# Why no campaign in U.S. for slow drivers to stay to the right? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 29, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783 "2004-02-29T19:40:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/41 "2004-03-01T02:38:48Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Well, **WordMan** , I drive a _lot_ in the S.F. Bay area, on all the 80’s and sometimes on I5 thru the Central Valley, and I don’t see it as a real problem…I too would like to see some data on this question. My thinking has two parts: 1. People passing on the right due to slow cars on the left increases unpredictable behavior - e.g., what if the slower car finally decides to get to the right causing the faster car to swerve? What if the faster car passes on the right and does so dangerously - i.e., shooting the gap? 2. A slow left, pass right scenario probably has more emotion - an increased likelihood of road rage - the slow-lefter may feel more righteous, **Omnipresent** -like indignation, whereas a pass-righter may feel the need to “do whatever it takes” to pass a slow-lefter. Could increase poor judgment. Again, the reason I first posted this in GQ was to see what people knew might out there in terms of studies on this, and if Drive Left, Pass Right DID lead to fewer accidents, why a more forceful campaign wasn’t done to sensitize Americans to this? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/42 "2004-03-01T02:40:40Z")
> [@Omnipresent](#): > > I’m sure that can be faught. How can I be a “slower” vehicle if no vehicles should be traveling faster that I according to the law? > > doing the speed limit in the “fast” lane. 😃 _Die you bastard!_ Kidding, but like I said above I’m at risk of losing control of shooting your tires. 🙂 Seriously, though, I hear this from losers all the time – I’m doing the speed limit, how can there be faster cars? The fact is, _you’re_ breaking the law just as much as they are, because the fact is there _are_ faster cars, even though they may be violating a limit. Two wrongs, as they say, don’t make a right. Except you’re even more wrong, because you’re causing a danger by forcing people to pass on the right. Speeding isn’t necessarily a danger in its own right; the _difference_ in speeds between multiple vehicles is the true danger. Your being in the left lane despite the fact that you’re obviously slow is the cause of the danger; not the faster drivers. As for _why_ passing on the right is dangerous: it’s because people _expect_ to pass on the left. So if someone in the right lane wants to pass, they move into the middle lane. But if I have to pass your incurteous 55mph slow-ass on the right, then the legal passer and I are in danger of colliding. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/43 "2004-03-01T02:46:23Z")
> [@Laughing Lagomorph](#): > > The way I see it those speed limits are more _guidelines_ than actual rules… Nope, they’re actual rules, laws. The way you see it is the way it’s (not) enforced. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/44 "2004-03-01T03:21:18Z")
I drive from Michigan (Kalamazoo) to Texas (Austin) twice a year. Here’s what I’ve noticed on those trips (may not apply to any other parts of the country). I drive 94 - 80/90 - 80 - 55 - 57 - 40 -30 -35, in case anyone wants to know. In big cities, no one gives a damn about which lane they should be in. Pass on the right, drive 10-15mph over the speed limit, exits on the left (which always confuses me), will exit from the center lane (what my mother referrs to as a “California exit” - merging directly from center or left lane to the exit without pause in any lanes), tailgating, etc. Then I get out in the country, and folks are polite. Everyone stays in the right lane unless they need to pass, folks generally cruise about 5-10 over the speed limit (except in S. Illinois - I take that to mean there are a lot of cops, and I watch my speed), don’t tailgate. The only time I ever need to pass anyone is to go around semis (65 regular, 55 for trucks seems to happen a lot). There are still assholes out there, tho. I remember when I was coming back up north last Nov, and I was passing a line of 4 semis, going around 75 (My car doesn’t like to go 80+, so I don’t go over 75). A truck or SUV (something with headlights that were high enough to blind me as they tailgated) started riding my ass and flashing his brights. Fick. pause. Flick flick flick. WTF? Where am I supposed to go, buddy? One flash is more polite than the finger. Multiple are considerable more rude. I think. I love driving out in East Texas. If you get behind someone who’s not going the speed limit, they go onto the shoulder. It’s like they design the roads for this - the shoulders are easily wide enough for cars and paved. Anyway, I see considerably fewer accidents in the country than the city - but that’s probably due to the amount of cars. I do occasionally see cars on fire or broken down on the side of the road, which is fun. When they’re on my side, I stop if it looks like they have a flat tire, since I can help with those. Not busted engines, tho. Where am I going with this? I’ve no idea. There was a point when I started, but it got lost along the way. