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From: res@ihuxn.UUCP (Rich Strebendt)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Passing in the fast lane (and apologies)
Message-ID: <1047@ihuxn.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 5-May-85 23:11:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxn.1047
Posted: Sun May  5 23:11:31 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 6-May-85 02:49:51 EDT
References: <5210@fortune.UUCP>, <282@idi.UUCP> <424@wjvax.UUCP> <265@osiris.UUCP> <1193@amdcad.UUCP> <279@osiris.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 51

> Here is the situation I have questions about.  I'm in the center lane,
> which is packed.  We're all moving about 50 mph.  I pull out to pass at
> 55 mph, and someone roars up behind me.  If there is no room to move over,
> for maybe a minute or two, what do I do?  Do I speed up, or slow down to
> take my original spot back, if possible?  This is the situation in which
> I take the position that I can stay in the fast lane as long as it takes
> ME to pass.  Still wrong?  Then what do I do?
 
Having been in that sort of situation occasionally I can pass on to you
what I have done.  

First, maintain a speed that you feel is safe for the driving
conditions.  This might be a little under the posted, or it might be a
bit over the posted.  UNDER NO CONDITIONS should you let the person
behind you force you to a speed higher than you feel is safe.  On the
other hand, police officers DO use judgement in deciding who to ticket
and, under the conditions you describe, will not harass a motorist who
speeds up to something a bit over the limit to avoid impeding the
smooth and orderly flow of traffic.  What is "a bit"?  Stepping up to
60 or a little more than that would probably be reasonable, but
stepping up to 75 or more would not, in my estimation, be justified.

Second, I have found that most drivers who overtake me under conditions
such as you describe will drop back if you indicate that you see them
and will get over as soon as you can.  To do this I flip my right turn
signal on as I speed up a little.  In only one case in memory has the
overtaking driver not dropped back a little.  In that case the driver
blasted by with about 0.001 of an inch clearance when I was able to get
over, then passed another car in the right lane ON THE RIGHT (using the
shoulder).  A few miles further on I passed HIM ... he was sitting on
the shoulder chatting with a gentleman who had left his red flasher on
while they conversed.  Yes, sometimes there really is justice!

Now, lest my masculinity by impugned by macho drivers who NEVER go
slower than 75 (even in their driveways), I typically travel the
Interstates at between about 60-65mph, though the speedometer does
sometimes (in open Illinois countryside) creep a bit above that.  I
have also traveled the larger part of a 240 mile trip on the Interstate
at about 35mph -- white knuckling it on a layer of freezing rain.
(Got my best gas milage EVER on that trip!  Also found every rest room
on the route!)  The fundamental rule I follow is to maintain the smooth 
and orderly flow of traffic, and always make sure that there is someone 
going faster than me to trip the speed traps.  

Just remember -- if all of the cars in this country were lined up from 
New York to Los Angeles ...

	some fool would STILL pull out and try to pass.

					Rich Strebendt
					...!ihnp4!ihuxn!res