If this were any other forum, I would not comment solely based on me not wanting to vomit my frustration to other forum users. But as we are a community here on AF, I`ll be a bit more loving as I add my two cents:
Traffic moves like a fluid, Transportation Engineers have been modeling traffic flow off of Fluid Mechanics for quite sometime. Imagine water flowing down a river, across Roman aqueducts, or the water running through your pipes at home, road ways and traffic are based on the same principles. For this example and following common American roadway laws, the inside left lane will be called lane number one, the middle lane is lane number two, and the right hand lane is called lane number three, there are three lanes in this example, the directions will be north and south.
Common US highways and interstates are modeled with three lanes going in opposition to one another, for a total of six lanes, each direction is half of a pipe and the traffic is the fluid. In lane number three we have our boundary layer, the boundary layer is comprised of the slowest moving fluid relative to the direction of flow. As a fluid gets farther away from the boundary layer, the higher its velocity, and the more laminar (smoother) its flow. Merging on and off the highway is an accurate representation of the boundary layer, slower moving and susceptible to turbulence, traffic speeds ranging from just below the speed limit to the speed limit. As we move away from our boundary layer, our traffic flow in lane number two starts to get smoother and less turbulent, speeds range from the speed limit to a few mph above the speed limit and provide another boundary layer for the vehicles traveling in lane number one, the left lane. The left lane has the most laminar flow, traffic is designed to be the most free flowing in this lane, speeds range from the few mph above the speed limit to about 10-15mph above the speed limit, *remember that if you are doing 15 over in this lane, you`re the first car in line, and there is a line of vehicles behind you, you`re holding up the flow of traffic, move over and allow others to pass*. The left lane is also the designated passing lane, if you are doing 15 over and there is someone on your bumper behind you, sacrifice your speed and position to let them pass.
In regards to who is the bigger xxxxxxx, it`s the guy camping in the left lane. If there wasn`t anyone camping in the left lane, the guy who moved over two lanes to pass wouldn`t have done so. The left lane camper also engaged the passer to make a very dangerous maneuver to pass, when passing on the right a driver has to look over their right shoulder, through their car, and across lane number two and three of traffic, before they decide to pass, super dangerous but avoidable is the left lane camper wasn`t so ignorant.
In regards:
*Driver confidence plays many roles in traffic, I don`t mean be so negative but if one doesn`t feel safe driving on certain roadways, then avoid them.
*If one is waking up early to drive to work slowly and getting honked at in the process, they are an ever greater roadway hazard than the people speeding in the left lane, they need to get off the highway and take the side streets or service roads.
My highway driving approach, I like to model the German way of driving to the best of my ability in all given situations, always being alert, knowing how the lanes on highways are to be used, and always moving with the flow of traffic when possible. But if there is someone or more than someone in the left lane holding up the flow of traffic, I am not afraid to flash for pass or honk in order to make my way through.
Subjectively decent video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqfodY2Lz0
The funny thing is is that majority of US states teach some type of left lane curriculum in drivers ed, required by law. However, it seems like the vast majority of drivers forget the rules of the road in the state from which they passed their most recent driving test.
Rant Off.
