The passing lane...was it always?

[Colonel Green]

Now, I have noticed a trend. Old people. Old people are generally bad drivers anyway, but they (much more than any other age group) are always in the left lane, and they're always going very slow. So I have to wonder...

I've never noticed that. You're probably noticing a "trend" because you think it's a trend. Discounting the older drivers who can no longer drive, but continue to do so, older drivers are NOT bad drivers if you are even remotely neutral about it. Quite the contrary, and I'm sure the insurance companies would agree. They are the best, safest drivers on the road, unless they're health is deteriorated and they're too stubborn to give it up.
That said, people shouldn't hog the left lane if they're going to drive the speed limit +5mph. That's for highways. If you're driving on the circuit around any large metro area, all bets are off - because of the far worse, younger drivers who think they own the road. Whippersnappers. When was the last time you saw a old person weaving in and out of traffic at 80mph+ with a cellphone on one ear? Last time you saw an old person road raging? Tailgating? Disregarding weather conditions?
No, they got to be old for a reason after all. Many reasons, but one of them is from not driving as if it were the Indy 500 every day. Go around them.

I recall reading a study that indicated that, on a per kilometer basis, drivers over 75 were nearly as bad as drivers under 20. The difference? They drive far less often and far shorter distances.

I'll see if I can find it....

* This isn't the one I remembered, but still interesting. Older drivers more likely to be in multi-car accidents. 7x more likely to get hit while attempting a left turn.

 

[Trekker4747]

I'm sure I read somewhere, too, that older drivers are more responsible for minor accidents, fender benders and the like and teenagers, sure, are more responsible for major accidents.

But as I've said in another thread the difference between old drivers and young drivers is that young drivers will get better with time.

Young drivers with their deminishing mental and motor capacities, not so much.

 

[RoJoHen]

Now, I have noticed a trend. Old people. Old people are generally bad drivers anyway, but they (much more than any other age group) are always in the left lane, and they're always going very slow. So I have to wonder...

I've never noticed that. You're probably noticing a "trend" because you think it's a trend. Discounting the older drivers who can no longer drive, but continue to do so, older drivers are NOT bad drivers if you are even remotely neutral about it. Quite the contrary, and I'm sure the insurance companies would agree.

When I see a car doing something that it shouldn't be, I always look at the driver. They are either a) old people, b) really young people who probably just got their license, or c) people on their cell phones.

That said, people shouldn't hog the left lane if they're going to drive the speed limit +5mph. That's for highways.

The highway is what I was talking about.

If you're driving on the circuit around any large metro area, all bets are off - because of the far worse, younger drivers who think they own the road. Whippersnappers. When was the last time you saw a old person weaving in and out of traffic at 80mph+ with a cellphone on one ear? Last time you saw an old person road raging? Tailgating? Disregarding weather conditions?

I miss driving in downtown Chicago. It's all or nothing!

Go around them.

Well, I do, but as a result I end up breaking the law myself because (at least in Illinois) the right lane is not for passing. I've seen people get pulled over doing it.

 

[Kestra]

I miss driving in downtown Chicago. It's all or nothing!

I found myself resorting to Chicago driving techniques today, even though I'm not in the city anymore. Not a good thing! I miss many things about the city, but driving in it is not one of them.

 

[MANT!]

Man I can't WAIT till I'm 70..I'll get a HUGE freakin' car..get on Interstate 40..drive in the left lane at 45 MPH..with the left blinker on..heading towards Florida..bitchin about those punk-ass kids that pass me the whole way..end up in West Palm Beach..wear my pants up to my neck and complain about the government full-time...


It'll be GREAT!!

 

[Pegaritaville]

One of my biggest pet peeves- I think there should be a special place in Hell for people that drive slow in the left lane.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

In some states, (Texas for one, I believe) they will pull you over if you're "driving" in the left lane, rather than just using it for passing.

Not my part. Maybe they do that in the Panhandle.

 

[NCC1701]

One of my biggest pet peeves- I think there should be a special place in Hell for people that drive slow in the left lane.

Indeed, they should be right up there with child molesters and people who talk at the theatre.

 

[Surefire]

One of my biggest pet peeves- I think there should be a special place in Hell for people that drive slow in the left lane.

Indeed, hopefully next to the people that weave in and out of traffic, cut in at the last second, and believe that the rules only apply to everyone else.

Let the snails and impatient nutjobs spend eternity together.

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

I've been driving since 1962 and I can promise you that everything you guys have commented about existed back them. Blue-haired grannys in big old Buicks creeping down the fast lane and punk ass kids (I just might have been one) ripping in and out of traffic. The addition of cell phones is the only real change.

 

[RoJoHen]

^So does that mean that old people simply forget the rules of the road, or do they decide to piss people off on purpose because they're old and bitter?

 

[RJDiogenes]

They decide to piss people off, but they've forgotten why.

 

[ialfan]

It wasn't until a year or three ago I even heard the term "passing lane" for the first time so I doubt it was always such. Or maybe my parent's just don't care. They taught me only that it might be wise to drive in the right lane if you are going below the speed limit.