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/45 "2004-03-01T03:25:16Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Nope, they’re actual rules, laws. > > The way you see it is the way it’s (not) enforced. It was a joke, son. A joke I say… ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/46 "2004-03-01T03:32:23Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m sure that can be faught. I’m sure that it _can_ be fought. And that fight can be lost. The violation you describe is independent of your speed. While definitely so in Texas, I suspect the driving behavior you describe is illegal in most states. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/47 "2004-03-01T03:59:00Z")
I think I need some perspective here. How often does this happen, being stuck behind someone going slow in the fast lane. Slow, stop and go commute traffic really doesn’t count. Me? Maybe 2-3 times a week at _most_, 1500 - 2000 miles/month. I think this is somehow related to gun ownership. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/48 "2004-03-01T04:18:19Z")
I think, **mangeorge** that, while the general rule of faster to the left and slower to the right should still apply in urban freeway envirnments, when possible, we’re talking mostly about interurban highway environments. In the cities we have freeway withh six or seven lanes going in each direction, with entrance/exit ramps at up to ~1/8 mile or so frequencies and freeway intersections giving us not just exits, but freeways that suddenly bifurcate. ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/49 "2004-03-01T12:27:08Z")
I lived in Germany for 2 years, and Germans are MUCH better drivers than people in the US. Not only do you not see dopes clogging the left lane, people drive staggered - the guy in front of you will be a little to the right of the lane, and so you hang out a little closer to the right. The guy behind you will be to the left. This way, when the highway bends (unlike most US highways, which are very straight) and everyone comes to a stop for some reason, there is twice as much space to stop in. Also, most 3-way intersections have those round mirrors, so you can see if anyone’s coming, and the lines in the road are never faded. You can get a ticket if you honk your horn for no reason. I remember reading the results of a study (sorry no cite) that came to the (obvious, to me) conclusion that it wasn’t speeding that was dangerous, it was a difference in speed, i.e. if everyone’s doing 75, it’s safer than if one butthead is stubbornly doing 55. I’m all for public education about left lane hogging; it would save lives and make the highways a safer place. Of course, teaching americans to drive would be even better - how many of them think that ABS helps you stop more quickly, or that front wheel drive is better in the snow? ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/50 "2004-03-01T12:42:19Z")
It’s all relative I guess. When you describe a “Slow” driver, what are you describing. Someone slower than yourself? That’s pretty egotistical. Or, is it relative? That’s why the powers that be came up with a number for a given speed. As for FORCING someone to pass on the right? How am I FORCING someone? Just don’t do it, that’s all. If I’m in the left lane doing the speed limit and you’re on my right, guess what, you get to do the speed limit. Look, I know what reality is. Just making a point here is all. Is it RUDE? Sure. How many rude things do people do during the day? This is just one. I’m all for breaking the speed limit when it’s convenient. That’s another pet peeve of mine on local streets. People actually do 25 mph!!! That’s crap! I say go as fast as it’s safe on local streets. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/51 "2004-03-01T13:14:13Z")
> [@Omnipresent](#): > > I was waiting for that. > > Let me ask, is there a speed limit in Europe? That could be the defining factor here. > > It’s unenforceable. Yes, there are speed limits everywhere except on some german highways. But IMO, it’s not a matter of law, rather a matter of habbit and custom. Driving slowly in the left lane is a big no-no (actually, you’re not supposed to stay in this line, except when passing, even if you drive at high speed). Passing on the right would be considered reckless driving. And it actually is, since being unusual, it will be unexpected by other drivers, hence dangerous. Your average french/german/etc… driver has seen his parents, his friends, other drivers, etc…refraining from passing on the right, and infuriated by anyone doing this. Hence, he will conform to the norm, avoid staying in the left lane except when passing and won’t pass on the right. I doubt that laws (indeed not very unforceable IMO for such things) play a great part in this. And by the way, I wouldn’t know if this has much to do with the number of fatalities. There are most certainly more important factors involved in accidents. And besides, the fatality rate vary widely from one european country to another. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/52 "2004-03-01T13:29:33Z")
