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

        • mu11yy on 11/06/2024 - 14:56
          +1

          Has it ever occurred to you that not every car on the road has cruise control?

          • Ghost47 on 11/06/2024 - 15:02

            @mu11yy: I actually wasn’t talking about 50 year old cars without cruise control.

            • mu11yy on 11/06/2024 - 15:25
              +1

              @Ghost47: My car is from 2011 and doesn't have cruise control. I would even say that cruise control didn't start to be common in base model cars until mid 2010s.

              • Ghost47 on 11/06/2024 - 15:57

                @mu11yy: I've never found it hard to maintain a constant speed with or without cruise control.

              • CurlCurl on 11/06/2024 - 16:21

                @mu11yy:

                My car is from 2011 and doesn't have cruise control. I would even say that cruise control didn't start to be common in base model cars until mid 2010s.

                Pajero's had cruise control from 2000.

                • mu11yy on 11/06/2024 - 17:33

                  @CurlCurl: And yet a Pajero bought brand new in 2000 when adjusted for inflation was roughly $86,000. Hence my point being that lower end vehicles did not introduce cruise control until much later.

        • apsilon on 11/06/2024 - 15:40
          +1

          Has nothing to do with cruise, it's the "must be in front otherwise I'm being held up" mentality.

          • bbinc on 11/06/2024 - 20:50

            @apsilon: That was my point. Even my 1999 TomTom GPS could tell it didn’t make a swat of difference to my arrival time.

    • pegaxs on 11/06/2024 - 10:00
      +5

      This is what people need to realise… being stuck behind a car doing a few km/h under the limit isn’t costing you as much time as you think it does.

      eg: The trip from Wallsend in Newcastle to Hornsby in Sydney, a trip I do almost every other week, is 128km. If I average 100km/h, it takes 1h17mins. If I average just 4km/h slower at 96km/h, it adds less than 3 mins over the whole journey.

      Being stuck behind that car for 2 or 3km at 5km/h under the limit isnt costing people anywhere near what thy think it is.

      Using the same example above where I am working on an average time of 100km/h for the average trip time (1h16m48s), if I get stuck behind a car doing 90km/h for 5km of that trip, my total time now is 1h17m8s, or a additional 20 seconds over the whole 128km trip.

      We also need to get over the notion that the speed limit is the “minimum” target speed for a given area.

      And lastly, people need to realise that other drivers dont give a shit about you being time poor and/or running late. they have their own issues and/or skill level to go at, and forcing someone to drive in excess of their ability at that time may make it far more dangerous for everyone.

      • WT on 11/06/2024 - 13:01
        +1

        we do this trip many times, youre wrong

        the correct thing to do is go old pac ;-)

        5kph is roughly walking pace, thats the difference. We used to discuss it when we got our P's, I think it worked out sydney to gold coast, you save 30mins if you go 5 over and the trip is shorter now

        half the problem is some will jump up and down on indicated speed, the others go only off GPS. Took my wife some months to get over the fact her speedo wasnt right even though her last car was wrong too, and the speedo in my car for the longest time was way out due to different wheels for road use and dash that I still CBF changing the settings on, i.e 140kph is about 110

        • pegaxs on 12/06/2024 - 12:07

          the correct thing to do is go old pac ;-)

          As someone who rides motorcycles and has been down "old pac" many a time, yeah, that's a great way to get to Sydney about an hour or two slower… Most of that road from Gosford to Hornsby it speed limited to 60km/h and has more cops patrolling it than a donut eating convention.

          I think it worked out sydney to gold coast, you save 30mins if you go 5 over and the trip is shorter now

          You would need to maintain an average speed over the whole distance that was about 6% higher to get there 30 mins earlier. So, in 60km/h zones, it's only doing 61~62… in the 110km/h zones, you would need to be doing around 117km/h to maintain that 30min earlier arrival. This excludes stopping for breaks, getting stuck behind cars or any other reason you would be slowed down.

