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

        • whooah1979 on 29/08/2017 - 12:21

          Edit

        • whooah1979 on 29/08/2017 - 12:22
          +2

          https://www.google.com.au/amp/www.drive.com.au/amp/motor-new…

          An exclusive Drive test has shown 93 per cent of new car speedometers are inaccurate.

          A five-month study of 60 new vehicles ranging in price from $14,490 to $441,300 showed most speedos measured over the posted limit by an average of 5km/h at 100km/h – well within the Australian Design Rule parameters.

          The difference in readings - as much as 6 per cent at 100km/h - can partially explain the difference in driving speeds on some freeways.

        • Ryballs on 29/08/2017 - 13:36
          +2

          @whooah1979: Yep while most people driving on the left think they are doing the speed limit, in reality at higher speeds they are actually driving 5-10km under it.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2017 - 08:22
          -4

          @Ryballs: But he didn't say that. Perhaps he just skipped English?

    • BobLim on 29/08/2017 - 14:07
      -2

      Fine, but when you approach a clear overtaking section (be that a straight with broken centre line or actual overtaking lane), can you please put on your left indicator and coast/brake gently until the end of the safe overtaking area? Most people don't mind a slower driver travelling at a speed comfortable for them, but please be considerate and assist them to overtake you and make it nicer for everyone.

      If you're ok with preventing people overtaking in the right lane like that because you think they'd be breaking the law otherwise, I hope you're also ok with being tailgated with about 1m clearance. It could potentially be argued that's legally ok, as long as they can do it without colliding with you. No actual distances are specified in Vic other than for trucks - not sure about other states.

    • MrTweek on 29/08/2017 - 15:52
      +2

      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.

      But it's wrong. The road rules state "keep left unless overtaking" and not "keep left unless sitting on speed limit".
      The main issue here is that nobody except for the police is ever entitled to enforce road rules. If you let people do that, it'll end in chaos for many reasons. One being everyone's speedo is calibrated differently, but also that most people won't know all rules exactly, yet a lot of people will insist that they are always right.
      I can see people arguing like this: "he was parking 2 hours in a 1P zone, so I had the right to key his car, so that he learns to park properly"
      or "He tried crossing a red light, so I had to block his car and beat him up to prevent him from doing that"

      Rule enforcing is for police. Period.

      Why do road authorities often feel the need to state the obvious with their road signage, as with 'Keep left unless overtaking'?

      I believe that this is mostly on roads where the speed limit is 80 or less and thus this rule does not automatically apply, only when stated. Not entirely sure though, just a guess.
      Might also be because too many people don't get it otherwise. Could backlash though, as people might assume that rule is only applicable if explicitely stated.
      That's why I don't like this either.

    • Shwayne on 29/08/2017 - 17:51

      The speed you "should" be doing is far above the posted maximum speed, they're significantly reduced due to inexperienced drivers causing accidents, and therefore minimising the impact of those accidents.

      However it is illegal to speed.

      So please just keep to the speed limit.

  • Powershopz on 29/08/2017 - 12:53

    "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.

    Should this be enforced or at least signed?"

    This is too good. OP complaining and voicing their opinion on a topic they are uniformed about. "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

    http://mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/the-drivers-handbook/d…

    Instead of complaining about others -
    Step 1: Learn the road rules.
    Step 2: Know your place. It's not your job to enforce the road rules or be some vigilante complaining about it.
    Step 3: Relax. Getting frustrated or angry about road rules helps no one. Take those minor inconveniences in your stride and move on.

  • Mikerobertsn on 29/08/2017 - 14:47
    +13

    I really have the opposite problem, as someone who travels on motorways quite a bit, If I am overtaking in the right lane, traveling the speed limit, impatient drivers who are speeding, honk me for not getting over as soon as I have overtaken a car. Personally, I like to leave a big distance between me and the car I overtook, not 10m @110km/h. It's funny because I have found most people who whine about drivers not keeping left unless overtaking, are mostly overtaking because they are speeding. I think speeding is a much more severe rule to break than not keeping left.

