EDITED: Left lane law on US-Highways (NOT INTERSTATES)

[D.T.]

Speaking of passing on two lane roads...

As I said, I don't generally do it. The vehicle in front of me has to be going pretty darn slow for me to do it-about the only thing I will pass is a tractor or a truck pulling a double tobacco wagon.

With that said, if people want to pass me, I do my best to make it easy for them. I've been known to pull off(in a safe place) when someone is riding my tail. If I see a person pull out to pass me, I will wait until they are over in the left lane and then hit my brakes so that they get around me faster. I do it because I want them to spend as little time as possible in the(dangerous) left lane.

We're off A1A, and sometimes use it to head north, so it's a long 2 lane road, and it's along the coast, so folks get a little lost looking at the ocean. It's a _drag_ when there's a line of cars, nobody will pass, or speed up, and I really don't like passing more than one car, but some people are just terrified so they hang out behind someone going 10 miles under the speed limit.

One of my moms friends husbands got into a mid-air collision because one person was not making radio calls and the plane was in his blind spot and they collided.

Holy ****!

 

[bunnspecial]

This sounds like very dangerous driving. Do not forget the person that pulls out to pass you probably has somone else behind him. When you hit your brakes unnecessarily it is probably going to force that person to do the same when he sees your stop lights. The person who has pulled out to pass has made a judgement that it is safe to pass and you have no part to play in that process.

I would not slow down if there was someone else behind the car passing me.

 

[quagmire]

Holy ****!

Both survived luckily. Plane was wrecked and he was hurt fairly badly, but they survived.

 

[heehee]

Unless they are going under the speed limit (BY MORE THAN 5MPH) sounds like you need to slow down!

You need to get out of the left lane. It's a common courtesy to others. There are ALOT of things not a law, but a simple courtesy to others.

Do you talk loud on the phone in a restaurant or in public? Is it a law? I can go on and on.

As a rule, I don't see this in the U.S.

A few states has a "keep right" law.

http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html

 

[Tomorrow]

Too freaking bad. If you're apart of the slower traffic, learn to let people merge, or move over when there is faster traffic behind you.

Who said anything about not letting people merge?

If I'm already doing the speed limit (which, by the way, is an UPPER limit), then someone behind me who is going faster is the person in the wrong, not me. If someone wants to go around me, they can - it isn't a race, and it isn't a contest.

 

[rdowns]

I'll just leave this here.


People Who Drive Slow in the Fast Lane

 

[MatthewLTL]

Then get comfortable changing lanes or stay to the right. That simple.

If you are going to be making a left turn on a US highway (NOT INTERSTATE) than just be in the left it saves a hell of a time later. Once i was driving home in the left lane and a accident or SOMETHING (can't remember) that shut down the left lane, i had to stop and had on my right signal and NO ONE let me over, It wasn't until the car behind me cut off another car beside him, forcing his way in that i got to go (he cut in than motioned for me to go). Remember people, this thread is about US Highways not interstate highways, We are talking about highways with stop lights at virtually every block.

Changing lanes is safe, if done properly. Part of driving is planning ahead, if you need to make a left turn start looking for a chance to get to the left lane about a mile before the turn. Put the signal on when you need to make a lane change, if traffic is moving slowly, find a small spot to start nudging your nose over and SOMEONE will get the message. Sometimes you just need to be aggressive but not the screaming and gesturing kind of aggressive. I can't stand riding with my dad on the highway and he wants to make a lane change but "nobody will let him", yet he doesn't hit the signal until he actually starts changing lanes. News flash, they don't know you want to until you indicate!

Yes, forcing people in the passing lane to go exactly the speed limit is called POLICING. There's a general allowance of 10 MPH over the limit, then you start hitting ticket territory. Obviously that wouldn't apply in a school zone. If you're not keeping up with other traffic and you're getting passed on the right, you should be in the right lane. Now, passing lane/not passing lane are different on interstate vs. local "highways" as you describe. The roads you describe might not be bound by "keep right except to pass" but it's still a courtesy.

