The short answer is…. because it endangers your life, the lives of the occupants of your car, and anyone unlucky enough to be using the same stretch of highway as you.
The greatest predictor of an accident is a situation where there is a driver who is driving at a variant speed compared to other drivers on the same highway. This is true even if the driver is driving below the speed limit or at the speed limit and the average speed of the other drivers is moving along at a faster pace. Having a slow driver in the left lane results is other drivers becoming frustrated and can lead to aggressive driving tactics or road rage when they have to pass on the right. It also causes both drivers to have variant speed and to change lanes.
And its not just illegal in Virginia, clogging up the left lane is also illegal in all 50 states.
Why is driving in the left lane appealing to so many drivers? It always seems like that slowest people are the ones traveling in the left lanes, doesn’t it? Some researchers believe that slower and often elderly drivers are drawn to the left lane because there are fewer cars traveling in it and they mistakenly believe that it is safer. They may also believe that they are teaching other drivers “a lesson” by modeling slower driving techniques. This only leads to road rage and the other drivers may resort to passing on the shoulder if the right lane is not clear or tailgating with frequent breaking which can easily lead to rear-end chain reaction accidents.
Another little known risk of driving in the left lane is being in a head-on collision with a wrong-way driver. Wrong-way drivers are often intoxicated and think they are driving in the right lane or the “slow lane”. If you are in the left lane when a wrong way driver has gotten confused and entered the highway going the wrong direction and the right lane has traffic, you may have no choice but to hit the driver head-on. Head-on collisions are some of the worst out there and are known for causing serious injuries or even death.
So, if it’s illegal to drive continuously in the left lane, what do we use the left lane for? The left lane is primarily for over-taking or passing vehicles on the right. It is also okay to move into the left lane to allow others drivers to merge and when preparing to turn left or take a left exit. You should also remember to move to the left lane when emergency vehicles such as wreckers, police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances are parked on the right emergency lane.
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an accident that was not their fault, call The Thomson Law Firm for a FREE consultation today. (540) 777-4900. Don’t wait to find a personal injury lawyer in Roanoke who can help you with your potential case. Call today and get the help you need.
