While driving, one of
the following acts:
- When a light turns green (with no arrow), quickly making a left turn (or right turn where driving is on the left side) before
the first cars in the opposing traffic, which have the right-of-way, have a chance to go.
- Use of a lane
designated for a specific purpose, such as turning, to pass other stopped or slower cars.
You are "me-firsting" or "me firsting" if:
1.) You get a good jump just when the light turns green to make a left. This depends on the cars about to go the other way that you would otherwise have to wait for getting a slower start.
There is also a move called a
Pittsburgh left where the opposing driver allows the motorist to make the left turn as a courtesy.
2.) If there is a left-turn, right-turn, exit-only, or temporary merge lane, and you plan to go straight, but there are more cars going straight than turning, and
the special lane is clear, making use of
one of these lanes to pass and get ahead of other cars is called me-firsting. This could take place during a
traffic jam on a highway or when the light will not allow enough time for all the cars to proceed through on a single cycle, but will allow the "me-firster" to do so if able to pass.
The lane used as such to the motorist is called a me-firsting lane.
In any of the above examples, it is easier to "me-first" in front of or before a truck or an older car with a slower engine.
The laws vary in every place as to what is allowed, and what punishments can be when laws are broken.