          Let's say you average 100km/h from Sydney to Gold Coast. 820km in 8h12m. On the way home, you get stuck behind a car going 20km/h under the limit for 10 km (nearly improbable that this would happen, but let's do it). The slow driver has now blown your arrival time out to 8h13m30s. Or, cost you just an extra 1m30s on your total journey.

          30 mins saved over a 8h20 min journey would not be noticed, as it only amounts to about 6% reduction in time. On a 26 min drive to work, it would save about 1m30s in travel time, or about 3 mins a day. Over a year… if you drove every "work" day (5 days a week), it would net you and extra 6.5 hours…. a year.

          The issue is that on an average trip, yes, even an interstate one, being stuck behind a car doing 5 or even 10 under the limit for 3 to 5km (at worst) is going to cause no real perceivable increase in your arrival time, and if it does, it is so insignificant, it doesn't matter.

          half the problem is some will jump up and down on indicated speed, the others go only off GPS

          The problem here is that typically, most modern cars are within 0 to 3km/h of their actual ground speed from their speedo reading. So, people are getting bent out of shape over a car in front that is using their "speedo" and doing 107km/h while the angry bird is using Waze and doing 110km/h. On your same "Sydney to Gold Coast" example, this would cause you to arrive a mere 12 mins later IF you were held up for the entire 820km journey… Which no one ever is.

      • bbinc on 11/06/2024 - 20:54
        +1

        Pegasus, exactly my point. Relax, enjoy the ride, giggle at the stupidos racing their way to be 20 seconds in front of you after an hour drive …

        • pegaxs on 12/06/2024 - 10:01

          Or, racing their way ahead, carving up traffic, only to be one car ahead of you on the off-ramp traffic light :D

  • ttt888 on 11/06/2024 - 08:49
    -3

    You should add this to the poll:

    Wait for the next 100km speed limit sign, Wind down your window and point to the speed limit sign with repeated gesture. (Make sure no object infront that will take your arm off).

    • Jaxy on 11/06/2024 - 09:06
      +1

      fyi, sticking your arm out the window for purposes other than indicating a turn will cop you a $400 fine.

      • ttt888 on 11/06/2024 - 09:08

        There is always a fine for everything, including idiots who thinks right lane is their rights to go as fast as the person chooses.

      • bbinc on 11/06/2024 - 20:56

        Surely blind Freddy could see ttt88 was mocking?

        • MS Paint on 11/06/2024 - 21:33

          @BlindFreddy - is this true?

          • bbinc on 11/06/2024 - 22:00
            +1

            @MS Paint: @BlindFreddy dunno. Just a saying from my past …
            But maybe he designed all those BMW’s without functioning indicators …

  • greencomet on 11/06/2024 - 08:59
    +4

    Well, you really shouldn't be in the overtaking lane in the first place, unless you plan on overtaking.

  • Eeples on 11/06/2024 - 09:04
    +3

    You aren’t overtaking so you shouldn’t be in that lane.

    Did the car beside you speed up ?

    If not how did you get beside it ?

  • Jaxy on 11/06/2024 - 09:05
    +2

    In America, they have a saying for the fast/overtaking lane: "This Line is for Crime!"

    • WT on 11/06/2024 - 09:59
      +6

      in the US, the slow lane is still going faster then the speed limit!

      • pizzip on 11/06/2024 - 17:32

        Most other countries aren't as ridiculously strict with speeding so people actually drive to the conditions and flow of traffic, unlike here where people act like their wheels will fall off the car if they go over 110.

      • bbinc on 11/06/2024 - 21:02
        +1

        OMG! Arrived Frankfurt airport. My Avis Toyota Yaris was not available. You can have this Audi A5 3ltr Turbo Diesel. It has 4 km on the clock. Go baby on the autobahn! 80 kms to 160kmh in half a breath! Partner says “I could get to like this car. And we were still the slow ones.

        • Jaxy on 18/06/2024 - 15:24

          Now THAT'S German efficiency.

