Driving: Lanes

• Use the correct one. The inside lane is for passing, or, if necessary, higher-speed traffic. Contrariwise, the outside lane is for slower traffic. If people are passing you on the outside, either increase your speed, or get over to the outside. In many states, it is in fact illegal to pass on the outside -- but in many of them, it is illegal to create a situation in which people have to. (Don't give me any "they don't have to exceed the speed limit" crap; that's not your problem unless you're a police officer. See also "Drive the same speed as the rest", under "Speed".) If you intend to make turn to the "inside" side, very soon, okay -- but don't get into the fast lane for several minutes if you don't intend to go fast!

• On the other claw, when approaching an intersection where people can turn onto your road, or an interchange on a highway, try to leave the slow lane clear for merging/leaving traffic. This isn't a high priority, but if you can safely get over by one lane, it is considerate to the people trying to get on the road and does not delay you. After you have passed that spot, if you are going too slowly to justify your current lane, you can get back over.

• But what about fast-lane exits and entrances? IMHO, any engineer who designs a road that way ought to be fired. Preferably from a large naval cannon. All I can suggest is, look what's there, and be careful.

• Look before you leap! When changing lanes, look over your shoulder (don't just use the mirrors!), to see if there's anyone already there, or coming up from behind. Yes, even if nobody should legally be there. Also look ahead, to see if there's already someone in that lane going slower than you want to go, or some other obstruction.

• Solid lane dividers are there for a reason! When the white lines between the lanes are solid, that usually means that changing lanes there would be unsafe for some reason. In particular, when the lanes are shifting, your movement is unpredictable enough already; you don't need to add to it by changing lanes, even with signals. Also, when you're at or approaching a red light, and the lines between the lanes are solid, you are generally expected to stay put. Changing lanes could cut significantly into the stopping distance that someone is counting on -- someone who might not even be in that lane yet. If nobody is coming up in that lane, and the next one is also clear, it might be safe, but.... (Credit for this item, at least re intersections, goes to Michelle Harvey.)