I was cruising in the far right lane when a car came up on my tail. I went to merge into the center lane after I passed a car in same said center lane. As I changed lanes a car in the far left lane tried to change into the same center lane as me. In my quick moment of panick, I mashed the pedal because I didn't want to take the time to look behind me to the left or right first. Remember a car was about to pass me from the right side. As I did this I noticed the cop on the side and he promptly writes me a ticket. No excuses from me I merely accepted the ticket hoping in a display of sincerity he would maybe cut me a break. He didn't. So do I have any shot at arguing this in court or is the judge merely going to more than likely still hand me the ticket? I would do the defensive driving class but I wasn't sure if I decided to fight the ticket if it would then be applicable to the ticket if the judge would judge against me. In other words would I be wasting my time and court costs in fighting this ticket?
Generally, I believe car on the inside lane has right of way if both cars are trying to change into the same lane. What was the violation for? Speeding (due to mashing the pedal), reckless lane changing, or something else?
Honestly, if somebody is riding your tail in the right lane, let 'em rot. If they want to pass, that's what the lanes to the left are for. You shouldn't have moved in the first place. I think you've got to take this one. Sorry.
It's been 8 hours and Swoly-D hasn't showed up to brow-beat you for driving too fast yet? I hope he's okay.
j I was changing lanes into the center lane to allow the car behind me in the right lane to go buy. So I was in far right lane, changing into the center lane, waited to change into the center lane till I moved passed a car, and as I started my change a car in the far left lane tried to change lanes also. So in my mind I had a car more than likely starting his pass of me in the right lane, and a car I just passed in the center lane so hard braking from the center lane wasn't an option and I didn't have time to look back over to the right to see if that car actually started to pass me on the right side.
It was for speeding. I was clocked at the apex of my pass at 81. Even though my speed on the windshield never stated I went over 79, in a 65 zone. I didn't go all dukes of hazzard, but the cop just happened to be right there as I sped up.
I didn't have time to look back to the right and change lanes back to the right because of the car I thought might of started his pass of me. When I started my lane change into the center lane I had to first get pass a car that was driving in the center lane. So I didn't want to mash the brake either from the center lane. My reaction was that the smartest thing given the situation would be to clear everyone and finish the change. For all I knew I had a car that was initiating a pass on the right, a car I just passed in the center lane, and another car changing into my same lane from the right. All I wan't to know is if there is a good or no chance that a judge would listen to this and accept it as a reason for my speeding. That I was trying to avoid an accident.
Dude. For the 5th time. He came up behind me and I started a lane change into the center lane so he could go by.
I guess I don't understand why you didn't just let him change lanes in order to pass you, rather than you changing lanes to allow him to pass. Not sure how your story would sound positive in court.
It really wasnt a big deal to me. I wasnt bothered by him. He had recently merged from an on ramp so I didnt mind moving over. I dont see why some of you are so focused on the small informalities.
Interesting. I'm always curious what the thinking is behind driving behavior like this, so nice to get some insight. I'm going to try and remember it on the road, that most are probably well-intentioned guys like the OP who just never learned how to drive. Just be aware that at any moment, any one of these guys could have a thought like THIS going through their heads: OP, sorry you got a ticket. I know you don't understand, & it's not even completely your fault- our driving instruction/testing should be much more intensive & discriminating. Really it's the entire licensing system that failed you. Good luck in court!
This was absolutely the right move. I don't understand why you would think otherwise. I had a fraction of a second to respond as she was barreling into my center lane that I had pretty much already established with blinker, and she did not even use the blinker. I could see her face clearly and did notice that she didn't even look over before she started her lane change into the lane I had already started moving into. If I would of mashed the brakes, I ran the risk of creating an accident behind me because it would of caused me to have to break as hard as I could to avoid her from the right lane as I had about a quarter a car in front of her as she changed lanes. If I would of swerved to the right back into the lane I came from, I ran the risk of not knowing if the guy behind me was already initiating a pass to my right. Which would of cause me to possibly smash into his side. The only clear availability was straight in front of me. Which my car had more than enough power to clear in time before the lady hit me. So please educate me as to what you BELIEVE to correct maneuver was giving that set of circumstances is.
While his tone is very condescending and is very likely to cause his point to be lost, I think the actual point (and it is a valid one) is this: when driving 'defensively' (which is what all properly trained drivers SHOULD be doing), one should always *expect* the other drivers in the vicinity to do the worst possible thing at any given moment. This means, therefore, you placed yourself into a hazardous situation by not having situational awareness of either a) the 'lady' in the left lane who decided to enter the same lane you were attempting to enter, or b) the exact situation in the actual lane you were attempting to enter. In other words, while you say your instinct was to accelerate in that moment of uncertainty, it caused you to speed, and thus you received a ticket. Had you had proper situational awareness, you would have either not entered the lane at all, or you would have known for certain that the area to the rear in the center lane was safely clear, and could then instinctively brake instead of accelerating (which would NOT have led to a ticket). Personally, I don't think it's the end of the world - it's not like you were arrested for being a public menace - you just got a speeding ticket, we all do eventually. Just take defensive driving and enjoy your discount and dropped ticket. Win/win. As for your question, should you fight the ticket? No. Speeding is illegal, and your reasoning for doing so is not going to cause a judge to say, 'Oh, ok then, never mind, case dismissed.'
