Do you love the left lane?
When you head out on the open road, do you automatically steer toward the left lane because that’s traditionally where “faster” drivers are known to go? And while there’s nothing wrong with using the left lane as it’s intended, people who drive slowly in that lane could find themselves in trouble with the law.
Much of the current misunderstanding over the left lane stems from the 55 mph national speed limit that was enacted in 1974, according to the National Motorists Association (NMA), a grassroots drivers’ alliance that lobbies for traffic regulations and safety issues. Before this, passing on the left was an unwritten rule of the road, but after the speed limit was enacted, drivers believed that if they were maintaining the posted speed limit then they could chill anywhere. “Because the speed limit was too low, drivers trying to pass weren’t allowed to and it caused a lot of problems, and it still does,” says Shelia Dunn, Communications Director of the NMA.
Reserving the left lane only for passing other cars—known as “lane courtesy”—reaps surprising benefits, however. Here’s why you should reserve your left-lane use for passing only.
You’ll Avoid Tickets And Fines
People have different interpretations of how to drive in the left lane, but staying there when you’re not passing isn’t allowed in most states, despite what some drivers might think. Blame the confusion on the lack of a nationwide law. In 29 states, there are laws that any car moving slower than the surrounding traffic should be in the right lane, while other states are stricter and designate the left lane only for turning or passing. In Georgia, it’s actually a misdemeanor to move slower in the left lane than surrounding traffic. This year, Tennessee cracked down and now has established a $50 fine for slow left-lane drivers.
It’s Safer
Beyond avoiding fines (always a plus!), abiding by lane courtesy makes the roads safer for everyone, as faster drivers have a quick and easy way to get around slower drivers. “You’re less likely to get into an accident because traffic is always flowing and more consistent,” says Dunn.
You’ll Save On Gas
Following the letter of the law can save you a few bucks, too. Maintaining your speed and sticking to the right can get you better gas mileage. You’re also doing planet Earth a solid. Less weaving in and out of lanes is more fuel-efficient and better for the environment, so even if you forgot to recycle last week, you can still be a tad proud of yourself if you stick to the right.
You’ll Stress Less
Trying to zip around cars doesn’t significantly improve your commute time, either. “If you remain at a consistent speed limit and only drive to the left if you need to, you’re going to ultimately get to your destination faster,” says Dunn. Plus, lane courtesy might just be the quickest cure for road rage. “If you’re weaving in and out and cutting people off, you may cause road rage in others, and that’s what we really need to stop,” says Dunn.
Of course lane courtesy is easier said than done, especially in states with heavily trafficked motorways. But you don’t have to give up entirely. “Don’t just park yourself in one of the middle lanes,” recommends Dunn. “You should really be cognizant of trucks and what everyone around you is doing, and try to drive right as much as possible.” But staying in the right lane doesn’t mean you can zone out, either: Remember to be aware of and make room for merging vehicles.
In the end, lane courtesy actually helps all drivers treat one another as equals on the road—and makes the highways and freeways a safer space for everyone.
Before you take off to your next destination, get a fast, free auto insurance quote from GEICO to see how much you could save.
Next: The rules of the road aren’t always cut and dry, so take our “Are You a Good Driver?” quiz to find out how you compare with your fellow motorists.
By Kara Cutruzzula
Jason Hochman says,
At the end of the day, if you are going the speed limit there shouldn’t be anyone allowed to pass you. If that is the case, then the person in the left lane should get a ticket for not allowing the faster driver to pass, and the faster driver should be cited for speeding. At the end of the day, our laws are made by incompetent, power hungry and self serving people, who have no idea about design, engineering or anything else, for that matter.
Ed says,
Many drive in a state of desperation.
Other drive watching their phones as if they were going to flee.
Walkers cross the street without looking without regard to cars.
Motorcycles is better not to mention: they scare me.
