Doing 104kph in Right Lane but Blocking Traffic - What Do You Do?

Zalur on 10/06/2024 - 22:40
Last edited 11/06/2024 - 11:30 by 1 other user

Ok ok before you pass this off as another OzBargain traffic rant, hear me out. I turn to the holy wisdom of the OzBargain community for a specific dilemma in mind.

You're doing 104kph on the freeway in the right lane. The car on the left is doing the same speed as you. There are several cars behind this car. Suddenly you've got a car coming up behind you. It's going faster than you and slows down as it comes up your tail.

Here's the dilemma. Now I know that not everyone agrees, but a general whirlpool/ reddit consisus is normally, courtesy right lane etiquette begs its use as an overtaking lane - use it to pass then move back into the left. However, now, you're stuck doing the maximum speed without getting a ticket and you're holding up a car behind you.

What do you do? Speed up and pull left or sit tight in the right?

For argument's sake, let's say your reliance on your speed reading is Google Maps' navigation speedometre. Not your car's, which isn't gps inaccurate, but hey, that's subjective.

Poll Options expired

  • 751
    You speed up, over the speed limit, then pull left in front of the car on the left
  • 71
    You stay in your lane, cruising, whatever
  • 160
    You indicate left and hope to God someone gives you space to pull left
  • 30
    You brake check the dude behind you
Automotive

Comments

              • LFO on 13/06/2024 - 13:20

                @ForkSnorter: Not me.

                How about you.

              • suti1 on 13/06/2024 - 19:50

                @ForkSnorter: "Seriously, if you're that nervous about overtaking and then making another lane change to the left, or doing the speed limit on the left, you need to take a few more driving courses to raise your confidence"

                https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/opinion-get-out-of-the-ri…

                • ForkSnorter on 14/06/2024 - 08:28

                  @suti1: The thing about bogans is that they have difficulty visualising situations outside their own experience.

                  A lot of Australians drive in conditions like this

                  Good luck maintaining 110km and weaving between the left and right lanes to overtake in traffic like this.

                  In this situation the “keep left” rule absolutely does not apply because the economy would shut down as nobody could go anywhere.

  • dufflover on 11/06/2024 - 11:46
    +2

    Maybe it's just the roads I use most but so often I get:
    - echelons of slower cars in 3 out of the 4 lanes, rather than them all keeping left where possible
    - as probably with the OP here, as soon as I go into the right lane to overtake they suddenly speed up …

    • LFO on 11/06/2024 - 12:01

      SPOT ON!!!!!!!

  • dmaca667 on 11/06/2024 - 11:59

    I think it is a pretty easy thing to work out - Just look at the consequence of your action if you are caught.

    The other you need to consider is how much extra money does your state government fines recovery unit need?
    If you find yourself with too much extra money from buying Eneloops for years and you don't think that the government fines recovery units are not making enough revenue to justify their existence - you could always consider speeding.

    If you are speeding and you are caught - you will pay a fine regardless of your reason - the person behind you will also pay for a fine. If this arrangement works for you - go for it.

    All these people arguing "your speedo is wrong" or "it will always be out by 5%" let look at the situation - if you are doing 96km (and your speedo is reporting 100km) and the person behind you is "only" doing "100km" on a freeway (4km per hour difference, then you will probably notice them from about 500m away (at those speeds on a freeway/highway you should have good visibility), the time it takes to travel 300m at a difference of 4km p/h is around 4.5 minutes - giving you plenty of time to realistically move into the left lane.

    Also a 4% reduction in speed can result in between 5-10% less in fuel consumption (depending of lots of variables of course), which results in roughly saving you 10-20 cents per liter at the fuel pump (assuming $2 p/l).

  • Tiredman on 11/06/2024 - 12:36

    I usually accelerate and leave him in the dust to shame him and show him how much power my car has then move to the left.

    P.S Just kidding.

  • digitalbath on 11/06/2024 - 12:47

    Sounds like you shouldn’t be in that lane in the first place.

