You may have never questioned it until now – is it illegal to drive in the left lane?
Most of the time, yes. Usually, the left lane is for passing, not driving.
So, if you enjoy life in the fast lane, you might want to think twice about spending too much time there.
The Left Lane Is for Passing
The restrictions and penalties for left-lane driving vary among the 50 states, but almost every state limits driving in the left lane to passing, merging or exiting. Fines for violations range from $50 to $500. Many states follow the Uniform Vehicle Code, which requires drivers to keep right if they are going slower than the normal speed of traffic.
Drivers in all states are permitted to use the left lane for passing when there is more than one car traveling in the same direction. Most states, though, don’t allow left lane access for slow moving vehicles that give no indication of passing or turning.
If you’re interested, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has compiled a list of “keep right” laws in each state.
Why Left-Lane Driving Is Illegal
The reasons behind limiting left-lane driving vary, but most have to do with safety and efficiency, as well as reducing aggressive driving. While not specifically taking a position on left-lane driving, AAA recommends slower traffic keep to the right and all motorists should drive at a speed consistent with the specified limit as well as roadway conditions.
“In general, when people travel slowly in the left lane, that can lead to frustration among drivers who might be lined up behind them,” said Alec Slatky, managing director of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast.
In one AAA study, drivers who rated their speed as faster than other drivers were more likely than others to report engaging in aggressive driving behavior.
If drivers populate the left lanes, faster drivers wind up changing lanes more frequently, weaving around them, which can be a safety hazard. Driver frustration can also lead to other risky behaviors, such as tailgating or passing a car on the right. Passing on the right can be extremely dangerous because of the traffic flow, blind spots and cars entering and exiting from the right side.
Stay in Your Lane
Chances are, during your daily travels, you’ll encounter people driving faster than you, even if they are not supposed to. Freeing up the left lane leaves room for emergency vehicles, avoids traffic backups and enables people to get to their destinations faster.
“We’re not looking for police to be writing lots of tickets for people traveling slowly in the left lane – we’re hoping that people will follow best practices,” said Slatky. “It’s also generally better if everyone follows the same standard – people pass on the left, rather than the right. When you behave in a way that others expect on the road, that lowers everybody’s risk.”
What are your thoughts on left-lane driving? Tell us in the comments.
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69 Thoughts on “Is It Illegal to Drive in the Left Lane?”
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Teach this to Pennsylvania drivers!! This is NJ asking you please gtfo the left lane!!
I was pulled over for driving and not passing sin the left lane, so I know it can happen I’m MA. The thing is that I was there because I was following another driver that was holding me up, hoping he would speed up and get over into the right so I could pass him. Why the cop didn’t pull him over instead I have no idea.
I have attended many AAA Driver’s ed courses over the years and NEVER has the instructor mentioned this subject!!!!!!!!
It used to be that if you were int he left lane and the person in front of you was going too slowly, you would flash your headlights to let the person know you wanted to pass, and that person would usually move over. You might give the person a couple flashes in case he didn’t see the first time, but ti wasnt’ considered rude. Now it seems like it’s considered aggressive to flash-to-pass. Now people just pass you on the right. I believe on divided highways it is legal.
I do not like the new left lane prohibition. It is dangerous. If someone wants to drive fast, they are now required to be constantly weaving in and out of traffic, constantly changing lanes, to comply with the law. It also forces more people into the right lane, where people are trying to merge onto the highway. How can you merge if the right lane is clogged full of cars? The most dangerous things to do on a highway are merging on and changing lanes. The left lane prohibition increases the danger due to both of these situations. We paid for these lanes, we should be able to use them all, and there should be commonly accepted practices to allow people to pass safely, and to tell other cars they want to pass (flashing lights was perfect, and worked fine). All we really need is a communication outreach telling people that flash-to-pass is OK, and that when you see the headlight flash, put your blinker on to tell the person you’re moving over as soon as it’s safe to do so.
It’s not new. It’s always been the ‘passing lane’. It is really simple. If you’re driving in the left lane, and not using it for passing, you are the problem.
On our rural interstate, trucks have rutted the right lane and as the state only repaves every decade or so, that lane is bumpy and full of potholes. Many drivers stay in the left lane to avoid potholes and damage to their vehicles. It’s usually possible to move over to the right in plenty of time to let faster vehicles pass. But, yes, it’s still illegal, despite the condition of the road surface.
Have you ever seen anyone pulled over for slow driving in the left lane of the Long Island Expressway during the rush hour? Or for driving at any speed at any time in the left lane on that highway? Of course not.
