Oh, and my weapon of choice would be a pair of .50 caliber Browning machne guns, the likes of which were used on Supermarine Spitfires and P-51 mustangs. Mounted like in Bond's Aston DB5 in "Goldfinger"

-Sam

Lost cause for sure...

What I do is drive with my headlights on ALL THE TIME. Not high beams mind you, just low beams and maybe my fog lights. If I approach a left lane hanger, I approach from their left flank. If they don't see me coming, and I see no head motions that would indicate intelligent/attentive life residing in the subject vehicle, I simply wait for a safe opportunity, use my signal and blow by them on the right.

This ain't Germany, so lane discipline is non-existent. And for the record, in my 2k+ kilometers I drove recently on the autobahns of Germany, not once did I need to pass on the right, not once. Great drivers

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

I commute along a congested stretch of I-95 near Washington DC. All three lanes serve to move cars, so there's not much to speak of as a "passing" lane. I like to roll along with traffic in the left lane for most of the trip. First of all, its the "through" lane for most of my trip. Secondly, I have the left shoulder to escape to if the idiot(s) in front of me aren't watching traffic and have to stop suddenly.

This probably makes me a "left lane hugger". I think its the smartest place to be for the circumstances. I'm not holding anybody up - I'm rolling with the heavy traffic and there's cars in front of me.

I get a kick out of the prima donnas that think they have the right to flash their headlights and wobble in the lane behind me as if I should move over and let them by. They'll just do the same thing up the line. I'd have to find a slot to move over in heavy traffic, make a dangerous lane change, and figure out how to get back over in the left lane - just to let their candybutt gain 1/2 second.

So, here's what I do:

1) Wave as if they're a long lost friend.

2) Proceed with the brake light tapdance described above.

3) Slow down a bit to increase the safety zone in front of your car, proportional to how close they're tailgating. Remember, you're stopping for two now.

4) Make a slow, deliberate motion to flip the rearview mirror fully to the right.

5) Wire the backup lights to an auxiliary toggle switch. Throw the toggle switch a few times.

6) Diesel Fog-'em a few times.

7) Use specially modified windshield washers that are adjusted to spray over the top of the car.

8) I have secondhand knowledge of this solution: "Do you know what a .22 bullet will do to a radiator?"

9) Slow down a few times using the emergency brake.

10) Weave out onto the shoulder when you see a nice patch of gravel.

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If you don't hear from me in the future, I guess you'll know what happened to me.
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To give you an idea of how aggressive traffic is around here, just this morning there were heavy traffic-congestion conditions along with a military convoy headed up I-95 to the Pentagon. Approximately 50 military vehicles in a line in the right lane. Someone decided that they just had to take the exit right away to get off the interstate, and tried to cut in front of one of the convoy vehicles. (Maybe it was a 5-ton truck ) They missed. Closed down two lanes and stalled the convoy.

Might as well have been a terrorist attack.

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Ken300D

Folks,

Wow, this is quite a demonstration of pent up aggression. Driving is supposed to be a cooperative exercise. While I dislike those who block traffic as much as anyone, especially in the left or passing lane, note that a) passing someone recklessly is going to save you seconds or minutes at most to your destination, b) tail gating, flashing lights, sounding horns et cetera is an initial stage of road rage, c) if you drive faster than traffic you will encounter an obstacle again and again and again and again and again and again and again. This means that the problem is not them it is YOU. What do you gain but elevated blood pressure and anger on you part and on the part of folks that you attempt to harass into submitting to you so you can pass? d) passing on the right is inherently dangerous, even though just about everyone does it; and while not last, but perhaps most importantly remember that you are driving a MB. Most folks will get out of your way when it is convenient or safe from their perspective to do so. Show some class. Show some tolerance. Don’t drive as if you have less intelligence than those who you see as obstacles, even if they are jerks….

Be safe. A lot of people have a lot on their minds. Concern over aggressive behavior of others currently is high on all our lists, in case you haven’t noticed. There are those who will do what they do just to try to assert control over you. Think about it….