  • opt on 11/06/2024 - 13:30

    I hardly see many people doing 104 (actual GPS speed, not incorrect speedo value) especially during busy times, therefore if you somehow find yourself next to another car doing 104 on your left, then you are already breaking two laws : A: keep left unless overtaking, B: stay under the speed limit. So I don't see why you can't just speed up a little and finish overtaking or just slow down and get behind. Why is this even a poll ?

    Its extremely unlikely to see multiple cars all doing 100~104 on the left lane, unless there is an ignorant right lane hogger doing under 100. So IMO your hypothetical scenario doesn’t usually happen in the real world.

  • Cluster on 11/06/2024 - 13:41
    +2

    I get out of the lane, either by indicating and slowing down (so the meat head behind me doesn't think I'm deliberately trying to annoy them), or speed up a bit and over take.

    The problem comes when the left lane is full of cars and you can't change lanes.

    The one thing that does annoy me is two lanes in a 60 zone. Left lane driver will be doing 50. Driver in the right lane is doing 60, but as soon as they get parallel with the left lane driver they'll slow down to 50. It's almost like they're thinking if I do the same speed as the guy to my left, I cannot be done for speeding. Never mind that they're both doing well under the speed limit. Safety in numbers!

  • FlyingMiffy on 11/06/2024 - 14:54
    +1

    So for the 300 hundred odd that speed up… who do you blame when and if a copper pulls you over for going 110+?

    • gromit on 11/06/2024 - 15:47

      I blame the OP who failed to provide the correct option of slow down while indicating left to merge to left.

      • FlyingMiffy on 11/06/2024 - 16:15
        +1

        The OP is going 104… why do they need to slow down?

        • gromit on 11/06/2024 - 16:18

          because it is illegal to sit in the right lane unless overtaking, the car to their left is going the same speed therefore they are illegally sitting in the right lane.

          • pharkurnell on 11/06/2024 - 16:57

            @gromit:

            because it is illegal to sit in the right lane unless overtaking

            When was the last time you heard anyone being booked for it? Me either.

            • gromit on 11/06/2024 - 16:58
              +2

              @pharkurnell: My mates wife last year actually lol. was an awesome evening as she has argued for years there is nothing wrong with sitting in the right lane as long as she is doing speed limit.

            • El cheepo on 11/06/2024 - 18:39

              @pharkurnell:

              When was the last time you heard anyone being booked for it? Me either.

              Followed a marked highway patrol car for 20+kms down the freeway in Perth a couple of nights ago.

              He sat the right lane the whooooole way - almost no traffic out.
              (I was middle lane/ occasionally right lane to overtake and back to middle).

              Its a bit like eating while driving or having your arm on the window with it down…
              Its against the law, but even the police do it.

        • pizzip on 11/06/2024 - 17:46

          Because they aren't actually overtaking. Overtaking = going faster than the other person.

  • Brick Tamland on 11/06/2024 - 15:45
    +8

    Personally whenever I am in the right lane I keep vigilant on people that maybe approaching and closing in. As soon as I see a car catching I will proactively start looking to change lanes to free up that right lane. I don’t like blocking the lane or being put in a situation that I can’t merge left without speeding.

    • Pufff on 11/06/2024 - 17:11
      +1

      Your sir/madam are a rarity.

      • zombie hunter on 14/06/2024 - 07:37

        Better he has a f54king brain

  • Blargman2001 on 11/06/2024 - 16:14
    +3

    I'd slow down to 100 and get in the left lane. If you're not overtaking anyone you shouldn't be in the right lane.

  • No ONE on 11/06/2024 - 16:27
    +2

    Do this:
    You speed up, over the speed limit, then pull left in front of the car on the left

    or do this:
    Indicate left, slow down until the car on the left moves ahead, then change lane.

    • Brick Tamland on 11/06/2024 - 19:34
      +2

      No let’s over complicate it. That’s too much pragmatism for this forum.

      • mungas on 14/06/2024 - 12:01

        This is a very underrated comment

  • Ghost47 on 11/06/2024 - 16:28

    Depends how close the car is behind you and how fast it's coming up your rear. If its come up fast and is close behind you (<1 second gap) then the best thing to do would be to just bite the bullet and overtake the car on the left by then get out of the way.

