Left-Lane Driving Laws by State: What You Should Know (2024)
Left-lane driving laws exist in 27 states, requiring slower vehicles not passing or turning to stay in the right lane. These laws help promote good traffic flow and avoid congestion. Below, we'll see where it's illegal to drive in the left lane on a highway or interstate and why the left lane is for passing only.
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Jimmy McMillan
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Jimmy McMillan is an entrepreneur and the founder of HeartLifeInsurance.com, an independent insurance brokerage. His company specializes in insurance for people with heart problems. He knows personally how difficult it is to secure health and life insurance after a heart attack. Jimmy is a licensed insurance agent from coast to coast who has been featured on ValientCEO and the podcast Modern Li...
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UPDATED: Feb 15, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Feb 15, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
27 states have left-lane driving laws, where drivers must stay right if they’re traveling slowly. However, all states have some sort of keep right law with differing restrictions.
So, drivers can receive a ticket for driving slow in the left lane for too long. Getting a ticket is one of many factors that affect auto insurance rates significantly, and varies by state and provider.
Read More: Auto Insurance Rates by State
If you broke the left-lane driving law and need cheap auto insurance for a bad driving record, evaluate multiple quotes from the best auto insurance companies. Read on to compare left-lane laws by state and learn the consequences of left-lane camping.
States With Left-Lane Driving Laws
State “keep right” laws or the left-lane law dictates proper use of the passing lane. In many states, left lanes on the interstates are designed for passing slower vehicles rather than solely using them to evade traffic congestion.
Driving is a pretty uniform practice across the United States, so most of us don't think twice before crossing new state lines. However, many states have their own traffic laws that pose legal penalties and physical dangers if not obeyed.Jeffrey Johnson Insurance Lawyer
The left-lane law seems to be a trend in the nation’s Southern states, with Indiana and Georgia enacting their own slowpoke laws in 2015 and 2014 respectively.
Left-lane cruisers, as they’re known, can no longer hog the country’s busy motorways and interstates in the passing lane.
If you happen to be one of the “slowpokes,” perhaps it’s time to work on driving the minimum posted speed limit, and remember: going slower means stay right.
So, what states is it illegal to drive in the left lane? Though every state has some type of restriction regarding the left lane, these restrictions vary greatly. Here’s a summary of the various versions of the left-lane law in America:
- 4 states: You must stay right with several exceptions
- 5 states: Left-lane driving is prohibited if going under the speed limit
- 6 states: You must move right if you’re blocking traffic
- 8 states: Left-lane travel is prohibited except for turning and passing
- 27 states: You must stay right if you’re driving slower than the cars around you
As you can see, most states have strict laws in place about which lane you drive in. The eight states where it’s illegal to drive in the left lane except for turning left or passing are Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and West Virginia.
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Dangers of Left-Lane Driving
What are the dangers of left-lane driving? Many people don’t realize the dangers hanging out in the left lane can causes. Take a couple of minutes to learn why slower drivers should stay right, and the left lane should only be used for left-lane passing and turning.
Driving just 5 mph slower than everyone else on the highway increases the risk of another driver causing an accident while attempting to pass you. According to Nolo’s legal site, you can actually get a ticket for driving too slow and impeding traffic.
When left lanes are used only for passing, however, the risk of collision is decreased since drivers can pass multiple cars at once and quickly resume their place on the right-hand side.
This not only makes the motorway a safer place for everyone involved but also decreases the frequency of drops in speed and disrupted traffic flow.
For that reason, to answer the question, “Which lane is the slow lane on highways?”, it is always the right-hand lane. That is essentially what the right lane is used for — both for driving slowly and to exit the highway as well.
This rule is important for making the streets a safer place and likely a rule that the states with the best drivers are already following. It can reduce accidents and even reckless driving behavior, which often occurs when a driver is forced to change lanes rapidly due to people camping in the left lane.
More About Left-Lane Camping Restrictions
It’s your responsibility to understand and obey the left-lane driving laws in your home state and any state you plan to travel through. Highways and faster speeds always pose a greater risk of collision, but you can protect yourself and those around you by being a safe driver who abides by the law.
Safe driving can also affect your auto insurance rates, with many auto insurance companies offering discounts for safe drivers, including vanishing deductibles, driver’s ed discounts, and attending defensive driver courses.
Read More:
- How do vanishing or disappearing deductibles work?
- How to Get a Defensive Driver Auto Insurance Discount
- How to Get a Driver’s Ed Auto Insurance Discount
If you’re facing higher rates after a left-lane violation, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool to find the right types of auto insurance coverage for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is left lane driving allowed in all states?
No, left lane driving is prohibited in many states. In 27 states, drivers who are going slower than the traffic speed must stay in the right-hand lane. Left lane driving is only allowed for passing slower traffic or making a turn.
Which states have specific laws against left lane driving?
Several states have implemented laws restricting left lane usage, including Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and West Virginia. However, it’s important to be aware of the specific laws in each state you’re driving through.
What is the purpose of the left-lane law?
The left-lane law restricts the use of the left lane to turning or passing slower traffic. This law aims to improve safety on the roads and prevent accidents caused by slower drivers impeding traffic flow.
Are there any penalties for driving in the left lane?
Yes, drivers can be ticketed for driving too slow and impeding traffic flow. Violating the left-lane law can result in penalties and fines depending on the state.
What are the dangers of left-lane driving?
Left-lane driving can be dangerous when slower drivers impede the flow of traffic. It increases the risk of accidents, as faster drivers have to make sudden maneuvers to pass slower vehicles. Slower drivers should stay in the right-hand lane to maintain safety on the road.
Can driving in the left lane result in a traffic ticket?
Yes, both driving too slow and driving too fast in the left lane can lead to a traffic ticket. Slow drivers impeding traffic flow can be ticketed for violating the keep right law, while fast drivers may receive a ticket for reckless driving.
Can left lane driving result in increased auto insurance rates?
Yes, both drivers involved in left lane violations, i.e., the slower driver and the faster driver, could be ticketed, which may lead to higher auto insurance rates.
What lane should drivers stay in on the highway?
Drivers should choose the appropriate lane based on their speed. Faster drivers should use the left-most lane, while slower drivers should stay in the right-most lane. Impeding traffic flow can result in a ticket.
How should drivers behave on a three-lane highway?
On a three-lane highway, slower drivers should still keep to the right-most lane, just like on a two-lane highway. The left lane is typically reserved for passing or higher-speed traffic.
Do drivers have to let others merge?
Drivers already on the road are not required to let others merge, but it is generally considered courteous to allow merging as long as it’s done safely and without cutting off other vehicles.
Does the left-lane law apply if I’m driving the speed limit?
Yes, in most cases, the left-lane law still applies if you’re driving the speed limit. Studies have found driving the speed limit when it causes other cars to switch lanes repeatedly is actually more dangerous than speeding, with some law enforcement officers giving tickets to those slowpoke drivers.
Read More:
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Jimmy McMillan
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jimmy McMillan is an entrepreneur and the founder of HeartLifeInsurance.com, an independent insurance brokerage. His company specializes in insurance for people with heart problems. He knows personally how difficult it is to secure health and life insurance after a heart attack. Jimmy is a licensed insurance agent from coast to coast who has been featured on ValientCEO and the podcast Modern Li...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.