8 ms·

What I've never understood about this idea is that it suggests that speeding must not be illegal in that passing lane. But that's not true. So then how does a

What I've never understood about this idea is that it suggests that speeding must not be illegal in that passing lane. But that's not true. So then how does a law for a passing lane work?

mulmen 10y ago
I'm not sure where you get the suggestion that there is no speed limit in the passing lane. We drive on the right so the safest place to pass is on the left where the driver is. If everyone stays right as much as possible and faster traffic (this does not imply speeding) can move left to pass then traffic flows smoothly. Where are you getting the impression that speeding is allowed anywhere?
- nkurz 10y ago
  > Where are you getting the impression that speeding is allowed anywhere? One reason is that in many places in the US, the normal traffic speed exceeds the legal posted limit by 5-15 miles per hour. If the law requires a driver travelling at the legal speed limit to stay out of the "passing lane" so that other drivers can pass, this would imply that the law condones speeding, since only a driver moving faster than the legal speed limit can make use of that lane. If the law was not intended to encourage exceeding the speed limit, it likely would have been written as something like "any driver moving less the legal speed limit must avoid the passing lane". Another reason is that some US states make exceptions to the normal speed limit when passing another vehicle on a two lane road: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2014/10/10/can-i-speed-while-passing/ http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2014/10/10/can-i-speed-..., http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/traffic_talk_comments_should_t_1.html http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/traffic_talk_com.... While one could argue that it's not "speeding" if it's not illegal, it's not unreasonable to interpret such laws as "allowing speeding" to pass.
  - mulmen 10y ago
    > If the law requires a driver travelling at the legal speed limit to stay out of the "passing lane" so that other drivers can pass, this would imply that the law condones speeding, since only a driver moving faster than the legal speed limit can make use of that lane. That's not how it works. The law is "stay right except to pass". This is true regardless of speed. Speeding is still illegal in any lane. The "stay right" rule is about not obstructing the flow of traffic, it has nothing to do with the posted speed limit. e: To clarify many people drive below the speed limit, in this case it is possible to pass them in a lane to the left without exceeding the speed limit.
    - nkurz 10y ago
      > The "stay right" rule is about not obstructing the flow of traffic I agree, but the crux is whether one is prohibited from obstructing just the legal flow of traffic, or from obstructing any flow of traffic. Different states define this differently. Indiana, for example, recently reworded their law to require you to allow any one to pass you even if they would be breaking the law to do so: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/new-indiana-law-move-over-slowpokes/article_154ca710-a423-583b-b7dc-00388ac0cabb.html http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/new-ind.... While this doesn't make speeding legal, it strongly implies that drivers who wish to illegally exceed the speed limit in Indiana have a right to do so.
      - mulmen 10y ago
        I disagree that the Indiana law implies a right to speed, it just says that traffic should not be impeded. If you are going 65mph in a 65mph zone on a two lane road and someone comes up behind you at 80mph and you move over to pass as required by that law it's still entirely possible that they will be pulled over after they pass you. The law is about reducing the hazards on the road. Impeding traffic flow is extremely dangerous, more so than most people seem to realize [2]. These laws also apply in cases where the passed vehicle is traveling below the speed limit. The "stay right" rule is about not obstructing traffic because doing so is very dangerous. If that traffic is speeding then yes, they are also technically in the wrong but it is important to also stay right and not create an even more hazardous situation. This also means the "cruise control pass" where one car slowly overtakes another is also illegal if it is delaying anyone else from passing. Washington State has a similar law [1] as does Idaho I believe. [1]: http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.427 http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.427 [2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqfodY2Lz0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqfodY2Lz0
ThrustVectoring 10y ago
Speeding is still illegal, but so is creating a traffic hazard by impeding drivers who wish to speed. The overall principle is that unsafe behavior on the road is prohibited. Full stop. It doesn't matter that your behavior is unsafe only because other people's behavior is also unsafe and prohibited. There's usually a clause in traffic ordinances that state something along the lines of "regardless of any of the other laws here, drivers have a duty to avoid collisions if they can."
Coincoin 10y ago
Basically, what speed other people drive is not of anyone business except the police. If you are not overtaking, stay right and let them take the risk.

