Yes Texas DPS needs to address this in a big way. “Not [moving over to the right] promotes road rage, encourages unsafe driving practices such as following too close…”
A slowpoke in the left lane creates all kinds of chaos. In Texas the drivers can be incredibly aggressive, and these left lane slowpokes make them go crazy. Tailgating, flying around all lanes of the road, trying to fit into very tight spaces while going 80+; it is awful.
Ins Guy – Couldn’t agree more. We need these laws enforced nationwide. Some folks, my father-in-law included think they should control the speed of drivers and drive in the left lane and not allow anyone to pass. Just move the F over!
Ok we should move to the right, but you should not be speeding in the left lane and expect a driver to move over if they are traveling at the posted speed limit i.e. 70 MPH. If you and the car in front of you are traveling at the posted speed limit then there is no need to pass. The real enforcement needs to reflect folks who are speeding and tailing while expecting drivers in the left lane to move over. DON’T SPEED! Travel at or under the speed limit and you will not get so frustrated. The sign reads “slower traffic to the right correct?” what it also means is “FASTER TRAFFIC TO THE LEFT BUT DO NOT EXCEED THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT! ! ! ” huge point here.
Brian the point is that law enforcement is a function of law enforcement officers, not “Left Lane Vigilantes”. By blocking a faster moving line of traffic you are creating a dangerous road condition that is perhaps more immediate and severe than the risk posed by the speeding vehicle(s). You are putting yourself and all adjacent vehicles at risk because of a self-gratifying perception of enforcing the rules– something small you are able to control in an unpredictable and often unfriendly world.
The point is, let cops do their jobs and move over- it is the law. Here in Texas if you are not passing a vehicle and are driving in the left-hand lane of a highway then you are in violation of the law.
MP, I think you are missing Brian’s point…there are way too many of us on the roadways that are rushing for one reason or another – so, do you really think it’s safe if one person travels 80MPH in the fast lane we all should? I think not….I do agree that slower traffic should be kept to the right, however, I don’t think breaking the speed limit, i.e., also breaking the law, is the answer, either. Wow…wish they would bring back “55 stay alive”.
30 MPH faster is not going to get you there any faster if you have to stop due to an accident. Not only that, slow down and you get to use up less gas (which by the way, will reach $5.00 a gallon this summer in California).
A pet peeve of mine is when someone is in the left lane going the speed limit along with the rest of the vehicles in that lane and a (or many) vehicles pass on the right side, particularly to get ahead of that one vehicle and slow down and/or weave through both lanes of traffic. Very unsafe. Then there is the mater of daredevil motorcyclists that do the same at high rates of speed. The sudden noise from them passing is a distraction for vehicle drivers. ‘nough said
THE FOLLOWING IS DIRECTLY FROM THE LOUISIANA REVISED STATUES:
SUBPART B. DRIVING ON THE RIGHT SIDE,
OVERTAKING AND PASSING, ETC.
§71. Driving on right side of road; exceptions
A. Upon all roadways of sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:
(1) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing such movement, including passing lanes;
(2) When the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic while under construction or repair;
(3) Upon a roadway designated and signposted for one-way traffic.
B.(1)(a) Upon all multilane highways, no vehicle shall be driven in the left-hand lane except when directed otherwise, preparing for a left turn at an intersection or private road or driveway, overtaking or passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or when right-hand lanes are congested; however, no vehicle being driven in the left lane except when directed otherwise or preparing for a left turn at an intersection, private road, or driveway shall impede any other vehicle that is traveling in the same lane and behind that vehicle.
(b) Upon all multilane highways, no vehicle traveling in the left-hand lane shall be driven at a speed slower than any vehicle traveling to its right on the same roadway.
(c) Upon all multilane highways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the circumstances then existing, shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic except when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway, or passing or overtaking a vehicle proceeding in the same direction, if passing on the left side of it. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize driving any vehicle in the left lane so as to prohibit, impede, or block passage of an overtaking vehicle in such lane and in such event the vehicle in the left lane prohibiting, impeding, or blocking passage of an overtaking vehicle shall expeditiously merge into the right lane of traffic.
(d) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply during a declared state of emergency when contraflow has been activated.
(2) In addition to the requirement of Paragraph 1 hereof, any vehicle proceeding on a multilane highway at a speed slower than ten miles per hour less than the posted maximum speed limit shall be driven in the right hand lane then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing a vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. Persons in violation of this Paragraph shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both.
C. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, is directed to include a summary of this Section in any instructional publication for drivers.
D. The Department of Transportation and Development is directed to place signs on multilane highways, in an effort to make motorists aware of the provisions provided for in this Section.
E. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and the Department of Transportation and Development are directed to cooperatively develop and engage a public awareness campaign to notify motorists of the provisions of this Section.
Acts 1962, No. 310, §1. Amended by Acts 1970, No. 608, §1; Acts 1975, No. 290, §1; Acts 1988, No. 246, §1; Acts 2009, No. 190, §1.
Thank you!! I’m so tired of the volumes of people who use the left lane as “distracted driving lane” instead of a passing lane.
Perhaps they can also couple their efforts with recent cell phone/texting bans.
Texas DPS, please take note and follow suit!
