
Originally Posted by
Wikipedia, I know, it's a shitty reference
A driver hoping to pass a slow motorist in the "fast lane" is stuck in an awkward situation. One strategy is to signal a lane change toward the center median. Another is to flash headlights. A third, which sacrifices safety, is to drive very close to the "fast lane" driver's bumper (this is known as tailgating). In Germany it is common to signal a lane change toward the center of the road, as if there were another lane to the left of the "fast lane".
Most commonly, motorists will attempt to overtake the outer car on the inner lane either to continue at a fast pace or to pass a car that is simply going too slow in the passing lane. For high-capacity multilane freeways (three or more lanes per direction), many motorists often pass on the inner lane, largely in response to misuse of the "passing lane" by slower traffic.