Reality check.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 15
From: Columbia MD
Rule to live by: NEVER assume anything; always drive defensively. "Punching it" to get past cars in the left lane was your friend's first mistake. This ain't NASCAR folks. Unfortunately, we can't take anything for granted on the roads these days. Glad you friend is OK. 
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
I pass people on the right all of the time. There is no law that says you have to pass them on the left.
The left lane is a passing / emergency lane. Too many idiots who can't read english or pay attention to signs out there.
The left lane is a passing / emergency lane. Too many idiots who can't read english or pay attention to signs out there.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
Likes: 0
From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I do alot of traveling for work, and it can be on any of the major NJ roads. Usually, on Rte 80, I just stay in the right lane, and pass everyone, because I'm the only one in that lane. EVERY road has morons who will cut across two or three lanes to get into the left lane, and just vegetate behind the wheel, impeding the other traffic. The fault is with law enforcement for not ticketing drivers for failure to keep to the right, or impeding traffic. Both are offenses, but are never inforced. Another thing I notice is that drivers forget they have a gas pedal and a brake pedal. Why do people have to speed up , cut you off, and then make a right turn when no one is behind you? Step on the brake, slow down, and exit the road without endangering another driver. Those are the times I wish I had a 50 caliber machine gun mounted on the front of my truck.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield CT
"
this is common in most states, overtaking on the right is usually a citation. but rarely enforced unless an accident occured.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
I'm not talking about driving down the shoulder of the road. People pass all the time on the right hand side.
I like to see anywhere in the drivers manual that it says that you can't pass on the right in a multi-lane highway.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,501
Likes: 1
From: TAMPA BAY FL.
It must be a NY thing as 90% of the time there is some a-hole doing 50 mph in the left lane with no one in front, they have NY plates. Is this something NY'ers are taught? Drive in the left lane and pretend no one else is on the road and refuse to get over? I 100% agree it is these a-holes that cause the aggressive driving. I do not understand why cops do not ticket them. I think driving in the left lane doing 50 mph with no reason to be there is worse than doing 80 mph in the left lane. If they enforced the Stay Right Pass Left Law, maybe people would get a clue.
One afternoon coming home from the icons car show at stewart I had this 5 star female biotch gabbing on her cell phone just cruising in the left lane. She was right next to another car literally stopping the flow of traffic for people that had somewhere to go. When I finally got a hole I gave her all 6600 rpm as I passed, so whoever she was talking to sure the fvck wasn't hearing anything she had to say. Oh yeah, I gave her the 1 finger salute also. Judging by her look when I went by, She knew what she was doing, otherwise I would have been a little more forgiving.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 51
From: How the hell can I make it faster???
The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at a safe distance to the left thereof and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. If vehicles on the roadway are moving in two or more substantially continuous lines, the provisions of this paragraph and section 39:4-87 of this Title shall not be considered as prohibiting the vehicles in one line overtaking and passing the vehicles in another line either upon the right or left, nor shall those provisions be construed to prohibit drivers overtaking and passing upon the right another vehicle which is making or about to make a left turn
I agree with an earlier poster: Passing on the right is only asking for an accident. Conclusions can easily be drawn about those who attempt to justify passing in this manner.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
N.J.S. 39:4-85. Passing to left when overtaking; passing when in lines; signaling to pass; passing upon right
The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at a safe distance to the left thereof and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. If vehicles on the roadway are moving in two or more substantially continuous lines, the provisions of this paragraph and section 39:4-87 of this Title shall not be considered as prohibiting the vehicles in one line overtaking and passing the vehicles in another line either upon the right or left, nor shall those provisions be construed to prohibit drivers overtaking and passing upon the right another vehicle which is making or about to make a left turn
I agree with an earlier poster: Passing on the right is only asking for an accident. Conclusions can easily be drawn about those who attempt to justify passing in this manner.
The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at a safe distance to the left thereof and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. If vehicles on the roadway are moving in two or more substantially continuous lines, the provisions of this paragraph and section 39:4-87 of this Title shall not be considered as prohibiting the vehicles in one line overtaking and passing the vehicles in another line either upon the right or left, nor shall those provisions be construed to prohibit drivers overtaking and passing upon the right another vehicle which is making or about to make a left turn
I agree with an earlier poster: Passing on the right is only asking for an accident. Conclusions can easily be drawn about those who attempt to justify passing in this manner.
I would have slammed the guy who was wondering between the lines if it had been me as he was at fault for not having control of his car and staying his lane.
Don't ever drive up in Boston on 95 early in the morning as car are allowed to drive down the shoulder of the road.
The laws should be uniformed in every state, after all this is the United States of America.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
A friend of mine totaled his 08 over the weekend, he is fine (thank God these cars are well built). What happened to him could happen to anyone. He was enjoying a ride on the Taconic, there was a group of cars traveling in the left lane, he decided to pass them in the right lane so he punches it to clear the cars, when one of them decides to drift to the right, right in front of him. All he could do was to go right himself to avoid the car, he hit a bank and flipped the car several times. His car came to rest right side up (thank God), he unbuckeled and climbed out through the top (top was off). The seatbelt saved his life, otherwise he would have been thrown out of the car. He was brought to the hospital and was checked out, couple of scratches on his head, very lucky. He was given a ticket for speeding (no MPH though). Not preaching, just relaying a story. Be careful, you never know what that other person is going to do.
Your friend has just learned first hand why passing on the right is ILLEGAL.
Of course if other drivers could stay the hell out of the left lane (which is a PASSING lane and also not for people to set cruise control at the speed limit and talk on their cell phones in), this wouldn't be an issue...
I am very glad he is OK though. You can never be too careful.
