Note to All Prius drivers. Stay in the Right Lane!

[Whelan]

Today driving to work I must have gotten 5 of these things pulling in front of me. Some would do a good 20 below what the lane is doing. i.e. we are all doing 70+, they do 50-55. I appreciate your concern for the environment and driving slow to get maximum mileage, but MOVE OVER!Then there are the guys who fly down the highway at 70-80. I'm not sure why they bought a hybrid if they are going to soar down the road, that kinda defeats the purpose of buying said car.I think all Prius' should be speed limited to 65. Then they would never get in my way. I swear the people driving them must have these smugs on their faces like "Look at me". Too bad gas is so far down it costs me less than $20 to fill up my Matrix, so I could care less about their friendly Al Gore ways. Haven't they heard, Global Warming is a Myth. We are actually still on the tail end of the last ice age, how do these people know what the future temperature of Earth is supposed to be. It's called change, you know CHANGE! it's what you voted for. OK I got political for a second. But I am just tired of gas sippers either blocking my way driving way slow, or flying around making their purchase useless for fuel savings. Stay to the Right!

[northvibe]

I think we need to enforce the hwy law that you MUST stay in the right lane unless you are passing. Then I can just pass all of them with ease...Instead of dropping it into 3rd or 4th then weaving to get around said slow car. Its not just prius's its slow ppl. And limited a prius to 65 would be worthelss as they would still be in the left lane....

[ou.grizzly]

What was the posted speed limit?Right Lane is the slow lane. Left Lane is the fast lane/passing lane. No one is suppose to exceed the posted speed limit in the left/fast/passing lane. No one is suppose to go below the lowest recommended speed limit in the right /slow lane.

[northvibe]

Quote, originally posted by ou.grizzly »What was the posted speed limit?Right Lane is the slow lane. Left Lane is the fast lane/passing lane. No one is suppose to exceed the posted speed limit in the left/fast/passing lane. No one is suppose to go below the lowest recommended speed limit in the right /slow lane. How can you not go over the posted speed limit? "suppose" to no...but it happens...must be why I feel so naughty all the time.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »How can you not go over the posted speed limit? "suppose" to no...but it happens...must be why I feel so naughty all the time.If the max posted speed limit is 65 which the left lane is designated for, anything over that is ticket territory. The po-po see it as you can not go over it. If you do, then BAM!

[jimincalif]

Diesel BMW 5 series and M3 both beat Prius in MPG and performance: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/t...4.ece http://www.topgear.com/us/vide...rius/

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan » I swear the people driving them must have these smugs on their faces like "Look at me".Almost forgot:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLpx_yioYikFull Version: http://www.southparkzone.com/episode-vid-1002.htm

[Whelan]

Remind me to never go to where you live and drive. The speed limit on highways in CT are either 55 or 65 depending on population density. Closer to NYC you get then it comes to 55. Typical speed of the right lane in CT is anywhere between 70-80mph depending.Typical speed of the far right lane is 60-65, and the middle lane is 65-70 on any given day. I ask you to come to my state, or most New England states for that matter, and get in the far left lane and do the posted speed limit. You would be scared out of your mind from what would happen with people cutting around you very close or high beaming, or honking.Not to mention in CT we have a silent 10mph rule. You are safe up to 10mph over the posted. Yes I drive above that doing 70-80 in a 55 or 65, but that's why you take caution at areas where the 5-0 hang out. (rest stops, open side embankments, on ramps, etc.)I'm not raining on your "it's the law" rhetoric, but in real life nobody around here does the speed limit. It's actually not safe to. It just does everyone a favor to keep to the right unless passing. And if someone barrels up behind me doing 80-85 while I'm doin 70 at the moment. I will do one of two things:1) Move over to the right immediately so that the person coming up does not have to slow down, they should be able to continue on their speed with little interference. 2) Speed up and get over as soon as possible, no need to cause a jam and try to get that one extra car up.These people are not cops and should not act like them, it is what causes road rage. And to avoid it they could have easily moved right and solved the problem, instead of me having to get in the right lane and pass right potentially causing an even greater hazard since they won't move. Also, they never NEVER check mirrors. I constantly flip around to all my mirrors several times a minute. I swear some people don't even know what they are for, and by the time you get right up to them they finally realize you are passing and move over after I have already slowed down to 60 and now have to speed up again to my normal speed. And you wonder how traffic gets started.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »I ask you to come to my state, or most New England states for that matter, and get in the far left lane and do the posted speed limit. You would be scared out of your mind from what would happen with people cutting around you very close or high beaming, or honking.I'm not raining on your "it's the law" rhetoric, but in real life nobody around here does the speed limit. It's actually not safe to. What you are describing is known as road rage and is highly illegal + dangerous. No one should be be forced or scared into submission by aggressive behaviours. What a shame. Did I say anything about me following posted speeds? You are making assumptions.

[ehoff121]

He's talking about Connecticut I-95, I'm guessing.The posted limit is 55 mph (45 min.)The average speed in the center lane is 65. If you drive the limit in the right lane, you will get passed by 80% of traffic.