    • HeWhoKnows on 29/08/2017 - 16:37
      +1

      Yes! And those speeding dont like been passed by cars going even faster so they stick in the right hand lane just to prevent others from going even faster. Unfortaunately we Australians are very aggressive drivers. We need to take lessons from patient LA drivers who drive in multi-lane highways and have learnt to safely share the road by letting everyone in or ahead of them.

    • loopdeloop on 30/08/2017 - 11:11

      I don't agree that speeding is not worse than not keeping left, but I think way too many think 'well if I'm constantly overtaking (doing 120km/h) then that entitles me to sit in the right lane constantly'. On the whole our road rules make very little sense, roads are poorly sign-posted and merging lanes often ambiguous (roads with literally 50m of merging lane — do I stop or do I floor it to merge into traffic). Consider that in the UK the right lane is often the merging lane. People would be a whole lot less apprehensive about staying in the left lanes if they knew they weren't going to be merged into (see how few people use the left-most lanes).

  • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2017 - 16:13

    The internet ,
    where all the cranks come to vent

  • HeWhoKnows on 29/08/2017 - 16:31
    -5

    No such thing as "overtake lanes". A thing of the past really when major highways were single lanes each side and branched out into two lanes on ocassions to allow safe overtaking of slow vehicles.
    Yes the rule still stands "keep left unless overtaking" but everyone seems to think they are overtaking everyone else. Very amusing really as you can only go as fast as the car in front of you.
    I find that sitting in the middle or left lane and cruising at or just below the speed limit whilst watching everyone pass you is both comforting and amusing since you eventually catch up with them and sometimes pass them in the left lane when the traffic slows down.

    • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 16:34
      +5

      So what are all the two lane sections in single lane highways called now that there are no more overtaking lanes? You don't get out much do you?

      • HeWhoKnows on 29/08/2017 - 16:40
        -6

        Nearly all major highways are now dual carriage ways. Seems you are the one that doesnt get out very much.

        • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 17:30
          +2

          Seems you have it in for me today!

          Pretty much every road that doesn't directly link two capital cities in this wide brown land of ours is mostly single carriageway highways and roads, complete with regular overtaking lanes. Don't know how you work out that 'nearly all' major highways are dual carriageway, heck even parts of the pacific highway from Sydney to Brisbane are still single carriageway. or have they just finished being upgraded? I haven't been that way for a few years, but was up the New England a couple of years ago and there is no way that is all dual carriageway now.

    • ThithLord on 30/08/2017 - 08:00

      You need to hand in your license, or cut it in half, at least. You're a disgrace.

    • JTTheMan on 30/08/2017 - 11:35

      Yes Amazingone, ignorance is bliss.

    • Drifter on 31/08/2017 - 16:56

      No such thing as "overtake lanes". A thing of the past really

      You are wrong. Just because you don't have them in your local area doesn't mean they don't exist.

  • djmm on 29/08/2017 - 17:31
    +1

    I got tailgated when I drove 63km actual on 60kmh road.

    • Shwayne on 29/08/2017 - 17:54

      If you ever get tailgated just let off the accelerator assuming they have a way to pass you and you're not in the overtaking lane.

      • Illian on 29/08/2017 - 18:55

        There's no reason to do that, just ignore them, if they feel they have to overtake you at that speed (which they do if they're tailgating) then they will when the opportunity arises. You don't owe them any help, they're already confident they can do it as things stand.

      • djmm on 29/08/2017 - 22:06
        +1

        It's on 2 lanes 60 road, cars on left were doing either 60kmh or less, I was doing 62-63kmh gradually passing the cars. They still needed to tailgate instead of waiting a few more seconds til I could safely merge. Usually I just ignored them, not gonna increase my speed for those tards.

        If you watched those Youtube videos about insurance fraudster in Russia (those who suddenly break to claim insurance), those guys would've had ball here, so many tailgaters/sudden mergers on our road.

