Who is in the wrong in these scenarios?
Hello, I am having a discussion with someone and we cannot seem to agree on who is more in the wrong, I would love some outside perspective. I've got 2 scenarios, both of which happen within the city and not out on a fast highway. (Visuals included)
Scenario 1:
Car A (Green), Car B (Red).
2 lanes, but turns to 3 after a hill and curve. Car A is in the right lane, going faster than the flow of traffic. Speed limit is 45mph, flow of traffic is going 44-45mph. Car A merges to the left, accelerates to 50-53, and is still planning on moving back to the right once finished passing. As Car A is passing traffic, Car B is coming up from behind, swerving in and out of lanes going faster than Car A at around 60mph. Car B comes up behind Car A while they are passing traffic to their right, and tailgates Car A until Car A has merged back to the right, at which point car B speeds back up, and the speed limit turns to 40, then 35 after a stoplight. Car A does not go slower than the rest of traffic at any point besides Car B.
•Is Car A impeding traffic?
•Does Car A or Car B have more "right of way" because they are going faster? (if that makes sense)
•Should Car A speed up even more past the speed limit solely for the purpose to let Car B pass sooner and then slow back down once they move back over, OR should they stay at the same speed they were already going while passing and continue that speed once they move back over and Car B passes as long as no one is in front of them?
Scenario 2:
Car A (Green), Car B (Yellow), Car C (Red)
3 lanes. Limit 35 mph. Traffic in right lane going at or around 35mph, traffic in center lane going 40mph, left lane completely free. Car A and Car B are passing traffic in the right lane using the center lane and are at correct or slightly less than optimal following distance and there are only 1 or 2 cars in front of Car A. Car C merges from right lane into center lane between Car A and Car B. Car C tailgates Car A and has to keep pressing brakes. Center lane is still passing traffic that is going in right lane. Car C does not merge into left lane to pass and continues to tailgate way too closely and have to ride their brakes.
•Is center lane/Car A impeding traffic?
•Should Car C move into left lane to pass?
•Do any of the cars that were in the center lane before Car C merged need to move if they are still passing traffic in the right lane?
Thank you for your participation.