  • fisherfriendman on 11/06/2024 - 09:08
    +3

    It depends on your intention.
    1. If you want to overtake the car on the left, speed up and overtake, then move to the left lane. The car you have overtaken will slow down anyway once you are in their lane. (profanity) do it quickly, then relax in the left lane.
    2. If your intention was to remain at the speed limit and legal, then you should not be in the right lane in the first place, and once you have determined that you can't overtake the car on the left, slow down and filter left behind the car you intended to overtake but failed to.
    No one wants to waste more time on the roads than is necessary to get from point A to point B. There are always nasty behaviours on the roads, but we always discount our own behaviours by rationalising what we do as rational.

  • GordonD on 11/06/2024 - 09:14
    +7

    Just days ago we had a thread where a guy on an 80 km suburban road sped up to <10% over the limit to clear a car shadowing him on the left so he could get into the left lane to turn left, and got booked for it. And virtually every poster hammered him for it.

    In this thread the vast majority are voting for this OP to do exactly that. Without even the justification that he needed to do it. Just to get out of the way of someone else who wanted to exceed the speed limit.

    Gees.

    Someone explain that to me.

    • pegaxs on 11/06/2024 - 09:48
      +4

      While I agree with you, it’s stupid how some people get a pass, yet others don’t, I think it all comes down to the perceived area.

      80km/h (and under) zones are usually in built up urban zones or outer urban zones. These are places with houses and businesses. The risk to other people, think cyclists, pedestrians and school kids, is deemed greater…

      100~110km/h zones are usually the domain of highways and freeways, where there is some switch that gets flipped in people’s heads that they think they have the right to drive at way over the limit because of some erroneous Dunning-Krugers belief that their skills are better the faster they go. The line that usually gets touted there is “I’m only 5ks over, I’m not hurting anyone…” so, speeding in a 100+ zone isn’t seen as risky…

      Oh, and OzBargain is bi-polar. I don’t know how many times I have been negged to oblivion just for posting nothing more than the road rule legislation that applied to a question that was asked.

      • GordonD on 11/06/2024 - 10:44
        +3

        I’m only 5ks over, I’m not hurting anyone…

        Back when the research was being done on this exact subject was when I was involved in road safety.

        The university researchers did their study. They looked at the results and announced in their paper that the numbers proved that "every 5 km/h over doubles the risk". No matter what the speed limit was. A prominent expert - sorry, John, I've forgotten your second name - at the mathematical analysis of statistical data peer reviewed their paper. Attempting to fit a curve to their data resulted in one that fitted the data/evidence better. It was that vehicles slightly over the posted limit were slightly safer, but then the risk doubled faster than the research paper suggested. So you'd ignore the first 10% over - say 5 km/h in the cities, and 10 km/h on country highways - then increase the penalties faster.

        The researchers acknowledged to the road safety community that his analysis was superior to theirs. And revised a subsequent paper accordingly. That's how peer reviewing works. That's how the scientific method is supposed to work.

        Police and governments just plowed on regardless and entrenched the original "simpler and easier to understand and sell" rule into the law, law enforcement, and road safety adverting. And now everyone thinks its true, and that Victoria police booking lots of people for being just over the posted limit is justified and proven by the evidence.

        • GordonD on 11/06/2024 - 10:59

          That research back then established the policy of tight speed limit enforcement.

          But there were questions some of us back then said it didn't answer.

          We could see how someone barging through slower traffic would result in increased risk of a crash. But what if the traffic was flowing at a higher or lower speed than the posted limit. Was it how fast you were going compared to the posted limit or the other traffic that increased risk? And what if there was no or little other traffic. Was there a sharply increasing risk in that circumstance, or was there little point in tightly enforcing speed limits on empty country roads? Did slowing people down in that circumstance result in more crashes from boredom, disengagement and fatigue from increased travel times?