        • lddv04 on 31/08/2017 - 11:26
          +1

          60km/h limit. No need for you to stay in the left hand lane.

      • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2017 - 15:01

        If I'm doing 63k on a 60k road and someone comes up behind me whilst I'm in ANY lane, I will stay in my lane and not change my speed the slightest.

        It helps to laugh into the mirror or just pretend you're bored.

        • djmm on 31/08/2017 - 19:15

          Unfortunately too many motorists see clear lane as right to speed over the limit

  • fedupwithjunk on 29/08/2017 - 18:21

    So many dicks on the road

    Let's get rid of all road laws and drive bumper cars.

    • prinsenhof on 29/08/2017 - 18:52
      +2

      Yeah i rekon go-karts would be the best. It would be like mario kart and we could all wear crazy outfits on the drive to work and throw fruit at each other. Would brighten my day.

      • Ughhh on 29/08/2017 - 20:48

        My 4 passengers would be Mr Durian, Mrs Durian, Dr Durian and Sir Durian.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2017 - 18:59
    +3

    I just keep it simple.

    In any speed zone, I keep left unless overtaking. When I am on the right to overtake and at one point I see somebody behind me is going faster, I go left if it's safe to do so.

    • fedupwithjunk on 29/08/2017 - 20:37

      Me too, but then there is always some idiot who will drive on your bumper when you overtake, everyone is doing the speed limit and the left lane is full and there is a car 2 seconds in front of you. Where do they think you or they are going? Obviously they think they are more important than everyone else…. I once had this happen and when I moved over into the next gap to the left the idiot who had been tail gating me promptly crashed into the next car when he braked.

      • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2017 - 10:02

        Where do they think you or they are going?

        My thought every time people speed up during rush hour lol.

    • ThithLord on 30/08/2017 - 08:02
      +1

      What? What is this? You're courteous? You should be blocking off all those baddies from doing the speed limit! It's the OzBargainers way!

      • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2017 - 10:07
        +1

        hahaha. I already have so much problems and I can't be bothered fighting with people on the road anymore. As long as I don't get tailgated for doing the speed limit on the left lane, they can speed whatever they want. I can't afford the fines.

  • 2024 on 29/08/2017 - 19:15

    Its quite dangerous deliberately holding people up. Frustration leads to bad judgement. Next time the person wishing to pass might get angry and frustrated, make a bad decision and try to overtake into an oncoming school bus.

    Congratulations you contributed to the death of 30 kids in an inferno…

    SA Police recently started a campaign on keep left with the messaging of frustration leads to bad decisions…. I had long wondered why this point is seldom raised.

    Just be courteous and aware of others!

    • SnakeCasablanca on 30/08/2017 - 08:15
      +1

      Yeah. And a butterfly flapping its wings in New Mexico can cause a hurricane in China. This keeps the butterflies in Mexico up all night.

      • 2024 on 30/08/2017 - 14:38

        If said butterfly was :
        1) breaking the law
        2) knowingly contributing to hurricane and doing it to spite other creature

        Then yes- it should stay up all night contemplating just how it became such a self centered little grub.

  • cryinoutloud on 29/08/2017 - 20:13
    +2

    I always do the passive aggressive undertake.

    • Euphemistic on 29/08/2017 - 21:35

      That sounds like a good move to perfect. can you describe it for me please?

      • cryinoutloud on 31/08/2017 - 14:28

        Approach at 100km/h in left lane of car travelling at 80km/h and give huge greasy while passing.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 30/08/2017 - 08:30

      Yep and as you undertake, they speed up

  • Placebo on 29/08/2017 - 21:00
    +3

    This whole argument really bugs me. I do the speed limit (according to GPS, not my speedo) and stay in the left lane where possible. However, in a number of areas close to my home there are right hand turns that get banked up from some way back. If I were to stay in the left unless overtaking, I would get stuck in the left lane and never get back into the lane I need to be in. I find this is a common issue if you try to do the right thing. Although you eventually need to be in the right lane, you move to the left to allow others to pass and then no-one will let you back into the right lane.

