Autoblog

Delaware to crack down on left-lane slowpokes [w/poll]

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

Delaware may be joining Kansas, Oklahoma, Washington and other states in cracking down on drivers who use the left lane for more than passing. A bill in the Delaware legislature would institute fines of up to $230 for drivers who camp out in the left lane on roads with at least two lanes in each direction, according to USA Today.

Delaware's current law requires drivers to keep right only when going slower that the flow of traffic, according to the report. The new measure would resemble nearby New Jersey's law - the Garden State currently fines left lane dawdlers up to $200, though a recent proposal would raise that to $300.

The Delaware bill is supported by AAA Mid-Atlantic and the Delaware Police Chiefs Council. For what it's worth, we think it's a good idea as well, but don't take our opinion for it, let us know what you think by voting in our poll below.

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Delaware to crack down on left-lane slowpokes [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Washington State Troopers remind motorists that the left lane is for passing

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

The percentage of motorists who really understand the basic tenets of driving vary from state to state. In some areas of the country, hogging the left lane is a vile offense, yet drivers in other parts of the country use it as they see fit. This is incorrect, and it's also quite frustrating to the other motorists that understand the rules of the road. In an effort to remind drivers that the left lane is for passing, Washington state troopers pulled over 223 left-lane ignorati for ignoring the law.

The police ended up letting 199 drivers off with just a warning. We hope that warning serves as a lesson to make the driver more aware of the rules of the road. Now, if they could just start enforcing this more stringently throughout the rest of the country...

Washington State Troopers remind motorists that the left lane is for passing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Kansas enacts 'Right Lane Law,' officially lands on Autoblog's Christmas card list

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Few driving annoyances irritate the automotive enthusiast set as much as a slow-moving driver clogging up the far left lane of a highway. Mercifully, this is one instance where the law is on your side, as that left-hand lane is meant for passing the slower traffic that should be driving on the right (as the helpful sticker on the Lego Volvo above illustrates).

In Kansas at least, a new law went into effect on July 1 that will allow police officers and the Highway Patrol to better enforce the rules of the road. On all multi-lane highways in The Sunflower State, it's now illegal to drive in the far left-hand lane "except when passing or turning left or when instructed to do so by traffic-control devices or officers."

Trooper Mark Engholm of the Kansas Highway Patrol tells USA Today that "the law is designed to reduce road rage and prevent motorists from trying risky maneuvers." Finally, a good reason to drive through Kansas... let's just hope that the powers that be in the state (and others) enforce it.

[Source: USA Today | Image: Boxybutgood.us]

REPORT: Kansas enacts 'Right Lane Law,' officially lands on Autoblog's Christmas card list originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hallelujah! Oklahoma busting slow drivers in left lane

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:28:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Videos, First Drives

If there is anything worse than someone doing tortoise-like speed in the left lane, it's someone doing tortoise-like speed in the left lane and driving next to someone doing tortoise-like speed in the right lane. Oklahoma State Troopers aren't having any more of it and have begun enforcing the state's left lane law.

Section 41-11-301 dictates that "Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane when available for traffic..." What this means is that unless you're doing at least the speed limit or are about to make a left turn, you need to stay out of the ~~left~~ passing lane or risk being pulled over by the guys with the flashing rooftop lights.

The OK troopers say this is about getting out of the way for police and emergency service vehicles who shouldn't have to wait for slower drivers to exit the left lane. But seeing that any rushing authority is usually going well over 65 MPH, and folks in the news video were being pulled over for doing 62, we don't see how 3 MPH would really make that difference. Not that we're complaining, because it takes all of our green tea and feng shui to stay calm when we rock up behind slowpokes in the ~~left~~ passing lane. For now, however, folks in OK getting pulled over receive nothing more than a warning. Soon, however, Oklahoma troopers will start handing out $206 tickets. If you want to know how your state feels about the matter, check out the list of "keep right" laws.

[Source: CNN]

Hallelujah! Oklahoma busting slow drivers in left lane originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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