Driving - Let me pass - Get out of the left lane!

Talk to your children when you drive. Explain to them what you're doing and why you're doing it. That way you'll be raising a courtesy, thoughtful, and responsible driver. (I guess I'm assuming if you're reading this you are one - if you're not keep reading maybe you will be.)

I drive A LOT! We spend about half our time 310 miles from where we actually live - this equates to lots of road time. One of the things that just drives me nuts is when people drive in the left lane. In most cases the left lane is reserved for passing. You may have noticed many signs along the freeway which read "Keep Right - Except to Pass." These signs are for everyone. They don't read "Keep Right unless you are going 5 miles over the Speed Limit," or "Keep Right unless you feel it's your job to control everybody else's speed then stay in the left lane and drive the speed limit," no, it's a very simple statement "Keep Right Except to Pass."

Why is this important? It's a simple safety issue - if everyone always passes on the left if makes the whole process safer. If you pass and then get back in the right lane it allows other people to pass you safely.

If you are one of those people who gets personally offended when you get passed on the highway, try to think about it this way "Sure buddy, go ahead and zip on by me, that way you'll be the one that gets the ticket." If that doesn't work for you seek mental help - nobody is trying to insult you or your vehicle by passing you on the highway, they're just in a bigger hurry than you are.

If you're one of those people who drives in the left lane and then when someone comes up quickly behind you, you think "I'm already going over the speed limit, that person behind me doesn't need to be going any faster than I am." Get the HECK out of the left lane - Unless you're a police or highway patrol officer speed control is'nt your job. You're actions are probably making the guy behind you mad, which in turn will make him/her a more aggressive and dangerous driver. That makes the road less safe for all of us!

Most importantly, talk with your kids about passing and why and when to do it. Let them know that they should use the left lane for passing only.