Raged for Driving at Limit on Far Right Lane of Freeway

Ltunaroll123 on 01/12/2014 - 23:00
Last edited 02/12/2014 - 20:21

Hi guys, I was raged at a few days ago driving on the M3 (Eastern Freeway in VIC) towards the city on a Saturday afternoon.

So here are the facts:

  1. I was driving at 100 km/hr (speed limit) for most of the journey, going to 105ish sporadically (as you do).
  2. I entered from Springvale Rd (the beginning of the M3, end of the tollroad - Eastlink). As I intended on going all the way into the city, I decided to go fast as I legally can, changing a few lanes occasionally to get ahead of cars going under 100km/hr.
  3. Mid-journeyish, I ended up on the far right lane. At this place and point in time, there was almost a straight line of cars across the 4 lanes going at 100km/hr. This was when a huge (compared to my relatively small Mazda 6) black BMW X5 rushed up behind me and driving REALLY close behind me. Obviously he wanted me to drive faster but I didnt want to go faster than 100 and I couldn't change lanes either because the cars to the left of me was going at the same speed I was.
  4. (Then came the funny/aggro bit.) He then high beamed me constantly, which had little effect as it was a sunny afternoon. Then he switched on his screen wipers. At the same time, driving really close to me. Initially I wanted to get out of his way, but with the lane to my left blocked and me unwilling to speed - I felt kinda sorry for him. But then I got really annoyed when he wouldn't take the hint that there was nothing I could do without SPEEDING.
  5. After about a few minutes of this. There was a gap in the second lane and he changed lanes to get through the blockade. According to my partner, he was gesturing angrily and abusively across 2 lanes at my car - which I didn't see as I was concentrating on the road.
  6. He then sped off like a demon and cutting/zigzagging across many lanes and disappeared from sight within 20 seconds.

So here's my moral and ethical issue. I got home thinking that I did something wrong. But I was obeying the law wasn't I? I wasn't endangering anyone by going slow. I was driving at the limit and at the speed the sheer majority people were driving at. But why I do I feel bad about myself?

My trawls through the internet suggested that with few small adjustments, I was in the wrong. That I was in the 'wrong' lane. But this was a 4 lane freeway and I was not going under the limit. Anyone overtaking me would be against the law.

Hypothetically, if I sped up to accommodate this guy, and subsequently got caught, I doubt the police would be understanding in that I was only trying to help 'make way' for this guy. Back in the years, my driving instructor always taught me that if there was someone behind you trying to get you to drive faster than the limit, you should ignore him as it is not worth it to break the law.

So, because I was unable to find an exact post emulating my experience, I have turned to the Ozbargain community for guidance and to be judged as to whether I was in the wrong or was I in the right.

Also a poll below: Is it ok to ONLY travel at speed limit on a Saturday in the far right lane?

**I deliberately stated Saturday because the far right lane is a transit lane during peak periods during the week.

***Since everyone has been under the assumption I have been 'cruising' on the far right lane. Let me put it down to you guys straight. I was NOT cruising on the far right but only got there because I had wanted to overtake the car on the 3rd lane (maybe I didn't make it clear enough above). Then the black X5 showed up.

FINAL UPDATE (because thread has been closed):
Hi everyone, I just got back home from work and didn't expect my topic to be so divisive and the thread closed.
I want to thank everyone for their responses, including those that supported me, were against me or stayed neutral.
From reading the posts below, I conclude I am a relatively inexperienced driver. I had not come across such a situation until now. The thought of indicating left and slowing down did not seem like an option to me - given the car behind me was so close and the driver angry. I now know that is an option if I was ore confident in my driving.
Thank you for those that shared their similar experiences. I am glad I am not the only one who has found themselves in this predicament.
For the record, I was not trying to 'police' anyone, in fact this the first time I've even heard this phrase. I was not intending on keeping the car behind me slow but did so because I did not want to go faster.
In reply to people as to why I was in the far right lane: I was in there because I had wanted to overtake the car on the 3rd lane (at the time was under 100). When I got parallel to that car, it had sped up and matched my speed. At this moment, the black X5 showed up. By the time, the X5's intention was made, I was surrounded with the only option (perceived) was to speed.
I admit I was in the wrong in that I overstayed in the far right lane, it was not my intention to stay that long, it was only because I was surrounded by 3 cars in my immediate vinicity (1 behind, 1 left and 1 diagonally left behind) and unwilling to speed (my front was clear).
I have learned my lesson and I thank everyone for their contributions.