Are you also one of those that will speed up a little bit on a 2-lane road when someone starts passing you? I can't STAND those that go EXACTLY the limit when passing isn't allowed and speed up more when it is allowed, I actually had someone honk at me once when I passed them.





Honking at someone for passing you is ALSO illegal then. If they passed you illegally let them deal with the consequences but if your idea of "illegally" is "over the speed limit but in a legal passing zone" let it go.

I admit, I've done my share of honking and gesturing. Most recently I was stuck in a lane that was blocked by someone that was pulled over by a cop. Once I saw that, I put on my signal and everyone in the other lane just kept going by even though it was OBVIOUS my lane was blocked and my signal was on. They all had tunnel vision and just kept rolling. It got to a point where this person that was 4-5 cars back when I initiated my signal just kept rolling past me and I stuck my hand out the window open-palm and indicated I needed/wanted to be over while honking at those ignoring everything.

You sound like a young person that's just learning the rules of the road. The BIGGEST one is to take care of yourself and let the chips fall where they may. Yes, you need to be vigilant and observant of what is going on around you but let the POLICE deal with POLICING speeders and law-breakers, it's NOT your job to do.

1. ********E! if that was the case speeding tickets wouldnt have a fine range for 1-10MPH over. It just means you aint been stopped yet.
2. No. I am the one that goes the SPEED limit, If someone passes me WITHOUT cutting me off (most of the time) IDC! however IF they ride my ass THEN try to pass me ILLEGALY THAT is when i speed up!
3. I honk at people who pass me illegally.

OP, get out of the lane. All you will do is cause an accident. Many accidents are caused by excessive speed. Also, accidents are caused by slow drivers in overtaking lanes and general dithering. In short, go with the flow of the traffic or get out of the way. I wonder if you are one of those drivers who says, "I've never been in an accident, but I've seen plenty in my rearview mirror"?

Nope, I tend to not look at my rearview, if i notice someone riding my ass it is in my peripheral vision.

 

[MatthewLTL]

Who said anything about not letting people merge?

If I'm already doing the speed limit (which, by the way, is an UPPER limit), then someone behind me who is going faster is the person in the wrong, not me. If someone wants to go around me, they can - it isn't a race, and it isn't a contest.

AGREED!

 

[heehee]

If you are going to be making a left turn on a US highway (NOT INTERSTATE) than just be in the left it saves a hell of a time later. Once i was driving home in the left lane and a accident or SOMETHING (can't remember) that shut down the left lane, i had to stop and had on my right signal and NO ONE let me over, It wasn't until the car behind me cut off another car beside him, forcing his way in that i got to go (he cut in than motioned for me to go). Remember people, this thread is about US Highways not interstate highways, We are talking about highways with stop lights at virtually every block.

Nope, I tend to not look at my rearview, if i notice someone riding my ass it is in my peripheral vision.

You need to learn how to drive.

 

[hallux]

1. ********E! if that was the case speeding tickets wouldnt have a fine range for 1-10MPH over. It just means you aint been stopped yet.
2. No. I am the one that goes the SPEED limit, If someone passes me WITHOUT cutting me off (most of the time) IDC! however IF they ride my ass THEN try to pass me ILLEGALY THAT is when i speed up!
3. I honk at people who pass me illegally.

If you're going along with traffic, no matter the speed, there's a VERY good chance you won't get stopped, especially for 1-10 over. If there's a possibility (however small) of a citation, they HAVE to provide a fee/fine schedule for the citation. The likelihood of a speeding ticket for 1-10 over is VERY small except in a school zone. If they ticketed EVERYONE going 1-10 MPH over the limit the cops would be VERY busy. I'd say you're MUCH more likely to get ticketed for cruising in the left lane if you have people passing you on the right because you're moving slower than traffic.

