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Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for February 15, 2016
February 14, 2016
February 16, 2016
Transcript:
Rat: I don't mind Americans not being informed. But it is so hard to remember that if you like to drive at a responsible speed... Stay out of the @#$@#% left lane!! This has been a public service announcement.
Could have said almost the same thing to a couple of drivers this weekend. “Stay out of the middle lane!” You shouldn’t have folks in both the left and right lanes of a three lane highway passing you.
There’s no such thing as a fast lane, period. The speed limit is exactly the same for all lanes. Having said that, it is expected that slower drivers keep to the right, but if I’m doing the speed limit in the left lane and you’re doing 90, guess who gets the ticket? (Hint: not me)
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been in the left hand lane and someone comes up behind me seeming with the intent of smashing into my backside unless I move. That drives me nuts for two reason: one, I’m in the left hand lane because I’m passing cars in the right hand lane; and b) I’m exceeding the speed limit while doing so.
So to all inclined to complain about people like me, allow me to just say, “Sorry that my breaking the law isn’t enough for you.”
We have a certain subdivision locally that is inhabited by older(than me) folks of the Northern persuasion. They leave the development in the left lane because in 5 miles they are going to have to get into the far left to turn down the road to get to their doctor. They return in the left lane and drive 45mph because they need to get into the turn lane to get home. They, naturally have to run the late yellow because they are in a hurry to get which ever way they are headed.
We have left lane only exits. I love it, I will have some idiot on my tail as I am slowing down to exit. They are mad, in more ways than one. All of a sudden they realize it is an EXIT and try to get back on highway. Then there are the ones who cross 3 lanes right in front of you to take a right exit.
conn has the most drivers that stay in the left lane they do not know how to drive I learned that keep right except to pass they go 55 in a 65 and do not move idiots
When driving in metro areas near me, I stick to the middle lane, because the far right one often turns into an “exit only” lane, and the far left one is the one the idiots need who drive 30 mph over the speed limit so they can get to the next traffic jam ahead of us.
Not sure about the rest of the country, but in AZ the speed limit applies to ALL lanes, including the left one, It’s amazing what some drivers think they are allowed to do until they get ticketed for it.
“But I thought it was okay to go 10 miles over the limit in the fast lane”
slower traffic keep right doesn’t mean if you are doing the speed limit you don’t have to move. It means if another car is coming faster then you to move over.
Worst place is in SC between Spartanburg and the NC line. Anyplace can have a 62 mph trailer truck passing a 61 mph trailer truck, but in upstate SC they are both cars.
In Michigan, drivers apparently think that the speed limit is how fast cops are supposed to drive in order to pull over cars that are speeding by going 5 miles UNDER the speed limit.
Well I’m sorry that I had to move into the left lane to go around the Semi going slower than I was, only to find that the semi was the tail-end of a convoy.
I have a personal rule that I use when driving on the highway.Always make sure there is someone going faster that you.It’s nice to have a scout to discover where the police are.
Re the Georgia law that says no driving slow in the left lane; when northerners cross the border to FL, they pull into the passing lane and just mog along as if there weren’t 27 people behind ’em waiting to get going again !! Shamed to be a Ex New Yorker (WAY upstate, btw)
I drive the speed limit on the right lane and still get bullied by my fellow citizens to go faster (tailgaters, people angrily speeding past me). One road has a 30 MPH sign but universe forbid someone like me going 30 MPH instead of 40 like everyone else.
You shouldn’t complain about people driving too fast in the right lane until you can point to a 3 day run with nobody driving too slow in the left lane.can’t do it, can you?So speeders are playing the averages. Usually the slowest drivers migrate to the left lane, because usually they’re anal-retentive jerks who feel it’s their God-given Duty to personally control traffic speed. The middle lane is filled with “normal” people who drive a “normal” speed. And that just leaves the right lane for folks who want to drive faster.
P.S. Only in wonderful Chicagoland do we have genius engineers and politicians who have put exit-ramps on BOTH the right and the left sides of a major “expressway”!