Poll Options

  • 194
    Yes, it is ok.
  • 3
    No, it is not ok. You should have driven faster than the limit.
  • 177
    No, it is not ok. You should have driven faster to accommodate the car behind you.
Automotive

closed Comments

  • dylanando on 01/12/2014 - 23:10
    +44

    Nothing more annoying then people sitting in the right lane :P, that said if your overtaking your are defiantly not in the wrong, here in QLD (which i know your not from) i believe its illegal to sit in the right lane above 80km/h. But its also illegal to speed. what you did was right, i would of just kept travelling at 100km until it was safe to move over.

    • RockyRaccoon on 02/12/2014 - 12:42
      +27

      No it wasnt
      and if you read carefully what he posted you would see the truth here

      My trawls through the internet suggested that with few small adjustments, I was in the wrong. That I was in the 'wrong' lane. But this was a 4 lane freeway and I was not going under the limit. Anyone overtaking me would be against the law.

      I repeat he ssys

      Anyone overtaking me would be against the law.

      It's not his job to

      1. Teach others how to drive and obey the law
      2. Drive illegally to do the same

      Also Speedos in Australia can be out. So he is using his speedo to judge the speed of another car. The police have to get their speedos calibrated regularly before they can book others or "enforce" the law.

      He should have moved over. Its frankly BS that he was watching the road so he couldn't see. He even had a passenger who could have helped.

      Frankly all his other comments are trying to justify that someone got pissed off because he was trying to dictate to them what they should or shouldn't do and with very poor judgement and skill to effect that lesson.

      Sure he shouldn't speed, but illegally trying to stop them, means TWO Wrongs which are a recipe for a fatality

      And he wants us to validate his stupidity?

      And BTW stopping him from driving dangerously? Meant they passed him on the lefthand side which is also dangerous, so what was achieved?

      And why not an option

      to vote - I was in the wrong and should learn from my mistakes

      • [Deactivated] on 02/12/2014 - 16:41
        +3

        THIS…

        It's not his job to

        1 Teach others how to drive and obey the law
        2 Drive illegally to do the same

        I hate dh's who sit in the right lane (were you going 100 according to your speedo or according to real world? I know 100 on my car is actually shown as 105-107 on my speedo, so check that first… Mel-Geelong has the overheard speed checks), it is the reason road rage exists and more importantly why emergency vehicles get caught up in traffic…
        If it was an ambulance behind you, would you have speed up? Yes you would have, so it is clear you just wanted to be that dh who wanted to make sure the other guy didn't go more than the speed limit… ego thing right? You want to be a cop but only in the safety of your car? Basically easiest answer to you is, don't go in the fkn right lane if you are going to sit like a c0ck at 100kmh (actually 93kmh most likely you were doing)… if the guy next to you is doing 100 then why the fk are you in the right lane? How long did you sit next to this guy before this other guy came up behind you? Yeah you were there for a bit cruising in the right hand lane like a dh right? It is not the cruising dh lane…
        Best advice, look at your review all the time you can always see a dckhead coming from a mile away, slow down or speed up and let them through… otherwise slow down to piss them off and be ready to take care of yourself if you want to take that risk…

        If all the lanes are full of traffic and you have no where to move then a cop is not going to pick you up with a speed camera if you speed up for 5 seconds ffs…

        Lastly can drivers please use their fukin brains… and see things from outside their perspective.

        Lastly he says he didn't notice the driver as he was overtaken as he was looking ahead at the road… from this comment I can tell you are a complete douchebag driver… any good driver knows you are constantly looking around at everyone else on the road… The amount of accidents I have missed from the simple thing of looking all around me and predicting the worst of what drivers will do… I can literally tell my wife now 5 seconds before a driver does something, what he will do, and 90% of the time they do it. Still can't work out what the women in their 4WD's are going to do as I don't even think they know what they are going to do…

        Common sense people…

        • hothed on 02/12/2014 - 17:33
          +22

          If your not overtaking, MOVE OVER!!!!!!(Either speed up or slow down).
          Forming a rolling road block is what causes accidents.

          If you can clearly see someone is trying to get past, it takes only a moment to move out of the lane, and back into the lane again once they go past.

        • stumo on 02/12/2014 - 17:41
          +29

          I always wondered what was going through the minds of these people hogging the fast lane. I always just assumed they were sociopathic retards who dont realise what they are doing on the roads. Now I know for sure.

  • Sobieski on 01/12/2014 - 23:20
    +11

    I think that it's your responsibility to ensure that you stay in the correct lane. Considering there were four lanes in the direction that you were heading toward, you had to have changed lanes more than once to get into the far right lane. Yes it would have been speeding if you drove faster in an attempt to get out of the way.

    If I was caught in a similar situation to yours, I would assess whether there was a long line of cars to the left, and based on that decide whether very temporarily speeding up would let me get out of the way. If there was a long line of cars I might try to indicate to turn left and see if somebody might let me in as they might have sympathy for me and realise that the right lane is the overtaking lane. I would not however, risk driving over the speed limit to appease some impatient buffoon.