          There's an old road safety saying. Politicians want policies that get them in the headlines. Bureaucrats and police want policies that are easy to sell and enforce. And engineers want policies that actually work. It is probably true that the policies we've got mostly work in most circumstances. The question is whether they unfairly punish a lot of people doing little harm, because when you have universal tight speed enforcement most bookings are for the offences that are most dubious.

        • SimpleLeverage on 11/06/2024 - 19:53

          That's really interesting. I wonder if that can be explained by the act of breaking the limit by that first 10% creates a psychological/butterfly in stomach response that results in extra focus; whereas going even faster becomes blatant rule breaking.

          Would be good to see more policies set by a true science based approach rather than just salesmanship on TV.

    • cloudy on 11/06/2024 - 14:05

      Grounded logic from contributors such as yourself Gordon are few and far between these days on ozb.

    • ttt888 on 11/06/2024 - 14:07
      +1

      Agree, many posters here shows the problem with the world nowdays. seriously its a god giving right to do be a fool , oh its right lane, I have the right to drive as fast as I choose others must give way…

  • Aliensf on 11/06/2024 - 09:29
    +1

    It's illegal to speed in order to overtake.
    I'd stay in the lane until I can safely change lanes while continuing at the same speed

    • 2027 on 11/06/2024 - 09:58
      +4

      It’s illegal to not keep left unless overtaking in this scenario.

      You could attract fines in NSW of $387 for failing to keep left and another fine of $387 for disobeying a keep left unless overtaking sign, with 2 demerit points each.

      What’s the fine for exceeding the speed limit? Wouldn’t it be less than $774 and 4 demerit points?

      • Aliensf on 11/06/2024 - 16:57
        -2

        Ah, so you're the guy that comes flying up behind everyone speeding in the right lane.

        I told you what I would do. I always drive in the right lanes doing the speed limit and never been pulled over. =)

        • 2027 on 11/06/2024 - 17:21

          Well actually, I’m not, I am courteous to other road users, I’m sharing the road after all.

          I can’t wait for AI and self driving to take the “sharing the road” and “not breaking the law” responsibilities away from people.

          Law enforcement around the world recognises that attitudes like that can lead to fatalities. South Australia Police have reminded people that by breaking the law and not keeping left unless overtaking, those following behind can get angry, and angry people make poor decisions. It’s a shame that it’s even a debate. It’s written in law and even on giant white signs on the side of the road.

      • gaosong2101 on 13/06/2024 - 18:25

        It's also more dangerous to speed than driving on the right lane, and the government campaigns focus more on discouraging speeding rather than promoting keeping left too

  • justworld on 11/06/2024 - 09:30

    You can go 105k (real) since speeding fines have a 3km tolerance plus a further 2-3% tolerance which is applied to the detected speed.

    Almost all car speedos display 2km/hr over (or more) so that's 107km/h indicated. I constantly set my cruise at 107km/h and have never got a speeding fine.

    Anyway, simple answer is you should not be in a situation in the right lane where you are holding up traffic - when you see a faster car coming up to you, you have plenty of time when it's 50m away to manoeuvre yourself into the left lane. Otherwise you are showing a lack of awareness.

    Right lane is overtaking lane. Don't hover in it.

    • payless69 on 11/06/2024 - 09:40
      +3

      Lol, depending on state, you can receive multiple fines.

      • justworld on 11/06/2024 - 10:21

        For what? Which state has a tighter detection than 3km/h +2km/h detection speed error?

        • payless69 on 11/06/2024 - 10:29
          +3

          Tolerance is for their own measuring equipment.
          Your next option is to argue with a judge.
          Blocking the right lane without overtaking does not need a tolerance, if a cop sees it it can lead to a fine.

          • justworld on 11/06/2024 - 10:50

            @payless69: Tolerance is built-in to the speeding fine. It is ALWAYS a -2 or -3km/h "alleged speed" as opposed to "detected speed". This is SEPARATE from the certificate in relation to the measuring equipment, which has to show that the equipment is accurate.

            You also argue with a Magistrate, not a judge. But in any event, in Victoria, you have a one-off reprieve every 2 years as long as speeding was <10km/h alleged over the limit.