According to the “announcement” the left lane should be reserved for those who want to drive at an irresponsible speed. No wonder most accidents occur there. Since it seems to be Rat’s favorite lane it’s probably best to spend as little time in it as possible at any speed.
I do! On a three lane highway, the far right lane is for entering and exiting traffic and slower vehicles. The middle lane is the travel lane. The far left lane is only supposed to be for passing – but you see people speeding in that lane all of the time.
BE THIS GUY about 9 years ago
Most of those drivers are from England.
LuvThemPluggers about 9 years ago
Not a problem where I live, there are no responsible drivers in So Cal.
Sherlock Watson about 9 years ago
The speech balloon in the first panel contains every politician’s personal motto.
knight1192a about 9 years ago
Could have said almost the same thing to a couple of drivers this weekend. “Stay out of the middle lane!” You shouldn’t have folks in both the left and right lanes of a three lane highway passing you.
blunebottle about 9 years ago
Same message, Canadians!
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member about 9 years ago
Rat may not mind, but I sure do. I mind very much.
ecowfer13 about 9 years ago
There’s no such thing as a fast lane, period. The speed limit is exactly the same for all lanes. Having said that, it is expected that slower drivers keep to the right, but if I’m doing the speed limit in the left lane and you’re doing 90, guess who gets the ticket? (Hint: not me)
alviebird about 9 years ago
Georgia recently made obstruction of the passing lane illegal.
scpandich about 9 years ago
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been in the left hand lane and someone comes up behind me seeming with the intent of smashing into my backside unless I move. That drives me nuts for two reason: one, I’m in the left hand lane because I’m passing cars in the right hand lane; and b) I’m exceeding the speed limit while doing so.
So to all inclined to complain about people like me, allow me to just say, “Sorry that my breaking the law isn’t enough for you.”
juicebruce about 9 years ago
And Rat did not have a bat in his paws this time !
Williamss about 9 years ago
Indiana now has a law that you’ll be ticketed from driving the speed limit in the left lane.
mjb515 about 9 years ago
Rat is probably that guy who flashes his high beams at you…while you are passing a semi.
Joken' about 9 years ago
Rat hates leftists
Carl Rennhack Premium Member about 9 years ago
Rat and “public service” do not belong in the same cartoon…make that the same country…make that the same PLANET!
whiteheron about 9 years ago
We have a certain subdivision locally that is inhabited by older(than me) folks of the Northern persuasion. They leave the development in the left lane because in 5 miles they are going to have to get into the far left to turn down the road to get to their doctor. They return in the left lane and drive 45mph because they need to get into the turn lane to get home. They, naturally have to run the late yellow because they are in a hurry to get which ever way they are headed.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member about 9 years ago
We have left lane only exits. I love it, I will have some idiot on my tail as I am slowing down to exit. They are mad, in more ways than one. All of a sudden they realize it is an EXIT and try to get back on highway. Then there are the ones who cross 3 lanes right in front of you to take a right exit.
yvantheterrible about 9 years ago
conn has the most drivers that stay in the left lane they do not know how to drive I learned that keep right except to pass they go 55 in a 65 and do not move idiots
legaleagle48 about 9 years ago
And THIS is why I take the bus!
Thomas Scott Roberts creator about 9 years ago
I’ve found that, when there are three lanes, the slowest drivers seem to hang in the center.
Max Starman Jones about 9 years ago
See today’s “Ziggy.”
Max Starman Jones about 9 years ago
When driving in metro areas near me, I stick to the middle lane, because the far right one often turns into an “exit only” lane, and the far left one is the one the idiots need who drive 30 mph over the speed limit so they can get to the next traffic jam ahead of us.
circleM about 9 years ago
OK but speeders need to stay out of the right lanes.
AZPhinFan about 9 years ago
Not sure about the rest of the country, but in AZ the speed limit applies to ALL lanes, including the left one, It’s amazing what some drivers think they are allowed to do until they get ticketed for it.