What I've never understood about this idea is that it suggests that speeding must not be illegal in that passing lane. But that's not true. So then how does a law for a passing lane work?

mulmen 10y ago

I'm not sure where you get the suggestion that there is no speed limit in the passing lane. We drive on the right so the safest place to pass is on the left where the driver is. If everyone stays right as much as possible and faster traffic (this does not imply speeding) can move left to pass then traffic flows smoothly. Where are you getting the impression that speeding is allowed anywhere?

nkurz 10y ago
> Where are you getting the impression that speeding is allowed anywhere? One reason is that in many places in the US, the normal traffic speed exceeds the legal posted limit by 5-15 miles per hour. If the law requires a driver travelling at the legal speed limit to stay out of the "passing lane" so that other drivers can pass, this would imply that the law condones speeding, since only a driver moving faster than the legal speed limit can make use of that lane. If the law was not intended to encourage exceeding the speed limit, it likely would have been written as something like "any driver moving less the legal speed limit must avoid the passing lane". Another reason is that some US states make exceptions to the normal speed limit when passing another vehicle on a two lane road: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2014/10/10/can-i-speed-while-passing/ http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2014/10/10/can-i-speed-..., http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/traffic_talk_comments_should_t_1.html http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/traffic_talk_com.... While one could argue that it's not "speeding" if it's not illegal, it's not unreasonable to interpret such laws as "allowing speeding" to pass.
- mulmen 10y ago
  > If the law requires a driver travelling at the legal speed limit to stay out of the "passing lane" so that other drivers can pass, this would imply that the law condones speeding, since only a driver moving faster than the legal speed limit can make use of that lane. That's not how it works. The law is "stay right except to pass". This is true regardless of speed. Speeding is still illegal in any lane. The "stay right" rule is about not obstructing the flow of traffic, it has nothing to do with the posted speed limit. e: To clarify many people drive below the speed limit, in this case it is possible to pass them in a lane to the left without exceeding the speed limit.
  - nkurz 10y ago
    > The "stay right" rule is about not obstructing the flow of traffic I agree, but the crux is whether one is prohibited from obstructing just the legal flow of traffic, or from obstructing any flow of traffic. Different states define this differently. Indiana, for example, recently reworded their law to require you to allow any one to pass you even if they would be breaking the law to do so: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/new-indiana-law-move-over-slowpokes/article_154ca710-a423-583b-b7dc-00388ac0cabb.html http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/new-ind.... While this doesn't make speeding legal, it strongly implies that drivers who wish to illegally exceed the speed limit in Indiana have a right to do so.
    - mulmen 10y ago
      I disagree that the Indiana law implies a right to speed, it just says that traffic should not be impeded. If you are going 65mph in a 65mph zone on a two lane road and someone comes up behind you at 80mph and you move over to pass as required by that law it's still entirely possible that they will be pulled over after they pass you. The law is about reducing the hazards on the road. Impeding traffic flow is extremely dangerous, more so than most people seem to realize [2]. These laws also apply in cases where the passed vehicle is traveling below the speed limit. The "stay right" rule is about not obstructing traffic because doing so is very dangerous. If that traffic is speeding then yes, they are also technically in the wrong but it is important to also stay right and not create an even more hazardous situation. This also means the "cruise control pass" where one car slowly overtakes another is also illegal if it is delaying anyone else from passing. Washington State has a similar law [1] as does Idaho I believe. [1]: http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.427 http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.427 [2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqfodY2Lz0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqfodY2Lz0

ThrustVectoring 10y ago

Speeding is still illegal, but so is creating a traffic hazard by impeding drivers who wish to speed. The overall principle is that unsafe behavior on the road is prohibited. Full stop. It doesn't matter that your behavior is unsafe only because other people's behavior is also unsafe and prohibited. There's usually a clause in traffic ordinances that state something along the lines of "regardless of any of the other laws here, drivers have a duty to avoid collisions if they can."

Coincoin 10y ago

Basically, what speed other people drive is not of anyone business except the police. If you are not overtaking, stay right and let them take the risk.