Do you drive slow in the left lane?

audi tt - this is the audi tt before we sold it
United States
January 23, 2007 4:23pm CST
Did you know on highways, the left lane is meant for passing? It drives me nuts when people drive slow in the left lane. Were they never taught this rule? I hate it when someone is driving slow in both lanes and you cannot get around them. It is common courtesy, that if you are driving in the left lane and someone faster is approaching behind you, you get over as soon as you can and let them pass. If you drive slow in the left lane, what is your reasoning?
10 people like this
58 responses
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I never drive slow in the left lane in highways. Only I use the left lane to passing other car. If I am passing someone I have to drive fast obviously.
2 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
23 Jan 07
We do not do this. NO no no I know what you are saying! They get in the left lane and just stay there! They will have a long line of traffic behind them and still wont get in the right lane! This drives my husband nuts! I dont think they care. I think they love the fact that they can control how fast you can go...Well.......the first chance we get...we pass them in the right lane..As does everyone else behind them. that will teach them.
2 people like this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I used to have to drive a 3-mile stretch of I24 going to and from work each day. The thing I hated most was when one semi decided to pass another but didn't have the power to do it. They could block the entire interstate for miles and miles before the truck doing the passing either made it around or dropped behind.
1 person likes this
@zeeterman (1066)
• United States
24 Jan 07
Actually, on highways, it's not a passing lane. But it is regarded as the fast lane. Now you say you hate someone who is driving slow in that lane. But what you really meant was SLOWER THAN YOU! I'll be doing 11 mph OVER the speed limit in the fast lane, and will get idiots who will be doin 90 come up behind me, tailgate, flash their lights, then swerve around me in disgust, flipping me the finger as they fly by. So you condone this kind of assinine behavior? Sorry, but I have evey right to be in that lane as long as I'm going at least the speed limit. I usually will move over. But sometimes, there will be traffic to my right and I can't get over. Evidently, this doesn't matter to the idiot intent on doing 90 mph. It's ALL MY FAULT that I exist in his lane! People's driving for the most part sucks, and I have no sympathy for lead footed idiots endangering other people.
@not4me (1711)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I don't drive "slow" in the fast lane but I have to agree with you. If I see some jerk going 90-100 and I'm already going 80-84 in a 70 or something similar I won't switch lanes just because this idiot flies up on my and tailgates me at these speeds or whatever. As a former CA Sheriff's Dept Reserve I like how it forces them to slow down, even if only for a minute to two. I do switch lanes if I'm going 80 and someone is going 85. Basically if you are driving like a jerk I have no sympathy.
2 people like this
• United States
24 Jan 07
I see your point and agree someone should not be going that fast. It is well known though that the left lane is for passing. There are even signs saying so on the highway.
@nana1944 (1365)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I agree with you. That is so irritating. A person is supposed to drive asccording to weather conditions and the flow of traffic, not run over someone else just because they want to gain a little time. So glad I live in the boondocks of Kansas. I used to, in the mid 1960's, love to dragrace on one of the most used streets in Dodge City when I lived there when my daughter was young. I loved to blow by the guys who were driving just to show them I could. This is one old gal that lost her need for speed some time back.
• United States
23 Jan 07
I couldn't agree with this discussions more! I can not stand to get behind a car in the left lane that is going 5 miles UNDER the speed limit! It just gets me so aggrivated. Not sure where you are from but it kinda sounds like you might be from Texas.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Jan 07
Oh my gosh! How did you know. Is that a Texas thing, to drive slow in the left lane?
