelling so slowly. It's not always 20kms below, sometimes 10-15.The issue is that it happens frequently enough that it becomes a problem. If I could travel at the speed limit 80% of the time I wouldn't care.

        • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 18:48
          -1

          @Mike88: but you do have to add extra time for travel. It's part of driving in a big city, it's called traffic. It is normal. I do agree that slow drivers can be frustrating, but on topic a slow car doesn't make that much difference in multi lane roads. This topic isn't about single lane roads, you can't keep left on a single lane road.

        • ATangk on 29/08/2017 - 19:41

          Since when do people drive under the speed limit anyways (on M1) unless there's either a) cars everywhere and impossible to go faster or b) heavy rain/poor lighting. But in my experience b) let's the few drivers go even faster.

        • Mike88 on 29/08/2017 - 20:43
          +1

          @Euphemistic: I understand that there will always be traffic. If you can't drive any faster due to congestion that's fine. If you can't drive any faster because the car at the front of the line likes to do 70 in the 80 then that's annoying.
          My reference to single lane roads was just to high light driving slow is a nuisance. Just because a road has multiple lanes doesn't mean it is possible to overtake. If lane A and B are both doing 70km in an 80 zone you will be stuck either way.

        • shaiguy on 30/08/2017 - 10:26
          +1

          I am guessing you're in Sydney? It is amazing when you go to other towns/cities (in and out of Australia) and you realize how impatient that city/metro life makes you. I was one of these more impatient people but you really do need to take a step back in a way and not get too overly worked up and calculating when it comes to traffic (I am guilty of this at times as well).

          Funnily enough I have a friend who was a country girl who moved to Perth and then to Sydney. She then moved back to Perth and started complaining about all the drivers hogging the right lane on the freeway and people just being inconsiderate by making cars bank up for them for really non-sensical reasons… then she realized that she was the odd one out. In saying that she has said in recent years people are becoming a lot more impatient particularly with the growth over there.

  • Word on 28/08/2017 - 20:08
    +1

    Turning.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2017 - 20:11
    +1

    after watching the australian dash cam compilation and a russian one after it, i think our driving skills are on par with russia maybe even worse.

  • TheBilly on 28/08/2017 - 21:37
    +2

    I like to hog the left lane and do whatever the f*** I want in it (80 in a 110 - why not) Its liberating in a way.

    Id like to add; I also only use the right lanes for overtaking when the need arises.

  • Inzo on 29/08/2017 - 08:59
    -3

    There needs to be a poll option for "get the fudge out of my way" when i'm in that lane and your driving like a peasant.

  • blackfrancis75 on 29/08/2017 - 09:34
    +4

    I agree it can be mildly annoying BUT PLEASE REMEMBER if this happens, it DOESN'T give you the right to tail-gate. It's not worth risking both your lives over! There is no justification for that.

  • JIMB0 on 29/08/2017 - 09:46
    +1

    Every one keep left so Reapered can have the right lane to use as his personal express lane.

    • Euphemistic on 30/08/2017 - 09:44
      +1

      I think this might be the crux of the issue. Seems that once a person gets into a drivers seat surrounded by tonnes of steel that they become the most important person in the world and everyone else should just get out of the way.

  • Ozpit on 29/08/2017 - 09:48
    -3

    A lot of drivers seem to think that the posted maximum speed limit is the speed you MUST be doing, otherwise you are a hindrance and menace to other road users. I often prefer to drive a little below the posted speed, and because this often slows down other drivers approaching from behind, I feel guilty. Note that I always keep to the left and try to avoid, as much as possible, hindering the progress of others. But many/most country roads are double lane, i.e. one lane in each direction, and I feel self-conscious when cars pile up behind me.
    As far as drivers hogging the right lane: if they are sitting on the speed limit, I often feel they think that they are perfectly in their rights in preventing cars overtaking, as these cars would be breaking the law. Well, the lane hogger is also breaking the law. Australian road rules (all states) clearly state that you are to keep to the left unless overtaking, and not only when a road sign states such (as some Ozbargainers above believe).
    Why do road authorities often feel the need to state the obvious with their road signage, as with 'Keep left unless overtaking'? As far as a lane jogger knows, a 'speeding' driver approaching from behind may have a woman in the back seat with a baby's head poking out from between her thighs. Unlikely, but possible.
    As a digression, another absurd sign that you occasionally see, is 'Dumping of rubbish prohibited'. Duh. One amusing sign (but scary - and in this case probable essential given the number of foreign tourists) seen along parts of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, is 'Drive on left in Australia'.

    • whooah1979 on 29/08/2017 - 09:54

      I often prefer to drive a little below the posted speed,

      If you're driving at 60km/h on a road that's 60km/h, then you're already driving below the limit by ~4km/h.

      • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2017 - 10:01
        -2

        You skipped maths and physics at school then?

        • Ryballs on 29/08/2017 - 10:23
          +7

          I think he means if it says 60 kph on the speedo in reality you're actually doing around 56 kph.

        • whooah1979 on 29/08/2017 - 12:05

          @Ryballs:
          Thanks.

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