From: jsb@ecl.psu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Signalling one's desire to pass
Date: 2 Oct 92 18:37:09 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Lab, Pennsylvania State University

In article <1992Oct2.063352.10523@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au>, kappa@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Glenn Capuano) writes:
> Kevin Quinn (kevinq@Ingres.COM) wrote:
>> In article <1992Oct1.163946.1@bronco.fnal.gov> colombo@bronco.fnal.gov writes:
>> >Anyway, the problem in the USA is that it's generally considered
>> >annoying by the driver being flashed.  
>> 
>> Just here?  You should see all the billboards in Germany pointing out the
>> annoyance and discourtesy of flashing high beams... *and* the trick of
>> turning on your left blinker, to give the hint to the guy in front.
> 
> 	I've been reading this thread with interest, please excuse my
> ignorance, in the US, is it not allowed or considered bad driving to
> pass on the right of a slower driver on a divided road? If not, why bother
> flashing lights or using a left blinker when you could just pass on the right?
> 	In Australia, it's both allowable and acceptable to pass on the
> left (the right lane being the "fast" lane), my VTA rules book just states
> that you have to be a bit more careful because you're in the other
> driver's blind spot for longer.
 
Passing on the right is a lot more dangerous. The potential for both
cars to move into the same space at once it much greater. This has
happened to me many times... it's why I hate passing on the right
so much. I know that flashing someone, or camping on their rear
bumper is rude, but it's DAMNED important that the person that you
wish to overtake is aware of what you are doing BEFORE you start
doing it. I'd rather be "rude" than dead. If someone is so easily
irratated by my signaling my desire to pass, that's their problem.
They might wish someone had flashed them if they accidently cause
a major crash and burn because they weren't watching their "blind-
spot" while dawdling in the passing lane.

In a recent incident,  I enter the beginning of an uphill passing
area of a 4 lane divided highway. There is (had been) a car in 
front that immediately takes to the left lane, even though there
are no other vehicles on her right side. I tried to play it cool,
and little by little, I close in, trying to make my presence, and
my intentions obvious. All of the sudden I see her car nose-dive
violently, and see puffs of tire smoke where this bitch decided
she was gonna spike here brakes. Obviously, she is completely brain-
dead to try a stunt like this, so I dispense with what I though was
a safe and logical procedure. I drop down two gears, mash the go
pedal, and pass on the right side... trailing along a large cloud
of blue tire smoke and a hiddeous squealing noise. Oh yea, I was
sure to wave with my middle finger as I passed.
Did she learn anything? I doubt it... she was to busy being an
arrogant bitch to even consider that SHE had been rude, and had
behaved VERY dangerously. It was clear that I needed to leave
the vicinity of this emotionally-unstable individual ASAP.

Hmmm... I don't know, should I go ahead and pass the arrogant assholes
on the right if I try to signal them that I'm approaching their blind-
side? Maybe these edgy SOB's would be a bit less irratated if I flashed
them from the right (slow) lane before I blow their doors off in that
very same lane.. There really SHOULD be very specific traffics laws
that clearly spell out proper passing lane usage, and heavy fines for
those who ignore them. I suspect than in Germany this isn't a problem,
because if you ignore protocol, you get a Porsche rammed up your ass
at 145mph.

Greg Granville
jsb@ecl.psu.edu
 
Xref: sparky rec.autos.driving:5797 rec.autos:23132