    You shouldn't be getting yourself in that position in the first place where you're sitting next to a car in the left lane doing the same speed as them, but some weird drivers out there can't help but speed up when a car is overtaking them. Either overtake the car (even if you just go 1-2 km/hr faster you're still overtaking them albeit slowly) then move over once there is a safe distance between you and them, or sit behind them until they inevitably slow down 10 km/hr below the limit then overtake them (usually this will happen when you reach an incline and when that happens you'll be able to create a large gap, but don't be surprised if they come up your rear again 5-10 minutes later).

  • Waltervp on 11/06/2024 - 16:48
    +2

    The important thing is not to get into that situation. But if a single lane goes into two lanes and the slow grandpa in front of you speeds up as you overtake and both of you end up doing 104 because grandpa decided to speed up when he came to the double lane….. i would speed up in that case and overtake so all the other people held up previously also get a chance to overtake the speeding grandpa before he resumes at 80 after the overtaking opportunity is gone…

  • R4 on 11/06/2024 - 16:53
    +2

    You shouldn't be there in the first place but in your scenario, just get out of the way.

    No brainer.

    • Pufff on 11/06/2024 - 17:16
      +4

      The option of learning road rules and not being in that position isn't a poll option unfortunately.

      The responses are in line with what I experience on our roads.

      • pizzip on 11/06/2024 - 17:47
        +2

        "but i'm going the speed limit, it's the other guy's fault"

  • bobwokeup on 11/06/2024 - 17:48

    That’s the speed I sit on too but because every a$$hole in WA sits in the right lane and not on the speed limit even, I usually pass on the left (yep do it all the time it’s a joke) and then jump into the right lane. In your case it does depend on the area/situation but I’d sit tight and then indicate left as you’re passing the last car so they know your intentions. If I can’t get across after too long I just push in as you can always make space if you know how to drive and get out of the fast lane (after all if an emergency services vehicle was coming you need to get out ASAP) then let them speed off and jump in behind them.

  • DiscoJango on 11/06/2024 - 18:14

    Move the f over, learn your lesson and dont do it again.

  • mirz on 11/06/2024 - 18:20

    If in Melbourne, just set your cruise on 95 in 100 zone and sit in right lane until you reach your exit.

    Melbourne drivers have worst right lane antiquates in Australia.

  • chengjianer on 11/06/2024 - 19:28

    should have a different speed limit (higher) on the right lane / overtaking lane which i have seen that in some countries.
    e.g. 2 lanes motorway/freeway 100km on the left and 110km on the right, of course at the same time "keep left unless overtaking"
    otherwise, how are drivers supposed to overtake but not speeding at the same time? i guess thats what OP and many other drivers concern.
    unless our road rules mention you won't be caught for speeding when you are in the right lane / overtaking lane.

    • bobbified on 11/06/2024 - 20:04
      +2

      Drivers overseas are more courteous. Over here, if they make the right hand lane slightly higher, there'll still be d'heads camping in that lane because they think they're the fastest. And then you get the other d'heads who think they're the police and want to try and stop everyone else "speeding". It's the poor attitude and lack of courtesy here that's the problem.

      • OzBarAnon on 12/06/2024 - 13:46

        Saying "drivers overseas" is a bit broad. I don't imagine the quality of the average driver is the same in Bangladesh as it is in Germany

        • bobbified on 12/06/2024 - 16:36

          Does anyone stay in their lane (if they even have lanes!) hahaha

  • hippieyippie on 11/06/2024 - 20:25

    The correct answer is that you should have not been in the right lane in the first place if you were not overtaking.

  • factor on 11/06/2024 - 20:57

    Thanks for the encouragement to check the wording of this law.

    There is a 6 km section of the hume Highway near Marulan where the weight of trucking has destroyed the left lane. I drive in the right lane for that section. This is legal as it is legal to remain in the right lane if avoiding an obstruction. And, the legislation dictionary defines obstruction to include traffic hazards.

  • Kamsi on 11/06/2024 - 21:05
    -4

    Some people doesn't understand that right lane are for those who people that want to speed or in a hurry. Stuck in the right lane just to piss off those people than you know you had it coming.