Please define "illegally". I gave an example of "illegally" in which it was not a passing zone but the person chose to pass anyway (I've seen it happen and was in the opposing lane) or is your definition of an "illegal pass" one where the passer is even 1 MPH over the limit? I would be one of those that "ride your ass", but I only do it in the space right before the passing lane opens. One of the things you learn as a driver is to plan ahead, one thing I do as part of that is start my acceleration in such a way that I make it to the vehicle I'm passing just after the passing lane opens, then I pull out already at my passing speed (if it's safe to do so, having monitored oncoming traffic in the seconds leading up to this), it makes the pass that much faster/easier.

By the way, the "left lane law" you refer to as the title, is for INTERSTATES, hence why I focus on INTERSTATE driving in many of my replies.

 

[MatthewLTL]

You need to learn how to drive.

I KNOW how to drive hence why I have never been in a accident! My thumb is always hovering over the horn and my foot is ready to hit the brake if needed. I am not going to be one of the 1000s to "endanger the lives of everyone around them" by speeding. I will not "Go with the flow" of traffic people on the road don't like it they can kiss my ass as they pass, seems there is a handful of people here that agree. If the speed limit is 50 I GO 50 (55-60 with my speedometer). Simple as that. I don't drive on limited access highways.

 

[D.T.]

1. ********E! if that was the case speeding tickets wouldnt have a fine range for 1-10MPH over. It just means you aint been stopped yet.

Definitely 5-7 over is safe, I'd say 10 in a 70 is also safe, and having to talked to a number of State LEOs (in a professional capacity) they all say the same thing. We're really looking for the 15-20 and over speeders (on the interstates).

 

[MatthewLTL]

If you're going along with traffic, no matter the speed, there's a VERY good chance you won't get stopped, especially for 1-10 over. If there's a possibility (however small) of a citation, they HAVE to provide a fee/fine schedule for the citation. The likelihood of a speeding ticket for 1-10 over is VERY small except in a school zone. If they ticketed EVERYONE going 1-10 MPH over the limit the cops would be VERY busy. I'd say you're MUCH more likely to get ticketed for cruising in the left lane if you have people passing you on the right because you're moving slower than traffic.

Please define "illegally". I gave an example of "illegally" in which it was not a passing zone but the person chose to pass anyway (I've seen it happen and was in the opposing lane) or is your definition of an "illegal pass" one where the passer is even 1 MPH over the limit? I would be one of those that "ride your ass", but I only do it in the space right before the passing lane opens. One of the things you learn as a driver is to plan ahead, one thing I do as part of that is start my acceleration in such a way that I make it to the vehicle I'm passing just after the passing lane opens, then I pull out already at my passing speed (if it's safe to do so, having monitored oncoming traffic in the seconds leading up to this), it makes the pass that much faster/easier.

My definition of illegal pass is the same as the law when people pass on the shoulder or they pass over solid white or yellow lines. I ALSO honk at people parked in no-parking zones.

 

[heehee]

I KNOW how to drive hence why I have never been in a accident! My thumb is always hovering over the horn and my foot is ready to hit the brake if needed. I am not going to be one of the 1000s to "endanger the lives of everyone around them" by speeding. I will not "Go with the flow" of traffic people on the road don't like it they can kiss my ass as they pass, seems there is a handful of people here that agree. If the speed limit is 50 I GO 50 (55-60 with my speedometer). Simple as that. I don't drive on limited access highways.

My mom never got into an accident but she definitely does not know how to drive.

If you are not looking at your mirrors and you don't know how to change a lane when the person behind you can, you definitely need some lessons.

 

[yg17]

2. No. I am the one that goes the SPEED limit, If someone passes me WITHOUT cutting me off (most of the time) IDC! however IF they ride my ass THEN try to pass me ILLEGALY THAT is when i speed up!
3. I honk at people who pass me illegally.

I KNOW how to drive

Those first two statements contradict the third statement. You have road rage issues. You're no better than the people who are riding your ass and flashing their lights when you're doing the speed limit in the left lane.

 

[Plutonius]

Watching Dashcam videos makes me wonder, EVERYONE has their opinion of the "Slower traffic keep right" law and you ask anyone of these dashcammers not one will tell you the same thing.