    The guy behind you was definitely not a courteous gentleman and you shouldn't have to deal with his abuse. In future it might be best to simply avoid the situation in the first place and only use the right lane if you are indeed intending to overtake.

  • RandomNinja on 01/12/2014 - 23:24
    +52

    Rather than speed up, why not slow down a bit and move to the left lane?

    If I'm in the right lane at the speed limit and some speed demon wants to get by, I'll usually merge left but in my own sweet time (ie: when it's safe)

    • stringbean402 on 02/12/2014 - 01:06
      +41

      Cray thinking ! … slow down ?

      I'm against the OP on this, why were they sitting in the right lane if they were not overtaking traffic (by their own admission they were doing the same speed as the 3 lanes left of them). Typical (profanity) driver.

      • Eivad on 02/12/2014 - 11:10
        +19

        Sure, but those are just excuses

        1) You shouldn't worry about whether it's OK to slow down - it's his problem whether he will rear end you or not. Chances are he tailgates a lot and has come across many times when the fellow in front slows down / brakes and knows how to deal.

        2) You can indicate left and after a short while a space will open up for you to enter into. You're travelling at 100km/h after all.

        Of course, none of these are valid reasons for X5-guy to tailgate you mercilessly, flash high beams, wipers, and speed like a maniac.

        But I would have found a way to give way rather than sit in traffic at the same speed as the slow lanes.

        • macrocephalic on 02/12/2014 - 16:15
          +9

          @syousef: Slowing down doesn't mean slamming on the brakes. If the other car is so close to you that you don't think you can slightly decelerate then it's all the more reason to get away from him as soon as you safely can.

        • syousef on 02/12/2014 - 16:33
          -4

          @macrocephalic:

          I'm not suggesting you slam on the brakes. Slowing down, even gradually, while someone is tailgating is dangerous. You are relying on a person that has proven they have bad judgement to correctly judge braking distance and react quickly when in fact they have already made the mistake of not leaving enough room to do so.

          That is why tailgaiting should not happen and is a much more serious problem than annoying people by driving slowly in the fast lane. Tailgating ought to be an immediate disqualification for some period.

      • ily on 02/12/2014 - 13:50
        +6

        blinker on, foot off pedal, slide into left lane. not hard. Speedometers can vary - for argument's sake, if you were 10% slower and he was 10% faster, you would be going 90 and he would be going 110. noticeable difference.

  • Kempe on 01/12/2014 - 23:28
    +32

    First rule of the road is keep left, so everyone in a 4 lane road is in the left lane and the other 3 are empty

    • stargalaxy on 02/12/2014 - 01:04
      +12

      I usually drive in the middle lanes, just so that I have option to move left or right when needed to.

      • schwinn on 02/12/2014 - 13:35
        +5

        Each lane should be going at different speeds IMHO. If you have 4 of cars straddling (read: blocking) all 4 lanes at the same speed, those 4 cars belong in series behind one another, in 1 lane!

      • [Deactivated] on 02/12/2014 - 13:37
        -1

        I think you'll find if you throw your left indicator on even if there is a car next to you they will either speed up or slow down so you can get out of the way.

        As for him being too close, put the brake pedal down far enough to turn on the brake lights and slowly reduce speed if you need to slow down to get in a gap.

        I understand about not wanting to move over though, I've been in situations like that where I can tell it's just somebody who's rage driving rather than responding to say their child being born or something like that. I normally don't move until after a minute or two and then I move. If it was someone in an emergency they wouldn't hesitate to blow the horn.

  • Shadowsfury on 01/12/2014 - 23:41
    +6

    I'm not saying he wasn't speeding

    But 100kmh per your speedo can legally actually be 90kmh - speedos are allowed a 10% tolerance in that direction (i.e. show you a speed faster than you are actually going, but cannot show you a speed slower than you are actually going)

    Taking the extreme case of your speedo actually being the full 10% out - you think you're happily sitting right on the speed limit then someone like me who is using my GPS and sitting on "true" 100kmh with cruise control on will come right up behind you at some point. Mine is about 5% off so 63kmh per speed = 60kmh real, 105 per speedo is 100 real, etc

    • JimmyF on 02/12/2014 - 11:20
      +7

      He said he was driving a mazda….. EVERY Mazda I've ever driven has grossly over reported the speed!! 100kmh=93kmh by a GPS and over head speedo checks.

      IF this is the case, then to the driver behind him, he would have been going slow in the 'fast' lane.

  • Ughhh on 01/12/2014 - 23:42
    +57

    Isn't the far right lane for overtaking only? So from what I remember, if you are unable to overtake the cars in the middle lane- that includes when you're going at the same speed as them, then you need to either stay in the middle lane or adjust your speed (by either slowing down a bit or speeding a little) to get back into the middle lane.