            As for blocking the right lane, yes I agree - which is why you need to get out of the right lane pronto unless you're overtaking. Though there are exceptions in Victoria for some roads.

            • payless69 on 11/06/2024 - 11:11
              +1

              @justworld: QLD does things a bit different, courts are so overloaded even if you apply for a hearing they may just send a default judgement out asking you to take it to a lawyer. Usually not worth it.

  • bobbified on 11/06/2024 - 09:31
    +1

    At that point, you are no longer overtaking anymore. Do whatever you need to do to get out of the right lane asap. Whether you speed up and get ahead or slow down slightly and pull in behind the car to your left (obviously not when the other car is already up your a$$). Use your indicators too so everyone can see what you're doing.

  • Nebargains on 11/06/2024 - 09:37
    +2

    Look I would just move out of the way because some people are just crap drivers and/or idiots and you don't know what they are going to do but everyone jumping on OP doesn't even know the full story.

    This could be a congested multi lane freeway in peak hour traffic where I am pretty sure the keep left unless over taking nonsense doesn't apply. If you are thinking 'if its congested it wouldn't be going 100km/h' well you probably never driven in peak our traffic. Take Melbourne for example (eastern freeway), there are sections where it can be heavily congested and the traffic can easily speed up to 100km/h for a period of time, slowing up and speeding down, still congested and the right lane is fair game.

    But that aside I have never understood two things, firstly why some people drive way under the speed limit and then speed up as you try to over take them (leaving you stranded in the next lane unable to move back) and why everyone things it is completely OK to speed in the right hand lane.

    If there are 2 lanes and the left lane are all doing 100km/h, the only way you are overtaking is by speeding.

    I bet if OP got a speeding ticket everyone would be jumping on them for speeding while simultaneously saying it is OK to speed in the right hand lane.

  • pegaxs on 11/06/2024 - 09:37
    +4

    Speed up to 110km/h, the speed limit on most freeways, overtake the car and pull in.

    If the speed limit on that freeway is 100km/h, you slow down to 100 and pull in behind. The only reason you should be overtaking is if the car is travelling slower than the designated speed limit. If the car in the left lane is doing 104km/h, you really had no business overtaking it if the speed limit is 100km/h in that area.

    Or, if you are already speeding over the limit, I mean (fropanity) it, in for a penny, in for a pound, amirite?

    • The GM on 12/06/2024 - 08:47
      +1

      So many drivers have a hard time identifying that pedal to the left of the accelerator. Driving isn't simply about getting from A to B in a safe, timely manner, but to race/ 'beat' every other idiot on the road.

  • payless69 on 11/06/2024 - 09:38
    -3

    Wind down window,
    stick right arm out and up,
    raise middle finger,
    hope every dashcam gets you.
    Wait for fine in mail!
    Hand back drivers license.!

  • Seraphin7 on 11/06/2024 - 09:44
    +1

    It's keep left unless overtaking.

    Not keep left unless you're doing the speed limit.

    • payless69 on 11/06/2024 - 10:25
      +2

      OP claims he is speeding
      does this give op the right to own the right lane?

      • Seraphin7 on 11/06/2024 - 11:58
        +4

        Not at all.

        The speed one is doing bears no relevance to the lane you should be in.

        It's quite simple. Are you actively overtaking another vehicle? If yes, then (simplistically for a two lane scenario) be in the right lane. If not, get into the left lane.

        Whether or not you are travelling at/above/below the speed limit is absolutely not relevant.

  • trapper on 11/06/2024 - 09:47
    +5

    If you're going the same speed as the car in the left lane, then why did you move to the right lane in the first place?

    Either pass ahead or drop back behind, and move back to the left.

    • askbargain on 11/06/2024 - 09:56
      +1

      filming a cinematic scene

  • codinghelloworld on 11/06/2024 - 10:01
    +4

    When I drive big car like Tarago, it's hard to accelerate, I stay on left lane.
    Then when I drive a small car like Prius, it's take a long time to speed up, I still stay on left lane.
    So unless the car in front is travelling under speed limit, I keep distance and don't overtake.