The law states the SLOWER traffic keep right, but HOW SLOW does this traffic have to be? I assume its slower than the speed limit. We'll say the speed limit is 55 for the example of this thread.

Does this law only apply on Interstates?
Does this law only apply to LIMITED ACCESS highways?
Does this law apply if there is only 2 lanes in each direction?

When people "hog" the left lane preventing cars from going 70MPH why do they get pissed off and illegally honk the horn and/or flash the highbeams when THEY are the ones going 70 in a 55?

Why do people have to drive so agressively?

Honking at someone for being "Slow" is a violation of the horn law and flashing the high beams at someone for going slow (expecially at night) is illegal use of highbeams AND endangerment.

I personally get pissed off at agressiveness and I will not tolerate it

Hogging the left lane to prevent others from passing you is a form of road rage and is acting aggressive towards other drivers. Worry about your own driving first.

 

[quagmire]

Who said anything about not letting people merge?

If I'm already doing the speed limit (which, by the way, is an UPPER limit), then someone behind me who is going faster is the person in the wrong, not me. If someone wants to go around me, they can - it isn't a race, and it isn't a contest.

You did when you said you hog the left lane because you don't want to deal with people entering the highway. Too freaking bad to that. Learn to COPE with people entering the highway or move over when there is faster traffic behind you. I don't care if you're already going the speed limit. It's safer for you to move over because it reduces road rage, won't have to slam on your brakes because the person cut you off in that rage, etc and rules of the road dictate slower traffic is the one responsible to move over, not the faster traffic. Let them pass you and let a cop deal with the speeder.

Hardly any of you would survive on the autobahn in Germany from people coming up at you going 150+ MPH while you hog the left lane and the cops will pull YOU over for forcing them to pass you on the right.

 

[bunnspecial]

You did when you said you hog the left lane because you don't want to deal with people entering the highway. Too freaking bad to that. Learn to COPE with people entering the highway or move over when there is faster traffic behind you. I don't care if you're already going the speed limit. It's safer for you to move over because it reduces road rage, won't have to slam on your brakes because the person cut you off in that rage, etc and rules of the road dictate slower traffic is the one responsible to move over, not the faster traffic. Let them pass you and let a cop deal with the speeder.

Hardly any of you would survive on the autobahn in Germany from people coming up at you going 150+ MPH while you hog the left lane and the cops will pull YOU over for forcing them to pass you on the right.

It's sort of hard to "cope with people merging" when they have virtually no acceleration lane to get out on the road and up to a safe speed.

If it's safe for me to do so(i.e. left lane clear), I'll get over to let someone in. Around here, it's considered a courtesy to do so. If I can't get over(i.e. left lane completely blocked up, or a driver moving faster than I am coming down it) I'll at least try to get out of the way of the ramp as quickly as I can. As soon as I'm clear of the ramp, I get the heck back over.

The Autobahn comparison isn't exactly valid because we still have large portions of our interstate system that aren't exactly built to cope with that kind of speed. 1/8 mile long merge lanes are a prime example.

 

[quagmire]

It's sort of hard to "cope with people merging" when they have virtually no acceleration lane to get out on the road and up to a safe speed.

If it's safe for me to do so(i.e. left lane clear), I'll get over to let someone in. Around here, it's considered a courtesy to do so. If I can't get over(i.e. left lane completely blocked up, or a driver moving faster than I am coming down it) I'll at least try to get out of the way of the ramp as quickly as I can. As soon as I'm clear of the ramp, I get the heck back over.

The Autobahn comparison isn't exactly valid because we still have large portions of our interstate system that aren't exactly built to cope with that kind of speed. 1/8 mile long merge lanes are a prime example.

If there is room to change lanes to let them onto the highway, alright cool( this is assuming you changing lanes isn't cutting faster traffic in the left lane off. There is a difference between having space vs being able to safely change lanes). Move back to the right when able. If not, judge if you can pass them or slow down and let them merge.

