this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2025
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What is it with people who stay in the middle lane whilst driving slow when there's nobody of the right lane which is were the driving code says they're suppose to be?
This depends on the country/state, the speed limit of the road, and possibly other local laws.
Broadly speaking, in the US on roads with speed limits at or above 55mph: the laws for many states require keeping right except to pass. [Generally] On roads under 55mph: there is no such rule but it's not uncommon for people to think there is, probably due to confusion with the 55+ law, or perhaps there's a different state or local law where they live.
99.9% of people don't look up differing traffic laws before driving through multiple states, which is why most differences are posted with road signage.
EDIT: An obvious exception to the speed limit rule are interstate highways where the speed limit will drop in urban areas but still require to keep right except to pass.
they're selfish and ignorant
Depending on the road, this might be reasonable.
The right lane is often used for exiting or merging, so being in the middle lane is safer and allows others to use the right lane for this purpose more easily.
Frequently switching between right and middle lane because of the occasional slower/merging car only increases the chances of a collision, because switching lanes is more complicated than staying in one lane.
Staying in one lane all throughout the drive reduces cognitive load for the driver. This means they're less distracted and can respond better to surprises or emergencies. (I'm assuming they're not distracted by something else like using their phone, that's a whole other topic)
In urban areas, the right lane is closer to parked cars, cyclists and pedestrians, making it inherently more dangerous to drive in.
So yeah, if the right lane is completely empty of cars and it's not an urban area, they should use it. Otherwise, middle lane is probably the best choice.
The middle lane is an overtaking lane just like any other lanes toward the middle of the roadway (reverse that for the handful of countries that drive on the other side of the road). Every country I've sat for a drivers test in has had that as a very basic concept and the single country I've actually seen it followed had the best damn driving experience (German's follow the rules and their roads are better for it).
I agree with you. The thing is, the overriding principle (and law) of driving is to be cautious. By my interpretation, all other laws can be bent if bending them is safer than strictly adhering to them. Hence my previous comment.
You thouched the core of the thing at the very end: basically how appropriate or not it is to ride in center lane when there's plenty of room in the rightmost lane depends on how frequent exits and entrances are in the stretch of road you're in as well as how those entrances and exits are setup (basically, how long is the merge lane), the speed you're going at and the risk due to things on the side of the road.
I don't think anybody is contesting not being on the right lane all the time in an avenue in the middle of a city where there are constant junctions with side streets.
That said your "cognitive load" theory is all about doing what's best for yourself and fuck everybody else - if somebody is needlessly on the center lane when there's plenty of room on the right lane and plenty of distance between entrances, then they're just needlesslesy forcing others to endanger themselves by going into an even more dangerous lane, and doing because they lazy and selfish (because having to pay attention maybe once every couple of minutes to entrances or overtaking isn't all that much cognitive load unless one is an actual moron in the scientific sense.
That's the same logic used by people who don't use direction indicators unless it's helpful for them personally.
The optimal level of selfishness so that the road is as safe as possible for everybody is quite a bit below "whatever is less of a hassle for me".
Thanks, I think we're mostly in agreement.
Regarding the selfishness thing: first, I should clarify that I only meant that part assuming the right lane would occasionally have obstacles (other cars). If it's totally free, there's no reason to leave it.
I'm talking about when the choice is either constantly zigzagging between middle and right, or staying in the middle. In that case I think staying in the middle reduces cognitive load both for yourself and for other drivers. Less lane switches on the road, less chaos. It's not as selfish as you make it out.
Also, each time you switch lanes you temporarily occupy both lanes at the same time, so if you zigzag you're taking up more of the road, which is arguably more selfish.
Comparing to people who don't indicate is not fair. They're just idiots, even selfishness can't explain it because they're making it more likely that they'll be in a crash. There is not a single sensible argument to not use turn signals.
On highways in town no such rule.
Why does the guys in the middle lane have to be driving slow? The speed limit is usually 65 on highways by me, and if the fella is doing 75, can he not stay in the middle lane? If he is not getting off for a time, 75 in the middle lane seems reasonable? He could be doing 80 and this scenario can still happen.
You'll have the guy in the truck come up behind you doing 90. Is the car really slow, at ten over the speed limit? Or is the car only slow once someone fast doing 90 shows up? Why must the barely rule abiding citizen, yeild to the blatant speeder?
The determining factor isn't speed, it's the availability of the right lane. If there aren't any vehicles to your right, that's where you belong.
I don't care if I'm doing 90, if there is no one slower than me that I'll catch up to in the next 20-30 seconds, I move right.
That's terrifying for any car that now has to merge onto a highway starting at 90mph
Why would they have to do that? If they're in front of me, I'll move left to pass. If they're behind me, they're already behind me. Have you never driven on a highway before? This is pretty standard stuff.
If you're speeding, you won't be likely to see them in time to move over.
If they merge in front of you and you were going 90 in the right lane because it was "empty", you are personally trying to recreate a train by merging your cars together.
Choosing to go as fast as you want in the most unpredictable lane is bad driving even if you consider it standard bad practice.