    It makes it difficult to do the 'right' thing.

    • jmi on 30/08/2017 - 20:57
      +4

      If I am travelling on the freeway, I always keep left unless overtaking.

      I once got some guy tailgating me (at 100km/h!) although I was on the right lane and overtaking a long line of vehicles on the left that was moving slower. I obeyed the speed limit (was at speed limit) when I was on the right lane (but still able to overtake the vehicles on the left) but the driver behind me was impatient. When the line of vehicles cleared on the left, I moved to the left (before he did - he wanted to swerve left and sped through on the left) but instead, swerved back to the right lane, drove up next to me, gave me an angry look, muttered something and took off like a bat out of hell (as in easily >20km/h over limit).

      Some 10km down the freeway, saw him on the side, got pulled over by the highway patrol.

      Instant karma.

      • fedupwithjunk on 31/08/2017 - 17:34

        very similar story but the angry pillock was a cop (plain clothes, probably on his way home) and flashed his badge shouting at me then nearly ran into the car in front as he passed me.

        I wondered if I could make a citizens arrest for his poor behaviour?

    • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2017 - 14:55

      You're not supposed to follow the rule when there's traffic.

  • cantstanzya on 29/08/2017 - 21:21
    +7

    All the bad drivers I know are always complaining about other people on the roads not behaving in ways they deem acceptable.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2017 - 23:52
    -8

    I never understoo this rule.

    If i'm going at the speed limit (say 100km/h) why can't i be on the right lane??

    You are not allowed to overtake by going over the speed limit anyway so why can't i stay in the right lane going 105km/h?

    • ThithLord on 30/08/2017 - 08:03

      I really hope you cop a fine soon - you won't be so smug. Learn how to drive.

    • JTTheMan on 30/08/2017 - 11:30

      How did you get a license masster?
      It's a simple road rule and if you don't respect it get off the road.

      • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2017 - 19:22
        -2

        Speed limit is also a simple road rule.

        You are not allowed to overtake anyone by going over the speed limit.

        So what does it matter which lane i'm in if i'm going at the maximum speed limit?? Nobody should be overtaking me legally

        • JTTheMan on 31/08/2017 - 14:59
          -1

          That's not your decision to make and you can't assume you are at the maximum speed therefore you have the right to hog the overtaking lane. This ignorance is the source of this problem and why everyone in the overtaking lane thinks they own it!

        • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2017 - 23:17
          -1

          @JTTheMan:

          What do you mean it's not my decision to make?? OF course it's the speed limit decision.

          We are merely following the speed limit.

          If i'm going 105km/h in a 100 zone, it shouldnt matter which lane i'm in. Nobody should legally be overtaking me

          How does it affect anybody which lane i'm in if i'm going at or slightly above the speed limit??

          Seriously why does it matter? why are people so pissed about it?

          You are legally not allowed to go over the speed limit to overtake anyway! So what does it matter to you which lane i'm in?

        • JTTheMan on 01/09/2017 - 16:08
          -1

          @masster:
          You can choose your speed at or under the speed limit by law but you are not allowed to police other's speed. BIG DIFFERENCE!

          When you hog the overtaking lane when not overtaking you are imposing your own speed limit on the car behind you. That is why there is a law and signs that say "keep left unless overtaking" on roads 80km'h and above.

          I assume you don't have the training and especially not the legal right to control other vehicles' speed. This issue is the heart of this problem and that basic assumption you make is the cause of a lot of congestion on busy roads.

          You're welcome,

        • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2017 - 00:17

          @JTTheMan:

          I'm not imposing my own speed limit at all. The speed limit is the law.

          You shouldn't be going over the speed limit to overtake, so technically it shuln't matter to anyone if the person on the right lane is going at or slightly above the speed limit.

          It shouldn't affect you at all…otherwise why are you going over the speed limit?