Staying in the left lane and not moving back over because he does not want to simply deal with people entering the highway is not proper driving etiquette. It is his responsibility to move over if faster traffic wants to pass him.

I wasn't comparing the US highway system to the autobahn in terms of the speeds. But due to their complete ignorance to the rules of the road or simply not caring because they don't want to deal with people merging onto the highway, they would not be able to safely drive on the autobahn if they were to travel to Germany. People there generally know what to do. They understand if they are going 100 MPH and if someone behind them going faster is approaching, it is their job to move over. Not the person going faster job to go around you. They would be a hazard on the autobahn.

 

[yg17]

I loved driving in Ireland (the motorways. Not the rural roads - yikes). Not only did speed limits seems like they were more of a suggestion than a limit, people who were in the right lane (the fast lane in drive on the left countries) moved over when you came up behind them.

It sucked coming back to the US where everyone's attitude is "**** you, I'm not moving"

 

[Huntn]

You need to get out of the left lane. It's a common courtesy to others. There are ALOT of things not a law, but a simple courtesy to others.

Do you talk loud on the phone in a restaurant or in public? Is it a law? I can go on and on.



A few states has a "keep right" law.

http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html

You said it was common that the left lane was slower. I said that was not my experience.

 

[MatthewLTL]

My mom never got into an accident but she definitely does not know how to drive.

If you are not looking at your mirrors and you don't know how to change a lane when the person behind you can, you definitely need some lessons.

It has nothing to do with not knowing how to change lanes, In fact, I drive most of the time for my work, and I always turn in the right lane than merge to the left lane when i can get into it. If i need to I can and do change lanes. Driver's manual always tells you never rely on your mirrors and when i change lanes i look in my mirrors I have them properly adjusted so they cover my bind spots.

It's sort of hard to "cope with people merging" when they have virtually no acceleration lane to get out on the road and up to a safe speed.

If it's safe for me to do so(i.e. left lane clear), I'll get over to let someone in. Around here, it's considered a courtesy to do so. If I can't get over(i.e. left lane completely blocked up, or a driver moving faster than I am coming down it) I'll at least try to get out of the way of the ramp as quickly as I can. As soon as I'm clear of the ramp, I get the heck back over.

The Autobahn comparison isn't exactly valid because we still have large portions of our interstate system that aren't exactly built to cope with that kind of speed. 1/8 mile long merge lanes are a prime example.

I know what you mean bunns. There is times i need to merge and the dipsits wont move over, thankfully the on ramps around here are really big so you can drive a city block before having to merge.

 

[nebo1ss]

I KNOW how to drive hence why I have never been in a accident! My thumb is always hovering over the horn and my foot is ready to hit the brake if needed. I am not going to be one of the 1000s to "endanger the lives of everyone around them" by speeding. I will not "Go with the flow" of traffic people on the road don't like it they can kiss my ass as they pass, seems there is a handful of people here that agree. If the speed limit is 50 I GO 50 (55-60 with my speedometer). Simple as that. I don't drive on limited access highways.

Your driving style reminds me of my Father in Law. He is happiest when approaching a junction controlled by lights when its on red. He knows he has to stop and does so. Now if the lights happen to be on green he ditters because you can see he is worred that it might change at anytime.
You say you have never had an accident but I would bet you have caused others to have accidents, selfish drivers always do.

 

[A.Goldberg]

This is without a doubt the worst 2-3 pages of unread posts I have ever read though. It's so bad, but I cannot stop myself from reading it.

Matt- I'm not sure why you're so obsessed with such things. There are much bigger issues in life than someone speeding past you. You have two options, honk your horn for 45 seconds, flash your head lights, grab onto your "telemagenta" color carbon-fiber-look $7.99 aftermarket gear shifter in ANGER -OR- you can just leave them alone.

