MuGen7Modulo

I want to hear points of view about which are the safest lane to drive on highway. Thanks.

bforbrian

iTrader: (11)

Interesting.... right most lane is obv one of the more dangerous ones because you have merging traffic..

middle most lane, you are surrounded by vehicles in both lanes so that's slightly dangerous as well...

passing lane (left most lane) is the fastest and has less movement and commotion... i'd say passing lane

Distorted Reality

In a multi-lane highway (e.g. three lanes in each direction) which lane
is the safest lane to travel in, statistically. The right lane is
slower, but suffers from merge issues, the left lane is fastest, but
suffers from 'impatient driver' issues, etc.

I can argue that the right lane is the least safe, as it
has merging, has more wear/tear, etc. I can also argue that it is
safest because it tends to proceed more or less at the speed limit,
has less aggressive drivers, is more often traveled, thus has less oil
buildup in the tire lanes, etc.

If it's 3 lanes, the answer is the center lane.

If it's 2 lanes, the answer is the left lane.

Here's why: in most US states, trucks (18-wheelers) are required to
travel in the right lane. So if it's 3 lanes, the middle lane has
less merging than the right, and less passing than the left. If it's
2 lanes, the left lane has passing, but far less merging and trucking,
which lead to blind spots and poor merging, the #1 cause for
non-alcohol related accidents on highways.


Hope that help's with your question.

Babnik

The shoulder.

smsTL

iTrader: (1)

I mostly drive either in left lane or middle lane depending on the mood. However, I like left lane better because the middle lane you have to look out for both sides.

MuGen7Modulo

ABP_04TL

iTrader: (2)

None!!
u tell me

nfnsquared

"Whatever damn lane I want to be in", according to my Dad. "I've paid my taxes, now go around me if you don't like it". I suggested that he change his thinking or invest in bullet proof glass. He's done neither, of course....

Bearcat94

Jay - I disagree with you on a point: On most 2 lane highway/freeway trucks are not restricted to a single lane; on most 3 (or more) lane highway trucks will often be restricted form being in the far left lane (or lanes in the case of 4 or more lanes).

On an *Urban* multi-lane highway/freeway, I'd recommend a center lane (*the* center lane if there are only 3) closest to the side that you'll need to merge to or exit from.

IOW - if you've got a right hand exit up ahead somwhere, a middle lane on the right half (assuming 4 or more lanes). Yes you have to watch both sides, but mostly your concern will be what is on the side you'll need to move to merge or exit at some point in the future.

The center is also a good hedge when you're in unfamiliar territory and are not sure of merging patterns or which side a particlular exit is on.

shooter

I'd vote for middle lane for sure ....

Elegant TYPE S

iTrader: (2)

I feel its the left lane. Has anyone felt that sometimes driving speed limit and in the right lane I feel like I have to perform more defensive maneuvers due to more ideots trying to hit me. But when I take the left lane and just hit the pedal, I Feel like I'm safer and don't perform as much maneuvers. Am I the only one that feels this ... slower you go more nonsense to deal with?

YeuEmMaiMai

most states have either a keep right unless passing law or a slower traffic keep right (implying keep right unless passing)

most traffic problems could be easily avoided by people using connon sense aka let people merge in, move over when possible from the left lane to let people pass, etc

Bearcat94

Keep right except to pass will never work/never happen in a scenario like the OP posted a picture of - far, far too much traffic to be effective.

Your other points are dead on - if people would just *pay attention* and show some basic consideratioin for other drivers, we'd *all* get where we're going faster and happier.

mso4

If you're driving at night through early morning (10p-5am), and especially during holidays and weekends, avoid the #1 lane. That's the lane next to the median divider. So on most freeways and interstates, that can be the fast lane, the carpool lane, or the passing lane.

The reason is drunk drivers and head on collisions. When a drunk accidentally gets into the freeway the WRONG way, they tend to stay on their RIGHT thinking that's the slow lane. But that means your LEFT. A few months ago I heard on the news that Nicole Richie got arrested for DUI. She was found driving 25 mi/hr in the carpool lane, on the WRONG side of the freeway. As a result, most head on collisions on freeways tend to be on that lane as well.

This is also the reason most CHP in CA rarely drive on the fast lane late at night. If they are, they're looking way ahead making sure no drunk is going to run into them.

