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 This tends to happen a lot during traffic. I would call it zombie traffic. The worst is when they drive side by side (which is very dangerous but also bad as you'll hold up any traffic trying to pass you).

If they are matching my speed it doesn't bother me - but when they are constantly varying in speed and weaving it drives me nuts! Like cruise control exists people! It's worth learning how to use and it saves you gas!

Space cushion was something I learned in driver's ed and didn't really care about until I was maybe 10 years into driving. It has saved me from slamming my brakes and making dangerous last minute maneuvers for the better half of my driving experience. It's when you drive consciously about the space you have between the cars all around you - in short an escape route.

I'm surprised your dad is more annoyed while maybe a woman would be afraid of someone trying to follow but I figure they usually do that because they feel like if they speed a cop is more likely to stop them but not both of you. Solidarity on the road!!