# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/61 "2004-03-01T17:51:17Z")
There was a recent case reported in Ontario where a couple of motorists were charged with obstructing traffic for driving at the speed limit side by side in the left and right lanes. Their defense was that they were doing the speed limit, therefore it was illegal for anyone to pass, therefore they could not have been obstructing traffic. The judge basically ruled that the possibility of others committing an offence by speeding had no bearing on the defendent’s commission of the offense of obstructing traffic and found them guilty. The guilty verdict was upheld on appeal. ---
**Author:** ![seaworthy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@seaworthy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seaworthy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/62 "2004-03-01T17:51:42Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Any **authoratative** cites for your assertions? All that stuff came from the History Channel show on the autobahn. It didn’t really have anything to do with the OP, just spiffy factoids. You don’t have to believe any of it, if you don’t want to. Apparently they were wrong about the tickets being based on income anyway. That’s disappointing, I have a lot of respect for the History Channel. And **WordMan** , you should check out those sites from my last post. There are a couple theories about why the fatality rate is lower on the autobahn and in Montana when they had no daytime speed limits. First, it seems to be safer to let traffic move at its normal pace than try to restrict it with artificially low speed limits- it’s a lot safer for all the cars to be going 80 than to have that one guy doing the speed limit amidst speeders. Second, with no speed limits, slower cars will keep to the right because they don’t want to get flattened by the guy doing 100. So you don’t have people weaving in and out of traffic, everything’s more predictable, and you don’t suddenly find youself behind a guy doing 55 in the fast lane. **Flash-57** , so if you are driving in the right lane and there’s someone in the center lane going _under_ the speed limit, you’re supposed to slow down and not pass him? I thought the “no passing on the right” thing only referred to if you’re in, say, the left lane, behind someone slow, and you get in the center lane to pass him, then go back to the left lane. I didn’t realize it meant if I’m doing the speed limit and the guy to the left of me is going slower, I have to slow down too. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/63 "2004-03-01T20:38:22Z")
> [@monster](#): > > 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. Awesome! I didn’t know about that new law. Let’s see how soon it’s actually enforced. Drive right, pass left – why is it so difficult for people to understand? ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/64 "2004-03-01T20:43:07Z")
I’m all for having slower cars move to the right, and the faster ones in the far left lane. But I agree with **Omnipresent** as there IS a speed limit. Meaning, if you have to drive under the speed limit, move to the right lane. If you want to go the speed limit, drive anywhere. If you want to speed, **stay at home**. The speed limit is there for a reason and I hate that people will justify ANY reason to grossly break that limit. I hate it when I’m going 65 in a 65 MPH zone and someone rides up on my ass going 80 (in the left lane) and then starts flashing his lights, moving up and tailgating me, and doing all the other rude speedy driver things, in an attempt to get me to move. Hey pal, it is YOU breaking the law. I’m not the bad guy here. If you break the law around people who obey the law, expect some resistance. And, for the record, at least in Oregon, if you’re going the speed limit in the left lane and someone speeds up behind you and rides your ass, and a cop sees it, the speeder gets the ticket. I’ve seen it happen. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/65 "2004-03-01T20:48:39Z")
- - - As a matter of fact, Illinois for one US state has had a “slower drivers keep right” law on the books for a number of years now–but there was no penalty for not following it. Effective January 1, 2004 they changed the law to allow police to stop you just for that reason and write you a $75 ticket for not doing so, and I seem to remember seeing at least one sign already, posted to that effect (on the IL side of a bridge, entering IL from MO/St Louis). ~ ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/66 "2004-03-01T20:49:17Z")
It’s also a law in Ontario. Omni, I think you’re just itching for some sort of fight. You’ve admited you drive the limit (which in this thread’s context means you’re not passing) just to piss people off in the left lane? Hey, that’s nice. You know, it’s not illegal for me to step in front of you at a door and just stop. What are you going to do? Assault me for stopping in front of you? Sheesh. Anyways, I have gone to the extreme of forcing people “off the road” (well, most likely crap their pants) twice in my life. Knowning that being rear ended is always 100% the fault of the person behind me, I’ve had 2 instances where I have, on purpose, brake-checked the guy behind me forcing (at least this one volvo) to swerve all over the 8 lane, empty, highway after purposely cutting me off (I posted this at another board I go to, lets just say it was a totally unprovoked incident on my side). So all you’re doing is increasing the chance that a road rager is going to kill you. That’s real smart. ---