        • JTTheMan on 02/09/2017 - 10:25

          @masster:

          It does affect me if I am traveling at the speed limit, say at 100km/h in a 100 zone, and you are doing 95km/h in the right lane but in your head you think you're doing the speed limit and therefore have the right to stay there.
          Your speedo might be telling you you're going 100 or 99 or you might have even taken your eyes off the speedo for a second? (your eyes shouldn't be fixed on the speedo!)
          So here I am coming up behind you trying to overtake legally at the speed limit but you are refusing to keep left unless overtaking because you think you have the right to stay in the right lane as you think I must be breaking the law to even think of overtaking you.
          Can you see how you are acting illegally as a proxy police officer?

        • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2017 - 11:17

          @JTTheMan:

          That's why i said slightly above, 105km/h.

        • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2017 - 11:22

          @JTTheMan:

          you have way bigger life issues than road rules if you are trying to overtake someone going 99 (1kmh slower than you) and getting so visibly pissed about it.

        • JTTheMan on 03/09/2017 - 09:13

          @masster:
          No I'm not getting visibly pissed about it, I was just trying to explain to you in a simple way what everyone behind you in the overtaking lane is getting pissed off about. Some people just don't get it and there's no way you can explain it. Enjoy the overtaking lane if that's what turns you on.

          The reality is even if I am doing 120km/h in a 100km/h zone and you are doing 110km/h you still have to keep left unless overtaking!
          Two wrongs do not make a right.

        • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2017 - 19:33
          -1

          @JTTheMan:

          I think you are quite visibly pissed from your comments here.

          Speeding kills people. However, people driving on the right lane at or slightly above the speed limit doesn't kill nor should it inconvenience anyone (unless you are going over the speed limit).

          So i just don't understand why it matters to you so much.

          I agree two wrong don't make a right but speeding is much much worse than being on the right lane at or slightly above the speed limit.

        • JTTheMan on 03/09/2017 - 20:29

          @masster: you really don't get it and there's no point with people like yourself.
          I'm not pissed off just saddened by the passive aggressive behaviour of people like yourself who take the law into their own hands. That is way more dangerous than speeding especially because it's hard to put in a road safety ad

          Anyway, drive safely

    • Lunatic on 30/08/2017 - 13:11
      +1

      Being in the right lane is worse than murder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2017 - 14:54

      Who said anyone was going to overtake you? If you're in the left lane then just overtake the next person and go back to left. There's no need to be in the right lane in your circumstance.

      • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2017 - 23:20

        How does it affect anybody which lane i'm in if i'm going at or slightly above the speed limit??

        Seriously why does it matter? why are people so pissed about it?

        You are legally not allowed to go over the speed limit to overtake anyway! So what does it matter to you which lane i'm in?

        • [Deactivated] on 01/09/2017 - 10:08

          People are weird :/

        • [Deactivated] on 01/09/2017 - 10:09

          If you're in the right lane, get in the left lane so emergency vehicles can go past. Why stay in the right lane if the left lane is all free?

        • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2017 - 00:20

          @StoneSin:

          Well of course i'll let emergency vehicles pass, i've never had an emergency vehicle trying to overtake me though

        • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2017 - 11:15

          @masster: Cool, so why are you staying in the right lane when there's a whole left lane free and no traffic?

        • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2017 - 11:19

          @StoneSin:

          Who said the whole left lane was free and no traffic?

          And even if it was, why does it matter to you?

        • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2017 - 12:00

          @masster: I did.

          why does it matter to you?

          What? You just said you'd give way to emergency vehicles. So it matters to you.

          If you have any intelligent thought, you'd understand how staying in the right lane when all space is free is wrong.

        • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2017 - 19:34

          @StoneSin:

          we are not discussing emergency vehicles, we are talking about normal drivers with normal cars.

          I'd make way for emergency vehicles no matter what lane they are in.

        • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2017 - 23:51

          @masster: Okay, you're just stupid then.

    • bs0 on 01/09/2017 - 17:18

      If you 'have never understood the rule' you may need to change your thinking. You are trying to justify not following one rule based off another, when really, how these two rules work shouldn't affect each other. The laws don't stop people from doing things, rather it makes it illegal and therefore finable.