[Whelan]

No assumptions made about you, but about your area as it seemed that people obeyed the limits there as they do in places like Maryland and Virginia.Road rage is not flashing your high beams at a person to move over. If done properly it is a message for them to please move aside. As I said, sometimes people don't check their mirrors ever. a High beam flash done once is a polite way to get their attention that someone is behind them and wants to go buy. But if the right lane is clear and a flash does nothing to get the person to move over, they are just as guilty for causing whatever actions happen after as they could have simply moved aside.I do not scare or bully, if I am coming up on someone who is not moving over or at least putting the signal on I just move to the right and go by because I do not want to have to slow down and wait. You have your constant speed and I have mine.Also appropriate is a light honk, similar to what is done to people who do not pay attention at traffic lights. Again in moderation. I was also stating the scared factor because I know for sure if I did 55 on I-95 in CT for even a mile in the left lane, I would crap myself.As stated, the posted limits on 95 in CT are 55 and 45 minimum, however do the limit in any lane and you are now becoming a hazard. And technically speaking that is against the law too as you are an "obstruction to the flow of traffic." I've seen people get pulled over for driving to slow. And not just 95, the parkway as well, but at least there most times you can do some weaving to get around people who don't move. aka people from Mass. who for whatever reason refuse to get over. Now a Mass person with a Prius, that my friend is a double negative.And furthermore, last point for now. You speak of limits and laws, I am speaking of reality and what I do for driving.

[northvibe]

I know if i go over im in ticket territory, i take that risk though.. Have a decent radar detector and basic smarts to not speed in certain area's. Havent had a ticket yet.

[Whelan]

I think RD's are still illegal to have in CT. Although I do have a friend who has a Valentine One hardwired to the car. It's pretty slick. And by far the best unit I have seen.

[shemp]

I live in the same area as OU. I can tell you that if you are going the posted speed limit in the fast lane on some of the freeways around here you would have tracks up your backside. I-75, 696..... I share your frustration with fast-lane abusers (prius or not) who think it's their own personal leasure lane to cruise down at below posted speeds. Traffic would flow much smoother and more efficiently if people would use lanes appropriately. Unfortunately Police departments are financially motivated to issue large volumes of speeding tickets, instead of addressing other safety and traffic-flow issues.....That Southpark is the first thing that popped into my head when I read this post, though. That's one of my fav's.

[northvibe]

LOL south park yeah that was a good one.. I remember opening the closet once and having some gramps try and run me over.

[ou.grizzly]

Gotta enjoy South Park. An I do agree with you Shemp, if you drive the speed limit they are all 2 inches from your back bumper.

[ehoff121]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »I think RD's are still illegal to have in CT. The ban was repealed in 1998.They are pretty useless in CT though, since the State Police use the most current laser which can clock you before you see the trooper.---FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 25, 2008 STATE POLICE INTRODUCE NEW SPEED LASER DEVICESIn a continuing effort to reduce speeding on Connecticut roadways, the Connecticut State Police has added 89 speed laser devices to traffic units across the state.The new lasers employ the latest in speed laser technology and, during the testing of these new devices, they were found to acquire target vehicle speeds noticeably faster that the existing models. That feature will allow the State Police to increase operational efficiency and reduce the likelihood of drivers eluding detection through the use of laser detectors.State Police issued a total of 66,864 citations for speeding in 2007. During the first six months of 2008, State Police issued 37,615 speeding citations, 16 percent more than the same period for 2007. The total cost of the 89 new lasers is $167, 720; they were purchased using a State Department of Transportation highway safety federal grant. The lasers have been deployed to all patrol Troops and to the agency’s Traffic Services Unit. “The role of the State Police is to keep all Connecticut residents safe and reduce accidents, whether on the highways or in their homes. These new devices will allow our Troopers to use the latest technology to stop speeding drivers in their tracks,” noted Commissioner John A. Danaher III, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety.

[northvibe]

hmmm I think I just saw laser jammer sales go up

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »I think all Prius' should be speed limited to 65. Then they would never get in my way.You must be pretty important to be able impose restrictions on a vehicle's speed to your liking, it's gotta be nice having enough money to own your own road. LOL!Your idea is flawed though... What do you suppose will happen when you get out in the wide open spaces where the speed limits are higher? 65 certainly isn't the maximum speed limit in this country,

[Sublimewind]

I REALLY want to rant away here, but I can't, I see to much and don't have time to write the BOOK about all the ignorant crap I see day in and day out... I do wish I could drive a Mad Max styled car everyday, lets say..

[Whelan]

My proposal would go along the way of the Germans road rules. Where pedestrians need to watch where they are going when entering a roadway. They are encroachin on a road where cars go, pay attention.Then the whole stay right pass left. Where you ALWAYS stay right unless you are passing and if a vehicle comes behind you and you do not move over, you can get a ticket. You don't see many people in Germany flying around weaving in and out and passing on the right because the fines are ludicrous.Not to mention you have to be 18 to drive and a licesne costs something crazy like over $1,000 to get. After you complete a grueling driving course.It may not be my own road to own, but I can assure you that it does not belong to lazy lane goers either. If they wanna drive slow, take backroads.