> [@Wumpus](#): > > Even if it’s true that Italy has a similar car accident fatality rate _per capita_ than the US, does it have a similar rate _per car owner_? Car owners/drivers making up a lower percentage of the population in Europe than in the US… It could well be that rate is appallingly high. > [@Wordman](#): > > Wumpus - you could be right, which of course would change the nature of the OP. Wumpus is incorrect. Italy has a higher car ownership rate than America: [http://www.findarticles.com/cf\_dls/m0FQP/4611\_131/94509914/p1/article.jhtml](http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0FQP/4611_131/94509914/p1/article.jhtml) > [@](#): > > Thanks to Fiat (and its other automobile concerns: Iveco, Lancia and Alfa Romeo), Italy is now a country obsessed by car culture. \*\*It has the highest per capita car ownership in the world (it overtook America in 1996). \*\* The love affair between Italians and their cars is cemented by the fact that, to put it bluntly, cars double as love shacks. Most Italians in their twenties or thirties – as they almost certainly still live with their mamma – make love in their Panda or Punto. Wherever you go on the Italian peninsula, you will see little Fiat cars rocking back and forth like washing machines on an energetic final spin. Better late than never. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/53 "2004-03-01T13:51:25Z")
Wow - all interesting stuff. Thanks especially to **Fear Itself** for the Italy stat. and **Flying Monk** - your observation gets to the heart of the issue. It seems like consistent flow in traffic is less likely to lead to accidents than clogs, and one cause of a clog might be a slow person on the left. **Omnipresent** - obviously you are welcome to your opinion and to the extent that opinions are to be discussed on this topic, a thread should be started in IMHO or Great Debates. My point is - if Drive Right, Pass Left is just as important a behavior as observing speed limits, why isn’t it policed more and the subject of an awareness campaign? **Omnipresent’s** scenario of “I’m in the fast lane doing to the speed limit - therefore I shouldn’t worry about cars trying to go faster behind me” appears - based on what’s been cited so far - to be an issue. _What matters most is the safety of the most people_. Car chases by police are being curtailed (except for chasing perpetrators of the most heinous crimes) in many communities because car chases lead to more accidents and fatalities. If Slower Left-Passing Right leads to more accidents and problems, isn’t Drive Right - Pass Left an important law/behavior to encourage, _even if the speed limit might be violated by someone in the fast lane_? (I am NOT an advocate of violating the speed limit, but maybe there should be more balance between speed limits in general and Drive Right-Pass Left behavior - maybe). I just wish I knew if some group had studied the relative importance of speed limit vs. Drive Right-Pass Left - which contributes more to fewer accidents and deaths. Or if a study had been done and the DR-PL behavior has been shown to lower accidents and deaths, if anybody knows why no awareness campaign? ---
**Author:** ![Chak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Chak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chak)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/54 "2004-03-01T14:21:48Z")
> [@seaworthy](#): > > Also interesting about Germany is that they have an offense, don’t know the German for it, but it basically translates as insult, where you slapped with a ticket if you make obscene gestures or insult another driver. And traffic fines are based on your income. Apparently some wealthy driver had to pay a $20,000 speeding ticket. It’s also illegal to run out of gas on the autobahn. Finland has fines based on the income, Germany does not. The most you can be fined for speeding is Euro 425 (slightly above US$ 500). What hurts more is that you would lose your license for three months if you have been that fast. Another common misconception: A good part of the autobahn actually has speed limits whcih can be as low as 50 mph. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/55 "2004-03-01T16:32:32Z")
