Slowpokes Don’t Keep in Right Lanes, but Speeders Do

Dear Street Smart:

Why do so many drivers in Southern California refuse to keep right and allow the faster cars to pass?

I’ve been here for more than 20 years, originally from New England, and I’m convinced that part of the gridlock on our freeways is caused by drivers not using the lanes properly. In most states, there are laws forbidding cars from going too slow and not yielding to faster cars.

The problem here is twofold. First, the Department of Motor Vehicles and Caltrans should educate drivers by making it an important part of the driving test and by posting more signs designating the use of each lane.

Secondly, the California Highway Patrol should take an active role in enforcing this system. (I received a ticket in Massachusetts for driving too slow in the passing lane.)

Just as the CHP is quick to stop speeders, I feel that their involvement will help eliminate the constant weaving in and out of lanes and the absurdity of having to pass in the far right lane.

--Joseph A. Covino Laguna Beach While it certainly is illegal to impede traffic on California freeways, most of those passing in the far right lane probably are breaking the speed limit, according to Patricia Ryan, a CHP spokeswoman.

“Speeding is our No. 1 violation,” she said. “It’s a very big problem. Drivers are often speeding as they zoom around to the right side. They’ll go anywhere they can to get past traffic.”

That said, Ryan says that it is indeed a good idea to stay out of the way of faster traffic by pulling over to the right lane.

“Sometimes people feel that if they’re in the inside lane and going the speed limit that it’s OK to stay there,” Ryan said.

“For safety reasons, however, they should move over as far right as possible. Common sense and knowledge are basic rules of the road. Unfortunately, that’s not something we can always teach.”

As for more freeway signs, it won’t happen.

Caltrans spokeswoman Rose Orem said, “We try to limit the number of signs on the freeway so as not to confuse or distract motorists. If there are too many signs on the freeway, they’re not paying attention to traffic. It would just add to the clutter and cause more of a distraction.”

Dear Street Smart:

This question relates to highway safety rather than traffic problems, but certainly these two elements can rapidly become related.

In the interest of saving lives and reducing human suffering, why can’t the vehicle manufacturers around the country agree to place the hazard light switch in the same location in every one of their products?

Hazard switch placement varies depending on the make and model of a vehicle, and the average motorist is vague about the switch location because it is is never used unless an emergency is at hand. Precious seconds can be lost (often with tragic results) in attempting to locate this all-important safety aid.

There is much to be admired in the unique dashboard styling by various automobile manufacturers, but when it comes to the placement of the hazard switch, I vote for conformity.

--Don Patrick Leavey Huntington Beach The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has seen no evidence that varying placement of switches has contributed to traffic accidents, said Paul Snodgrass, a highway safety specialist with that agency.

Federal standards require that all emergency switches be “visible and accessible,” Snodgrass said.

“They are standardized within certain parameters, but the exact minutiae is not totally standardized,” he said. “We don’t want to get into the specifics of exactly how vehicles are built or look.”

The reason is to encourage innovation among auto manufacturers.

“A lot of innovation and safety development is done by the manufacturers themselves,” Snodgrass said. “You want innovation and competition; you don’t want a cookie-cutter car.”

His advice to drivers: “Read the operator’s manual to find out where your hazard switch is. Find out where it is, practice operating it a couple of times, and get out and walk around the car to see if the lights are blinking before you put it in gear. Now, you’re cool.”

Street Smart appears Mondays in The Times Orange County Edition. Readers are invited to submit comments and questions about traffic, commuting and what makes it difficult to get around in Orange County.