Whenever I drive late at night, weekends, or anytime I think there are drunks on the road, I avoid lanes on the left or next to the divider. And I always look way ahead, especially on small roads where passing is allowed. I want to make sure no one just crossed he divider and is about to run into me. So on a multi lane freeways, I tend to stick to the middle and right lanes.

TeknoKing

In my book, the fastest lane is the safest one. The same reason why autobahn is successful. More experienced and confident drivers, drive fast. Inexperienced and nervous drivers stick to the right lanes, and the middle lanes, are people who like a leisurely drive.

Left Lane Baby! Now get da f out my way.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

cotmfk

I would say either the rightmost or leftmost lane. You have a shoulder lane to bail out on then. This definitely saved me at least once or twice in the past!

smsTL

iTrader: (1)

Agreed. Very useful when someone in front of you breaks really hard.

v6cord2k5

iTrader: (1)

I just avoid the rightmost 2 lanes because those are where construction truckers drive and drop rocks onto the road. I learned this the hard way... I was merging onto the freeway and between one of these trucks and me was a mercedes, he kicked a rock the size of a golf ball up and it hit my windshield dead center. Left a nice starburst the size of a dime on it, thankfully it hasn't spread.

In my case it's not safety that keeps me in the left lanes, but rock chips on my bumper. I also try to keep a 3-5 car following distance in medium traffic, larger as traffic decreases. I usually stay out of the fast lane if other lanes are running at 70mph.

Ken1997TL

In MOST states I'd say the left lane. In Oregon, the left lane is occupied by hipsters in their Priuses driving at 50 mph in a futile quest to save the world. (while they're on their way to buy more worthless plastic junk from other countries)

mcflyguy24

My Grandfather who is a retired insurance claims adjuster has always told me that the center lane statistically has less accidents. On two lane highways, I prefer the left due to people merging.

mrmako

This is the reason sane people want other people dead...... Taxes have nothing to do with driving law. Yes, it is actually a law that the left lane only be used for passing. If you go to your DMV, or online, your Dad could see that he could get a ticket for doing what he does. This slows traffic down and causes more accidents. Or accidental shootings.

3 lanes = middle

2 lanes = left, but make the effort to keep up with traffic in that lane.

mso4

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...tory?track=rss

Check out the story above, just happened today. On TV, I saw the Camry ended up on the left fast lane. Next to that lane is the Dodge. How ironic that it was an officer going to work at 5am that got killed this way. The guy in the Camry was probably drunk.

onebadna1nsx

This was scarry.... luckily i didn't hit traffic heading to school .I ran into traffic @ 10 trying to come home from Pomona at 9AM though. Traffic was a full stop on teh 210 comming back, and a fucker almost hit in an odyssey almost hit me. Freeway was a full stop except carpool lane, and the fucker barely swerved in time to avoid me. I swear these fuckfaces that don't watch the road should be shot. The 10 was closed until after 2pm from what I heard on the radio.
to the officer..

kneedragger87

Left lane was built for passing. This is why the Autobahn would NEVER work in America. Everyone has the idea that the left lane is the fast lane, it isn't, it's a passing lane.

Autobahn drivers are safer because they respect that lane. You get in it to pass, then you get the hell over. You never know who or what could come screaming by you or into you if you stay in the passing lane.

nbennettksu

iTrader: (2)

the emergency lane

zguy95135

the shoulder

chill_dog

+1

Moog-Type-S

Any lane that is the furthest away from asian women drivers wearing visors.

Rob L

I'd say the left lane since the middle you have people changing lanes from both sides around you and you have nowhere to go if something happens. The right lane blows because of the merging.

Now if you don't have to deal with on/off ramps then I'd say the right lane is the best since you don't have to worry about tailgating idiots behind you in the left who can't grasp that riding your ass will not make the huge line of cars in front move... it is incredible how so many people do not grasp reality of traffic and how tailgating does nothing but piss people off.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

I try to drive in the middle lane. Don't have to deal with people merging on the right and don't have to deal with people going very fast in the left.

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

+ 1 gazillion!

Especially ones in white Camrys or Corollas.

jvinhj240

i vote for middle lane. you will always have lane to escape.