General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why you shouldn't drive slowly in the left lane - Vox (Finally! this is one of my pet peeves!) [View all]Martin Eden
(12,845 posts)In heavy traffic on a 2-lane interstate (both lanes full) cars in the faster lane are continuously in the process of passing cars in the other lane. Following the KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS rule, you never have to move back into the right lane -- unless faster traffic is piling up behind you and there is a growing gap between your vehicle and the traffic in front of you.
Taken in context with your comment about the speed limit, it sounds like that's what you're doing. If so, you are creating a traffic hazard when faster vehicles attempt to pass you in the small gaps that temporarily appear on the right. They have to accelerate and cut back in front of you just in time before they reach an even slower vehicle in the right lane.
The reality of traffic on interstates and metropolitan expressways is that a high percentage of vehicles exceed the speed limit. In the western suburbs of Chicago where I live, if I go 5mph over the limit I am being passed by about 75% of vehicles on the road (in traffic where those speeds are attainable). Regardless of the legal speed limit and my attitude towards those drivers, if I stay in the left lane I am making the situation even more dangerous -- especially when there is more traffic, not less.