It is an issue - the left lane is for passing not to just sit there no matter what the speed limit is!

You can't pass if you're already going 65. So unless the driver in the 2nd lane is going less than 65, you're breaking the law.

If the driver is going less than 65 than they should be couteous, however there are no signs that state there is no passing on the right so you can go around them on either the right or the left side.

Again, not an issue. Stop breaking the law and do the speed limit.

I disagree. The right lane is for local (enter/exit) traffic and the slowest vehicles. The center lanes are for thru traffic. The real issue is people driving well above speed limits. Go with the flow.

I think the issue here is that we all need to share the road while being flexible and aware of what is going on around us at all times. If you are travelling slower than the rest of traffic in the left lane, you should move out of it, so that faster cars can get by. Your job is not to teach speeders a lesson; your job is to be a safe driver. If you insist on staying in the left lane at your current speed, drivers get mad and pass on the right to get by you. Drivers who insist on driving a steady 65 in the left lane hold up traffic and make it more dangerous for everyone. It's pretty obvious to anyone driving in rush hour that the speed in the left lane is well above 65--until we all come to a complete stop at Exit 8!

No, the real issue is regular citizens creating a moving road block on the highway. The middle lane is for cruising at speed, the right lane is enter and exit, and the left is for passing. Anyone who thinks that as long as they do the speed limit, they own the lane is out of thier mind. There is more to driving than just looking out the windshield. Maybe someone needs to pass in the left lane to allow traffic through from behind. And maybe, its none of your business where Im going or how fast I choose to get there. If I get a ticket, its on me. Not the pretend deputy dogs that patrol our roads. You know who you are, one hand on the wheel, the other on "send" to 911. Everybody wants to be a hero. Little do you realize that you and your ignorance is the root cause of road rage. Europe has less fatal accidents than USA simply because of the speed limits being higher, and the"courtesy" givin by other drivers to heed traffic. Fast or slow. And to say something like "well then go live there" just proves your spoon fed ignorance. You can speak your mind, but cannot hear that YOU may be the problem. For example, a NY State trooper was killed in NYC when attemtping to pass slow traffic that failed to yield for him.
The trooper lost control when the other driver pulled in front of him to "slow him down". The Trooper was in an unmarked vehicle, and the other driver said: "I thought it was just another idiot and I wasnt about to allow him through, I didnt know it was a cop". The officer, attempting an evasive manuever lost control and the rest is REALITY. There is a reason why the auto industry put that "Rear view" mirror in your car. Not just for backing over your kids and dog in your driveway. GET OUT OF THE WAY FOOL!! Now I'll sit back and watch all the responses from the soccer moms watching oprah, retire'es getting home from the doctors, and the usual spoon fed baby boys of the area as you explain your anger and ire. Saying Im the problem. I must be psychic.

I call these people "left lane laggards." If you must drive so slow, get in the right lane already!!

Same goes for the Thruway to NYC. If you're afraid of driving, get off the road, but stop hogging the left lane. And why are there only two lanes? Where does all the toll money go?????

I totally agree with this comment. I'm sorry I didn't write it

The comment made by Saratoga affluence

taxed out...I bet you control the speed in the passing lane don't you

State Troopers control the speed, I just drive and follow the laws of the road.

The right lane is not for enter/exit traffic until you come to an enter/exit ramp. Is it courteous to move aside to let the law breaker pass? If you're going less than the speed limit, yes. However each justifies their own actions.

The posted speed limit applies to all 3 lanes. If you choose to go faster, you're breaking the law. And that's not the fault of the person who is obeying the law.

taxed out..i have a feeling you purposely block "speeders". It is NOT your job to police the road. Just pull over and let people by. Why do you think there is road rage? Because people like you feel the need to be the boss of the road. How do you know why the person is going fast? They could be driving to Albany Medical Center to see their dying niece for the last time. How dare you decide how fast I go.

I don't police the roads, I drive the speed limit. Isn't that what you're supposed to do?