      Eg. Cars in the left and middle lane are doing 90km/hr (speed limit). Yes, by law, it is illegal to speed to overtake, but you overtake at 100km/hr at the risk of being fined.
      http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/safety-rules/road-rules/over…

      Eg. Cars in the left and middle lane are doing 90km/hr (speed limit). Yes, by law, you have to be in the left lane at speeds >90km/hr unless overtaking, but you can chose to sit in the right lane at 90km/hr, at the risk of being fined.
      http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/safety-rules/demer…

  • lnq on 30/08/2017 - 06:40
    -6

    if you travel long distance use right lane. left lane is more for local commuters.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 30/08/2017 - 08:29
      +2

      Wth?

    • JTTheMan on 30/08/2017 - 11:32
      -2

      you are just shit stirring Inq aren't you? I almost bit!

    • lnq on 30/08/2017 - 14:18
      -3

      what i mean is, right lane is for higher speed vehicle.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 30/08/2017 - 08:29
    +3

    In fact almost daily, I see people move into the right lane simply because it's more empty only to stay 10ks under the limit. Sometimes seems they are intentionally blocking it.

    • lddv04 on 01/09/2017 - 13:16
      -1

      Speed limits are maximums, staying 10km/h under isn't illegal.

  • Austaurean on 30/08/2017 - 08:32
    +3

    How about Emergency Services, they need as much clearance as possible and people being in the right lane for no reason slows them down,
    particularly when someone is day dreaming 5klm under the limit in the right lane, we have all seen those dash cam videos.
    I feel it should be quite simple, just stay left, do not try to block cars - thats illegal as well, don't day dream in the right hand lane,
    if you do not need to be in the right lane stay out of it. or where overtaking just overtake the car or cars and then move left.
    if you need the right lane as you are turning right then so be it, but don't be in the right lane 5k's before the turn.
    Also when on a freeway and an overtaking lane comes into play, don't speed up and make it hard for those to pass using the overtaking lane.
    so many times people doing under the speed limit and an overtaking lane or dotted lines for overtaking come up and people speed up and then slow back down..

    • Mike88 on 30/08/2017 - 17:29

      "so many times people doing under the speed limit and an overtaking lane or dotted lines for overtaking come up and people speed up and then slow back down."
      This happens all the time. Cars will be cruising under the speed limit for several km's then when you eventually go to overtake they speed up as to match your speed.

  • A fish on 30/08/2017 - 10:45

    So many people with angry little baby brains on our roads and in this thread.

  • JTTheMan on 30/08/2017 - 11:27
    +5

    It's the law

    And for a good reason

    But it's a law that's ignored by bad drivers and cops who simply can't police it

    It's the ultimate test of selfishness. The "just relax" comments show how blinkered people can get.
    The road is there to be shared and if you're sitting in the overtaking lane under the speed limit you are a road abuser not a road user.

    • megaclix on 30/08/2017 - 17:09
      +1

      "But it's a law that's ignored by bad drivers and cops who simply can't police it"

      The police probably do enforce the rule where they can. However, for the offence to be committed, the driver must:

      1) Not be overtaking - in reality, the driver is most likely overtaking (or matching the speed), albeit not as fast as you would like.
      2) Must not pull in at a safe distance in front of the car in the left lane. The safe distance from a Police perspective will be a LOT more than you would like.

      I personally see very few cars that commit this offence, and thus I rarely get agitated by drivers hogging the right hand lane. I think this issue is way overstated by arrogant drivers with small minds.

      • JTTheMan on 31/08/2017 - 15:05
        +2

        This morning there were at least three cars in the overtaking lane with daylight in front and to the left, absolutely no idea when they drove past several signs stating "keep left unless overtaking"
        The problem is when people assume they are at the speed limit they claim the right to stay in the overtaking lane as it would be illegal for anyone to overtake them. It starts with this one stupid and wrong assumption and eventually turns into congestion with 20 cars thinking the same thing!

