I need a sanity check from the fediverse. After all, I'm a mere Illinois driver. I was just informed my dad and his friends have this deep pet peeve while driving that I have absolutely never been aware of or concerned by on safe roads in America.

Imagine you are driving on a multi-lane highway. Yes, I get the "right lane is the slow lane, left lane is the passing lane" thing. But imagine it's like pretty empty road, out in the country, and you're driving the speed you want to go in the right or middle lane.

Another car is along side you in the left lane. There's nobody behind them who wants to go faster. They just hang out at the same-ish speed as you. So you have a car kind of driving next to you.

This makes my dad deeply uncomfortable and he finds it incredibly rude. Fediverse, if the driver is doing nothing else objectionable, is it him, or me?

@hacks4pancakes

California native, my understanding is driving side by side is illegal because it creates unsafe conditions. the leftmost car needs to pass and leave safe room for all other drivers

let’s say, you’re driving in the right lane with someone to your left, and an obstacle/deer/pedestrian/other car comes up in the right lane, you have nowhere to go.

if you swerve left (as is likely your instinct) you slam into your center lane cohort.

@hacks4pancakes i get bugged by it because they’re not leaving space/safe distance between us