People like me feel the need to be the boss of the road? I think not. How about all those people who put my life in danger when they speed, talk on the cell phone, weave in and out of traffic, make erratic lane changes, etc. Those are the road ragers.

It doesn't matter why a person is driving more than the posted speed limit. I'm sure the State Troopers would get a real laugh when you get pulled over and tell them you can go faster than the posted limit because you're in the 2nd and 3rd lanes.

Also, speeding to see a dying niece as you so eliquently put it is still no excuse. You still have to do the speed limit... regardless!

Lastly, you can go as fast as you like. Just don't put anyone else in harms way. It's your license and your money and your time when you appear in front of the judge to explain to him why you feel it's ok to break the law.

Bottom line here... speed limit is 65 mph, you're "by law" not supposed to go faster. How in the world did you ever pass your road test?!

I still feel that YOU do not have the right to control the speed because you are doing what is "right". I'm just saying there are circumstances. You don't have the right to dictate how I spend my money if I get a ticket, so be it. I do not talk on the cell while driving. Who are you to say what and how I do anything. Enough said. Just mind your business and get over when someone wants to pass

It's not personal, it's the law.

As long as you all are so law-abiding, I hope you NEVER use your cell phone in the car without a headset, never dial while driving, and come to a COMPLETE stop at stop signs before turning right. If so, bravo! However, while you are doing everything safely and following all the rules of the road, please consider moving out of the left lane if a fast car comes up behind you. If you don't move, that driver is going to do a number of things that are unsafe for all of us, including you. This includes tailgating, braking lots (which causes the hearts of everyone behind him/her to go to their throats), pass you on the right only to cut you off as he/she pulls back into the left lane which will cause more braking and more mini heart attacks. And so on. That's great you believe in the speed limit, but get out of the way for those who like to push the limits. You are making the roads far less safe that that fearless speeder is!

Bravo ! I agree with everything you said Lisa. I never drive beyond 5 mph over the speed limit on the interstates including the Northway. However, I learned long ago that one drives on the right except to pass. No matter what your speed. If we all followed this simple rule, safety and traffic flow would be greatly increased. Thanks also for bringing up cell phone use and actually stopping at stop signs.

You people simply amaze me. I spoke to a State Trooper about this conversation and he couldn't believe what I was telling him. I'm sure he'll love to meet you on the road someday and hear it for himself.

Slower traffic move to the right, the right lane is NOT just for exit/entrance. The rules of the road are move to the right unless you are passing someone. The traffic on the Northway would flow so much better if people heeded this simple rule. Don't do it because of rules, do it because it makes sense!

Understandably the outlined situation does happen quite often and the goal of this post is to delineate unsafe behaviors. My concern is if we start posting rules of the road wouldn't the system become congested to the point of diminishing the more serious hazards?
Perhaps there is another avenue to voice concerns about unsafe driving and share safe practices?

I love driving in Europe. Drivers actually take driving seriously. German cars in Europe don't have cup holders. Why? Because the Engineers feel it is unsafe to have the distraction. Cell Phones, texting, unthinkable. Putting on make up or using an electric razor, blasphomy! How about the guy I see reading the news paper while driving on the northway . The accident rate is far lower in Germany than in the U.S. and the have sections of the autobahn with NO speed limit. The reason is simple. They look in the rear view mirror. If a car is approaching them , they move to right and let them pass, cheerfully. If the law is being broken, the Poleizei will handle it and handle it well. Our president wants us to me more like Europe. For once I can agree with him.

The right lane is not for entry/exit. If that were true, why would there be 10-miles of right-lane between exits?

65 is the posted speed limit. So that means if someone's driving 65 in the center lane and someone decides to go faster than 65, they have the right to that lane and the other driver needs to move over? Is that what you all are saying?

Come on already. The speed limit is 65 on all 3 lanes. It's only courtesy if someone is driving "less" than 65 in anything but the right hand lane. Other than that, they have all the right (no pun intended) to be in whatever lane they choose.

