posts/2019-08-30-keep-right-except-to-pass.md


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---
permalink: "/posts/{{categories}}/{{slug}}"
title: Keep Right Except to Pass
categories:
  - automotive
tags:
  - left lane hogs
  - virginia drivers
  - passing lane
  - thru lanes
excerpt_separator: "\n\n\n"
published_date: "2019-08-30 19:57:34 +0000"
layout: post.liquid
is_draft: false
---
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 

> LEFT LANE IS
> FOR PASSING
> NOT CRUISING

Believe it or not this has been the law throughout Virginia for years. 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.

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.

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. 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.