So, I suppose I'll have to move left, as I said. Or, if the left lane isn't available I guess I'll have to summon up the energy to lift my right foot a bit, accelerators can be in more than one position.
This is not a difficult concept. Allowing someone to merge is a perfectly normal thing. I don't understand how you don't understand this.
Reading your comments is like watching one of those commercials for some cheap gadget that "solves" a problem I can't believe exists. You know the ones, where some hapless dweeb is struggling and fumbling to complete some simple task then looks at the camera and says "If only there was an easier way!" You can't believe anyone would buy this thing, but then you think if people this stupid didn't exist, neither would these commercials.
I guess what I'm saying is, assuming you're not just being contrary or trying to justify your own shitty driving, if you really think simple highway tasks are this hard, then for your own sake, since you obviously don't give a shit about anyone else, stick with surface streets and stay off the highway.
I'm not gonna live your fantasy, nor legitimize it.
Your insistence that I don't see things your way when at the root level I disagree with it is not changing me. Nor your petty insistence that I am somehow incompetent for being safe and cautious about driving instead of... Self indulgent.
You share the highway with people that aren't you. Get used to it.
Are you hangry? Maybe you could boil an egg. You could go to your drawer(s) filled with single purpose gadgets and dust off that egg slicer you got for three easy payments of $9.99.
While the water boils and the egg cooks you can use that time to convince yourself that the slicer is a totally normal thing to have and not at all indicative of an inability to perform simple tasks that others take for granted.
That's assuming you don't have another gadget that allows you to avoid that Herculean task by cooking the egg in the microwave...yet. If you do have one, I'm sure you can find time think about it on your commute while you're oblivious to the chaos you're causing around you.
What on earth is up with you and this childish notion of comparing me to kitchen gadgets? You clearly have a problem with other people that is not mine to solve, even if it makes you seem cruel towards accessibility.
Its really weird.
Also still disagree with you and will it take driving advice from someone I am stating is clearly following bad driving habits.
I'm not comparing you to a kitchen gadget. I'm saying if you can't figure out how to merge, and allow others to merge, you may be exactly the kind of inept person single-purpose gadgets are made for because you obviously struggle with simple tasks, and apparently also reading comprehension.
No.
You are being rude because people are not moving out of your way to let you do whatever you want and have decided I am a stand in for for them because I am pointing it out, and rightfully so that we do not need to all agree with you.
Single purpose gadgets also have their purpose but you are off topic on that. You are just willfully ignorant of others existence as shown time and time again.
So, no. No to all of what you are saying.
Your reading comprehension is once again lacking. I clearly stated my willingness to move or reduce speed to allow others to merge. I never said anyone needs to move for me.
I fucking knew it.
No. You still recommended dangerous driving of going 90mph in the right lane. You are a danger to others.
And yeah people with disabilities tend to need them and your insistence that they are dumb shows your lack of compassion and comprehension of others existence like your driving.
I recommended no such thing. You really need to work on your reading skills. Maybe use some of the time you save with your totally useful and not at all ridiculous purchases.
No, you did.
You just have an inherent stubbornness that you are right no matter what and a rudeness to ignore your own statements and those of others.
Again I will not legitimize your fantasy.
How does someone with reading comprehension skills past 3rd grade or so construe me saying what I would do as a recommendation to drive 90?
No I do not have a third grade reading comprehension, despite your insistence on seeing me as dumber than you.
Don't recommend reckless behaviour.
3rd, 2nd, 1st, details, details. You could definitely use some grammer school textbooks if you read anything I wrote and thought I recommended driving 90.
Nope, still just disagreement on your false interpretation of the conversation and reality of what you said.
Here you go bud.
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."
No, it is clearly not and I dont think you set a great example with whatever you are.
Your joke is not funny.
I disagree. I've got a few coworkers here getting a good laugh out of it. And my wife and a coworker of hers.
Got it. This is the only way you can communicate with others and you don't get a lot of social activity in Your real life outside of your fantasy.
You are not correct, this and your choices are still childish. Hope you don't get in a forseeable car accident and live long enough to be frustrated by the childishness of others when you get older.
That's rich, someone that can't even comprehend three simple sentences talking about a lack of communication.
I'll let you have the last word because you must be eager to get back to what I'm sure is a lot of fulfilling social activity.
If you need any more activities maybe you could start a book club. I've already given you your first selection. I'm sure anyone that interacts with you by choice could benefit from it as well.
Traffic flows more smoothly when drivers keep to the right when possible, even if you're speeding a little bit.
I swear my drivers ed book said the right most lane is for entering/exiting the highway, middle lane is for cruising, and left lane for passing.
Y'all I cursed myself anyway, just drove the highway today, I don't have to take it often these days, and no less then three times was a fella in the left lane doing 60mph. I get the gripe, I don't understand the need to go 90. But that's me and kind of irrelevant unless theres a left exit to take.
I think there are as many drivers who should get some patience for others, as there are folks who need to move tf over. Both are dangerous to other drivers.
If that were true there should be only two lanes per direction, and no use to the third lane.
What BS. So everyone in right lane who goes slower then YOU. is the answer.
Everyone to the right, regardless of speed, unless actively passing is the answer.