      • foo on 02/12/2014 - 13:13
        +33

        maybe you're just a bad driver?

    • hahaboy on 02/12/2014 - 18:14

      actually can someone clarify this. Given OP is going at the max. correct speed, anyone overtaking on the right lane is technically speeding?

  • Morien on 01/12/2014 - 23:48
    +55

    Your question (and poll options) supposes that speed is the issue. It is not. As others have pointed out the far right lane is for overtaking. Sitting at 100km/h blocking off all rear traffic is where you were wrong. Your speed isn't the issue, sitting at that speed in the far right lane was.

    Don't feel like you kicked a child, but don't cruise in the far right lane next time.

      • Morien on 02/12/2014 - 11:08
        +5

        In everyday usage, yes. That's what that lane is for. Don't feel shitty about it, his response definitely wasn't ideal (or effective), but they call it the fast lane for a reason.

        • MrBlank on 02/12/2014 - 12:46
          +1

          tell that to the NSW police who often sit at the end of overtaking lanes

        • Morien on 02/12/2014 - 16:15

          @MrBlank: Yeah, that's why I did not say 'legally', but 'in everyday usage'.

        • hahaboy on 02/12/2014 - 18:17

          @Morien: seriously, why do fast lanes exist and even developed by governments, if everyone is going to speed in it? Seems counter intuitive to the whole 'speed kills' and 'wipe off 5' campaigns they use?

      • RockyRaccoon on 02/12/2014 - 13:57
        +5

        @tunaroll123

        You are not being consistent

        In your original post you said.

        because the cars to the left of me was going at the same speed…

        so then how did you get to be level with them unless you were speeding…

        Then you say in another post above

        I was overtaking cars that were going under the limit.

        If you were overtaking then you could move over

      • jackary on 02/12/2014 - 14:55
        +3

        Fine I'm just gonna say it. YES you should have sped up to get out if you weren't prepared (or felt it was unsafe, whatever your excuse) to slow down and move.

  • ferguscan on 01/12/2014 - 23:50
    +28

    Right lane is for overtaking only. If you didn't want to speed up to move over, you should have slowed down and moved over.

      • jackary on 02/12/2014 - 14:55
        +5

        No, you weren't.

  • brotherfranciz on 02/12/2014 - 00:16
    +21

    You were definitely in the wrong. You can get booked for sitting in the overtaking lane.

    https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-r…

    "Keeping left:-

    When driving on any multi-lane road with a speed limit over 80km/h, you must keep out of the right lane unless you are:
    - overtaking
    - turning right
    - if all lanes are congested.

    If the right lane is a transit lane, this rule applies to the lane immediately to the left of the transit lane."

    • tunaroll123 on 02/12/2014 - 07:40
      -4

      I was 'overtaking'. I just never got the chance to move back to the left of that lane when I couldn't.

      • Eivad on 02/12/2014 - 11:13
        +7

        You can always move back into the middle lane. Just indicate, and move either in front of behind the car that's in the left lane.

    • syousef on 02/12/2014 - 13:45
      +2

      "You were definitely in the wrong. You can get booked for sitting in the overtaking lane."

      He was overtaking. I hear you can also get booked for speeding. Nahhhh.

  • fedwood on 02/12/2014 - 00:17
    +9

    Agreed. Don't stay in the right lane unless you are overtaking. If someone is speeding in that lane it is their business.

    • tunaroll123 on 02/12/2014 - 07:41
      -4

      As I said to others, I was overtaking. And by that logic, isn't me going the limit is my business?

      • Glider on 02/12/2014 - 11:42
        +19

        You keep saying that you were overtaking, but then said that you were level with cars in the other three lanes for quite some time. That means you were not overtaking. You should move over and not sit for long periods in the right lane unless you are actively overtaking. It is your choice to decide whether you move out of the right lane by going faster or slower than the car beside you.

      • jackary on 02/12/2014 - 14:52
        +19

        Yes it is your business.

        But his choice to speed doesn't impede your life at all if you were just in the correct damn lane to begin with. Your business of feeling entitled to sit in the overtaking lane at the exact same speed as the lanes next to you, does however effect his.

        I HATE PEOPLE LIKE YOU ON THE ROAD!

        • BoomTetrisForJeff on 02/12/2014 - 17:58

          heh someone had to say it :)

        • OYC on 02/12/2014 - 18:40

          LOL!!!

  • ankor on 02/12/2014 - 00:19
    -8

    If that person is carrying on like a porkchop, let them carry on like a porkchop. You are technically in the right, and there is no justification for that person's behaviour. However, you should do what you can to avoid people like that so things like- speeding up temporarily to overtake, or slowing down to get back into the third lane is the safer option.