Yes Texas DPS needs to address this in a big way. “Not [moving over to the right] promotes road rage, encourages unsafe driving practices such as following too close…”
A slowpoke in the left lane creates all kinds of chaos. In Texas the drivers can be incredibly aggressive, and these left lane slowpokes make them go crazy. Tailgating, flying around all lanes of the road, trying to fit into very tight spaces while going 80+; it is awful.
Ins Guy – Couldn’t agree more. We need these laws enforced nationwide. Some folks, my father-in-law included think they should control the speed of drivers and drive in the left lane and not allow anyone to pass. Just move the F over!
What a joke. Enforcement???? Maybe that one time for the headlines.
Totally agree! CA. vehicle code 21654. It’s my favorite law but rarely enforced. Get to the right!
Ok we should move to the right, but you should not be speeding in the left lane and expect a driver to move over if they are traveling at the posted speed limit i.e. 70 MPH. If you and the car in front of you are traveling at the posted speed limit then there is no need to pass. The real enforcement needs to reflect folks who are speeding and tailing while expecting drivers in the left lane to move over. DON’T SPEED! Travel at or under the speed limit and you will not get so frustrated. The sign reads “slower traffic to the right correct?” what it also means is “FASTER TRAFFIC TO THE LEFT BUT DO NOT EXCEED THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT! ! ! ” huge point here.
Brian the point is that law enforcement is a function of law enforcement officers, not “Left Lane Vigilantes”. By blocking a faster moving line of traffic you are creating a dangerous road condition that is perhaps more immediate and severe than the risk posed by the speeding vehicle(s). You are putting yourself and all adjacent vehicles at risk because of a self-gratifying perception of enforcing the rules– something small you are able to control in an unpredictable and often unfriendly world.
The point is, let cops do their jobs and move over- it is the law. Here in Texas if you are not passing a vehicle and are driving in the left-hand lane of a highway then you are in violation of the law.
MP, I think you are missing Brian’s point…there are way too many of us on the roadways that are rushing for one reason or another – so, do you really think it’s safe if one person travels 80MPH in the fast lane we all should? I think not….I do agree that slower traffic should be kept to the right, however, I don’t think breaking the speed limit, i.e., also breaking the law, is the answer, either. Wow…wish they would bring back “55 stay alive”.
30 MPH faster is not going to get you there any faster if you have to stop due to an accident. Not only that, slow down and you get to use up less gas (which by the way, will reach $5.00 a gallon this summer in California).
A pet peeve of mine is when someone is in the left lane going the speed limit along with the rest of the vehicles in that lane and a (or many) vehicles pass on the right side, particularly to get ahead of that one vehicle and slow down and/or weave through both lanes of traffic. Very unsafe. Then there is the mater of daredevil motorcyclists that do the same at high rates of speed. The sudden noise from them passing is a distraction for vehicle drivers. ‘nough said
THE FOLLOWING IS DIRECTLY FROM THE LOUISIANA REVISED STATUES:
SUBPART B. DRIVING ON THE RIGHT SIDE,
OVERTAKING AND PASSING, ETC.
§71. Driving on right side of road; exceptions
A. Upon all roadways of sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:
(1) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing such movement, including passing lanes;
(2) When the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic while under construction or repair;
(3) Upon a roadway designated and signposted for one-way traffic.
B.(1)(a) Upon all multilane highways, no vehicle shall be driven in the left-hand lane except when directed otherwise, preparing for a left turn at an intersection or private road or driveway, overtaking or passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or when right-hand lanes are congested; however, no vehicle being driven in the left lane except when directed otherwise or preparing for a left turn at an intersection, private road, or driveway shall impede any other vehicle that is traveling in the same lane and behind that vehicle.
(b) Upon all multilane highways, no vehicle traveling in the left-hand lane shall be driven at a speed slower than any vehicle traveling to its right on the same roadway.
(c) Upon all multilane highways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the circumstances then existing, shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic except when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway, or passing or overtaking a vehicle proceeding in the same direction, if passing on the left side of it. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize driving any vehicle in the left lane so as to prohibit, impede, or block passage of an overtaking vehicle in such lane and in such event the vehicle in the left lane prohibiting, impeding, or blocking passage of an overtaking vehicle shall expeditiously merge into the right lane of traffic.
(d) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply during a declared state of emergency when contraflow has been activated.
(2) In addition to the requirement of Paragraph 1 hereof, any vehicle proceeding on a multilane highway at a speed slower than ten miles per hour less than the posted maximum speed limit shall be driven in the right hand lane then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing a vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. Persons in violation of this Paragraph shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both.
C. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, is directed to include a summary of this Section in any instructional publication for drivers.
D. The Department of Transportation and Development is directed to place signs on multilane highways, in an effort to make motorists aware of the provisions provided for in this Section.
E. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and the Department of Transportation and Development are directed to cooperatively develop and engage a public awareness campaign to notify motorists of the provisions of this Section.
Acts 1962, No. 310, §1. Amended by Acts 1970, No. 608, §1; Acts 1975, No. 290, §1; Acts 1988, No. 246, §1; Acts 2009, No. 190, §1.
In 22 years of living here I have never seen them enforce this law. Even the first responders drive slow in the left lane. Airline Hwy is a joke.