h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

General isn't a place, by the way. Well, at least not that I know of

Now I haven't had time to read ALL the previous postings on these topics, but I thought this was the perfect place to share a pet peeve and see if this is a known problem throughout the world, or just here in Oz.

Where there are two lanes of traffic or more heading in the same direction, there are some drivers who decide to claim the righteous stance and sit either on or below the speed limit in the right hand lane. There are specific signs which state "Keep left unless overtaking" which these "righteous" types must be unable to read or comprehend. These drivers are rarely going fast enough to be overtaking, which negates their need to be in the right lane. It's almost as if these drivers are saying, "Well, I'm doing the speed limit, so therefore no one SHOULD be overtaking me." By their actions however, they are actually forcing other drivers to break the law by getting so frustrated that they overtake on the left. This is a fineable offence in Australia. So is driving slowly in the right lane I might add, but what self respecting police officer is going to book someone for holding up traffic in the right lane in preference to booking the person who is at their wits end and decides to veer into the left lane to expedite the process of getting away from the righteous moron who can't read the signs.

And when there are three lanes (motorway) going in the one direction, there is a large proportion of the population that hog the middle lane. Now why is that? The signs often say, "Slow Vehicles use Left Lane". I'm thinking that people are a little sensitive to this terminology. "What? My car? A slow vehicle? No - my car has a lot of power and could indeed be a very fast vehicle, so I don't deserve the 'slow vehicle' title. However, I'm not quite comfortable with being a "really fast car" either, (which is of course what the far right lane must be, if by definition the furthest left lane is 'slow vehicles'). Therefore, I am a roughly average car, so I will sit in the middle lane.”

Mind you, if I had to choose between Mr Righteous-hog-the-right-lane-Driver and Mr Average-sit-in-the-middle-lane-Driver, Joe Average wins every time - so long as I've got access to the far right lane so I can be faster than average!!

It's a global phenomenom. It is caused by bad driving instructors, and bad drivers.

Driving instructors tend to teach you how to pass a driving test, instead of teaching you how to drive well. And after a little while, drivers forget whatever they might have learned apart from how to aim a car and work the gears anyway. All lessons about right of way, lane discipline and indicators, as well as stopping distances, if ever learned, are completely forgotten in the three months after passing a driving test by 99% of the population.

I am just glad I am one of the 1%

I don't know what all you people are complaining about! Come to South Africa and not only do you have to cope with the "standard" driving (which does not vary much from country to country by the sounds of it) - we have to put up with "TAXIS". These are not taxis like in other countries - they are mini microbuses. They are supposed to seat 14 (including the driver). In SA they manage to get about 20 - 25 on average into one these. They are generally not roadworthy - have smooth tyres, no working brake lights & indicators (except hazard lights) and bits and pieces fall off while they are driving along. The drivers get paid by the trip so the more trips they make in a day - the more money. They generally hurtle along at about 120kph in the right lane and when one of the passengers wants to get off they pull over in front of all traffic with their hazard lights on (please note that they don't move out of the road - they just stop). They then offload their passenger(s) (who is probably getting out of the back so all the passengers have to get out to let 1 person off and then all get back in again). They then take off again. Their aim is to see how many other cars can be scared off the road at any given time. They always have the right of way and the only time I have seen one of them back off is when a bus or large truck is slightly more aggressive. One good point thought - they do ensure that your attention is at all times on the road where they are!