    If someone else is in the car with you, get them to video it so you have a record of what's going on in the event of an accident. You will be surprised at the sheet that goes on when a road rage incident turns into an 'accident'. Suddenly it turns into a matter of credibility and a lot of stress. A good video will help speed up any investigation whether it be police or insurance after the incident.

    • mskeggs on 02/12/2014 - 07:08
      +19

      Note you were not technically in the right, the lane is for overtaking, and you could get a ticket for occupying this lane when not overtaking.

      Think of a circumstance where you would speed. Maybe your diabetic child needs to get to their insulin, maybe your wife is in labour, maybe your elderly mother has fallen. In any of these circumstances, I would travel there as quickly as safety would allow, regardless of the posted speed limit.

      Now consider if a driver was blocking your way for many minutes, sitting carefully on the speed limit. In such a circumstance I would be agitated and try signalling that I needed to pass. If that driver blithely ignored me I would be even more agitated.

      Now I don't condone road rage, but you have no way of knowing what the circumstances were, and can control only your own behaviour.

      As a general rule, if you treat people as if they are having a bad day, and do your best to make their day a little better, both you and they will have less stress in your lives.

      • ankor on 02/12/2014 - 13:29
        +2

        Well let's get this point clear. While driving, a driver must take into account ALL the road rules that he/she is subject to. No police officer is going to let the OP get off a speeding ticket just because someone else was tailgating. If you can't overtake, then obviously, stay in the other lanes and keep the right free. I'm sure every downvoter here will counsel friends and rellies taking any driving tests to overtake and speed at the same time and those people will pass.

        Common sense would dictate that the OP just get out of the angry driver's way, whether by speeding up and moving to the left hand lane, or slowing down, and moving into the left hand lane. He would still be legally wrong for speeding, had he decided to exceed 100kph. However, slowing down may not have been an option in his mind because he could have been distracted by the actions of the driver behind him, since that driver's actions had the net effect of pressuring him to speed up. I think that's perfectly understandable and a good enough reason to show that he was not 'breaking the law' by staying in the right hand lane.
        Edit- The big wtf here is that the OP notes in his 'facts' that he stayed in the right lane for 'a few minutes'. OP, you are a douche too, and could have handled that way better.

        Mskeggs, all the scenarios indicated by you do not appear to be relevant on the 'facts' provided by the OP, considering the angry driver then stayed 2 lanes across venting at him for a good while. I do not detect any sense of 'emergency' here.

        The first response to someone being overtly angry is to arch up and do the same in return. The OP could have avoided that, but didn't and instead had the thin cloak of legality behind him and came here for reassurance. Also understandable, especially after being subjected to road rage. It's just human nature.

        As a general rule, it's not a great idea to drive angry, and to take it out on other road users. It's even less of a great idea to be doing it at 100kph while travelling in a 2tonne vehicle. You never know who you are road raging against. Long story short, don't drive like either the OP or the aggro driver.

        • jackary on 02/12/2014 - 14:59
          +3

          Probably worth mentioning I was recently in an incident of road rage very similar to OP and I was let off when I was caught 500m further down the road for speeding.

  • bigticket on 02/12/2014 - 00:39
    +16

    Throughout your long and thought out post, you mention your options-

    'I couldn't change lanes either because the cars to the left of me was
    going at the same speed I was.'
    'he wouldn't take the hint that there was nothing I could do without SPEEDING.'

    Yet as @RandomNinja pointed out you had another option: put your blinker on and slow down so as to merge to the left… since you did not want to go any faster.

    As already mentioned, its really annoying when drivers block the right lane for whatever reason. Its there only for overtaking and you should not be there in the first place. You put yourself in that situation and justify it because you are on the speed limit and there is traffic in the left lanes(these are not valid reasons) and yet fail to see you had another option and you fail to see that what you were doing is simply illegal. It's a ticketable offence.

  • AmpeD on 02/12/2014 - 01:11
    +22

    police here should start ticketing people for blocking the flow rather than speeding, I believe undertaking as it were is more dangerous than speeding.

    • Benji on 02/12/2014 - 07:26
      +4

      Several years back they had a police blitz where they focused on failing to keep left and tailgating at the same time. They'd pull both drivers over and give them each a fine. I remember thinking it was pretty funny at the time.

      People shouldn't speed, but unless you're a cop it's not your job to enforce the speed limit. People need to get out of the way.

      • Benji on 02/12/2014 - 08:00
        +20

        You're not a police officer, it isn't your job to enforce the law.

        I always do the speed limit and I hate tailgaters, but I still get out of their way when I can.

