Illegal to go too slow in the left lane

[kami333]

So long as they are next to another car, blocking passage ...

I stand corrected, I forgot VA allows you to pass on the right on most highways.

2. On a highway with unobstructed pavement, not occupied by parked vehicles, of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles in each direction;

link

 

[WHAMPOM]

Yep. I was ticketed for that when I was there.

Of course, I was in the left lane because there were 15 cops on the right shoulder giving out tickets. So instead of driving in the right lane in potentially creating a dangerous situation as I passed all the cops walking between the cars, I just moved over. And then one of the dickheads pulled me over for driving in the left lane when I was not passing.

Thought that was standard practise to move to the far left lane "if possible" when passing cars on the shoulder.

edit: Our state has a law about blocking the left lane, either pass or drive in the right lane

 

[HeXen]

The laws in my state are quite clear. "Passing" is considered to be legal when you pass a vehicle going slower than the speed limit, yet you cannot exceed that limit to do so....i know i got pulled over and a warning for it before.
Left lane speed limit is still the limit regardless what everyone else does, at least for my state.
Would seem odd otherwise cause then there is no limit under certain conditions which would just make for loopholes and other issues and easier for people to fight tickets, but whatever. There really is no reason to ever be in such a hurry anyhow

I do have a solution however...LEAVE SOONER. Be an adult and exercise some patience too.

 

[Drako]

Drive right, pass left.

If only everybody followed this simple rule.

 

[zsdersw]

The laws in my state are quite clear. "Passing" is considered to be legal when you pass a vehicle going slower than the speed limit, yet you cannot exceed that limit to do so....i know i got pulled over and a warning for it before.
Left lane speed limit is still the limit regardless what everyone else does, at least for my state.
Would seem odd otherwise cause then there is no limit under certain conditions which would just make for loopholes and other issues and easier for people to fight tickets, but whatever. There really is no reason to ever be in such a hurry anyhow

I do have a solution however...LEAVE SOONER. Be an adult and exercise some patience too.

There's no need to have a reason. You can keep your solution, don't force it on me.

Speed limits are not about public safety, they're about revenue... which is piss-poor reason for them to exist, IMO. Some drivers are unsafe at the speed limit and others are very safe at 20mph over it.

The speed at which it is safe to drive comes down to conditions... the condition of the road, the weather, traffic load, proximity and likeliness of pedestrians, the condition of the vehicle, the driver's alertness/sobriety and driving skill, etc.

 

[Ketchup]

This is a proposal for Georgia only.

No suprise there. They already have the Super Speeder Law.

http://www.safespeedsgeorgia.org/

 

[Pohemi]

I tend to agree, except that American drivers are too stupid, and too many cars on American roads are pieces of shit. In Germany the Autobahn is a beautiful thing, but coming here driving on the highway was a scary experience until I got used to it again. Over there what he is proposing is pretty much just how it is, very, very, rarely will you see someone staying in the left lane, unless they are just hauling ass, and people almost always get out of the way, and back over to the right lane immediately. Here you have dipshits that sit in the left lane going 5 under the speed limit, and if you come up on them they stay there on purpose as if they are entitled to block up traffic. American drivers are shit.

Drive right, pass left.
If only everybody followed this simple rule.

My buddy was explaining this to me about the laws in Germany. Apparently they simply call it, "Pass on the left". If you're not passing someone else, get the @$#% back in the right lane. It's not necessarily the law in all states here, but it's common sense and driving courtesy that you learn in driver's ed. Unfortunately, a lot of people are too stupid to be considerate of other traffic when driving on the highway.

Speed limits are not about public safety, they're about revenue... which is piss-poor reason for them to exist, IMO.

If I'm not mistaken, speed limits didn't really exist here in the states until the mid to late 70s during the oil shortage crisis. The point of them was to conserve fuel, not make driving safer.

 

[zsdersw]

If I'm not mistaken, speed limits didn't really exist here in the states until the mid to late 70s during the oil shortage crisis. The point of them was to conserve fuel, not make driving safer.

Just as stupid of a reason.

Today they are about generating revenue for the state/city/county/town whose police issue the ticket.

 

[Matt1970]

Just about every state I have driven through had signs that say slower traffic keep right.

 

[Matt1970]

My buddy was explaining this to me about the laws in Germany. Apparently they simply call it, "Pass on the left". If you're not passing someone else, get the @$#% back in the right lane. It's not necessarily the law in all states here, but it's common sense and driving courtesy that you learn in driver's ed. Unfortunately, a lot of people are too stupid to be considerate of other traffic when driving on the highway.



