Re:Why Sweden Has So Few Road Deaths
by WalterBright on Wednesday December 31, 2014 @02:21PM
(#8820677)
These exist on many highways in the US. However, if you're behind a slow driver waiting for the passing lane to open up, it's normal for the slow driver to gun it when the passing lane appears and race you to the end of it, then resume driving 15 mph below the speed limit.
Re:Why Sweden Has So Few Road Deaths
by duderific on Wednesday December 31, 2014 @03:51PM
(#8821018)
There must be some sort of psychology that kicks in when somebody tries to pass you, that more or less forces you to speed up. It's like, "oh, I didn't realize I was going slow until I saw you try to pass me...let me speed up a tad." This seems to happen in any passing situation, whether on a two lane road with a passing lane or an eight lane highway.
Example: http://goo.gl/maps/KI48d
One direction (eastbound in this example) has priority as dictated by road markings, and those traveling westbound can use the lane for passing if and only if it is safe to do so. The onus is on them to ensure a safe maneuver.
With a fairly high standard for the driving test in the UK this is totally normal and as far as I'm aware has a similar low rate of accidents to normal 2 lane traffic.