      • Flying Ace on 02/12/2014 - 08:36
        +15

        It's not your prerogative to stop people from speeding if they so wish. There is nothing worse than people blocking the right lane. Pedals work both ways. You could have simply indicated left and let your foot off the accelerator slightly and move in behind the traffic.

      • [Deactivated] on 02/12/2014 - 12:38
        +6

        It appears you haven't read people's responses at all or are choosing to ignore them. Your speedo is likely inaccurate at 100kmh so you were probably about 10kmh under the speed limit. He probably wasn't speeding, he was probably on the speed limit. You shouldn't be in that lane unless you are overtaking, and it shouldn't take you what appears to be an extended period of time to overtake someone.

        tl:dr, you are in the wrong, keep to the left unless overtaking.

        • syousef on 02/12/2014 - 13:55

          1) His speedo could have been 10km/hr over as well if it hasn't been calibrated. (Less likely because auto makers don't want to be sued, but still possible).

          2) It's relatively easy to check speed with a GPS provided the road is straight and doesn't have a gradient and you have a good signal on 4 satellites.

          3) Lots of info online about what contributes to GPS vs speedo inaccuracy.

          I'm not saying you should sit in the right lane but there is no excuse for road rage whatsoever. If you find a driver is blocking your way and so believe him to be a less capable driver than yourself, then you proceed to fluster and intimidate that driver, you should have to serve time in jail.

        • [Deactivated] on 02/12/2014 - 14:18
          +2

          @syousef: flashing your high beams is not road rage, it is the international symbol for 'get out of my way, I'm coming through' it is used in every freeway everywhere in the world. I believe it is even part of the road rules in most European countries. It's like putting your hazards on when you see trouble up ahead. A no brainier and everyone does it in Europe, but nobody does it here. In Europe you see a million flashing hazards a mile before you get to an accident, and slow down over a few kms. In Australia it is 100kmh, 100kmh, 100kmh, slam you brakes 10kmh, pass the accident.

        • AnDyStYLe on 02/12/2014 - 14:27
          +2

          @thorton82: I flash my lights here to warn other drivers of speed cameras that they are coming up to pass. Arrest me now!!!

        • jackary on 02/12/2014 - 15:06
          +1

          @AnDyStYLe: You sir are breaking the law and deserve to have your licence taken away. /end sarcasm

        • syousef on 02/12/2014 - 16:37

          @thorton82:

          Last I checked we don't live in a European country.

          It is against the law to flash your high beams in NSW. Not sure what the law is in other states. The rationale is that doing so has the potential to dazzle or distract a driver and could cause an accident. In fact police who set up speed traps use this law to fine people for warning others that there is a trap ahead.

          http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/speed-trap-warning-ok-to-…

  • jzdhgkd on 02/12/2014 - 02:25
    +16

    Need another poll option: No it's not OK. You don't want to speed so just slow down and GTFO of the overtaking lane. Some people have places to be!

  • Davo1111 on 02/12/2014 - 03:22
    +8

    dumb poll

    • Baysew on 02/12/2014 - 09:38
      +4

      dumb poll

      Yes, no Bikies option.

      Speaking of which, if there had been a convoy of bikies or a police car behind the OP, I'm sure a way would have been found.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/12/2014 - 07:14
    +12

    You are in the wrong. You should keep left unless overtaking. You can't dictate other drivers speed nor if they want to break the limit

    In other countries it's common to flash to let you know that they're wanting to pass.

  • pyramid on 02/12/2014 - 07:23
    +15

    Driving at permitted limit is not justification of occupying right lane. If you want to overtake, use right lane else cruise on left lane. Period.

  • peterlong1952 on 02/12/2014 - 07:35
    +2

    I thought the rule was you could drive in the right hand lane if the speed limit was 80kph or less but must stay to the left if on a highway with speed limit over 80kph.

    From RACV

    Drivers must stay out of the right lane when driving on a multi-lane road with a speed limit of more than 80km/h or where a ‘Keep Left Unless Overtaking’ sign applies. A multi-lane road is a road with two or more marked traffic lanes in the same direction.

  • parson on 02/12/2014 - 07:55
    +8

    Most motorway's i drive SAY
    "Keep left unless overtaking"

  • VFM on 02/12/2014 - 08:25
    +11

    Your point 5 says that
    a) after a few minutes
    b) he changed lanes

    Sitting for a few minutes on an overtaking lane is not reasonable driving behaviour, especially if there are cars behind you.

    You could have changed lanes during the "few minutes" or worst case, at the spot where he changed lanes.

    Your poll need to include the option of "I should get out of the way".

    Road hogging is (or should) be as illegal as speeding.

    My general observation of these type of posts is that there are too much emphasis on " my rights" and not enough of "doing the right thing".

