Which is the fastest lane in traffic

[TStoneMBD]

You're stuck in traffic on a 55mph 3 lane highway. All exits and merges are on the right side. Which side is the best?

[whiskeytown]

Minneapolis has shitty traffic - and there's one lesson I've learned

When you're in a spot where two lanes merge into one, stay in the lane that's going away for as long as possible til it merges - if you're in the one that doesn't merge away, you're in slowsville - RB

[SackUp]

there are not many 3 lane freeways in CA, but for 4 lane freeways it is statistically shown that the 2nd lane from the right is the fastest (next to the slow lane).

[The Yugoslavian]

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Minneapolis has shitty traffic - and there's one lesson I've learned


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You must not get out to SoCal much, [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img].

Since I moved here from my brief stint in MN I've been involved in several traffic fiascos that dwarfed anything I experienced in MN...and I don't even live in a very trafficky part of SoCal [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img].

Yugoslav

[TStoneMBD]

everyone here seems to think that the left is the fastest, but in truth i think the middle is. i think alot of people pull into the left lane from the middle lane thinking its the fastest causing more congestion in the left and less in the middle.

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

Is this during traffic or during normal 55-75 mph driving conditions. In traffic I don't think it matters what lane you're in as long as it's not the right one. In normal driving conditions, I don't see how you can claim the middle lane is the fastest (last I remember you live in CT [weren't you supposed to come party with us or something?] and I drive around NY, through CT, and to MA a lot). Whatever, it just always feels like I'm passing people in the middle on the left and I don't really drive more than 10 over the speed limit unless I can do it in the middle lane (I got pulled over for 90 in a 55 when I had had my license for less than 6 months, so I got used to not pushing it because any violation after that meant license suspension).

[TStoneMBD]

when i said traffic i meant like 10-15mph. i should have been more specific. and yah smileyeh invited me to a party but i was busy that weekend unfortunately.

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

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when i said traffic i meant like 10-15mph. i should have been more specific. and yah smileyeh invited me to a party but i was busy that weekend unfortunately.

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Ok, in that case, I can see what you're saying about the middle lane, yeah. I usually end up in the left lane anyway, but then the middle lane pulls an Office Space on me. Smiley explained the whole thing to me as a Nash equilibrium/game theory matter and that you should pick a lane and stick with it, because if everybody's doing it, nobody's getting ahead or something. I dunno...

[Stellastarr]

The best lane is the fastest lane. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Its always the far left in Atlanta, minus the HOV lane which is always the fastest.