Chicago/Chicagoland folks:

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Jul 9, 2009 | 09:02 PM

FTE Herman

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Chicago/Chicagoland folks:

I ask with question not as a rant, but rather with curiosity and/or a need for understanding.

I live in Indiana, Lafayette to be specific. I work in Indianapolis a 62 mile trip one way all Interstate driving. Given the long drive I typically drive at elevated speeds. I often find vehicles with Illinois tags ‘parked’ in the left lane. This is true even if there is no or little other traffic to be found. Why is this? Is there something about driving in the Chicagoland area that predisposes you to remain in the left lane? Further, if I approach from behind, most (but not all) do not move to the right even if it is easily accessible. If I go to pass on the right, usually but not always, they will speed up 10-15 MPH and make the attempt more difficult. Also, once I’m ahead it will keep pace with me at speeds 10-20 MPH greater than they were going for the minutes I was patiently waiting for them to move to the right.

Again, not a rant, just trying to understand why you may not be inclined to move over when traffic is fast approaching from behind.

Jul 9, 2009 | 09:37 PM

mercman86

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From: Chicago Area, Illinois

I see this all the time, and that is why I stay out of the left lane. Its usually because there reading the paper, on a phone text messaging or fiddling with a gps or somthing. I travel mostly on 294 (which is under heavy construction) and tend to stay in the middle lane because you get those jerks that do 55 in the left lane and the jerks doing 75 in the right lane trying to get away from the jerks in the left lane. I try not to go any faster than 65 because of all the cops and of the construction. Just like you, my biggest pet peeve is when I try and pass someone, they just happen to speed up so i have to pass them at 80 mph. Like always, theres the person (like my grandma lol) that has the mindset of "The speed limit is 55 no matter what lane your in so ill do 55 and if others dont like it they can pass." Which not only ticks people off, but can get you killed. Thats why they have the signs that say "SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT!" but not everyone is paying attention. Im from the north side of chicago, the kennedy expressway was in my front yard so im used to travelling on the expressway, and i wonder where these people come from.

Jul 9, 2009 | 10:20 PM

Holiver31

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This kind of stuff drive's me insane. It's the a general rule of the road, if you are traveling slower get the hell out of the left lane. Then you have those a-holes like mentioned above, will speed up when you try to pass them. Here is a little rant I guess-I had one a-hole speed up when I tried to pass him, so I just let him go. Then when I tried to pass him again he cut me off. This time I floored it to get pass him. Me and him both got pulled over, the officer said I did nothing wrong and let me go since I was just trying to remove myself from the situation, the other guy lost his license for 1 month. hehe

Jul 9, 2009 | 10:32 PM

LMS Residential

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From: Chicago and Mt Carroll IL

welcome to my world. Driven everywhere in this country and Chicago drivers are, by far, the rudest, egocentric, self centered, distracted, unskilled and inattentive in the nation. Except me of course. It's gotten so bad I will not venture east of my home in the city unless I absolutely must and never at night. Way too many drunks. Just be as careful and defensive as you can when you have to drive here.

Jul 10, 2009 | 08:08 AM

ddrumman2004

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From: N. Mississippi

Try driving in Memphis TN sometime if you think Chicago is bad!

Jul 10, 2009 | 10:42 AM

hoosierbaby64

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From: Moonlight Moose Enclosure

Try driving in paoli Indiana. We have a town square which makes Chicago look like a walk in the park.
The two lane highway that runs right in front of motel (which also seperates motel from huge park/sports complex) has big rigs that come flying down the french lick hill doing 65-70 mph in a 45. We have seen it all from up here and yet the song remains the same.

I always like the people who see the excursion coming with a six horse BP trailer fully loaded and wait until you are right at their driveway or intersection and they pull right out in front of you or hit their brakes to turn and you have no choice but hit your brakes and send horses flying into a each other or their dividers. No it isn't that Im driving too close but they will pull in front and then brake.

Jul 10, 2009 | 12:29 PM

fordtruckman

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From: Kzoo

I feel like this is with every place you drive. I commute almost daily on i94 which is filled with so many semi trucks its ridiculous. So you have to go around them and there is always someone going 65-70 in the left lane. Its a pain.