Why isn't it clear that the left lane on a highway is for PASSING?

Rick K

There is one universal law of the road here in the U.S.A. which is often ignored by conservative drivers:

"Slower traffic keep right."

If cars are passing on your right, then you are driving too slow for the lane you're in. Move over!

If you're talking about the left lane of a freeway, or a real traffic lane on a highway or street, it is not for passing. It's for those who choose to drive faster.

Regarding "Slower traffic keep right," if you are travelling 80 miles an hour in the left lane, and cars are passing on your right, then you are driving too slow for the left lane. Move over!

And Auty, if someone does something even more dangerous than speeding to get around you, and someone else gets hurt, part of the blame is yours! Move over!

FaZizzle

It's ideal but it's not reality. There's going to be someone who stays in the left lane for whatever reason forcing you to pass on the right.

There's no bs about speeding--especially in places that have a passing lane (sans major streets where left lanes are also used to turn) are there for a reason.

The problem here is that although it's logic that the left lane is for passing, in the end there's very little you can do if someone doesn't know. Riding their bumper is just asking for an accident.

Devon R

They do teach you this in drivers ed. Also some signs on the highway say slower traffic keep right. meaning if you're going slower than the person coming up behind you, you have to go into the right lane if it doesn't cause you to go slower than you already were.

Happy2bAlive

some people need to get their licenses revoked. (meaning the ones that like to stay on the left lane going 55mph)

The Mr. Pine

Some people are idiots.

The Mechanic

People are rude and some even think that the world revolves around them as they putt along in the left lane while talking on their cell phone. It is a nice thing to do in some states and in others it is the Law.(Impedeing the flow of traffic)

bigsky74

OMG, I feel the same way. There are all these signs that say, Slower traffic keep left! So why do you drive in the frikkin fast lane when you are going to drive side by side people instead of pass? Then the nerve that they get mad at you when you come up behind them and they have to pull over. ARGH that and the merge lane scenario kill me.

loco_tech85

The answer to this question, is simple, it's not enforced enough by the police/sheriffs/troopers, especially in heavily congested roadways.

Also, in NY, where I work, even though this item is mentioned in the DMV driver's manual, there isn't a violation for it listed in the NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law or the NYC Traffic Rules & Regulations.

rick r

1. We don't teach people how to drive in America anymore, (due to cost and the teachers unions ruining education...) so we have a bunch of kids whose only training for driving is video games, hence the Hondas that change lanes every 50 feet, at 80 mph. That's a true danger, and the lazy bureaucrats in government and law enforcement have no solution.
2. As a regular driver, your job is to operate your vehicle so as to not inpede traffic flow. MOVE RIGHT!!! It's not your job to slow other cars, and their lane chamging is far more dangerous than their going 10 mph faster in a straight line.
3. States should put up more signs SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT on any lane over 2 lanes in each direction.

Caitlyn

How about this. It is a 5 lanes freeway and you are driving on the second lane from the left. The first lane is for carpools so you can't use it because you are by yourself. Doesn't it mean the second lane is the fastest lane? To me, it is the fastest lane for people who don't carpool. Well, you are driving on that lane and all of a sudden this slow driver cut in front of you and go 15 miles slower than the speed limit??? The lane to your right is empty!!! Why do people do that??? OH LORD!

Steven H

The left lane should be used for passing or faster moving traffic unless there is alot of traffic or it is being used as a HOV lane.
Passing on the left is safer because you spend less time in someones blind spot. No matter how many lanes the highways are if the lanes to the right of you are open you should cruise in those lanes and pass in the left lanes
At night on a open 5 lane highway even when I am going 100mph I still stay in the left lane to pass and go back into the right lane once I am done passing someone. That is the way it should be.
If poeple in the US could just figure this out than maybe we could raise the very low speed limits a little bit.
Also I hate it when people in the left lane think they have the right to decide how fast I should drive. And they slow down doing 65mph in a 55zone when I want to go 80mph. Its not there problem to make me slow down. Just move over to the right and let me pass. That is the safest thing to do.

the bad seed

you don't travel much do you...the rules you were taught are not the rules in other parts of the country, or world...
if the left lane were only used for passing, California would be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic 24/7/365

here that rule only applies to trucks and cars pulling trailers that is because they have a 55 mph speed limit.. and everyone else is limited to 70

denise r

i couldnt agree with u more. i hate when people do that. u wanna no what really just irks me, is when u have to cars next to eathother going the same dam speed. so there is no passing. some people just need to go back to drivers ed.

Auty

I wouldn't say it makes it safer. I know if I see someone coming up behind me that's going say, 15-20 miles over the speed limit, they can wait behind me because it is NOT safe to be doing that. Rarely I will move over and let a speed demon like that pass and cross my fingers that the officer up ahead will nab them :)

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