what exactly is considered passing on the right? and has anyone ever gotten busted for it?

[BlahBlahYouToo]

if i'm originally in the far right lane and i drive faster then the guy in the middle lane, then change over to the middle lane in front of him, is that considered passing on the right?

if i'm the middle lane behind someone and i change to the right lane and drive past him but stay in the right lane, is that considered passing on the right?

will i get a ticket for the above situations?

 

[Crusty]

I would say

yes
yes
yes to your questions.

However, if the person you are passing is impeding traffic you'd have a damn good argument for a cop.

 

[slayer202]

I'd say no to those

 

[PingSpike]

Never heard of anyone getting a ticket for any of those, just like I've never heard of anyone getting a ticket for obstructing the left lane. So pass on the right. Plus, with 3 lanes I'd say the definition of "the right" is kind of murkey.

 

[Gothgar]

I dont think you can get a passing on the right ticket for passing in a middle lane of a 3 lane road IIRC

 

[Crono]

Never heard of anyone getting a ticket for this, either, and I see it done all the time.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

I've always imagined that it must mean passing someone using the shoulder instead of crossing into the on-coming lane to pass, in a situation where there is only 1 lane in each direction. That's just dangerous, obviously. I realize that it doesn't seem very realistic, but the scenarios you describe involving 2 or more lanes of traffic moving the same direction don't seem like they should be infractions.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Cerpin Taxt
I've always imagined that it must mean passing someone using the shoulder instead of crossing into the on-coming lane to pass, in a situation where there is only 1 lane in each direction. That's just dangerous, obviously. I realize that it doesn't seem very realistic, but the scenarios you describe involving 2 or more lanes of traffic moving the same direction don't seem like they should be infractions.

That's what I thought it meant, as well.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Passing on the right is generally called "undertaking", and it is frowned upon, but I think whether you get a ticket or not depends on where you live. I know around here, people pass in the right lane all the time because of morons in the left lane putting around at 10 MPH below the speed limit (which is against the law and they should be ticketed).

:|

 

[spidey07]

Passing on the right means exactly what it says - you pass somebody on the right. Yes, it's illegal in most states. You passed on the right and deserve a ticket or at least a warning in both scenarios.

 

[meltdown75]

if i'm on the expressway and someone is driving slow in the left lane, i sometimes pass them on the right.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Plus, with 3 lanes I'd say the definition of "the right" is kind of murkey.

The problem with passing on the right only really exists if there are 3 or more lanes.

In two lanes, there is almost no safety issue. Everyone in both lanes knows what is happening (assuming they pay attention). Also think about it. If someone stopped in the fast lane of a 2-lane road, then making passing on the right illegal will completely stop traffic on that road. You must allow passing on the right in this situation. For this reason, most rural states (with few 3+ lane roads) allow passing on the right.

In three lanes, passing on the right can be quite dangerous. Suppose there are 3 cars in the middle lane. The car in front is going really slow. The cars behind it decide to both pass. One goes left and one goes right. They both accelerate, they both are in each others blind spot (and blocked by the slow car in the middle lane so it is impossible to see the other passer), they both try to merge back into the middle lane. Crash!

Once you get to roads with 3 lanes, passing on the right lane can lead to serious crashes and injuries. The reason is that they can't see people in the fast lane when they merge back into the middle lane. Many populated states with many 3+ lane roads don't allow passing on the right.

 

[spidey07]

Dullard, the reason why passing on the right is so dangerous is you should not do it as you PASS ON THE LEFT. It matters not how many lanes there are. How many merge lanes do you see from the left? There out there and they are always dangerous and throw drivers off. Passing on the right just isn't natural and it's dangerous.

 

[Jeeebus]

Passing on the right is illegal and you can get a ticket for it. Thus, if there is someone moving too slow in the left lane, I usually just pull a pit maneuver and calmly chuckle to myself at the twisted metal as I proceed to legally pass in the left lane.

 

[Cogman]

Passing on the right is exactly what it sounds like. You pass someone in a lane to the right of them. Not too complex to understand. I have done it, however, the situations are usually that of someone traveling 10mph under the speed limit in the left lane (Which is also illegal in idaho)

As a segway, that really erks me, If you aren't passing someone pull into the right lane. Left lanes are for passing, not for cruising.

