path: root/posts/2019-08-30-keep-right-except-to-pass.php

<h1>Left Lane is for Passing, Not Cruising</h1>

<p>
	Greetings fellow drivers of Hampton Roads. You may have noticed a new
	sign on I264 today that befuddled or confused you. It went something
	along the lines of
</p>

<blockquote>LEFT LANE IS FOR PASSING NOT CRUISING</blockquote>

<p>
	Believe it or not this has been the law throughout Virginia for years
	(<a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-804/">read about it here</a>
	and
	<a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-842.1/">here</a>). The law states you keep right except while passing. In most other
	states things work this way but in Virginia, especially around here, the
	left lane is treated as a moving, cruising lane. If you're in the left
	lane and you've completed a pass please be mindful of the cars behind
	you and move back over into the right-hand lane(s) so that other drivers
	can do the same.
</p>

<p>
	It's really nice when this is practiced (like I said, I've experienced
	it in other states) because you can easily move over when there are slow
	vehicles ahead and then continue on your merry way. It reduces
	congestion and prevents people from having to pass in the right lane,
	which is both annoying and dangerous. Especially since this is typically
	the lane cars from entrance and exit ramps are merging with.
</p>

<p>
	Don't forget too that it isn't rude or road-rage-y for someone behind
	you to honk their horn or flash their lights if you're moving too slowly
	in the passing lane. This is a perfectly polite request to pass you. You
	don't set or enforce the speed limit. The correct (and legal) thing to
	do, believe it or not, is to move over and slow down to let them pass
	you. It's all about safe and sane driving etiquette. If you aren't
	actively passing other cars, move on over to the right. It goes a long
	way.
</p>