“But I thought it was okay to go 10 miles over the limit in the fast lane”
cgrantt57 Premium Member about 9 years ago
In New York, there are three lanes: speed limit, cruising speed, and bat out of hell.
Most people know to stay in the correct lane. If you don’t, you will get the New York salute, and it doesn’t mean you’re #1.
postal666 about 9 years ago
slower traffic keep right doesn’t mean if you are doing the speed limit you don’t have to move. It means if another car is coming faster then you to move over.
Alberta Oil about 9 years ago
What annoys me is those folk that drive slow.. then speed up when there is a passing lane.
jbmlaw01 about 9 years ago
Worst place is in SC between Spartanburg and the NC line. Anyplace can have a 62 mph trailer truck passing a 61 mph trailer truck, but in upstate SC they are both cars.
leeisme about 9 years ago
In Michigan, drivers apparently think that the speed limit is how fast cops are supposed to drive in order to pull over cars that are speeding by going 5 miles UNDER the speed limit.
falcon_370f about 9 years ago
Well I’m sorry that I had to move into the left lane to go around the Semi going slower than I was, only to find that the semi was the tail-end of a convoy.
nosirrom about 9 years ago
I have a personal rule that I use when driving on the highway.Always make sure there is someone going faster that you.It’s nice to have a scout to discover where the police are.
unca jim about 9 years ago
Re the Georgia law that says no driving slow in the left lane; when northerners cross the border to FL, they pull into the passing lane and just mog along as if there weren’t 27 people behind ’em waiting to get going again !! Shamed to be a Ex New Yorker (WAY upstate, btw)
Nicole ♫ ⊱✿ ◕‿◕✿⊰♫ Premium Member about 9 years ago
I drive the speed limit on the right lane and still get bullied by my fellow citizens to go faster (tailgaters, people angrily speeding past me). One road has a 30 MPH sign but universe forbid someone like me going 30 MPH instead of 40 like everyone else.
ifoster about 9 years ago
And, if you are slow on a two lane highway, don’t #$# speed up when your side gets a passing lane.
mattro65 about 9 years ago
It’s not difficult to understand why over 30,000 people a year die in this country in auto accidents that are due to driver error.
wilburgarrod about 9 years ago
YOU got it RAT
Stream of conscience about 9 years ago
Rat is right. Now about slow lanes..
Phatts about 9 years ago
You shouldn’t complain about people driving too fast in the right lane until you can point to a 3 day run with nobody driving too slow in the left lane.can’t do it, can you?So speeders are playing the averages. Usually the slowest drivers migrate to the left lane, because usually they’re anal-retentive jerks who feel it’s their God-given Duty to personally control traffic speed. The middle lane is filled with “normal” people who drive a “normal” speed. And that just leaves the right lane for folks who want to drive faster.
Sisyphos about 9 years ago
Rat’s hysteria has a bit of a flat ending….But, yeah, he’s right.Speaking for Cartoon-Boy today, Rat?
Sisyphos about 9 years ago
P.S. Only in wonderful Chicagoland do we have genius engineers and politicians who have put exit-ramps on BOTH the right and the left sides of a major “expressway”!
abbybookcase about 9 years ago
how fast does rat drive? vroom vroom
OldNewbie about 9 years ago
According to the “announcement” the left lane should be reserved for those who want to drive at an irresponsible speed. No wonder most accidents occur there. Since it seems to be Rat’s favorite lane it’s probably best to spend as little time in it as possible at any speed.
rgcviper about 9 years ago
Yup—this is one of my two main pet peeves while I’m driving … the other being people who choose not to use their turn signals. [Sigh]
Was just thinking about these two items today, too.
dukeallen about 9 years ago
If you insist on keeping it under 100 mph, stay out of my way!
IQTech61 almost 9 years ago
I do! On a three lane highway, the far right lane is for entering and exiting traffic and slower vehicles. The middle lane is the travel lane. The far left lane is only supposed to be for passing – but you see people speeding in that lane all of the time.
NeilCopeland almost 6 years ago
Where I live, you should stay IN the left lane.