From: pisser@elecafe (Pisser)
Newsgroups: dfw.general
Subject: Re: Why do Dallas Drivers pass on the right?
Date: Tue, 06 Oct 92 23:51:58 CDT
Organization: Electric Cafe BBS - Denton, Texas

mcdonald@dallas.sil.org writes:

> Can anybody tell me why Dallas drivers seem to have an aversion to passing
> on the left?  I just don't understand why they would choose to pass on the
> right when the left lane is open.  If someone could enlighten me as to why
> I might not get so angry at them for violating such a basic highway
> courtesy.
> 

It's because Texans are just dumb.  I've found that in all the driving 
that I have done in this state, there has never been a place where they 
have really got a grip on driving.  In other States, you speed up to get 
on a highway, and slow down to exit.  HERE, they slow down before they 
get on the ramp (35 mph.!!) then, they don't speed up, but pull right out 
into the lane when they are still going 35...  THEN they speed up...  
I just don't understand... then when they exit off of the highway, they 
shoot all the way across the access road to the far right lane, not using 
their blinker, but just Whipping in front of any car that happens to be 
on the access road... Needless to say, all the Texans driving on the 
access roads come to a grinding halt where there isn't a stop sign, Look 
over their shoulder to see if anyone is coming onto the access road, then 
proceed... that is, unless some NORMAL drivers that are proceeding 
NORMALLY down the access road at 45 mph. end up in their front seat cause 
they couldn't slow down fast enough...  Get a grip!!!  People should exit 
the ramp and stay in the left hand lane until they can safely cross the 
lanes of traffic...  and the people coming up on the access road should 
stay in the far right hand lane until they can safely cross over to the 
left (if that is where they are going) so there is ABSOLUTELY NO reason 
that anyone should have to stop on an access road to avoid getting hit.  
I think the state should make people learn the proper way to enter and 
exit the highway system before they are allowed to get their licences... 
AND, the state should put solid White lines off of the exit ramp to keep 
the EXITERS in the left hand lane (at least for a 100 feet) so they don't 
cut way over to the far lanes...  They do this in MANY other states, and 
it is illegal (you get a ticket for it) to cut over like that in many 
states around the country.  If someone exited and cut over, and 
subsequently hit a car in the far right lane, The person who had exited 
and cut across would be the one to get a ticket...  It is his fault.  
BUT NOOOOO....  NOT IN TEXAS!!!

Also... while I am venting...  In my home state of New Jersey, where we 
learn to drive correctly (and learn to use adverbs), the insurance 
(Pronounced -  in SHUR' ance -  not  IN' shurnce) Companies and the 
police departments tell everyone who gets into an accident to leave their 
cars where they crashed until the police get there...  So the officer can 
tell who was at fault.  If you move your car, the police can not and will 
not give a ticket to the driver who was at fault.  BUT NOT HERE!!!  They 
have it so it is manditory that you move your car as soon as you get 
done having the accident... and you can get a ticket for leaving your car 
where it is... THIS IS TOTALLY STUPID!!!  I can see the point of the 
wreck being in the way of traffic, but WHO IS AT FAULT then...  The cop 
has to go on word of mouth... and if one person changes their story, then 
they can get off without getting a ticket!!!   GEEEZZZ...  What a sorry 
excuse for a law...  I say leave your cars where they are until the 
police can get there and form an "unbiased" conclusion as to who was at 
fault.  That way the inSURance companies can have something to go by.  
The Texas way, the inSURance companies don't have to pay if the person at 
fault changes their story.  I saw it happen to my roommate.  This person 
came out of a parking lot and nailed his fender.  She first was going to 
tell the truth, then she changed her story, and her inSURance company did 
not have to pay out the $300 claim.  Give me a break...  To a student 
that is a lot of money; to an inSURance company, it's change... 

What do you guys think???

Pisser  - letni!sdf!elecafe!pisser@seas.smu.edu   or...

ic49@vaxb.acs.unt.edu    or...
ic49@vm.acs.unt.edu

Pisser  (a.k.a.  David McGill)
Newsgroups: dfw.general