Two gripes after a 12 day road trip.

[Freelancer]

53. Counter-rant:

I drive a lot in the left lane in Illinois... at about 5 to 7 over, usually. Here's why:

1. The right lane will rip your car apart at 70 in Illinois.

2. People merging in act like idiots. They go 5 miles under the limit on the ramp just long enough that you're forced to change lanes left, or brake to avoid. Then they immediately goose it. Just speed up to the limit as you merge-in, people! It's just safer to stay out of the far right lane where there are a lot of on-ramps.

3. When the sign says "through traffic keep left," it doesn't also say "also go 15 miles over the speed limit to accommodate assholes." I would have noticed that. It wouldn't matter, anyway, the ones going 20 over would still be pissed.

4. Last time I checked, speeding tickets and camera fines didn't have a box reporting the prevailing lane speed at the time of the infraction. So, good luck arguing that.

I stay in the left lane when you come up behind me, flashing your lights like an idiot, because experience has taught that the very moment I go to change lanes, you'll zoom past on the right, holding up a middle finger. It's just safer, at that point, to let you indulge yourself and move on to your next exposition of grace.

One last point. The only way that a rear-ending would be found to be the fault of the driver in front would be if he/she freely admitted on record that their intent was to cause an accident. Touching the brake can only cause an accident if the driver behind is following too closely in the first place. So, any driver in front, in their right mind, would claim that they brushed the brake pedal inadvertently, or thought they saw something on the road and reacted out of reflex. Good luck proving another scenario. Having headlights flash in the rear view could also be found to be sufficient cause for the braking reflex. Something to consider.

End of counter-rant.

Happy motoring!