Passing Etiquette

Me too

moot said:

Greenwald: Call me ignorant or maybe just practical but I struggle with the distinction between passing and overtaking a slower vehicle. Seems like the same thing to me.

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I don't get it either; but then I am not an attorney.

I do use one on a regular basis though...because I do SPEED. As long as speed limits are set at unrealistically low levels to accommodate the less-able drivers and vehicles, I will continue to proceed at what I determine as a "safe" speed.

I don't bitch and whine, I simply send the ticket to my attorney. No convictions; but lots of citations. The officers are usually just doing their jobs and I never give them grief. The give me the citation. I give it to my attorney. It is the "game". Not much has changed since people used hired guns in the old West. I hire the best "guns".

moot said:

Greenwald: Call me ignorant or maybe just practical but I struggle with the distinction between passing and overtaking a slower vehicle. Seems like the same thing to me.

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You don't sound ignorant to me - not at all.

Operating in the right lane on a multi-lane road (i.e. an interstate) has the fewest restrictions of any.

Your speed need not match the posted limit, slow operation (within reason) is tolerated by LEO's if the result of mechanical issues, poor visibility, trailering a fragile load, etc.

You have an almost exclusive 'right-of-way' - merging traffic has to yield to you (I know - in what Utopian interstate does that actually happen with regularity?!).

And if you come upon a vehicle next to you (the left lane), you do not have to "match" it's speed because it's in the "faster lane" - just procede at your determined pace and if you happen to go by it, no big deal (and no violation either - that motorist is more likely to gain the attention of a Trooper for 'impeding' the flow of traffic - and NO - that statute doesn't excuse going over the posted limit, the pipe dream of most motorcyclists!).

Sometimes the verbiage of a law can seem confusing to the everyday motorist. Case in point: in WI, any two vehicles operating side-by-side on a highway for "a unreasonable length of time" are deemed to be racing and can be cited.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your politics), our legal system is not run by robots but has a human factor integrated into it, via LEO's and the Judges that sit on benches.

While in my career, I've seen vehicles operate in tandem and could have stopped them for "racing," common sense always told me to wait and the matter cleared itself up forthwith.

Operate in the right lane without fear of being stopped for "passing."

Operate in the left lane well above the speed limit and you present the LEO with simple choices.

Most LEO's tolerate 5-7 MPH over a posted limit (unless revenue hounds!) to compensate for the poor quality (or in the case of motorcycles - intentionally degraded) accuracy of commercial speedometers.

Once into double figures, you're fair game for most.

When I was selected to hang out with 124 Motor Oficers from around the nation while we provided a full week of dignitary escorts and parade duty at H-D's 100th Anniversary in 2003, I got a chance to compare and contrast many styles of enforcement from around the country. Among those who were state troopers, they had a universal motto: "9 you're fine, 10 you're MINE." I try to remember that when touring.

The original poster simply was fishing for opinions on passing etiquette, and like most spirited discussions, this one has zigged and zagged like The Tail of the Dragon.

I hope he has gleaned enough useful info from all posts to make good decisions down the road.

Ride safe and often!

Greenwald said:

The original poster simply was fishing for opinions on passing etiquette, and like most spiritied discussions, this one has zigged and zagged like The Tail of the Dragon.

I hope he has gleaned enough useful info from all posts to make good decisions down the road.

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That's me...I have...but that was on the first or second page of posts!

I've been amazed at how things have "twisted" a bit since then...

20774 said:

That's me...I have...but that was on the first or second page of posts!

I've been amazed at how things have "twisted" a bit since then...

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Your OP is the type I regard as a "conversation starter." I think this is good and certainly have created a number of them myself. You not only get different opinions on the original question, you also get differing opinions on related (and sometimes not so related) topics.

From that smorgasbord of opinion you have a number of options. The best for me are to try to adopt the ideas that make sense for the basic way I ride but that I hadn't considered; question anything which really doesn't make sense to me; and realize that more skilled and/or bolder riders will do things that don't work for me.

We all take away from these discussions what we CAN take away - no need for a consensus of opinion.

Don't do 7 over (according to the radar ... I thought I was 6 over) on an empty I-80 at 8:00AM near Rawlins in Wyoming There is a young trooper there that will stop you and ask you why you were violating the laws of the state of Wyoming ... and WILL cite you.

I think it was a "red Corvette" ticket because the silver Japanese SUV that passed me a few miles earlier wasn't stopped. But, hey, he gave me a $10 "discount" for wearing my seatbelt.

Don't know what would have happened if I was on my RT.

Stan
Lake Tahoe