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What you can do to combat slow left lane driving

BY Stephanie Klein  on September 18, 2012 @ 3:09 pm (Updated: 4:48 pm - 9/18/12 )

cedargrove
A Vancouver man is doing his part to move over slow left lane drivers, prompting some KIRO hosts to vent about the Washington state phenomenon.
Washington drivers are notorious for camping out in the left lane and cruising at the speed limit.

KING-5 reports a man in Vancouver is taking action with his "Revo Evom" decals. Drivers in front of him see "Move Over" in their rear-view mirror.

"This is something I'm passionate about; left lane drivers," Dori Monson said on KIRO Radio Tuesday.

He says the number one plank in his platform, if he ever runs for governor, is having a fleet of helicopters with giant magnets. They will swoop down and pick up slow drivers in the left lane. Then they'll drop them in the nearest large body of water.

Andrew, producer of the Ross and Burbank Show, says he has his own way of dealing with slow left lane drivers.

He says he does some weaving and hopes others will see a little red Scion driving in the right lane and passing in left, and that something will click in their minds 'Oh, the left lane is for passing, like that young gentleman is doing.'

He also recommends flashing your lights a little and then gesturing to the right with your thumb.

While Andrew believes most people on the West Coast are oblivious to the law and etiquette of the left lane, Dave Ross is convinced it's "mostly judgmental, obnoxious, anal know-it-alls that think it's their job to enforce the speed limit when it in fact is not."

Dave says his biggest issue is on I-90 when he's passing a long line of cars in the right lane. Problems arise if there is someone behind him in the left lane. If that person seems content, he'll pass the line of cars and then move over. If someone is on his tail, he just wants to get out of the way.

"I'm trying to be as non-annoying to others as possible while still getting home 30 seconds faster."

Stephanie Klein, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Stephanie joined the MyNorthwest.com team in February 2008. She has built the site into a two-time National Edward R. Murrow Award winner (Best Radio Website 2010, 2012).
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Comments (54)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    WOW - we can comment on a Dori Monson idea without being forced on to Facebook.
    September 18, 2012 4:52 pm
    So much for the helicopter super magnets Dori wants. But, that sign idea is something I've though would be good. EXCEPT too few of these speed limit policers actually look in their rear view mirror. .. Or, being there to purposely slow traffic, they just don't care. When the driver is anal retentive, nothing works.

    And. even though it's been the most common 'please' request in the world for the past 80 years, out good State patrol seems to think flashing your lights is aggressive. So, Andrew is out of luck.

    But, Dave - You drive a Prius, for Pete's sake. You should NEVER be allowed in the left lane, anyway.

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  • Kief Sloberman wrote...
    Decals or lights won't help
    September 18, 2012 4:57 pm
    elf absorbed liberal progressives don't use their mirrors, other than to admire themselves. They don't believe that anyone else has the right to be on the road while they are driving. King County is infested with these vermin.
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  • Snout wrote...
    And if only these people
    September 18, 2012 5:16 pm
    would use that toy train that they voted for so the rest of us could use and pay for it. It's dangerous to pass people on the right. But we are forced to by these vaginalantes who see it as their place to make sure I don't go 65 on the I-5. Go ahead, "hero." There's even a number you can call to rat out carpool cheaters that presumes you are a "hero." Wankers.
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  • Snout wrote...
    @ Ron
    September 18, 2012 5:43 pm
    Some of those bike peddlers do have that dentist's mirror thing on their helmets. Not that they use them. It's just a fashion thing like their tight Miguel Indurain body suits that shave a second or two off of their ride. Never mind that they add minutes to those of us driving roads that were meant for our vehicles.
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  • Drool wrote...
    The Left Lane Bandits....
    September 18, 2012 6:03 pm
    ...are usually SUVs and Caddies. Hardly lefty vehicles. I put a lot of freeway miles on my sport compact and despise those clowns. My car has HID lights which I have found are pretty good for getting the point across.
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  • MittensRomney wrote...
    The lanes should be set based on the income of the driver.
    September 18, 2012 6:17 pm
    Those making more than a million get thew left lane. 500K to one million the middle lane. The rest of you can ride a bike on the shoulder to make room for my porters and valets!
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  • seabee73 wrote...
    state poopers not doing THEIR job!
    September 18, 2012 7:07 pm
    the title says it all, if the state poopers and various sheriffs depts. did thier jobsof enforcing the slow left lane rules and keeping large trucks out of the far left lane instead of looking for borderline speeders and "agressive" driveers this issue would more than likely take care of itself~ Did anyonestop top think that the "agressive" drivers were just pissed off because some vulva/volvo or minivan would not move over or just go with traffic.
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  • soo purletiv wrote...
    ENFORCE THE LAW, YOU LOSER COPS!
    September 18, 2012 8:15 pm
    Those are precisely my feelings.

    If the patrols would actually enforce the "move right except to pass" or "slower traffic keep right" laws, there would be a lot less angrier drivers.

    Not only that, this would be another revenue generator for the state. First, they ticket the passive-aggressive losers who won't move over. Then, in time, as these passive-aggressive losers get the message and stay out of the passing lane, unless of course they are passing, the passing lane will be more open, and the cops can then ticket the guys going 20+ over the speed limit.

    With that, the state has more money to redistribute, the passive-aggressive losers are where they should be (in the far right lane), and the excessive speeders are paying to expand and maintain our roads. And, the rest of us can actually use the right lane to, uhhhh, pass the pokers!

    What is not to like about that?

    Enforce the DA*N law you loser cops!

    In a balanced way of course.....

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  • ronzilla wrote...
    AMEN! soo purletiv,
    September 19, 2012 12:00 am
    You took the words right outta my mouth.

    The SAD part is: I've watched the State Patrol losers camp in the left lane for more than 15 miles at a time, just like ALL THE OTHER RETARDS.

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  • 2112 wrote...
    seabee73
    September 18, 2012 8:10 pm
    Don't forget the self righteous Subaru drivers. They stare at you in the mirror as they hold 20 cars up behind them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • turp63 wrote...
    I don't know which are worse Subaru drivers or
    September 19, 2012 9:41 am
    MINIVANS
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  • 2112 wrote...
    Nothing against Subarus
    September 18, 2012 8:11 pm
    But they are the new official ride of the Teachers Union and environmental extremists.
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  • Hayduke wrote...
    Seattle drivers may not be the worst in the country, but they sure are the dumbest.
    September 18, 2012 8:16 pm
    As someone who grew up driving in the Northeast, Seattle drivers bug the crap out of me. I can't figure out if they're deliberately being passive aggressive, or if they're just clueless. In the NE, and many other parts of the country, if you're in the fast lane and someone comes up behind you, GTFOUTW! And if they flash their beams at you, GTFOUTW fast!

    And you know what, I'm a fast driver, but I never took offense at it. It's just part of driving back there. Everyone chooses their own pace, and doesn't deliberately camp in the fast lane to try to enforce the speed limit. All that does is enrage people, which leads to road rage, which of course has the opposite effect of what the self-appointed traffic cops out there are trying to do.

    On the other hand, here in Seattle, I don't flash my beams any more at the idiots in front of me. It's just not politically correct, I guess. In the past, I've had people take offense at it, and ride the brakes down to 20 MPH on I-5 with me right on their asss. These people are nuts, they're dangerous, and they don't deserve the privilege of a driver's license.

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