I expect that most cars didn’t have passenger side rear view mirrors when these “only pass on the left” laws were passed. Most cars have both left and right rear view mirrors now plus blind spot detection. Safer than it used to be, but still not a bright idea. The left lane is usually running at 80+ mph on the mass turnpike, but it’s not uncommon to see people doing much more than that today. It took an extra 30 minutes to get into Boston this morning because of accidents in the center and left lanes. Likely due to speeding and tailgating. Just the usual. Should add, don’t think i’ve seen anyone pulled over for speeding in several years on the pike, and every day i get passed by State police doing 75+ with no sirens or lights. Usually heading home early in the morning.
I tend to spend a lot of time in the left lane because I also tend to be among the faster moving vehicles at any given time. I feel that as long as the vehicle in the left lane is passing the vehicles in the other lanes then it belongs there. If a faster vehicle comes up behind then certainly move to the right when it’s safe to do so but that faster vehicle shouldn’t feel compelled to keep switching lanes just to “do the right thing” as that often creates more problems. It also reduces fuel economy as the driver varies speed and has to accelerate more frequently rather than maintaining a steady speed and nearly eliminates the option of using cruise control.
Yes, actually. You are compelled to move over when you’ve passed a group of vehicles. When you approach the next slower vehicle, yes you move around them, back to the right lane again. Otherwise you’re part of the problem. All the drivers education classes teach this. Perhaps you think you’re special?
I would love to see police pull people over for driving on left lane. In EU in most cases you have to have the blinker on to be in left lane and passing. Obviously there will be traffic where you’ll need to fill all lanes but folk need to be driving in righ lanes only and leave the left lane for passing only. In MA I’ve never seen anyone get pulled over for this. Finally, I totally agree that mpost of the road rage on highways is due to folk thinking they can drive in left lane at whatever speed they want.
Yes, but when the right lane is so unrepaired and rough driving that it may damage your car suspension or tires, it becomes necessary to protect your investment and safety by driving in the left lane.
Is passing in the right lane still illegal? Make an email blast about this topic.
It used to be illegal – drivers were supposed only to pass in the faster-moving lanes to the left.
I see passing on the right as a problem, even when I’m going 60 or 65 and keeping up with traffic in a middle lane, aggressive drivers will sometimes pass on the right rather than using the left, passing lane.
In CT and NY, left lane squatters are the norm. The worst are the ones who feel themselves champions of justice and the speed limit, and accelerate to shut down vehicles who pass on the right. Then, there are those who never use their mirrors, oblivious to the Macy’s Day Parade of cars backed up behind them. Obviously, a childhood dream realized to be a Grand Marshall.
It’s surprisingly simple, once you let go of your ego. Scan your mirrors constantly. Stay right whenever possible, and if someone is moving faster than you, let them go. Chances are, they’ll attempt something out of frustration to get around you anyway, and they provide great “bush beaters” for law enforcement. Lead, follow, or please, get out of the way.
Excellent 👍.
Sometimes traffic is so heavy that all lanes are jam-packed. It’s pretty hopeless to keep the passing lane as a passing lane in that circumstance. Secondly, I never see enforcement, at least here in Massachusetts, of these passing lane laws, nor do I see enforcement of laws prohibiting tailgating and use of high beams when approaching other vehicles. I wish the Massachusetts State Police would get on this but they seem to have no interest.
I feel Left Lane driving restriction should only be limited to roads with 3 or more lanes. Most 2 lane roads have heavier traffic and keeping to right only backs up traffic severely.
It seems that more and more lately there are drivers out there who think they’re making some sort of statement by getting in the left lane and driving the posted speed limit; 55 mph in many instances. We all know that almost no one drives at 55 mph on the highways in the US so while these people think they’re some kind of safety patriots all they’re really doing is creating a safety hazard on the road. If you want to travel at the posted speed limit that’s your right, just do in in the far right lane and don’t inconvenience the rest of us.
Thank you
I live and drive in NYC and I see everyday drivers in the left lane driving way below the posted speed limit, especially on the Belt Parkway. Everything from school busses, vans, small trucks and cars in the left lane driving below the speed limit. These drives “feel like they are entitled to drive in the left lane” and some may feel that they are “policing” the left lane against aggressive behavior. Maybe if the police started giving tickets for slow driving, drivers will drive at the appropriate speed.
I totally agree with your comments
I am driving in NYC for 45 Years
Those drivers create more problems then faster ones
Keep in mind that each road has a minimum speed requirement as well so they are likely driving regally – unfortunately. Of more concern are the large vehicles that aren’t supposed to be in the left lane at all (except for emergencies) that treat the lane as a regular travel lane. This really slows traffic.