From Seattle, one of the most traffic congested cities anywhere…

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...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

I have completely given up trying to get these people out of the left lane. Its a no win cause!
I go buy them as fast as I can on the right lane, I say fast because if I don't go fast for some strange twisted reason they start to speed up. It is not enough that they are blocking the lane but when someone tries to go by on the right they speed up...what gives!
That tire saw on James Bond's DB7 in Goldfinger sure looks like something I could use.

Everytime someone actually moves out of the way (and its not often)...I give them a thumbs up! If you have a problem with tailgaters and flashing lights behind you while you are in that lane wouldn't it makes sense to let the so called ******* by instead of aggrevating them even more to the point where they aggresively do something stupid.......think about that!

Ok,whats going on here? We are not talking about heavy traffic. We are talking about the guy doing 55 to 60 in the left lane,pacing the guy in the right lane,and basicly holding up traffic.
I drive 75-80 when traffic flo permits and this guy is pi..ing everyone off!!
He Is Breaking The Law!!!! And causing accidents that he never see`s
John

The heavy traffic situation is different from the idiot who just sits in the left lane for no apparent reason.
Happened twice again today. I eventually passed on the left (emergency) lane. Unsafe, and stupid, but I have had it. Then, after I pass them, they move over to the middle lane !!
I have heard the excuse "I was doing the speed limit". That is great for you. Drive the limit or under if you want, but stay the hell out of the passing lane.
Then there are the ones that are passing, lets say a tractor trailer, and they are going maybe 1 mph faster then the truck. Aarrgghh !! They see the there is traffic building behind, but refuse to speed up. What are these people afraid of ??

I would love to be able to take the "scenic route" everywhere, but here, there is not practical way to do that most often. I will drive around the city to avoid traffic if I can.
I drive A LOT in the city everyday, and some of the things I see really make me wonder about people.
Had a guy today, who stopped for a yellowing light. That in itself I can understand. I was following at enough distance, and we were not going very fast. Then he decides to back up because HE HAD STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. This was a major intersection. He motion for me to back up too. Screw that, there was traffic behind me. If I back into something, guess who is in the wrong. So he just sat there. People tried to let him get through, but he wouldn't move. He just sat and ate from a bag of potato chips. Tractor trailers were having to avoid this clown. If only one of them had made the left turn just a little too short.....
Anyway, back on topic, I think maybe it is time to get the authorities involved in the left lane blocking problem. Maybe a patrol and awareness campaign. Ya, good luck, but I will try anyway.
They campaign for everything else (lights out, trucks in disrepair etc. which is good) and even speeding and seatbelts of all things. Maybe left lane blocking could be a part of it.
There has been some talk of banning trucks from the left lane on the freeways, but it seems there are to many bleeding hearts afraid of hurting someone's feelings or something.
Until then, I continue to rage.....

well put LaBenz! If you read my post on page 1 you would say "this is what I am talking about!" When I stop to really think about it, you are exactly right when you say this type of behavior is dangerous. Especially just to gain a few seconds and to save your self from cancelling the cruise.

My wife thinks I need medication for this type of fury. I am a very excited, tense and emotional person. I bounce my leg when I sit and I can't hold a glass of wine in fear I might shake all the wine out. I am easily irritated. I work with the public. I will probably be dead of heart failure by age 40.

I will remember what you said the next time I try that stunt!

Thanks!

The crazy one

__________________
Current stable......
17' Rogue SV 70k
11’ Saab 9-5 NG 94k
10’ e550 4matic 185k

sold
02' e320 210k
00' e430 167k
01' e320 171k (regret sale)
91' 300d 2.5t 300k (sold to ecoofidaho)
79' 240d 177k (old yellow my avatar)
87' 300d 169k (junk but fast)
85' 300tdt 261k (RBM parts delivery)
85' 300dt 68k (one owner cream puff)
82' 240d 250k
84' 300dt 198k (sold to diesel don)
91' 190e 2.3 61k
88' 260e 140k

One thing I`ve started doing is; when someone does move over I wave thank you. This is how we drove in the `70`s. It`s called courtesy !! Something that`s sadly lacking not only on the road but society in general. Hell we would even stop to let people in or out of aside street !!!
If someone move over, Wave thank you, it won`t hurt and you never know it might start a trend.