CraigG says,
I wish everyone in the state of Washington could read this. Lane courtesy doesn’t (or hardly) exists here. People think, “I’m going the speed limit, so I can be in any lane I want. Right makes might.” It’s these inconsiderate drive that are to blame for aggressive driving. It’s not even that they are going slow in the left lane, and not passing: it’s the fact that they don’t feel the need to do the right thing, and move over. Even race car drivers move aside to allow a faster car to pass!
Raul T says,
Left lane should only be for faster & passing cars only, slow drivers please use right lane, how many times we only have 2 lanes and both drivers are competing to see who goes slower. Stop thattttt.
CarlS says,
Well the problem I run in most often is drivers in the right and left lane trying to see who can go fastest.
KennyG says,
I grew up here in the U.S, but spent a lot of time in Germany where I had family. As many of you know, Germany is well known for it’s no-speed-limit stretches of the Autobahn. Nobody would “DARE” to drive slowly in the left lane, lest they get a speeding Mercedes or Porsche up their “you know what.”
It’s all about “respect” for the other drivers, something that’s practiced in many other countries, but just never caught on here in America.
Lance Smith says,
I opetate an #80,000 motor vehicle 6 to 7 days a week. It’s been my experience that class C drivers don’t stay in the left lane nearly long enough. It seems they have zero understanding pf safe following distance, and just can’t wait to put themselves and their families in the kill zpne, 1 second in front of my truck. I’m astonished that I don’t see a lot more deaths.
Dr. M says,
I generally follow that rule. But then there are slow drivers who simply won’ t move right. Then you pass them on the right (traffic allowing.)
Jim says,
It’s not that simple. For instance, in the Twin Cities, we have a number of freeways/highways that have left-lane exits or merges onto another freeway. Or often I’ll be passing traffic in the left lane and someone comes up behind me going even faster. It’s certainly not safer to try to squeeze into right into slower-moving traffic to let someone pass. And, of course, in daily traffic rush-hour jams, you must use all lanes.
Sampson Addei says,
Thank you for your pictures. I have.learned more from it.
Rashida Duncan says,
HMMM interesting comments, I’m a New Yorker and I must say yes there are some stubborn New York drivers as well as other states too, if everyone obey the rules and regulations of the road there will be less accidents and road rage but unfortunately that would never happen because everyone’s in a rush nowadays!!!
Nora Espinosa says,
In the right lane and if I need to pass I go to the left then I get back into the right because I like to stay in the right lane I don’t like the speed
J Luther Barnhart says,
I’m OK with this, as long as we also teach every driver that no one has a right to pass someone who is driving the speed limit. If I’m driving 55 in the left lane because I’m passing someone who is only driving 50, don’t get mad at me because I’m not going 65. “Slower traffic” does not mean “anyone who is driving slower that you”.
Charles Miller says,
Exactly. If I’m driving the speed limit and passing a long line of vehicles moving slower, I should not have to slow down and squeeze into the slow traffic to be stuck there while others feel the law gives them the right speed and insist other drivers move out of the way.
John says,
Actually, it does. Now you don’t need to speed to get past the guy going slower than you, but it does mean that you need to get over as soon as you can. That said, common courtesy suggests that you goose the pedal a bit and speed that process up. the more you slow the guy at 65, the more gas he will waste to get back to 65, damaging the environment. If you are behind a guy going 50, you should look and see if there are cars approaching from behind you at higher velocities than you and wait until they pass before you start your pass.
SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT means SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT
Clayton says,
Speeding up another 10% to get around someone faster would be the right and courteous thing to do. It’s not safe driving on the side of someone for very long and you need to use better judgement.
Janna Glenn says,
I wish everyone would read this article! I do a lot of driving on I-10 in Texas. Someone ultimately causes a real clog in traffic by driving slow in the left lane so nobody can move forward. It’s as if they don’t see the signs that say “Left lane for passing only” or the line of cars piling up behind them, even more to the point they seem to ignore that one person directly behind them, usually a truck…., riding on their bumper. I don’t engage in these acts, in fact I try to get as far away from them as possible until it is resolved but sometimes you have to be proactive and get yourself out of there. These slow drivers in the left lane are dangerous! As well as the people texting! These are scary people!