If I'm not mistaken, speed limits didn't really exist here in the states until the mid to late 70s during the oil shortage crisis. The point of them was to conserve fuel, not make driving safer.

I think almost every state had a 70 speed limit and till Carter changed it.

The National Maximum Speed Law (NMSL) in the United States was a provision of the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act that prohibited speed limits higher than 55 miles per hour (89 km/h). It was drafted in response to oil price spikes and supply disruptions during the 1973 oil crisis.

While officials hoped gasoline consumption would fall by 2.2%, actual savings are estimated at between 0.5% and 1%.

The law was widely disregarded by motorists, and most states subversively opposed the law. Actions ranged from proposing deals for exemption to de-emphasizing speed limit enforcement. The NMSL was modified in 1987 and 1988 to allow up to 65 mph (105 km/h) limits on certain limited access, rural roads. Congress repealed the NMSL in 1995, fully returning speed limit setting authority to the states.

The law's safety benefit is disputed. Some research found that crashes increased and that partial repeal made for safer roads. Other research found a safety benefit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Maximum_Speed_Law

 

[cubby1223]

This same law exists here in Illinois, the left lane is for passing only, and I do wish police officers enforced it. I'd be surprised if anyone has ever gotten a ticket for it.

 

[spidey07]

We have the same law in kentucky, along with signs posted. Police have and do pull over folks in the left lane that are not passing.

Google finds the text of the law:
http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/KRS/189-00/340.pdf

(7) A vehicle shall not be driven in the left lane of any limited access highway of four (4) lanes or more with a posted speed limit of at least sixty-five (65) miles per hour, except in overtaking a slower vehicle, yielding to traffic coming onto such a highway, or when traffic conditions exist which would prohibit safe use of the right or center lanes.

 

[Newbian]

Just as stupid of a reason.

Today they are about generating revenue for the state/city/county/town whose police issue the ticket.

So let me guess you got a speeding ticket recently.

 

[brandonb]

lol that is hilarious, you got screwed if true.

It is true, luckily the fine is not the typical $300 crap you get for speeding tickets, etc. It's $40 or so in Colorado. So it could have been alot worse.

 

[piasabird]

What about trucks?

 

[Newbian]

What about trucks?

Trucks are vehicles also.

 

[HumblePie]

The law will make a difference if it becomes a revenue stream. Just make the fine penalties worth it. Start fining people high enough and often enough and people will learn.

 

[monovillage]

Drive right, pass left.

If only everybody followed this simple rule.

This!

 

[Midwayman]

IIRC there are only 3 states that do not have some variation of a "slower traffic keep right" law. Has to be one of the least enforced laws on the books though. If the law passes there will be an enforcement blitz for a month or two and then it'll drop off the big wigs radar once press dies down. Then back to business as usual.

 

[spidey07]

My state had a radio campaign about this not too long ago and it's been law for quite sometime. There's also one about tailgating and similar radio spots and traffic signs about the crack down.

 

[Engineer]

I don't have a problem getting out of the left lane and will generally speed up a little to get out of your way (unless you tailgate me and try to push me. I'll simply slow down and pull back in once the vehicle that I was passing is now in front of me).

Also, people don't seem to understand the law. Too many people think that ALL 4 lane highways have a "FAST" lane. I have had people try to push me (as well as flip me off) on a 4 lane highway in which I was getting ready to make a left turn off of.

All multiple lane highways are not created equal and there are just as many people who think that ALL left lanes are fast lanes as there are people who ride in the left lane when they should not be there.

 

[Fern]

-snip-
Sitting in the left lane going no faster (or worse, slower) than other vehicles is one of my biggest pet-peeves, but I don't think another law is going to make any difference; the police have too many other things to prioritize over stuff like this.

Yes, also a pet peeve of mine.

However, the law does work, and quite well in some states. When I took a trip out West I noticed in many of those states people do not drive in the left lane at all, except to pass. (Of course, out-state types might, but they'll get a ticket too.)

Fern

 

[Printer Bandit]

imagine the day when trackers will be installed in all cars:

-GPS so police will know where you're at
-track speed. so if you go over the limit, get an automatic ticket mailed to you.

 

[monovillage]

I recall that the ones that took place in 1987 and1988 had a lasting impression on south Ca. driving. Not sure if it's still the case.
http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/freeway-shootings

 

[I Saw OJ]

They need to make it legal to ram the slow pokes car when they are hogging the left lane.