  • EvoQuattro on 11/06/2024 - 21:13
    +1

    So if I get pinged by a speed camera in the right lane because i was speeding up to try get back into the left lane, is that a reason to fight the ticket?

    I've often wondered this. I believe this right lane as the "fast" or "overtaking" lane only really makes sense in europe, where some of the autobahns have no speed limits. I personally dont stay in the right lane, but if all the other lanes are busy and the right lane is more free, I would happily sit in the right lane at, or just above the speed limit.

    My issue is when people go UNDER the speed limit in the right lane.

  • Daniel Plainview on 11/06/2024 - 21:14

    courtesy right lane etiquette begs its use as an overtaking lane

    This is your mistake - it's not 'ettiquette', rather is literally the traffic law that on roads 80km/hr+ you must keep left unless overtaking. Failure to do so is a traffic infringement & subject to the appropriate penalties.

    • belongsinforums on 11/06/2024 - 22:20

      in qld it's not 80+, it's +80 (meaning 81 or above). it also allows right lane usage in congestion

  • sntc on 11/06/2024 - 21:33

    Yeah, option 1 looks the least hassle free which is what most probably do, but be ready to cop a fine if got caught. No excuses. As a defensive driver, you gotta have foresight and plan accordingly. And many times, you will encounter drivers riding 95kph on the left lane (ppl who use GPS are aware of the speed their car travels), as a result it will take longer to overtake with just 5kph up to the speed limit. And also I think there is this natural reflex action where many ppl also step on the gas to match with the overtaking vehicle until they notice their speed.

  • belongsinforums on 11/06/2024 - 22:20
    -1

    stop speeding in the first place?

  • x d on 11/06/2024 - 22:21

    I usually travel at a bit over the limit to keep the flow moving. If someone else come up behind me and I am in front, I'd move over and if they are not massively over the speed limit, I'd let them pass, match their speed and then slip stream them staying 2 seconds behind them as long as they are not 10+ over the limit. At high speed this helps a lot with my fuel consumption :-) Let them burn up the fuel whilst you reap the benefit.

  • chk on 11/06/2024 - 22:30

    a car coming up close behind you isn't an excuse to speed, as far as I know, the law doesn't say speeding is allowed to overtake in the right lane

  • GuitarXXX on 12/06/2024 - 00:21

    If you are a police / patrol car running at 104km/h, will the car behind still show the same behavior? Probably not.

  • umoddbro on 12/06/2024 - 05:10

    If you're going the speed limit then don't hog the right lane, plus if you see a car coming right up your ass its not hard to move left… If you're driving you should have more awareness.

    • Spootage on 12/06/2024 - 18:39
      -3

      And if there a car in the left land already who decided to speed up and match your speed, what do you do then? I’m not speeding up even more and risk copping a fine.

      • 2025 on 12/06/2024 - 19:08
        +1

        But but but if if if

        Whatever

        Keep left unless overtaking

  • Oofy Doofy on 12/06/2024 - 08:07

    don't touch accelerator, fall back slowly, then indicate your desire to move to the left.

  • bargoner on 12/06/2024 - 09:33

    The law is pretty clear, keep left unless overtaking. If you obeyed the law in the first place you wouldn't be in this position…

  • RolandWaites on 12/06/2024 - 10:05
    +2

    Aim to get in the left lane, but don't break the speed limit any further in order to get there. If it takes a minute that's fine. The dude behind can honestly wait and lose the literal single-digit seconds he will lose by being stuck behind you for a little while.

    • pizzip on 12/06/2024 - 17:27
      -1

      If it takes a minute to overtake you shouldn't be overtaking!

      • RolandWaites on 12/06/2024 - 19:39
        -1

        Why not? Where in the road laws does it say your overtake must be within X seconds? If you're overtaking a car in 5 or 60s you should be in the overtaking lane.

  • Malore on 12/06/2024 - 15:00

    I try to stay aware of my surroundings while driving, including if someone is flying up behind me.
    If I see someone going way faster than me coming up, I'll indicate and try to get back into the left lane, this may require slowing down as some people get quite sensitive if you try to speed up to get ahead of them.
    After letting the car pass you can always go back into the right lane and keep slowly overtaking people, but if everyone else is doing roughly the same speed is it worth the hassle?