1. No, but that could explain Why I get passed.
2. This is on a dark stratch of road where there IS no streetlights and i avoid driving at night if i can help it.
3. Back when i did that, my car could stop on a dime.
4. I do it in a controlled manner. If the intersection is busy or the conditions are too bad to do it, I don't I mostly do it pulling out of my driveway or turning corners on side streets not on major roads.
5. Nope, That particular person just pissed me off, they rode my ass for a mile had PLENTY of chances to pass LEGALLY bt waited until it was a no passing zone to pass. I usually just speed up if they try passing and slow down when they ride my ass!
6. HUH?!

1. Everything on your car is broken, it's not a surprise the speedometer doesn't work.
2. That's why cars have headlights. Most places in the world don't have street lamps, are you kidding me?
3. Yeah, it can also skid on a time, your ignorance is going to get someone hurt, if it hasn't already happened. I kind of think somewhere along the line you've seriously hurt someone. You don't realize how hypocritical you are- you will honk at someone waiting in a no parking zone BUT you're NOT policing them. At the same time, you think it's ok to go 30 in a 60 and fishtail around?
4. "A controlled manner"? So you have experience. Tell me, where did you get this experience? Stunt school or driving like an idiot on the road?
5. That's a great way to get someone killed. I'm not saying either one of you is right, but two wrongs don't make a right.
6. It's a "foreign language"

You really are far to immature to be driving. In a few words- your actions only inspire increased road rage. You appear to take a minor situation and blow it out of proportion. You decisions are equally reckless, if not more so. Your denial and ignorance will tell you I and everyone else is wrong, but I assure you you're not seeing this clearly. I will remind you again, that when 100 people tell you something is a bad idea, it's usually a bad idea. I'm not sure what the laws are in MN, but in CT and Mass, if you're driving slower than everyone else in the fast lane, you can be pulled over (especially considering left lane travel is prohibited except for turning or passing). Most people will pass on the right because it's faster than slamming on the brakes, flashing lights, honking horns, etc, etc, etc.

Honestly, I don't have time to play such games on the road. I swear to god if I see a Daewoo on the road I am getting as far away from it as possible. I literally am going to have a nightmare tonight that I'm driving and I look in my rearview mirror and I see a Daewoo Lanos steadily approaching me.

Way I see if driving the speed limit make you legally allowed to be in the left lane. Why? Because speeding is illegal.

That's not what the law is in many places though, if you're driving slower than the flow of traffic, you're standing out as the sore target. If everyone is driving 76mph in a 65, and you're driving 64mph in the left lane, who's going to stand out more. Who is impeding the flow of traffic.

i will slow down and call your plate into the police as you speed by cutting off several cars to get around me and i WILL lay on the horn too

They will answer and say "Oh gawd, it's that Daewoo kid again". So wait- hypothetical: The speed LIMIT is 65, so you can go 10mph since there are no minimums posted apparently, in the left lane?

I KNOW how to drive hence why I have never been in a accident! My thumb is always hovering over the horn and my foot is ready to hit the brake if needed. I am not going to be one of the 1000s to "endanger the lives of everyone around them" by speeding. I will not "Go with the flow" of traffic people on the road don't like it they can kiss my ass as they pass, seems there is a handful of people here that agree. If the speed limit is 50 I GO 50 (55-60 with my speedometer). Simple as that. I don't drive on limited access highways.

I think you've never been in an accident because you're 25, you've had that Daewoo for years, and you've put what? 5,000 miles on it? If that!? The fact you haven't been in an accident is actually quite miraculous giving your tales.

I ALSO honk at people parked in no-parking zones.

Get a life. Either become a cop or stop pretending to be one. Do you continuously honk at these people? Even if no one is in or around the car?

 

[sim667]

I loved driving in Ireland (the motorways. Not the rural roads - yikes). Not only did speed limits seems like they were more of a suggestion than a limit, people who were in the right lane (the fast lane in drive on the left countries) moved over when you came up behind them.

Just to be clear, the outside lane isn't "a fast lane"...... its a passing lane, you move back to the centre or inside lane as soon as it is safe to do so and you've made your manoeuvre.