Breaking the LAW
What are you doing? This isn’t Germany, it’s not the Autobahn, it’s not the FAST Lane! It’s the LEFT LANE and it’s called the “Passing Lane”. This lane is NOT to be used to “cruise”, whether you are speeding or on cruise control at the speed limit. This is a Passing Lane. Don’t you see the signs every 5 miles or so? “LEFT LANE FOR PASSING ONLY”. Keep reading! This falls under “Keep Right” Traffic Laws.
Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to drive in the left lane? Believe me, traffic can be and usually is tremendously frustrating, however, cruising in the left lane, above, at or below the speed limit generally backs up traffic behind you. The cars following you are trying to pass to go around a slow vehicle or an 18-wheeler in the right lane traveling below the speed limit. The more cars that stack up behind you, the more frustrated everyone becomes and the much more likely somebody is going to hit his brake, lights come on (if you are lucky) and the last one gets the brunt and the accident. They are probably cruising and reading or texting messages on their cell phone. Bamm-Bamm, an accident!
All states allow the left lane as a Passing Lane, if there is more than one lane going in the same direction. Correctly, if you are following a slower vehicle in the right lane, you may pass it by moving into the left lane. Once at a safe distance around that vehicle you MUST move back into the right lane. In the State of Texas if you drive in the left lane and hinder or obstruct the flow of traffic you may be fined $200. IT’S THE LAW FOLKS.
Another situation and horrific example: an awake driver following the law and driving in the right lane gets stuck behind an 18-wheeler. An oblivious driver is cruising in the left lane (maybe going the speed limit or maybe five miles over or five miles under) and boxes you in behind the 18-wheeler; you come up on a highway entrance ramp and there is NO WHERE to go. You can’t move left because the oblivious driver is day dreaming and blocking you; the car coming into the highway is trying to maintain a speed to ease into the flow correctly. That car entering the freeway probably can’t see you behind the big truck and you are stuck in a situation that is potentially deadly. You can’t move.
Not only are you, as a left lane driver, completely frustrating everyone, you are creating a dangerous situation which could cause a catastrophic accident, and you are breaking the law.
If you are a driver weaving in and out of slow and fast traffic from the right and left lanes, you are also an accident waiting to happen. This type of driver causes more accidents because they have to speed up then slow down to make a move through the traffic.
The left lane can be used legally for passing a slower vehicle; moving to let traffic merge onto the road; moving over to safely go around a police or emergency vehicle or if you are going to make a legal left turn in the near future. Otherwise, it’s not safe, it’s dangerous and it’s illegal.
Do you know that Germany has less accidents on the Autobahn than most states in the US? Why? Because they stay RIGHT unless they are passing and by the way, there is no speed limit in Germany.
Please pay attention and use the left lane appropriately. My days are frustrating enough without having to worry about you stuck in the left lane all the way from Marshall to Texarkana!
*Some facts/statistics from the internet.