  • Amazingly on 12/06/2024 - 16:02
    -1

    To avoid someone tailgating me in the right lane.
    I'd just push into the left slower lane then onto the bicycle lane and overtake the slow lane.

  • ECE on 12/06/2024 - 18:39

    Stay left if you are that idiot 😜🤣

  • 2025 on 12/06/2024 - 19:10
    +1

    Plot twist: the vehicle behind is an emergency vehicle. Let’s see how many entitled idiots feel that they own the right lane now.

    • RolandWaites on 12/06/2024 - 19:40
      -2

      the entitled idiots are the ones in the right lane who think people should get out of the way for them because they want to exceed the speed limit and break the law

      • 2025 on 12/06/2024 - 20:43
        +1

        NSW road rules state police are exempt from many road rules in some circumstances, and need not have a flashing light if it is reasonable in the circumstances. That person you are blocking could be legally entitled to speed, how do you know if they are or not allowed to be speeding?? Shouldn’t law enforcement, particularly at 100KMh on a freeway, be left to trained professionals? Even the police cannot break the law to enforce the law, so suggesting that a citizen is entitled to break the “keep left unless overtaking” law to enforce speeding laws upon others is utterly ridiculous.

        • RolandWaites on 12/06/2024 - 22:59
          -4

          So your argument is that drivers should, even if they are obeying the law, jump out the way of other cars on the miniscule chance the speeding car behind them is an emergency services vehicle that is choosing to not use its lights?

          What percentage of cars do you think these are? 0.001%? Probably fewer?

          There's nothing wrong with doing the speed limit and overtaking somebody in the right-hand lane. If it takes you 30s to do, that's perfectly fine.

          If the officer behind me is rushing to an emergency while I'm obeying the law and they need to get by, well I guess they can probably use the incredibly loud and incredibly bright siren they have available to them at the press of a button.

          • 2025 on 12/06/2024 - 23:20

            @RolandWaites: No sorry if I wasn’t clear, my argument is that people should keep left unless overtaking. It seems we agree about that.

            OPs scenario is that both cars are doing the same speed of 104, hence no overtaking, or passing, is actually happening. One cannot pass another doing the same speed.

      • Ughhh on 12/06/2024 - 20:56
        +1

        If you have someone who doesn't care about the law, probably doesnt care about dying (if they're really up your arse), you think they would care about your life?
        Die for a good cause, not a stupid one.

        • 2025 on 12/06/2024 - 21:05
          +2

          100%. I don’t know if they’re speeding their neighbours infant to hospital because they just ate poison, or racing to their dealers because they just got new supply. All I know is it’s none of my business.

  • Wazowski on 12/06/2024 - 20:16

    If you weren't speeding, you wouldn't have been in that situation. learn the road rules - follow the speed limit and stay in the left lane.

  • Senatekill on 12/06/2024 - 21:22

    right lane is for overtaking do the speed limit in middle or left, if your not overtaking in the right lane and sitting on 104 you should get a horn and non stop highbeams with a tailgate from the bandidos.

  • jrvb42 on 12/06/2024 - 22:32
    +2

    Keep left unless overtaking has a caveat. Only if the road isn't congested or similar.
    Certainly sounds like the road is congested.
    In any event, no way risk a ticket by speeding just some inpatient prick can break the law.
    Incidentally, if you're doing 104 in a hundred zone, you yourself, as well as the cars around already deserve a ticket.
    But hey, the speed limit doesn't apply to special folk, and judging by the poll results, there are a lot of important and special people on here.

  • jrvb42 on 12/06/2024 - 22:36
    +1

    Another option is to act weird by slowing down to the speed limit, 100, and miraculously a space on the left will appear, into which you can move.
    Of course, this is so outlandish, the impatient lawbreaker behind you will go insane, not realising you are actually doing the right thing.

    It's not mandatory to speed up to move into the left!

  • Aleigh123 on 13/06/2024 - 09:43

    I just searched all the road rules on a per-state basis. In every state and territory except WA, it is indeed true that for roads with either a Keep Left sign, or the speed limit is greater than 80km/h, then you should not be in the right lane of a multi-lane road. Exceptions include if there is a hazard, or congestion in the left lane(s).

