Backcountry roads have rules of etiquette that most local drivers follow
My mom hails from coal country (Eastern Kentucky) but now lives in rural Ohio, about an hour north of Columbus. In either region, it’s mostly two-lane country roads. While most other motorists are polite about my “city” driving, occasionally, someone impatiently tails me. Without a clear way to move over or for them to pass, these scenarios can get pretty stressy. In searching for an answer on how to properly handle backcountry two-lane driving, I came across a new Reddit thread that another motorist with a similar sentiment started up. The responses are so thoughtful and balanced that they’re worth sharing here.
The OP asked what one should do if you’re driving the speed limit on a two-lane country road when a trail of cars builds up behind you. The most upvoted response seems logical:
“Around here it’s rare that the back roads have enough space to pull over, so I normally maintain my speed until a passing zone, then I will move as far to the shoulder of the road as I safely can and let off the throttle so that people can pass me easier.”
Most everyone commenting agreed.
Overall, rural drivers in the comments emphasized one thing: safety. One posited that politeness in moving over is one thing, but “good manners also means not putting yourself in unreasonable danger just to be nice to someone putting you in that danger.”
Remember, this is etiquette, not traffic law.
Heading to my mom’s house off Ohio State Route 61 during cold weather a couple of years ago, a driver in a sedan nosed up behind me. It was snowy weather. The limit was 55 mph. After anxiously wavering back and forth in the lane, they veered over and passed with “urgency.”
By the way, in Ohio, there isn’t a law requiring rules-abiding motorists to move over for tailing vehicles. However, it’s generally considered illegal to drive “too slowly.” So, unless you’re driving far under the speed limit and holding up the normal flow of traffic, if you can’t safely help the cars behind you go around, they’re supposed to just be patient.
Not but a few minutes later, there was that sedan again…crashed into the opposing lane’s ditch.
As difficult as it is to watch, let other drivers make their own choices on the road. Don’t match any risky vibes. Now, I can definitely understand local sentiment: An aggressive driver should execute their “style” away from you. Finding some small way to let them pass without issue can be a solid move, too.