Charles Miller says,
However, no one should be exceeding the speed limit. If I’m going the speed limit, I am not “slow” traffic.
sl0 says,
Charles, yes you are. There is no benefit to you blocking traffic. You are not a deputized keeper of the speed. That mentality is dangerous. Unless you are actively passing someone on the right, move out of the way and let everyone get on with their life.
Paul says,
Can someone start nationwide campaign for this???? So the drivers in EVERY STATE knows… AND in other languages too…. Seen all of them cruising in left lane….. ugh!!!
cher says,
I live in NJ and almost everyone drives in the left lane (including trucks) ! I don’t believe these drivers are ever ticketed. If they were, it might make a difference. I find that the right lane is now the passing lane. I wish someone would come up with a bumper sticker that reads, “Drive right, pass left.”
Rose Frazier says,
I LOVE YOUR STICKER IDEA! I LIVE IN ALABAMA AND I WAS TAUGHT TO DRIVE IN THE RIGHT LANE UNLESS YOU NEED TO PASS SOMEONE AND THEN GET BACK TO THE RIGHT DRIVING WITH THE TRAFFIC. I ONLY USE THE LEFT LANE FOR PASSING OR TO MOVE OVER AT EXITS SO THE TRAFFIC CAN MERGE IN. I WISH EVERYONE WOULD SLOW DOWN AND SAVE SOME LIVES.
Ron W says,
I grew up in Massachusetts where the left lane is for passing only, and I can tell you from experience that if you were driving slowly in the left lane, there was a friendly state trooper who would remind you of your infraction. Fast forward a few decades, and I now live in Florida where the mindset is “I am in the left lane, and I am not moving”, this is particularly frustrating for me, especially when traveling on I-95 or Floridas Turnpike. I would hope that some people read this article and give some thought to others (something really missing in Florida in general) and keep right, especially when a car is coming up fast behind you.
GHEE says,
PLEASE LISTEN TO ME, DONT MOVE TO NEW JERSEY OR PENNSYLVANIA, LOTS OF NASTY, RUDE DRIVERS HERE. THEY CUT YOU OFF EVERY MINUTE, LOTS OF ROAD RAGE, LOTS OF ACCIDENTS ON DAILY BASIS.. LOWLIFE NEW YORKERS ARE THE WORSE DRIVERS ALSO.. NOT ONLY THAT, ROADS ARE TERRIBLE IN TRI-STATE (NY, NJ, PA), POT HOLE RIDDEN (MEANING YOU WILL BE SPENDING ON CAR REPAIRS SINCE POTHOLES DAMAGE YOUR VEHICLES.)..I HATE THIS PLACE ESPECIALLY NEW JERSEY. GOVERNORS, MAYORS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE BUNCH OF CROOKS AND INCOMPETENT.
Paul says,
Agree 100% but NY is worst by far…. ghee.
I live in Jersey and every time there’s slowdown in left lane, you will see NY license plate up ahead going 50 in 65 zone AND NOT MOVING OUT OF THE WAY…. At least, NJ cars, 9 out of 10 move to the right lane
Justin says,
I have read so many articles about “left lane loafers”. The one thing that is never addressed is how speed limits factor into this. If someone in the left lane is going the speed limit, or even faster, why would anyone need to pass them? Is it a speed LIMIT or speed SUGGESTION? I agree if someone is staying in the left lane and driving slower than the speed limit, like people from NJ, that’s definitely a problem.
sl0 says,
Justin unless you are law enforcement the speed limit is irrelevant. It’s really basic. For all the reasons listed in this article, stay to the right unless you are passing. You gain nothing by obstructing traffic and create a dangerous situation not only for yourself and those behind you, but for the drivers in other lanes who may have to deal with cars weaving dangerously to get around you.
Remember the punishment for speeding is a fine. It is not a criminal offense. A police officer would never create a dangerous situation for anyone to enforce this, neither should you.