I am a bit of a leadfoot when driving to school in the morning, which means I’m often using the left lane. I have noticed an interesting (and frustrating) habit exhibited by some of the other drivers who use the left lane.
When the road is clear and it is possible to pass them, they go quite fast, and passing them is not necessary. When the road becomes crowded and there is no space for passing, those same drivers slow down. The difference in their speed can be up to 10 miles per hour. Are they slowing down because other cars scare them? There is still an open road in front of them. They could just pass on by. Instead, they slow down and keep pace with the cars in the middle lane, and there’s no way to get around them.
Most times, I decide not to increase my speed to pass the variable-speed drivers. Still, it’s a pretty good test of my patience in the mornings. I look at it as an opportunity for self-improvement. Unless I just decide to pass them.
No need to pass here. Also, a safer time to take a picture.
‘A bit of a lead foot’ – that’s cute. Like saying your cat has a bit of hairlessness.
I do not envy you that drive. Most of my Beltway memories have faded, and those were enough for a lifetime. Give me my four-minute commute where I never go over 35 mph anyday.
My morning commute is far shorter but no less frustrating for me. The locals up Route 7 seem to always get up fifteen minutes late for work and then drive like idiots on that residential road. Then there’s the Beltway itself – nuff said. I need time to calm myself when I hit school so I don’t bark at students because of soemthing a Baltimoron did to me on the way there. Grrr…
More honking!
Speeding. On your phone. Taking pictures while driving. Goodness! You’re almost as bad as me.
You are not a leadfoot. You drive 4 mph over the speed limit as all good and true Americans have the responsibility to do.
In rural areas these same left-lane-cruising morons drive in front of you on two-lane highways thusly: 52 mph in no-passing zones and 62 mph in passing zones.
We need more shame in this country!
My big question is: Why do they do it? Do they realize it, or is it some subconscious thing? They don’t want to be passed, but they also don’t want to drive fast? I’m confused by the behavior. I can’t come up with a rational explanation for it.
Usually when I experience a driving situation that frustrates me, I try to figure out what the other driver must be thinking. If it makes sense to me (even if I disagree with their reasoning), then I can calm down more easily.
As someone who probably does this, can I offer: We are not paying attention, and probably singing in the car.