Would You Be In Favor of a Left Lane Passing Only Law?

Question

In some states there is a law where the far left(i.e. "fast lane") lane on a highway is for passing ONLY. Would you be in favor of a law like this in your area?

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2008/01/09/ross.ok.slow.drivers.beware.ktul

I personally would love that. It irritates the h**l out of me when people won't move out of the left lane when I am coming up behind them. h**l even with signs saying, "Slower Traffic Keep Right" people don't get the hint.

Answer 1

Yes I would definitely be in favor of a law like that!

Answer 2

Yeah I'm with you on that that would be nice, lately the people in the left lane go so slow I can pass them with ease in the middle or right lane without even breaking the limit.  I mean just last week I was coming home from work had to go shovel snow on new years day but anyway I was in the middle lane doing 70-75 mph people in the left hand lane went by me like I was sitting still keep in mind that the speed limit is 70 mph not 100 mph, but even if that was a law it would still be like it is people would get in the lane and just sit their instead of passing and getting over.  And cops aren't concerned enough with it they would rather pull over the opposite race instead of actually getting the people doing things wrong.  Good luck

Answer 3

I would be in complete favor of it. Often times you are behind someone that is going very slow, in every lane, which prevents you from getting around someone. I feel it would clear up congestion and probably relieve any aggressive drivers because there is an out for them to go to...the left passing lane.

Answer 4

No, it would not make any sense, especially if there is traffic.  The traffic jams would just get worse due to the lack of space.  And if there isn't traffic, then the lane next to the left is usually going at the speed limit or higher anyway, so you don't need to pass anyone.

Answer 5

yes.

in 2006 drove from NJ to Leas Vegas. in middle america all the popeole ride safely in teh right lane and pass when necessary.

it is not the extra lane in the other parts of the nation

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Answer 6

I would be in favor of it, but only if they added an additional lane. The traffic here in NJ is bad enough without losing a travel lane.

Answer 7

I would totally be in favor of that. In fact, that is the law here in TX, but it's never enforced or followed.

I got a couple of free bumperstickers from slowertraffickeepright.com. You put it on your car and if someone you passed went to that site, it gives a rational explanation of why this would be better for everybody.

Answer 8

I completely am for this law.  Cars traveling faster in the right lane that switch to the middle could collide with a faster car traveling to the left.  If there would be a law against this, it would make the roads safer.  In Germany, on the Autobahn, this law exists due to the fast speeds people travel.

Answer 9

I dont think so mainly because people speed constantly ,reguardless if im doing the speed limit or 5 over, some people are in such a hurry to pass me,as if im doing 5mph.Me personaly if you try to tailgate me i will just slow down. I cant stand people in such a d**n hurry ,speeding and lane hoping, while on their d**n cell phone.If your in such a hurry leave sooner?They make traffic reports, and for the most part people drive on these highways everyday and should know what to exspect.And their no more important than anyone else driving Not to mention if there was a passing lane i garentee that there will be some people in such a hurry where the person isnt passing someone fast enought while in the left lane..Also the fast lane around here are commonly known as a ticket lane.I dont think this will solve any type of problem but create more.

Answer 10

My state already has one. Unfortunately, the enforcement of it rates up there with my ability to beat my dog because she ignored my instructions to clean the house while I was gone.

Unfortunately it is unenforcible. You can't go any faster than the car in front of you. In times of heavy traffic, it makes sense to use every bit of pavement that's available.  If you get pulled over for it, all you have to say to get out of it is, "I was doing the speed limit, they accelerated as I passed,"

One of the worst concieved interstates that I regularly travel is posted "Left Lane for Passing Only." I've never seen anyone stopped for ignoring it.

From truckers, to grannies, in cruise control wars, driving along side by side and just not getting out of the way.

Unless you're proposing to put cops out in unmarked cars to drive around the entire shift to enforce that law and that law only, they're gonna be more distracted by seat belt violations, speeding, stop light violations, the guy that just swallowed his pot pipe, the NFL player with a porno playing on the LCD screens of his SUV and the guy swerving all over the road because his girlfriend is fellating him or any other of the myriad citations they could write. The old bat that just won't get out of the left lane isn't priority enough for them to enforce it in comparison.

When you consider that my city has enough problems just coming up with enough operable cars for the patrol shifts, you're not going to see it enforced anytime soon.

Sorry, but that's the way things work. We also have laws against street corner panhangling, but I haven't seen a whole lot of enforcement there either. (What is it about my Jeep that makes a panhandler feel it's perfectly acceptable to come directly to me and demand something?)

Drive Friendly,

JT

Answer 11

LAWS like the one you mention are great when the traffic is low. Yet our roads are so full how can you really not use the left lane.. I hate it when I am going 70 MPH passing cars and then this guy is right on my tail.  I think the law should be left lane for 3 people or more in rush hour. If we can't find someone to ride with us we should be force to drive slow and be miserable.