    • syousef on 02/12/2014 - 13:59
      -2

      Speeding is illegal because it costs lives. Making someone late or blocking their way is no where near being on the same level. If you see someone on the road who you believe is not a good driver tailgating and intimidating them is negligent.

      You're just another one who wants to justify speeding and thinks people getting in your way justifies potentially deadly behaviour.

  • pjetson on 02/12/2014 - 08:25
    +7

    I agree with parson - "keep left unless overtaking". You do not have the right to block the road, whether you think you're in the right or not.

    And I also agree with VFM - Your poll needed to include the option of "I should get out of the way" or "I shouldn't have been in the right lane in the first place".

    What would you have done if it was an emergency vehicle behind you?

    • OneJay on 02/12/2014 - 09:04

      I've experienced that before with an ambulance. Had to floor it to 160kph to outrun it and beat the queue of 5 cars in the centre lane :/

      • pjetson on 02/12/2014 - 16:44

        Emergency vehicles don't suddenly and magically appear behind you. If you were paying attention, you'd have been out of the way a long time before they reached you.

  • SlickMick on 02/12/2014 - 08:36
    +11

    Your poll is terribly biased. You shouldn't speed, but you shouldn't sit in the right lane either.
    If you're doing the same speed as the other lanes, that's where you should be.

    I have a theory that road rage isn't the issue we assume it is, but rather bad drivers are causing road rage.
    If we could get people like you off the road, others wouldn't need to rage :)
    (Do you realise how infuriating it is for the person behind you when you don't keep a steady speed? If you can't master the accelerator, get cruise.)

  • AntMan76 on 02/12/2014 - 08:40
    +17

    You keep saying you were overtaking but it took you a few minutes. You moved to the right lane therefore you committed to going past the car in the 2nd right lane. That's not overtaking if it takes that long and you weren't willing to speed up or slow down. You were breaking the law by not getting out of that lane.

    The point everyone has missed is that the BMW managed to change into the left lane. Why couldn't you??

    I don't think the OP quite gets it based on their defending of their actions.

  • pao2x on 02/12/2014 - 08:41
    +1

    Right lane hogs…. You both did the wrong thing

    • syousef on 02/12/2014 - 14:00
      +1

      Yes, but only one of them escalated to make the situation dangerous.

      • jackary on 02/12/2014 - 15:13
        +1

        As other have pointed out, being in the right hand lane to obstruct, let's say, an ambulance, would be very dangerous.

        • syousef on 02/12/2014 - 16:35
          +2

          Nice straw man. He wasn't obstructing an ambulance. I believe that is a whole separate offense and I would be entirely happy if anyone who did this intentionally was disqualified from driving for a period.

  • meumax on 02/12/2014 - 08:44

    I always thought it was legal to temporarily exceed the speed limit in order to execute an overtaking maneuver. Next time I would speed up (legally temporarily exceeding the limit) to overtake the car to your left then merge to allow the person behind to overtake me.

    • Flying Ace on 02/12/2014 - 09:31
      +3

      No, it is a commonly held fallacy that it is legal to exceed the speed limit to overtake someone. Common sense dictates that it should be (legal), but then our lawmakers rarely rely on common sense.

  • winmye on 02/12/2014 - 09:06
    +4

    IMO, although your action is correct, the safest option is just indicate left and wait for opportunity to change lane. I am sure the cars on your left will eventually give you space and the (profanity) behind you will know your intention. The (profanity) behind you is already breaking the law by tailgating, you would not want to mess with them if something happen. Unless you are an UFC contender.

  • Ramrunner on 02/12/2014 - 09:10
    +46

    tunaroll123, you ask for opinions, then when you get a majority of people saying you need to move over, you keep on defending your position OVER and OVER and OVER, and you create a poll, with no option of you moving over.

    Mate this is a stupid post. You OBVIOUSLY do not actually want to hear what people really have to say.

    The "Keep left unless overtaking" is one of the fundamental rules of the road. How about you just obey it. I'll make it simple.

    Drive in the left lane(s). When approaching a car travelling slower than you, check your mirrors, and when safe (and not hindering anyone coming up faster I may add - do not slow anyone down) indicate into the right lane, then make the change. As soon as you've passed the car, indicate back into the left lane and make the change.

    I think this is very simple. I do not get upset very easily but I have to admit I can see people like you actually CAUSING road rage. I certainly get frustrated when I'm overtaking in the right lane and I come up against someone like you especially in the situation you describe when the car in the lane to the immediate left is doing the same speed as you. Very simply this means you should not be there in the first place. You guys will drive side by side for kilometres at a time. I don't rage but it absolutely shits me.

    If you can't obey those simple rules or follow those simple instructions, then stay in the left lane or off the road please.

