Left Lane Drivers Attack!
Summertime is when America hits the road, and — if you believe some people — it’s also when too many slow drivers clog the fast lane. Well, Mr. or Ms. Impatient, help is on the way.
Left Lane Drivers of America has taken the lead in this national aggravation, and it wants to keep slower drivers where they belong — on the right-hand side of the road.
“As traffic gets increasingly congested, it’s time for citizens to reclaim the left lane,” J.A. Tosti, a spokesman for the group, said in a press release. “It’s time for us to raise the awareness level and trumpet the message, ‘If you’re not a Left Lane Driver, get out of the left lane!’”
It seems to us that followers of the Left Lane Drivers mentality have usually — loudly — made their points before. We’ve heard the honking horns, seen the flashing lights and endured the fleeting hand gestures.
Tosti and his group offer another way: A backward-reading “Move Over” windshield decal (complete with an arrow that points to the right) that “gently prods” those slower drivers into, well, getting the hell out of the way when they see it in their rearview mirror. In his press release, Tosti educates users of the new decal on the finer point of winning over other drivers and influencing state troopers. “Although the sign minces no words, the idea here is not to be rude or pushy, but to offer slow drivers a gentle prod, reminding them of the need to either pick up the pace or make room for those who choose to drive a bit faster.”
While the site says the decal won’t mar your vision of the road, it doesn’t say (and we couldn’t reach Tosti for comment) whether it is for now a permanent decal; Tosti says his group is looking for a way to make a static cling version. If it’s permanent, you might want to avoid pulling up behind a state trooper.
Tosti points out that in many states (including our own beloved Illinois), there are laws limiting use of the left lane to those who are passing. Let’s not forget the important concepts of etiquette and safety, either, Tosti suggests. Whatever it takes to get you out of his lane.