**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, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/67 "2004-03-01T21:52:04Z")
> [@DougC](#): > > - > - > - As a matter of fact, Illinois for one US state has had a “slower drivers keep right” law on the books for a number of years now–but there was no penalty for not following it. Effective January 1, 2004 they changed the law to allow police to stop you just for that reason and write you a $75 ticket for not doing so, and I seem to remember seeing at least one sign already, posted to that effect (on the IL side of a bridge, entering IL from MO/St Louis). > ~ Cool, an actual _law_. I’ve seen these signs in the past. I don’t remember where, though. I block unpleasant memories. Probably I5, two lanes @ 70mph. Anyway, does this law specify slower than _what_? Speed limit, traffic flow, or what? If you’re doing 70 on I5 in the left lane, you’re obeying the law. Usually there’s too much traffic in the right lane to pass anyone. ---
**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, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/68 "2004-03-01T22:30:28Z")
> [@Seven](#): > > I hate it when I’m going 65 in a 65 MPH zone and someone rides up on my ass going 80 (in the left lane) and then starts flashing his lights, moving up and tailgating me, and doing all the other rude speedy driver things, in an attempt to get me to move. Following the links the **seaworthy** posted way above, it seems that _you, Seven_, are the one breaking the law if you live in Oregon as you allude to. > [@](#): > > 811.295 Failure to drive on right; exceptions; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure to drive on the right if the person is operating a vehicle on a roadway of sufficient width and the person does not drive on the right half of the roadway. [cite](http://landru.leg.state.or.us/ors/811.html). The thing that really astounds me between you and **Omnipresent** isn’t any claim to the law; it’s friggin’ common politeness. What happened to that in this country? The fact is _you guys_ are the bigger danger to the public at large than the speeder is. Self-rightiousness isn’t an excuse either, since by making your point and endangering everyone, you guys are _breaking the law_ to do it! Politeness is super important in driving, even in matters not related to the law. It’s all about cooperation. I mean, don’t people let you in when you turn on your turn signals? They don’t have to. Or do you guys just cut people off with no signal at all? Don’t people let you out of parking lots on busy streets? Or do you sit there for three hours? Or is it that you accept everyone else’s generosity, and are greedy and don’t give anything back? What’s so wrong with just getting out of the way? ---
**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, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/69 "2004-03-01T22:41:19Z")
Actually, \*\*Balthisar \*\*, _both_ are breaking the law, and both are being rude. And both are endangering others. Speedy’s only sane option is to maintain a safe distance and hope a cop happens along and tickets Slow Poke. Easier said than done, huh. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bbe5ce/32.png) [@zig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zig)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/70 "2004-03-01T22:57:46Z")
> [@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? > > Thanks but no thanks for the invite. Lived in Texas for a year. Not my cup of tea. Drove my uhaul out of there - wait for it - > > doing the speed limit in the “fast” lane. 😃 Being from Texas, all I can say is **GOOD RIDDANCE**! Despite being dangerous and annoying it’s down right rude! Didn’t your momma ever teach you any manners? ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/71 "2004-03-02T00:40:49Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > 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. Ahhhh, that’s my point to the whole thing, you say this but, are you of the same thought that it’s ok to drive 75 in a 65? Wouldn’t THAT be determining what a safe speed is as the driver. Just saying, if one’s ok, the other must be. What I’m wondering is, are there drivers that feel they can freely go 5-10-15 miles over the speed limit in the fast lane (as long as they’re passing someone) but, contradictorily, won’t dare drive 3-5-7 mph over a 25 or 30 mph zone? ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/72 "2004-03-02T00:49:08Z")
> [@badmana](#): > > So all you’re doing is increasing the chance that a road rager is going to kill you. That’s real smart. Bring the pain!!! ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/73 "2004-03-02T00:53:22Z")
California law doesn’t (or didn’t used to) allow exceeding the limit for passing, regardless of the speed of the passee. IOW, if someone’s doing 50 in a 55 zone, you can only pass at 55. I got a ticket on 395 once, in '67 iirc, for doing so and the judge let it stand. I was doing 65. Cop’s estimate, too. Don’t try to fight that either. He was accurate, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/74 "2004-03-02T00:55:20Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > What’s so wrong with just getting out of the way? I guess it’s a pride thing to a point. I guess the thought is, I’m tired after a long day, I’m sitting nicely in the left lane doing 80 in a 65 and some guy comes up on me flashing his lights? My opinion is, “I don’t really care that you want to go faster than me but, it’s up to YOU to find a way. There’s two other lanes for you to do it in. I’m already breaking the law here so, you’re on your own.” ---