 

[JDub02]

here in VA, folks love to drive slow in the left lane. i pass them in whatever lane becomes available. i've never heard of anyone getting a ticket for it.

 

[protocol167]

Seems these days people are mistaken about what lane is what. People are now driving in the middle lane and fast lane (passing lane) and leaving the right lane wide open. Yes, it is for motorist who are entering the freeway but if your driving slow why not stay in the middle and right lane.

Move int the middle lane once you see a car merging from the entrance ramp. Otherwise keep the left lane open for passing instead of a slow drivers lane going 5 or 10 mph then the posted speed limit.

I swear they should post sign up every two or three miles on every freeway stating left lane is for passing only or will be fined.

 

[Possessed Freak]

Why pass on the right when you can pass on the right shoulder... while out of state, being chased by some pickup truck using a flashing light to simulate a cop's lights, and some grandma in a mini-van is trying to pull over for said pickup truck. That was a fun time.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: Cerpin Taxt
I've always imagined that it must mean passing someone using the shoulder instead of crossing into the on-coming lane to pass, in a situation where there is only 1 lane in each direction. That's just dangerous, obviously. I realize that it doesn't seem very realistic, but the scenarios you describe involving 2 or more lanes of traffic moving the same direction don't seem like they should be infractions.

That's what I thought it meant, as well.

yes, i see people get busted for passing on the shoulder 2-3 times a week. on my drive home the 2 lane road i am on a lot of people turn left at a county road to go home which backs up traffic. at this intersection people take it upon themselves that instead of waiting they zip onto the shoulder and go around. the local cops started busting people for this about 4 months ago. i have seen a cop sitting right there at the intersection and people do it right in front of him. its quite entertaining because i know they are ignorant and believe its totally ok to do that. The last time i saw this was last night, i was sitting in line waiting for the guy in front of me to turn left so i could keep going east, a woman 4 cars behind me gets impatient pulls her car onto the shoulder and passes us. the local cop JUST parked his cruiser at the intersection and no sooner did he put it into park and looks up he sees this woman. gearshift into drive, engage flashing overheads....

i could hear her now. but but but but but but what did i do wrong officer????

 

[BassBomb]

do it in germany you will get raped

here its never really called upon but it is extremely dangerous

but we have people who don't drive in the right lanes for some reason here

 

[SonnyDaze]

I've always understood passing on the right to be going around someone (onto the shoulder) to pass when they are in the right lane.

Never heard of passing someone in the right lane being illegal or getting a ticket for it.

 

[OutHouse]

I have never in my life seen somebody pulled over for passing on the right on a interstate. the reason is because too many people go below the speed limit on the inside lanes and what choice do you have? now in Germany a very good way to get Polezi on your ass is to pass on the right on the autobahn. over there that is stricky enforced with heavy fines. it took me a while for me to not freak out when somebody i was riding with passed somebody on the right when i got back to the states.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i interpret passing as, passing. your car passes theirs, and you are to their right, regardless of lane. probably rarely enforced, and I do it all the time. related to the left-lane for passing only laws, if i am illegally passing someone to my left, they are illegally NOT passing while driving on the left.

the danger is that the slow ass scared drivers going slow in the first place dont expect people to be passing them on their right. and, i have seen situations where people pass on both sides of a car simultaneously and nearly collide. it is safest is to have the lanes in increasing speed right to left, it helps entering, exiting and allows for more predictable behavior from drivers.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
if i'm originally in the far right lane and i drive faster then the guy in the middle lane, then change over to the middle lane in front of him, is that considered passing on the right?

if i'm the middle lane behind someone and i change to the right lane and drive past him but stay in the right lane, is that considered passing on the right?

will i get a ticket for the above situations?

1) No
2) No
3) No

Passing on the right generally refers to passing on the shoulder of the road, NOT passing in a normal traffic lane on the right of another lane.

 

[rise]

Originally posted by: Cerpin Taxt
I've always imagined that it must mean passing someone using the shoulder instead of crossing into the on-coming lane to pass, in a situation where there is only 1 lane in each direction. That's just dangerous, obviously. I realize that it doesn't seem very realistic, but the scenarios you describe involving 2 or more lanes of traffic moving the same direction don't seem like they should be infractions.

that's what i thought as well. i don't think it applies to highway travel but i may be wrong.

i did get pulled over once for using the shoulder in NH when i was late for a tee time. just got a warning though that they don't allow passing on the right up there