Driving courtesy and lane courtesy is a real thing that all drivers should be practicing, especially with lanes. Lane Courtesy Month is held in June every year and it promotes the education and support behind lane courtesy. Lane courtesy is the practice of yielding to or moving over for faster traffic. Many states have laws related to lane courtesy so it is important for you to be educated on these practices or you might end up being pulled over. Ohio does not have a law in place yet but there are 47 other states who have a type of law associated with lane courtesy.
State Lane Courtesy Laws (provided by Driving Laws)
- Uniform Vehicle Code – this is simply a law that states if you are driving slower than the “normal speed of traffic,” you should stay in the right lane. You should also default to the right lane while driving.
- States include: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
- Left Lane Only Passing – this law states that you can only use the left lane to pass other vehicles.
- States include: Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Washington
- Move if Blocking Traffic – this law states that drivers are required to move out of the left lane if they are blocking traffic.
- States include: Arkansas, Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, Utah, and Virginia
- No Lane Courtesy Laws – these states have very weak or no laws.
- States include: Alaska, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Puerto Rico, and South Dakota
Reasons to Drive & Not to Drive in the Left Lane
A general rule of thumb to drive in the left lane include an issue in the right lane or the shoulder of the right lane. This could include a stopped vehicle, an emergency vehicle, some type of large obstruction, etc. Use your better judgement to make the decision on if you need to use the left lane for safety purposes. Also, if there are frequent exits and entrances onto the highway you are using, you should consider using the left lane to allow merging vehicles room and adequate space to merge onto the highway.
Reasons to not drive in the left lane include thinking that going the speed limit is enough and thinking your speed is the safe speed. Many drivers have different ideas on safety, speed limits, etc. Try to avoid “being right” and instead, respect the other drivers around you.
Why Driving in the Right Lane Isn’t So Bad
Many people dislike driving in the right lane due to tractor trailers, trucks, and slower moving cars. But, driving in the right lane can actually be beneficial in the following ways:
- Safer Driving
- Better Gas Mileage
- Getting to a Destination Faster without Speeding
- Avoiding Road Rage
Sources: Driving Laws 101, National Motorists Association 1 , National Motorists Association 2
I found it interesting how you mentioned how you should use the left lane of traffic when letting people merge into the freeway and for safety reasons. My wife and I are in the process of moving and we wanted to know when it was legal to drive in the left lane in our new area. I will be sure to keep this in mind so we can be on the good side of the traffic law!