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<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>
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