Oklahoma Busting Slow Drivers In The Left Lane

[Kor37 9]

Hallelujah! Oklahoma busting slow drivers in left lane

Posted Jan 11th 2008 7:28AM by Jonathon Ramsey

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Videos, Driving

 

If there is anything worse than someone doing tortoise-like speed in the left lane, it's someone doing tortoise-like speed in the left lane and driving next to someone doing tortoise-like speed in the right lane. Oklahoma State Troopers aren't having any more of it and have begun enforcing the state's left lane law.

 

Section 41-11-301 dictates that "Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane when available for traffic..." What this means is that unless you're doing at least the speed limit or are about to make a left turn, you need to stay out of the left passing lane or risk being pulled over by the guys with the flashing rooftop lights.

 

The OK troopers say this is about getting out of the way for police and emergency service vehicles who shouldn't have to wait for slower drivers to exit the left lane. But seeing that any rushing authority is usually going well over 65 MPH, and folks in the news video were being pulled over for doing 62, we don't see how 3 MPH would really make that difference. Not that we're complaining, because it takes all of our green tea and feng shui to stay calm when we rock up behind slowpokes in the left passing lane. For now, however, folks in OK getting pulled over receive nothing more than a warning. Soon, however, Oklahoma troopers will start handing out $206 tickets. If you want to know how your state feels about the matter, check out the list of "keep right" laws.

 

 

I wish Maryland would do that. My middle finger gets awfully tired sometimes.........

Edited January 15, 2008 by Kor37

[GhostofMajorHayes 10]

Its about time slow drivers got what they deserved.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named 2]

Coming from the worst traffic area outside of New York City and possibly Los Angeles I wholeheartedly agree. H 101 and I 280 were built for 1960s traffic, but even with our dense population the highways would work fine if it weren't for slow *buttocks* drivers. The gardening trucks are the worst. They have a top speed of about 40 MPH and it takes then quite a while to work up to that. That leaves a whole lot of space in front of them. People cut in when they can and they can't even get up to the speed of traffic if they want to. And of course if you are behind one of them you have to go as slow as they do which means you can't gain enough speed to safely change lanes.

[trekz 7]

Slow drivers in the passing lane deserve tickets. Period. Every state should have this law.

 

While I agree that drivers should drive the speed limit (road conditions permitting), one person's "tortoise-like speed" could be 20 miles or 10 miles or 5 miles under the limit, while another person gets upset at 'slow drivers" that actually are driving the speed limit, or even a few miles over the posted speed limit, IN THE SLOW LANE - ie. the right lane when there are two lanes going the same direction. Not every driver wants or needs to go over the speed limit. The speed limit is there for a reason. Pass if you're in a hurry. But, signal your intentions, and don't cut people off after passing, or else you are just as much of a menace, or perhaps even more of one, than a law abiding driver in the slow lane imo.

Edited January 16, 2008 by trekz