Failing to pass in the left lane can be frustrating. Drivers who engage in this behavior may come across as passive-aggressive, leading to road rage and potentially dangerous maneuvers by other drivers.
thank God it’s still the law-I wouldn’t want to be confused over the overpopulated lane as being normal. It is, however very dangerous, and drivers still weave in and out. Even in L.A. and Chicago with 6+ lanes in either direction the principal offense is tailgating/speeding/left-lane rally, in that order…how do you enforce that? All highways s/b automated via computer and speed/spacing is controlled. If you’re late, tough buggies. Exit strategies are predestined, and the highway could move at 1,000 mph…that might explain the occasional car embedded in someone’s second-floor bedroom window; a glitch instead of a nutjob.
Driving has always been challenging because some drivers have their own rules. The left lane is 10 to20 mph over the speed limit, the center lane is for the conservative driver, and the right lane for slower drivers and exiting. Some will stay in the left lane and make passing a challenge for others. I never have seen a police officer pull a left lane speeder. I have learned not to challenge the speeder. My car has the automated cruise control so I can safely drive in the center lane without being pushed over by faster drivers. Two lane highways require even more attention to left lane speeders.
Regarding passing on the right, for a long time, that was illegal, but didn’t the law change that to allow it some time ago?
I remember looking it up years ago and being surprised to se ti is legal on divided highways now.
I found this on NY DMV:
You may pass on the right:
When a vehicle ahead makes a left turn.
When you are on a two-way road that is marked for two or more lanes or is wide enough for two or more lanes in each direction, and passing is not prohibited by signs or restricted by parked cars or other obstructions.
When you drive on a one-way road that is marked for two or more lanes or is wide enough for two or more lanes, and passing is not prohibited by signs or restricted by parked cars or other obstructions.
Left-lane driving is well understood by most. I have a question concerning driving in the middle of three lanes. If I am not mistaken, NYS prohibits big rigs from passing in the left lane, leaving them to pass in the middle. I have been on the NYS Thruway driving at or just above the legal speed limit, only to have 18-wheelers tailgate and flash their lights. It seems rather bullying to me. Am I wrong? Is the right lane the only lane saved for the legal speed limit of 65, or exceeding that limit up to 70 mph?
It’s quite simple: No matter how fast you’re driving, if someone wants to go faster, move to the right if you can safely do so and let them pass. You’ve made it clear that you are aware that trucks can’t use the left lane, so why would you choose to obstruct them or force them to pass unsafely on your right?
Yes, tailgating is rather bullying but flashing lights is a common, courteous request. The courteous response is to move over.
It’s quite simple: No matter how fast you’re driving, if someone wants to go faster, move to the right if it’s safe to do so and let them pass. Of course you are then free to return to the center lane. As you’ve stated, big rigs are prohibited from the left lane on many highways. So why obstruct them or force them to pass (unsafely) on your right?
Yes, tailgating is bullying but flashing lights is a common, courteous request. The courteous response is to move over.
If the big rigs are allowed to use the left lane to pass you, I agree that tailgating and flashing their light at you is bullying – but if they’re not allowed to use the left lane, flashing their lights seems like the only way to signal their intentions – but they shouldn’t tailgate since that can be dangerous. And if you move to the right lane, they won’t be tempted to pass you on the right.
If you are not passing the cars on the right, you should move over for the truck to pass. Slower traffic stays to the right, plus that’s the lane the truck has to use to pass. I won’t move over unless it’s safe to do so.
I drive in Mass. I see people hogging the left lane forcing other drivers to pass them on their right. I have never, never seen a state trooper or police officer stop one of these drivers. So what good is a law that everyone ignores. It’s not law at all.
Yep-you’re correct. I see it happening all the time.
Donald, I couldn’t agree more. I also live and drive in MA and it occurs all day every day these days. It’s enraging the blatant ignorance!
In the state of Massachusetts, where are the State Police? Has budgets put a strain on man power? I travel 495-93 into NH daily and the speeds are over 65 most days..as long as everyone is doing those speeds fine,
But you can’t have some at 55 and others at 80 and above..
Has anyone ever heard of getting a ticket for driving in the left lane? (Speeding, yes. Driving, no.) Maybe passing on the right but that would be extremely rare. Generally, people in the left lane ARE passing people, they just aren’t pulling into and out of the left lane constantly. This is a good thing as it would be more dangerous. And when traffic is busy (as you say) then the left lane is filled – as it should be. Again – a good thing or traffic would back up for 20 miles. The laws are there but the roads are mostly self regulated by common sense.
Also from Mass. Left lane hogs are notorious in this state, especially going slow. This state has the worst drivers