> [@Silver Serpentine](#): > > I drive 94 - 80/90 - 80 - 55 - 57 - 40 -30 -35, in case anyone wants to know. I like that route myself. > [@](#): > > There are still assholes out there, tho. I remember when I was coming back up north last Nov, and I was passing a line of 4 semis, going around 75 (My car doesn’t like to go 80+, so I don’t go over 75). A truck or SUV (something with headlights that were high enough to blind me as they tailgated) started riding my ass and flashing his brights. Fick. pause. Flick flick flick. WTF? Where am I supposed to go, buddy? What I usually do when there’s a jerk like that behind me is turn on my turn signal, either to the left (I’m passing) or to the right (I’m waiting to get over) – this at least lets the guy know that you see him and acknowledge him, and they’ll usually calm down. Sometimes they’ll turn out to be nice and wave as they pass, 'cos they realize I’m being cool and communative. Kind of like the way truckers are in general. > [@](#): > > I love driving out in East Texas. If you get behind someone who’s not going the speed limit, they go onto the shoulder. It’s like they design the roads for this - the shoulders are easily wide enough for cars and paved. I found this a lot in central Texas on two lane highways. It was nice. But get into Dallas/Austin/San Antonio and that good behavior just evaporates again. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Flash-57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/839c29/32.png) [@Flash-57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flash-57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/56 "2004-03-01T16:55:34Z")
> [@GMRyujin](#): > > I don’t know, but it happens. I did it yesterday. I was cruising in the right lane and some dork was poking along the center lane at 5MPH under the speed limit. What was I supposed to do, swing across two lanes (through his caravan of backed up cars) to pass him? So, you passed this slowpoke, and 6-10 other cars, on the right, all at the same time. And you didn’t particularly think this was very dangerous? Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/57 "2004-03-01T17:28:15Z")
> [@Ringo](#): > > I’m sure that it _can_ be fought. And that fight can be lost. The violation you describe is independent of your speed. While definitely so in Texas, I suspect the driving behavior you describe is illegal in most states. While not disputing this I’d love to see some case law on it. In effect, the way you’re presenting the law _requires_ someone to enable another person to violate the law. I may be mistaken but I thought it was normally the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/58 "2004-03-01T17:32:49Z")
Omni, for some reason I think you live in Illinois. If so, it is indeed against the [law](http://www.isp.state.il.us/media/pressdetails.cfm?ID=161) for you drive in the left lane if you are not passing another vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/59 "2004-03-01T17:41:12Z")
> [@Omnipresent](#): > > I’m all for breaking the speed limit when it’s convenient. That’s another pet peeve of mine on local streets. People actually do 25 mph!!! That’s crap! I say go as fast as it’s safe on local streets. And who’s going to determine what speed is safe on local streets? The driver? IOW, if I believe that driving at 60 mph in a given urban area is safe, I should go for it? And everybody should drive at whatever speed they think is safe (with probably widely different idea about what is safe or not). Also, how are you going to determine whether a given speed is safe or not if you’re not very familiar with the area, and don’t know that there’s say, a dangerous curve or crossing, or a pedestrian walkway in front of a school just ahead of you? That’s generally why we have traffic regulations : to avoid that everybody make (in many cases in full ignorance of the local conditions, and/or with no knowledge or sense of the actual risk they’re taking or, worst, imposing on others) his own rules, according to his own feelings, or depending on how in a hurry they are, etc… The local (or state/national, etc…) authorities which are supposed to represent the local people have decided on what should be deemed safe in one or another particular place. And they’re way more likely to be right than a random and very possibly unknowledgeable driver. Besides, if I follow your reasonning and decide by myself that a safe speed in this particular place is, say 15 mph instead of 25 mph, it won’t be more satisfactory for you. And you won’t be able to complain, since I will only be following your advice : driving at the speed I personnally estimate to be safe. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/60 "2004-03-01T17:47:44Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Wow - all interesting stuff. Thanks especially to **Fear Itself** for the Italy stat. > > and **Flying Monk** - your observation gets to the heart of the issue. It seems like consistent flow in traffic is less likely to lead to accidents than clogs, and one cause of a clog might be a slow person on the left. > > ? Indeed, a constant flow of traffic is safer. And respecting speed limits helps a lot in having such a consistent flow. Maybe people driving too slowly create a danger, but you seem to forget that so do people driving too fast. Both mess up with this regular flow you’re mentionning. With the difference, of course, that the highest your speed, the less likely you’ll be to avoid an accident in case of a clog, and the more lethal the accident will be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783.md?page=4)