      • fedupwithjunk on 31/08/2017 - 17:41

        How I wish that people would rarely get agitated but as soon as most of them get behind the wheel they become a little psychotic. I find it ridiculous how i got a fine and points for crossing a white line on the left hand side of the road (what its purpose no-one seems to know) when i see dangerous driving go unpunished every day

  • BoomTetrisForJeff on 30/08/2017 - 11:57
    +2

    keep left unless overtaking will never work in peak time. due to intersections every 1km it'll just be same problem again once people in the overtaking lane hit a red light

  • dad-bod on 30/08/2017 - 16:28
    -2

    80% of ozbargainers are nanny staters…

    • lddv04 on 01/09/2017 - 13:17

      20% of statistics are wrong

  • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2017 - 19:22

    Speed limit is also a simple road rule.

    You are not allowed to overtake anyone by going over the speed limit.

    So what does it matter which lane i'm in if i'm going at the maximum speed limit?? Nobody should be overtaking me legally

    • OzzyOzbourne on 31/08/2017 - 07:44

      So you use that argument to justify breaking another rule?

      • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2017 - 23:21

        How does it affect anybody which lane i'm in if i'm going at or slightly above the speed limit??

        Seriously why does it matter? why are people so pissed about it?

        You are legally not allowed to go over the speed limit to overtake anyway! So what does it matter to you which lane i'm in?

  • gozyla86 on 30/08/2017 - 22:12
    +1

    Used to be pulled over by NSW Police by driving on the right lane for more than 2 kms…Just tired and then forget to turn back to left lane after overtaking and then a fine 200+ AU for being silly

  • mily on 30/08/2017 - 22:41

    Obviously option 2, but option 4 sounds so neat so my finger moved on it with no hesitate.

  • bargainsville on 31/08/2017 - 00:11

    Its so frustrating in an 80 zone, when the left and right lanes have cars doing 70 and there's no cars in front of them….
    I think from now on if I'm trying to overtake and that happens, I might use that thing in the middle of my steering wheel, cant recall the name of it right now, as I've never used it, as it's generally accepted in Aus as a rude, last resort feature, like just before you're certain you're going die.

  • cockneylondoner on 31/08/2017 - 00:11

    I've always thought that drivers who sit in the second lane did so due to the (stupid) abundance of 'Lanes Merge' roads to avoid annoying those drivers who like sitting in my 'blind spot' and then getting agitated when I have to change lanes.
    I have always viewed 'undertakers' (that's people who overtake on the near side) as being someone keen to meet one, hopefully without taking me with them in the process.
    Then there appears to be a total lack of any form of GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) restrictions and engine 'government' on the trucks or the banning of them overtaking in the outside lane, except on two lane roads.
    But on the humorous side I have had a giggle seeing all those notices saying 'Wrong Way' in bold lettering to help those with poor eyesight and a lack of any form of sense and those notices in Melbourne when I was there stating that one has to wait in the nearside lane to turn right!

    • OzzyOzbourne on 31/08/2017 - 07:46

      Yeah, the rest of the civilised world can get this right, why can't we?

  • Autonomic on 31/08/2017 - 02:28

    There was an interesting video by Vox on this issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqfodY2Lz0

    Of course about the dangers of the left lane as opposed to the right here. There was a study showing that a care going 5 mph slower than the surrounding traffic is actually more likely to cause an accident then one going 5 mph faster than the surrounding traffic.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 31/08/2017 - 07:47

      But enforcing that wouldn't generate so much revenue

  • telljoolz on 31/08/2017 - 09:57
    +2

    It is sad that we need a law to enforce simple courtesy.

    If you were walking in a shopping mall, do you deliberately walk slowly in front of people to block their way?

    • Euphemistic on 31/08/2017 - 10:42

      I'm sure most don't do it deliberately. When you are walking you don't have rear vision mirrors. A lot of drivers don't worry what is behind them either.

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