  • pharkurnell on 11/06/2024 - 10:25
    +7

    Here's the dilemma.

    No.. no dilemma at all. GTF out of the way

    However, now, you're stuck doing the maximum speed without getting a ticket and you're holding up a car behind you.

    If you wont speed up, then you slow down and GTF out of the lane.

    Why does this thread exist…???

  • thereyougo on 11/06/2024 - 10:38
    +3

    In Mildura there are only a few main dual lane roads, 80klm/hr speed limit, when the privileged sit in the right lane it stuffs the flow of traffic. Common courtesy, get in the left so faster cars or the impatient can get past. Less accidents, less agro!

    • MS Paint on 11/06/2024 - 11:00

      80klm/hr speed limit

      Unless there are "keep left unless overtaking" signs on these roads in Mildura they aren't breaking any rules.

      I agree though, common sense and courtesy go hand in hand with road rules.

      • SwaggyE on 11/06/2024 - 11:39
        -3

        Unless there are "keep left unless overtaking" signs on these roads in Mildura they aren't breaking any rules.

        But they are though. You don't need to have a sign to tell you Keep Left Unless Overtaking. The law applies to any multi lane roads with speed limit 80km/h and above. That's the road rules.

        • MS Paint on 11/06/2024 - 11:42
          +1

          The law applies to any multi lane roads with speed limit 80km/h and above. That's the road rules.

          Please double-check this statement.

          A hint to help you out

          • SwaggyE on 11/06/2024 - 12:49
            -2

            @MS Paint: Not sure if you understand the question. It says the law applies when speed limit is above 80km/h OR when there’s a sign. Not AND.

            So the law applies to multi lane road when speed limit is 80km/h even without the keep left sign.

            Thanks for the “hint” but no thanks.

            • MS Paint on 11/06/2024 - 13:01
              +2

              @SwaggyE: Try again.

              Hint: you don't understand your own post

              when speed limit is above 80km/h

              So the law applies to multi lane road when speed limit is 80km/h

              I respect your confidence though.

              • SwaggyE on 11/06/2024 - 13:37
                -5

                @MS Paint: Lol you think you're being a smart a*se but you just deflecting from your misunderstanding.

                Everyone knows "where the driver driving over 80km/h" includes 80km/h.

                Hint: you're still wrong and what I've posted is correct. Enjoy getting pull over on 80km/h road for not keeping left if you can't interpret road rules. Have a nice day.

                • based on 11/06/2024 - 13:54
                  +2

                  @SwaggyE: http://vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-rules/…

                  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 or turning right, or
                  - all lanes are congested.

                  Over 80 does not include 80

                  Qld for comparison, does include the listed value, explicitly saying so.

                  On multi-lane roads, if the posted speed limit is 90km/h or more, or if the road has a ‘keep left unless overtaking’ sign, you must not drive in the right-hand lane

                • MS Paint on 11/06/2024 - 14:25
                  +2

                  @SwaggyE: We shall agree to disagree. Safe motoring internet stranger.

                • MS Paint on 11/06/2024 - 16:33
                  +2

                  @SwaggyE: Maybe watch this video especially around the 30sec mark. It resolves our clashing of rule interpretation very clearly.

                • MS Paint on 11/06/2024 - 19:29
                  +3

                  @SwaggyE:

                  Ohh Muzeeb. Sorry for calling you a smart a*se when it was me that didn't understand the road rules.

                  No problems buddy. Apology accepted. A real man takes responsibility for his own mistakes. Respect dude. Safe travels.

                  • SwaggyE on 11/06/2024 - 23:27
                    -2

                    @MS Paint: Did you just block quote something you made up that I never said and replied to yourself few hours later?

                    Sorry for not responding to your comment in timely fashion OzBargain police.

