Members
Forum
Staying Up to Speed
With all due respect to Ms. Kentfield (Members
Forum, January/February, page 10), she is incorrect
about lane usage on Arizona freeways. While
the speed limit is in fact the same, drivers
are not to be in the outside or “fast
lanes,” unless passing. That is the law
according to the Phoenix Police department.
It’s important to understand that one
can in fact be cited for impeding the flow
of traffic in the center or outside lane. The
speed the car behind you is traveling at the
time doesn't matter, even if it is excess of
the posted speed; the driver blocking the lane
needs to pull over and allow the vehicle to
pass. When Phoenix Police Officer and traffic
supervisor Terry Sills was on our radio show,
he said that the police want to, and will,
go after the speeders, but just because one
is driving the speed limit, it doesn't give
them the right to impede traffic.
Traffic would flow so much better if people didn’t
feel that they have the right to drive as slowly
as they’d like, stacking traffic up behind
them. Please just move over and allow others
to pass. If they’re speeding, they will
pay the price but it is just as dangerous to
make people weave in and out of traffic because
you think you have the right to “park” in
a lane.
B.Zervakos
No good can come from “left-lane
bandits” who feel it is their duty or right
to make others drive as slow as they do. Most
multiple-lane highways in America have signs
that read “slower traffic keep right” or “keep
right except to pass.” Common courtesy
says if you're driving in the left lane and someone
is close behind you, move to the right and allow
them to pass. I agree that speed laws need
to be enforced, but much “road rage” could
be avoided if people obeyed this rule. Perhaps
the police should spend equal time enforcing
it?
J.Hasti - Green Valley
We welcome comments from members.
Write to:
Members’ Forum Highroads
3144 N. 7th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85013
or e-mail highroads@arizona.aaa.com
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