    WA technically says the same for roads of 90km/h or more, but that's effectively the same as every other state since I don't think anyone really has 85km/h roads.

    However, as far as I'm aware, speeding is not permitted in any state or territory for the average driver. So given that the left lane isn't congested, I'm going to say cruise at the speed limit while indicating left - changing lanes when safe to do so. Otherwise - legally speaking - there is no issue with cruising in the right lane at the speed limit.

    • CurlCurl on 13/06/2024 - 11:01

      I just searched all the road rules on a per-state basis. In every state and territory except WA, it is indeed true that for roads with either a Keep Left sign, or the speed limit is greater than 80km/h, then you should not be in the right lane of a multi-lane road.

      After saying the above.

      legally speaking - there is no issue with cruising in the right lane at the speed limit.

      How do you come to that conclusion?

      • Aleigh123 on 13/06/2024 - 11:19
        +1

        Thanks for pointing this out. I meant to say given that the left lane is congested.

  • TightLikeThisx on 13/06/2024 - 09:50

    What's the speed limit?

    • Nugs on 13/06/2024 - 17:51

      88mph
      .

  • Baghern on 13/06/2024 - 10:14

    The question is, will Op learn from this and infuture not idle in the right lane….

  • rr64 on 13/06/2024 - 11:16

    I've seen it a bunch of times someone on the left will be hovering at about 80 probably on their phone who knows, then when you change lanes to go around they get upset and floor it up to 110. Ok now the situation has changed and you can't easily pass so you fall back behind them again only for the process to start over with them not paying attention falling back to 95…90…85 etc.

  • Willy Beamish on 13/06/2024 - 12:23
    -2

    If you're doing the speed limit then stay there. The lane isn't there for people to speed.

  • Repstar on 13/06/2024 - 13:07

    **You brake check them. Then give them the finger when they eventually pass you.

    **May not be the best advice.

  • whitfords on 13/06/2024 - 16:41

    Either slow down and slot in behind the car next to you, or speed up a bit and go ahead of the car next to you. It really depends on the situation but if you're checking your rear view mirror regularly you should be able to determine which one it's gonna be.

  • suti1 on 13/06/2024 - 19:53

    https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/opinion-get-out-of-the-ri…

    Victorian police also ran a blitz in August of last year fining right-lane hogs. The Surf Coast Police Facebook page shared photos of five separate drivers apprehended during a blitz along the Surf Coast Highway.

    According to Surf Coast Police, three of the five drivers they stopped were unaware of the road rule, with one responding "Seriously?", while another admitted they "didn't know it was an issue".

  • DeeTrance on 14/06/2024 - 20:42
    +1

    Move the hell over and let the faster car through

    • Willy Beamish on 17/06/2024 - 17:47
      -2

      No. Do the speed limit or stfu, overtaking does not mean you are allowed to break the speed limit. You are not allowed to exceed the posted speed limit even while overtaking.

      So many shit drivers on this site.

      • DeeTrance on 17/06/2024 - 19:17

        Yes I don't disagree with you on principle. But it's the best approach out there, let the speeding driver wear the possible consequences.

  • kobeduck on 17/06/2024 - 08:44

    If you're both going 104 then W.T.F are you doing on the right lane? You need a poll to figure this out?

  • zionbiggestfan on 20/06/2024 - 22:40

    In your scenario on the freeway, cruising at 104 km/h in the right lane with the car to your left matching your speed and cars behind it, a faster car approaches from behind, tailgating you as it slows down. The etiquette debate is familiar: the right lane is typically for overtaking, yet you're at the maximum speed limit without risking a ticket, and you're holding up traffic. Considering courtesy and safety, many would suggest speeding up slightly to safely move left and allow faster traffic to pass, aligning with common road etiquette.
    As for speed readings, let's say you're relying on Google Maps' navigation speedometer for accuracy in this subjective situation.

  • lachhelix on 20/06/2024 - 22:41

    Don't care how fast you are/not going - get out of the right hand lane and keep left

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