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Left lane is for passing – it’s the law

3 min read

I am engaging in an initial attempt to get the word out about a serious issue beginning to manifest itself along the stretch of Route 19 between Peters Township and Mt. Lebanon – left lane drivers. According to various sections/subsections of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, it is expressly stated that all vehicles must use the right hand lane, except when passing or making a left hand turn. It more specifically states that “Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into an alley, private road or driveway.”

I realize there are some grey areas in life regarding traffic laws. But please know that I spent some time looking over this particular section in the Motor Vehicle Code, and it is not grey. But don’t take my word for it – look it up yourselves and give it a sanity check.

With this in mind, left lane drivers are causing an amazing amount of unnecessary congestion. You have all experienced this, I’m sure. Specific to Peters Township, the speed limit along Route 19 is 40 mph. I am not suggesting that we all drive 60 along that stretch of road. But any reasonable exceedance of that limit is oftentimes impeded by drivers in the left lane driving at exactly the same speed as those in the right. Even when there is no vehicle on right, these drivers persist in the left lane, causing a potentially hazardous situation should an overtaking vehicle decide to pass on the right. Because of the orientation of the driver’s seat in American vehicles, studies have shown that it is much safer to pass on the left. Yet, we are so often forced to pass on the right (if we’re able to pass at all). But certainly, the congestion comes from the inability of faster drivers to pass slower moving vehicles. I have seen backups a half mile long because of one person refusing to yield the left lane. Not only is this illegal, but it’s downright inconsiderate. And more dangerously, is likely caused by unaware or distracted drivers.

And so I’d like to send along this plea to a couple of key audiences. First – to the left hand drivers, please obey the law, and pay more attention to your surroundings. At a minimum, you are causing unnecessary congestion. And at a maximum, you are creating a potentially unsafe driving environment. Second – to law enforcement, I respectfully ask that you more stringently enforce the law in this regard. I firmly believe that unnecessarily slow and sometimes distracted drivers are at least as dangerous as those significantly exceeding the speed limit. We live in a nation of laws, and are not allowed to selectively follow or enforce the ones of our choosing.

Brian Murdy

McMurray

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