                    • MS Paint on 12/06/2024 - 00:47
                      +2

                      @SwaggyE: Yep. It was my interpretation of what you were likely thinking.

                      What's your current stance on the rule?

                • 2027 on 11/06/2024 - 22:30
                  +2

                  @SwaggyE: What you say

                  80km/h and above

                  What law say

                  over 80km/h

                  Let me ask you this. If you are travelling at exactly 80 in an 80 zone, if 80 is included in the definition of “over 80” then you would accept a speeding fine for doing over the posted limit?

      • pharkurnell on 11/06/2024 - 14:08

        I actually dont see many "keep left unless overtaking" signs anymore… not that I dont see em, the dont exist…

        Replaced with "Rough Surface" signs usually…

  • suti1 on 11/06/2024 - 11:02
    -2

    On the roads from sydney to newcastle, and sydney to canberra there are always idiots driving at just under the 110km speed limit in the middle lane when there is noone in the left lane. They think they aren't a truck or learner so they don't have to be there. These are the ppl that should be fined as they are ones causing the freeway to clog up.

  • 2esc on 11/06/2024 - 11:14
    +1

    Seriously? Slow down to 100 then merge left why would you speed up even further over the speed limit. But speeding up you potentially get booked just to let a impatient driver past.

    Dont get conned/pressured into speeding.

  • jaimex2 on 11/06/2024 - 11:32

    No idea because I have the adaptive cruise set to 115 and probably stuck in a line behind the car in front doing 102.

    I flip my rear view mirror if there's someone tailgating and don't think about it again.

    I'm not switching lanes because the fwit is just going to get stuck behind a car in front of me.

    • bobbified on 11/06/2024 - 13:26
      +2

      I'm not switching lanes because the fwit is just going to get stuck behind a car in front of me.

      Sometimes you may not technically be wrong, but it's best not to put yourself in the position where you could easily become the meat in the sandwich. Especially if what's directly in front or behind is huge.

      • jaimex2 on 11/06/2024 - 14:00
        -1

        The adaptive cruise leaves a safe distance and there's emergency braking. If the fwit behind me wants to buy me a new ute who am I to stop him.

        Assuming the lithium batteries in the canopy didn't explode and kill him.

        • bobbified on 11/06/2024 - 17:42
          +2

          If the fwit behind me wants to buy me a new ute who am I to stop him.

          A brand new ute is a bit pointless if you're completely squished against the vehicle in front or against the concrete barrier on the side.

          I don't know about you, but I don't care whether I'm right or wrong - I will always try and avoid any situation (as much as I can) where someone else's stupidity can lead to my demise.

          • jaimex2 on 11/06/2024 - 21:56

            @bobbified: I watch a fair bit of Dashcams Australia, they generally swerve straight into the middle lanes when there's a pile up.

            You'd probably be there listening to Alanis Morissette.

        • miwahni on 11/06/2024 - 21:27

          Here's hoping the fwit has comprehensive insurance or that new ute could be a long time coming, at $5 per week

          • jaimex2 on 11/06/2024 - 21:54

            @miwahni: risk you take every day on every intersection.

  • ForkSnorter on 11/06/2024 - 11:33
    -2

    The reality is, on busy freeways, the right lane is constantly overtaking the left lanes, and if everyone got out of the right lane after overtaking a single car, the left lanes would be too congested and traffic would slow down too much, so that rule “stay in left lane unless overtaking” is a bit silly and inappropriate in some situations. So those aggressive tailgating bogans who think they’ve got every right to drive at 120 km/h in the right lane and everyone going slower than that has to get out of their way can go stuff themselves,

    • bobbified on 11/06/2024 - 13:33

      On multi-lane roads, Keep Left Unless Overtaking doesn't just apply to the far right lane. It's meant to apply to all traffic in all lanes. Cars that are not overtaking should be in the lane as far left as possible.

      But it seems that every THINKS they're driving "fast" and they stay close to the right lane, often leaving the left lanes totally empty.