John

Huge problems down here in Texas: drivers are extremely RUDE RUDE RUDE, freeways can't handle traffic flow (ex. I-35 between Austin & Dallas), too many pickup trucks, SUV's (they own the road don't you know) and has anybody noticed how many more commercial trucks are on the road. I could go on all day about LLB's. When I come up on 2 cars drag racing at 55 I use the onramp lane. Seems safe to me; safer than me ramming them off the road.
Let's add to the list. What about lawn service guys who blow leaves and grass out in the street right as you're driving by, what about the huge dump truck/gravel hauler/cement truck dropping rocks/earth/wet cement all over the road or sandblasting your car as you try to get around them, the person who pulls out in the first lane as you're coming by in the second and you have to ram on you brakes b/c you have no idea how wide he'll swing out, places that water the street right after you've washed your car, red light runners (huge problem in Texas), toll booth runners (huge problem in Dallas), people who cut sideways across parking lots at 30-40 MPH and aren't even looking as they come flying out from behind parked cars, people who pull out in front of you and cut you off - and then they barely accelerate (If you cut me off at least get out of my way as fast as you can, Ahole!!!), I could go on...

Randy - perfect driver!!
'94 E500

I've always been curious to know why gravel trucks like to use the left lane, regardless of traffic conditions. Here in Colorado it seems to be the norm. In fact, I'm inclined to think that there may be an actual reason that gravel trucks use the left lane (I'm not being sarcastic, really), but I just can't figure out what it is. Perhaps they position themselves relative to the crosswind so that their debris will blow off the road instead of into traffic. Or maybe they really like causing traffic jams. I just don't know.

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Ben

The MBs:
1976 300D (W115) - 330K and still going (sort of)
1991 300D 2.5 Turbo - Sold at 221K
1983 280SEL - Sold at 206K
1981 300SD - Sold at 232K

Hey Randy.......I see you also have driven the roads in New Jersey, the arm pit of the Nation!

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Dale, R129
W202

Tracy,

I like what you said.

I am not one to do it all the time, but when traffic is free flowing, and you want to open the benz up a bit, see what it can do, get the adrenaline flowing, and satisfy that ever brewing need for speed, that slow guy in the lane ruins your fun.

Now I am not one to take any rage out on someone, but I take it out on the accellerator or I vent with my mouth in the car.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

Sorry, but I just HAD to breathe new life into this thread

Went out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday (Atlanta to Nashville) and enjoyed a 550-mile round trip. Traffic is ludicrous trying to get out of Atlanta on Wednesday evening, so I chose to get up at the crack of dawn on Thursday morning and drive up. Nobody on the roads....it was a very satisfying drive. Cruise control at 78 mph (limit is 70). No problems. No worries.

The drive home was another matter. The highways were clogged with people heading home from their family festivites (I left Saturday afternoon....Sunday would have been 10X worse). Most of the 'left laners' could be coaxed out of the way with one or two flashes. I didn't use the horn and I don't tailgate. It seems that most of them were just 'asleep' at the wheel and didn't know where they were :p . A flash or two was my gentle reminder and most moved over. However, there were some stubborn drivers as well. Minivans, Cadillacs and an occasional Suburban pulling a trailer....forget cruise control....never can travel more than a few miles without having to disengage it (and that's at only about 5-10mph over). I guess they just never bother to check their mirrors

I guess I have seen too many Bond movies.....I once thought I would install some 'no show' strobes in the headlight, turn signal and foglight areas, a horn from a fire engine and a few other stealthy items but then I imagine a discussion with a law enforcement officer about my 'toys' and I have not gone any further with the ideas.....but that DAMN left lane would be clear

Back in the bad old days of the "Convoy" most CB radios had a PA audio amp that would feed a seperate horn speaker, it was pretty easy to get your point across. Such personalised service might be handy in these situations. Laying on the horn is by far the most effetive, not a beep or a honk, but start and don't stop until the other fool is embarassed and ashamed to get out of the way no one likes the spotlight on their foolishness.

The damn near foolproof method is to drive a "Plain Jane" Crown Victoria with a couple of non-descript antenni and bumper mount push bars! They're pretty much jumping out of your way then!

You've got to wonder if the leading cause of Road Rage is Motoring Moronics, which came first stupidity or rudeness? Unfortunatly like so much in our daily existence driving towards/at the level of the lowest common denominator is the future for us all.