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Jan 07
LOL! Not it is, however, a Texas thing to show common courtesy on the road. For example, you know how us Texans move over to the shoulder of the road so that someone can pass. There is no other state out there that does this. ;-) I drove to TN once and OMG! It was a total nightmare. It was like there they drive in the left lane of the highway and pass on the right. I about went insane...lol. Thanks for the discussion
2 people like this
@msqtech (15074)
• United States
24 Jan 07
passing on the right is legal in most states with multi lane hiways
1 person likes this
@shoelover (896)
• Australia
23 Jan 07
In Australia the left lane is for normal driving and the right lane is for passing. Yes I agree it drives me insane when people are in the passing lane and stay the same speed as the people in the left lane so there is a large line of traffic in both lanes and nobody passing. It's like they want to block you in or something. It's the law that the right lane is for overtaking and the left lane is for normal driving. I do think a lot of drivers need to retake their driving tests. I'm sure a lot of them would fail. My hubby often says they look like they got their licenses out of a cornflake packet :)
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Jan 07
That's funny. I agree about people needing to retake a driving test.
2 people like this
@msqtech (15074)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I do not drive slow in the fast lane but the police will not penalize people who drive the limit in the fast lane
1 person likes this
@vhansen (2029)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I agree with you and it totally makes me nuts.The drivers here in S.A. are the worst.Seriously,I've driven all over the country and these people are horrible.They aren't even smart enough to be called idiots.They don't have a job that pays enough to get me drive cross town.I can almost get hit 3 times in the 5 blocks to the bank.Horrible.
• Spain
24 Jan 07
This thing are you saying is so....... I'm going to be cuiet XD
@nitrodona (418)
• Italy
25 Jan 07
I drive fast in left and righr lane! :P in Italy this is a big problem, happen that in freeway three lane go at the same speed and make one overtake will be take a minuts! is a very bad problem and this generate lot of risks because lot of driver overtake on right.
@crom07 (233)
• Philippines
24 Jan 07
driving in left lane means overtaking.. sometimes case to case basis its more clear to look at your right side mirror or sometimes in other countries they got a right hand drive..well me if i go to the left lane i will not slowdown it can cause an accident.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Jan 07
left lane is for passing and i cant stand it when there is someone there and you cant get around them makes me mad
@KHyuga (1694)
• Singapore
24 Jan 07
Yeah I know it is extremely frustrating but remember not to do anything rash.
• India
24 Jan 07
In India if I drive your way then I definately die. Anyhow, Some people drive slow because they are more consious or confused. Its not a big deal to overtake them. But not in absent minded or closed eyes otherwise you will never open your eyes.
• India
24 Jan 07
yes, i follow all the instruction u must also drive slow on that track to avoid accident.
• Sri Lanka
24 Jan 07
I always drive slow on the left lane and no one has complained. That is because in Sri Lanka, we have right hand drive cars and we drive on the left side of the road. But I never drive slow on the right hand side (left hand side in your part of the world). I am not in a hurry and have enough patience when I drive. I was once in Saudi Arabia, but it was impossible to drive on the left hand side. Vehicles travel so fast that if one slows down.. Bang.. accident.
@bsabers (668)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I never drive slow in the left lane, and it really upsets me when people will just be poking around in the left lane. In order to keep traffic moving nicely, you should follow the simple rule of the left lane being the "FAST LANE"
@maru_047in (1007)
• India
24 Jan 07
Ya v always drive slowly in the left lane left lane is meant to drive slow only i think so the people in the highway has something go wrong i think only little of those to that as per my view and not many does like that one who is stupid ll do that.
• United States
24 Jan 07
You are right. Slower drivers are suppose to stay in the right lane. The left lane is for passing. People who drive slow and stay in the left lane cause accidents. I will never understand why they do this. We learned in driver education that the right lane is for slower vehicles.
• Canada
24 Jan 07
well...I'm in Toronto. Same thing is here too. Left lane is the "fast" lane. If you're driving slow, unless you're intending to pass someone I don't think you should be there. Not it is against the law (which few people, especially speed lovers and maniacs do not abide by), but it's quite dangerous since speed lovers are going around 140 km/hr or more! So I suggest you stick to the right lane..just to be safe.
@kapriusa (135)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I am a new driver so i mostly drive in the left lane with slow speed and try to be safe.