      • SimpleLeverage on 11/06/2024 - 20:04
        +1

        I've observed instances in OP's scenario where the tailgating car gives up, brakes to lane change 2 lanes and overtake everyone from the left.

        Honestly if everyone just follows keep left unless overtaking, roads will be so much safer.

        • bobbified on 11/06/2024 - 20:07
          +1

          change 2 lanes and overtake everyone from the left.

          I'll admit that that's me and I'd rather not, but….
          I wouldn't bother going up close to tailgate though because I can often see a whole bunch of cars, on the right, already stuck to each others' ass (and totally empty left lanes!) from a mile away.

        • ForkSnorter on 12/06/2024 - 09:01

          You mean safer for the tailgating impatient bogans who need to constantly travel at 10 km/h over the speed limit?

          It would be safer for everyone if they just respected the speed limit and did not tailgate.

  • SwaggyE on 11/06/2024 - 11:36

    Context is also very important - what's the traffic condition like? If it's free flowing and you're doing the same speed of the car in the lane next to you for hundreds of meters then you either speed up or slow down to get out of the way.

    However, if it's during peak hours and congested where everyone is doing 40-50km/h in bumper to bumper condition, then just try to keep up to the car in front of you while keeping a safe distance.

    • nobro25 on 11/06/2024 - 16:23
      +1

      Unlikely you're riding bumper to bumper going 104kph That's extremely dangerous.

  • LFO on 11/06/2024 - 11:44
    +1

    Don't know about the question asked about speeding or not but, for sure, many many many comments argue about the cumbersome and challenging KEEP LEFT principle.
    Amazing, really.

    How hard could it be?.

    • ForkSnorter on 11/06/2024 - 11:55
      -3

      Basically, what you want is the left lanes overly congested, forcing them to drive at 80 km/h, leaving your right lane empty so that you can drive 110km/h all the way to your destination. That’s what you want, isn’t it.

      • LFO on 11/06/2024 - 12:01
        +1

        That’s what you want, isn’t it.

        Nope.

        Is KEEPing LEFT far too hard, too stressful and too demanding to do?

        Is that the problem?

        • ForkSnorter on 11/06/2024 - 12:48
          -2

          Are you so entitled that you think the rest of the population have to drive 30 km/h under the speed limit so you can have a smooth ride to your destination in the right lane?

          • suti1 on 11/06/2024 - 14:54
            +3

            @ForkSnorter: no, you keep left until you reach a slower car then move to the middle or right lane to overtake. once that's done and you cease to be overtaking anyone else in the next couple of hundred metres, you merge back left again. Simple.

            • ForkSnorter on 12/06/2024 - 08:56

              @suti1: Try that on a busy freeway. For example,Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

              • LFO on 12/06/2024 - 18:36
                +1

                @ForkSnorter: So, KEEPing LEFT is far too hard, far too stressful and far too demanding to do.
                For you it seems.

      • suti1 on 11/06/2024 - 12:13
        +1

        found the guy who is driving at 105km on a 3 lane freeway and refusing to keep left. this is the reason why the middle lane is often more crowded that the left lane and it's dangerous!

      • pizzip on 11/06/2024 - 17:44
        +1

        if the left lane is sitting at 80, you use the right to go past them at 110? how is this a difficult concept?

        • ForkSnorter on 12/06/2024 - 09:02
          +1

          When there are too many cars, they need to be spread across all the lanes, otherwise nobody goes anywhere (except for the right lane).

          • LFO on 12/06/2024 - 18:40

            @ForkSnorter: Wot?

            They will all do a similar speed.
            All keeping left.
            Everybody goes everywhere they wish to go.

            How do they do it in one lane only roads?
            One behind the other.
            And they all will/would get to their destination.

            Once again, it feels the issue is changing lanes and keeping left whilst driving. Nothing else.

            • ForkSnorter on 13/06/2024 - 08:08
              -1

              @LFO: It sounds like you just drive on country highways and not busy freeways connecting massive populations.

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