I thought this forum was intended for the purpose of bringing to the attention, those things that are overlooked by the DPW, County DPW or State DPW?

I didn't realize it was a forum for people to whine and complain about the driving habits of another.

Everyone driving the speed limit can drive in whatever lane they want. Anyone wanting to drive more than the posted speed limit need to exercise self-restraint.

This is from the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law website safeny.com.

Slow Moving Vehicles - If you are driving on a multi-lane road and find that many cars are passing you on the right, you should move into the right lane and allow traffic to pass you on the left.

Here's the law:
Any vehicle which is going slower than the normal speed of traffic must be driven in the right-hand lane or at the right hand side of the road, unless it is passing traffic moving in the same direction or preparing for a left turn.

Note that it says “the normal SPEED OF TRAFFIC” rather than the “speed limit.” To review the actual law, visit:
http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/drrt-vt.htm#1120b

Since I haven't re-read every post in this thread, I might be repeating the thoughts of others.
We all agree the speed limit on the north way is 65mph. Perhaps we can all agree that those drivers weaving in an out of traffic to exceed the speed limit is unsafe. Now, can we also see that those who block a steady flow of drivers exceeding the speed limit are contributing to problem. As a means of self preservation and concern for other drivers and passengers, it would be prudent not to block the faster traffic. Of course, if you think you must exasperate faster drivers, please do so at your own peril, not everyone else on the road, too. We pay police officers very good salaries to control unsafe driving. Let them handle it and stay out of the way.

Dear "Saratoga affluence"..... no you are not psychic, but you are sick, and it is a shame that the rest of us have to share the road with you. Then again, you were sick in elementary school when you bullied kids for their lunch money, sick in high school when you bullied freshmen for being "pansies", and sick now as an adult, bullying people with your car, a 3,000 lb. lethal machine in your childish hands. Soccer moms, retirees, and mama's boys are the problem, right? Look in the mirror, you overgrown bully, and you'll see the real problem on the road.

Safedriver... when they state the "Normal speed of traffic", it applies to traffic flowing at the posted rate of speed. It doesn't mean that if everyone wants to drive 100 mph, that is the normal speed of traffic so anyone driving the speed limit needs to move over.

Safe driver, please re-read my post. If you want to block traffic flow in the passing lanes, beware that you not only frustrate the faster driver you endanger yourself and, more importantly, the other vehicles around you. You can easily rationalize that danger is caused by the faster driver, but your technique contributes to the unsafe condition.

Please check your ego at the drivers door and move to right for faster traffic. Your life insurance agent will thank you.

The above post was intended for Justice, not safedriver. my apolegy for the typo.

rick, you're an [REMOVED BY ADMIN. REFRAIN FROM ANY PERSONAL ATTACKS]. You should hear yourself. It's ok to speed as long as those who aren't speeding get out of your way. And it's unsafe when those abiding by the law don't move out of your self-absorbed way.

Sounds to me like someone named rick needs to check his ego.

Slow your butt down and you won't have to worry about putting anyone in harms way. It's people like you that cause injury to innocent others who might be not be in such a hurry to get where they're going.

By the way, there are also laws against driving aggressively. You might want to pick up a drivers manual and review it again.

Normally, Mr. Justice, I wouldn't respond to such a childish attack, but yours is so wrong on so many levels, you leave me no choice. First of all, your clairvoyance of my driving habits is not accurate. If you see me on the northway, you'll see me in the right lane with the criuse control set at 65mph. I will move into the left lanes to pass slower traffic, then back to the right lane. If the traffic is beginning to conjest around me, I'll speed up to break out of the pack, then slow down to 65mph when not surrounded by tailgaters. As stated above, staying out of the way of faster, aggressive drivers is far safer than attempting to block them. You don't teach them anything, you just plss them off.

Justice, this is a forum for people to exchange ideas on making our community a better place. If you just want to name call and bully, please go back to the school yard.

This is stupid