Passing Lane -itis 

   Recently Lorraine and I drove from Redmond, Oregon, to Tacoma, Washington. From Redmond over the pass and until you are nearly down to Sandy, Oregon, the road is two lanes. One coming and one going. Lots of two lane roads are like that. 
    On this roughly 100-mile stretch of Highway 26, there are sections that climb in elevation, causing the truck traffic to slow down. To help alleviate this natural slowdown of traffic in these areas, the Oregon Department of Transportation has put in passing lanes. These lanes are much appreciated by all of us. 
    My problem with these passing lanes is not the lanes themselves but the people who use them. Or, I should say, some of the people who use them. My experience goes like this. I’m driving along at a reasonable speed. In front of me are several vehicles, and behind me there is more traffic. The speed limit is 55 miles per hour. (What else would it be, we’re in Oregon.) The car leading this string of travelers has a driver who for some reason is moving at a sedate 55 miles per hour. 
    Most everyone in that string of traffic is looking forward to the upcoming passing lane. When it arrives the leader of this pack, (remember our 55 MPH guy?) thinks that for some reason it’s become mandatory for him now to speed up to 70 miles per hour, which he does. Most of us following drivers pull over into the passing lane hoping to get around this consciousness leader, but some of the more faint-hearted, not feeling comfortable exceeding 70 miles per hour, hold their position for a while then slink back in line behind the leader. 
    Some of the following drivers who think they know what is to come, put their foot down and pass this guy if they can get around those who thought they wanted to pass, but find they don’t have the guts for it. Many of the following drivers, feeling that 70 miles per hour is excessive, keep their place in line and enjoy the new pace as set by the leader. 
    Soon the passing lane comes to an end and the leader settles back to his original 55 miles per hour. The people behind him, who still want to travel faster, are cursing themselves for not passing when they had the opportunity. The people who wanted to pass, but were unable to do so because of this huddlehunce’s actions are muttering threats that if carried out would probably involve some jail time.