RaePhrasing: Adventures in Traffic: Part II

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Adventures in Traffic: Part II

Defining the fast lane…..

The fast lane is the far left lane next to the car pool lane. It is also known as the PASSING LANE. Some people mistake the fast lane for the car pool lane, but it is NOT the car pool lane. On a side note…. there is an informal understanding that you are supposed to be going faster in the carpool lane than the rest of traffic… otherwise it kinda defeats the purpose of carpooling.

FIVE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FAST LANE:

Your speed should be at least the flow of traffic or better (wow…I know… alarmingly obvious, yet…)
A driver should be able to PASS another driver using the fast lane.
To drive in the fast lane requires your full attention, a clear understanding of what is acceptable following distance in accordance to your speed, and a car that can handle it.
If someone in back of you wants to go faster than you –MOVE OVER. It means you are no longer going fast enough.
Tailgating slow drivers is a norm. If you drift into the fast lane and you are slow, expect it.

SIGNS THAT YOU DON'T BELONG IN THE FAST LANE:

Cars in the slow lane are zipping past you at the speed of sound.
The car in back of you is all up on your bumper in the worst way while flooding your car with glory of god-like neon day glow flashes.
You're on the phone.
Several cars cut you off from the right and stare you down as they do.
Your car rattles at 45 miles per hour.
Your flashers are on.
There is a map in your front seat.
You are not wearing a seat belt.
You think NASCAR is the Cajun way of saying "nice car"
You have no idea how you ended up in the fast lane.
You're driving a U-HAUL, RV, or towing something,
Your car veers left when you take your hand off the steering wheel.
You have an out of state license plate.
Your car's left blinker habitually gets stuck on stupid because your listening to the music too loud.