**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 2, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/75 "2004-03-02T00:58:43Z")
> [@Omnipresent](#): > > What I’m wondering is, are there drivers that feel they can freely go 5-10-15 miles over the speed limit in the fast lane (as long as they’re passing someone) but, contradictorily, won’t dare drive 3-5-7 mph over a 25 or 30 mph zone? On a freeway, there aren’t any little kiddies crossing the road. That’s what limited access is all about. Also, given a 25mph limit, 7mph is 28% over the limit. But given a 70mph speed, 80mph is only 14% over the limit. You’d have to be doing 90 in a 70 for the same 28%, and even I’ll admit that for most people it’s crazy. I’ll speed on the freeway when I think it’s safe. Yeah, some day I could be suprised. And I’ll go exactly 25mph on my quiet, residential street and let everyone get upset behind me (they can pass if they want to). But the big difference is we’re talking about a one lane of travel residential street (kiddies, doggies, toys, opening doors, many, many hazzards) against a high speed freeway (the only hazards are you and **Seven** ) where the entire point is to get to your destination without traffic impeding you – but wait, there’s an impediment that’s _not supposed to be there_: you and **Seven** ---
**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 2, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/76 "2004-03-02T01:08:45Z")
> [@Omnipresent](#): > > I guess it’s a pride thing to a point. I guess the thought is, I’m tired after a long day, I’m sitting nicely in the left lane doing 80 in a 65 and some guy comes up on me flashing his lights? My opinion is, “I don’t really care that you want to go faster than me but, it’s up to YOU to find a way. There’s two other lanes for you to do it in. I’m already breaking the law here so, you’re on your own.” I’ll give you partial points for not being too much of a jerk – I’d though this entire time that you were sitting there going exactly the speed limit or lower. ---
**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 2, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/77 "2004-03-02T01:12:34Z")
> [@Omnipresent](#): > > I guess it’s a pride thing to a point. I guess the thought is, I’m tired after a long day, I’m sitting nicely in the left lane doing 80 in a 65 and some guy comes up on me flashing his lights? My opinion is, “I don’t really care that you want to go faster than me but, it’s up to YOU to find a way. There’s two other lanes for you to do it in. I’m already breaking the law here so, you’re on your own.” I’ll give you partial points for not being too much of a jerk – I’d thought this entire time that you were sitting there going exactly the speed limit or lower. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/78 "2004-03-02T01:29:29Z")
I’m going back to the OP; I’ve read all these posts, given it a lot of thought, and done a _little_ research, and can’t find or remember anything to back up assertions that driving in the left lane causes accidents. To claim that “making” others pass at high speed on the right causes accidents is disingenuous, to say the least. One need to take responsibility for one’s own actions. Does a pretty girl walking on the sidewalk bear any responsibility for the driver that looks at her instead of where he’s going, and squishes a pedestrian? 'Course not. While I agree that drivers should generally keep to the right, not doing so is more irritating than dangerous. School’s still out on the “rude” aspect. So spend my highway money on potholes, which can be really dangerous, and not on campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/79 "2004-03-02T02:02:33Z")
> [@fishead788](#): > > In New York, we have what are known as passive aggressive scumbags, who think that just because they are driving 55 MPH they can stay in the left lane and screw anybody who could be behind them. > Hey live and let live. Drive as slow as you want. Just get the fuck out of my way.LOL 🙂 But the flip side to that is that there are the Active Aggressive Scumbags who think that just because they are speeding, they have the right of way! Drive as Fast as you want, just get out of MY way. LOL ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783/80 "2004-03-02T02:14:06Z")
> [@DougC](#): > > - > - > - As a matter of fact, Illinois for one US state has had a “slower drivers keep right” law on the books for a number of years now–but there was no penalty for not following it. Effective January 1, 2004 they changed the law to allow police to stop you just for that reason and write you a $75 ticket for not doing so, and I seem to remember seeing at least one sign already, posted to that effect (on the IL side of a bridge, entering IL from MO/St Louis). > ~ And just a clarification on the Illinois left lane law. You can still be pulled over and given a ticket for driving in the left lane at the posted speed limit, you don’t have to be a slow moving vehicle. If you are obstructing faster vehicles, they can pull you over. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-campaign-in-u-s-for-slow-drivers-to-stay-to-the-right/231783.md?page=5)