Roadtards!

[enigmaT120]

Don't forget, I want this word to become part of common English speaking culture: people who retard the progress of traffic on our roads.

[Matt]

ok, who can we contact to add this to th dictionary?
thanks Ed.

[Chuey]

Good term, Ed. May I be so bold as to submit that it isn't only slow people in the fast lane but anybody who doesn't follow the rules? For instance, one could be on a highway almost stopped for hours due to someone who was tailgating and ran into the car in front of him. It is accidents of all types that interest others so much that the "looky loo" syndrome slows everybody so they can satisfy their curiosity.

Fast people in the slow lane are sometimes dangerous as well. Hopefully, you all just drive fast bikes in the fast lane but when I'm on four wheels, it's sometimes a slow four wheeler. I drive it in the slow lane where I belong and have had fast drivers make that a dangerous proposition for me. We hear about those who slow progress by driving slow in the fast lane and it affects and bugs me too. I'm pointing out how some other, less obvious behaviors muddy the waters as well.

Chuey

[enigmaT120]

All good points Chuey, except that I don't own a fast vehicle at all.

[Curt]

regarding slow and fast lanes--note that the USA government mandated legal passing in both (all) lanes of multiple lane (each direction) roads for a couple decades. So some of the 'tardness comes from established habits, and we might hope that this aspect declines with future generations. (No doubt that the general dumbing-down will continue.)

[lrz]

In one brief (20 mi) rural ride yesterday: 1 driver at 25mph in a 55 w/ a looooooooong line of traffic behind and no passing zones in sight; luckily I could turn off and re-route; 6 oncoming vehicles over the centerline w/ 2 waaaaaaaaay over- one of which was a commercial vehicle(tri-axle), 1 car tailgating(10 ft or so) me at 55mph speed limit, a few people stopping completely at yield signs or to turn off, and the few who didn't stop at a stop sign at all!!!

[dougie]

A friend in Germany put it very succinctly...
"Whether you have 2, 4, 6, or 10 lanes, they are all passing lanes except the right lane."
I've been there. It works.

[gspd]

1 car tailgating(10 ft or so) me at 55mph speed limit,

When that happens to me (on the bike) and for some reason I don't want to speed up (probability of speed trap ahead, low on fuel, engine knocking, etc), or if speeding up does not shake the guy off my tail, these tactics work 99.9% of the time:
1) An exaggerated simulated rear view mirror adjustment.
2) A few quick brake light flashes while swerving erratically or simulating a wobble.
3) An exorcist like head turn around to look at the guy following me for a second or two.
4) A middle finger salute
For the other 0.1% who just don't get it, I will use my indicator, squeeze right onto the shoulder and wave them by.

I think most people (soccer moms, etc) who tailgate are not doing so consciously aggressively, they're just daydreaming and not aware of how close they are.

I've been rear ended twice in my life, the most recent was 1980; Both times by ''friends' on their bikes.
(No, it wasn't Rob V and Veg).

Also, don't assume that when your speedo indicates 55, you are actually going 55.
You're probably not. You're probably going under 50.

BTW - I never got a ticket for going only 5-10mph over the limit.
Have any of you guys?

[The Veg]

A friend in Germany put it very succinctly...
"Whether you have 2, 4, 6, or 10 lanes, they are all passing lanes except the right lane."
I've been there. It works.

+1!!!!!!!!!!

[The Veg]

BTW - I never got a ticket for going only 5-10mph over the limit. Have any of you guys?

Yes, in TexSux. More than once.