    Again this is a stupid post. You're wrong. Get over it. Move on.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/12/2014 - 11:54
      +8

      Some people need the masses telling them they're right, even though the verdict is out. Considering that the story would be biased to the OP's POV, and yet it reads very much against him doesn't help.

      The option that most people would have picked is

      "You're dead WRONG. Slow down and move out of the FAST lane."

      Let me break it down.

      1) You state there are 3 lanes going 100kmph and you started a 4th going the same speed. Sounded to me like you're not trying to get anywhere quicker than anyone else. You just didn't want to be driving behind someone else.

      2) Ever questioned your speedometer? All cars have a build in margin, some as high as 10%. You may have very well been holding up traffic.

      3) There was a gap in the 2nd lane. You could have moved in there, you didn't. He proceeds to overtake you from the left.

      It is a common mistake, especially to inexperienced and unaware drivers. Learn and do not repeat.

    • syousef on 02/12/2014 - 14:02
      -5

      He isn't causing road rage. Road rage is never excusable or justifiable. He did not escalate the situation to make it dangerous. Potentially killing and maiming people because you are upset that someone is inconveniencing you is the mark of a sociopath. I think OP should be fined but road rage neanderthal should be jailed.

  • immortalbjr on 02/12/2014 - 09:17
    +19

    I like how you set the poll up to make it look like you had no other options, like someone else said you need a option "No, you were in the wrong"

    If your in the right hand lane and just want to do the speed limit, then get over and sit behind all the other cars. Nothing more annoying than these self entitled drivers that think just because they have a licence they're allowed to sit in the far lane blocking everyone behind them. With a highway with 4 lanes and you sitting in the far lane sitting at the exact same speed as the car beside you you deserved to get road raged at.

    If theres a car right next to you all you have to do is put your indicator on and either speed up or slow down and merge over and let cars behind pass, simples.

    He wasn't flashing his lights in the middle of the day to try blind you, he was just letting you know your a inconsiderate self entitled knob and need to move over if you just want to do the same speed as every other car.

  • SevenSmurfs on 02/12/2014 - 09:50
    +11

    When overtaking in the right lane, you should be more aware of your rear view mirror.

    If you see a vehicle fast approaching you in the rear view and you are in the right lane - you should already be planning to either speed up to switch lanes or begin indicating left to merge out of the lane.

    You do not sit in the right lane waiting until the vehicle right behind you and needs to slow down for you to take action….

  • charzy on 02/12/2014 - 09:55
    +1

    Reminds me of this female asian driver on the m5 going southbound, exiting the airport tunnel. Going 40 (speed limit is 80) in the right lane trying to change lanes into the left, but everyone in the right lane is changing lanes too fast for her, moving from the right lane to the left lane back to the right. I remember glancing at her while she was checking her blind spot trying to change lanes. I'm surprised how she was still able to see considering that she was crying her eyes out.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/12/2014 - 11:45
      +2

      I don't see how the female or the asian part your post has any impact on your message other than to point out that you're actively trying to perpetuate a negative stereotype.

      • jzdhgkd on 02/12/2014 - 17:54
        +7

        I'm asian and from cabramatta. Lemme tell ya, the stereotype ain't just a stereotype.

        • RockyRaccoon on 02/12/2014 - 18:33
          +2

          And it might just have been a tourist lost and confused. Trying to get to the airport. Give them a break….

    • Ramrunner on 02/12/2014 - 13:32
      +1

      charzy - I DO know where you're coming from believe me but in this day and age the mention of race and gender in posts like these is a touchy subject. Your message would have come across fine without mentioning that.

  • PissLUR on 02/12/2014 - 10:08
    +13

    Keep left unless overtaking.

  • rokoz on 02/12/2014 - 10:11
    +9

    Let's not dance around the facts here, there are a lot of drivers out there that feel it's their right to travel well in excess of the speed limit, whether it be on a freeway or a local road, and that all should yield to their will.

    I agree the right lane is for overtaking. At a safe, legal speed.

    That does not mean that when using it to overtake you should feel obliged to kick up to 120+km/h in the case that some twat may be permanently using it as a fast lane to cruise far in excess of the speed limit and that you may impede their self righteousness.

    People who use aggressive tactics to intimidate other drivers into also breaking the law and put their license in jeopardy to suit their own needs don't have a leg to stand on, are in the wrong and should be ignored.

    • ferguscan on 02/12/2014 - 10:19
      +8

      The OP didn't need to speed up in order to move over.

      He/She could have slowed down.

      • rokoz on 02/12/2014 - 10:58
        -1

        Whilst being tailgated? And what's the rush if he/she is doing the speed limit and not yet clear of the car they were overtaking?

        • bigticket on 02/12/2014 - 12:14
          +1

          Just like drivers on our roads and as evidenced here with
          ozbargain community who drive, there some who just don't "get it".

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