Virginia has a Left Lane Law on the books that makes it illegal to drive in the left lane under the speed limit or slower than other traffic on the road, with a fine of $100 for violations.
A survey by AAA Mid-Atlantic revealed that only 26 percent of Virginia drivers know about the law, which has been on the books since 2017.
AAA Mid-Atlantic has kicked off a football-themed campaign to try to tackle the issue of slow driving in the left lane here in the Commonwealth.
The Don’t Fumble the Pass initiative reminds drivers to move back to the right lane after passing on the left.
“We want Virginians to follow all traffic laws,” said Col. Gary T. Settle, superintendent of Virginia State Police. “Staying courteous, obeying speed limits, giving enough room when passing, not tailgating, and remaining focused on the road are all crucial in ensuring everyone gets to their destination safely.”
The AAA Mid-Atlantic poll shows that Virginia drivers are concerned about slow left-lane drivers.
- 49 percent of respondents reported regularly see slower drivers in the left lane creating slowdowns or backups on interstates and highways, with 23 percent saying they see it daily. Another 35 percent report “occasionally” seeing it on the roads.
- 50 percent say the action of staying in the left lane longer than needed to pass is dangerous, with nearly 1 out of 5 drivers saying it’s “very dangerous.”
- 57 percent of respondents have reported “often” witnessing dangerous behaviors like tailgating, aggressive driving and passing on the right due to slower drivers in the left lane with 27 percent reporting they see it happen “daily.”
- 10 percent of respondents admitted they had stayed in the left lane longer than needed in order to punish another driver’s behavior or to slow down faster drivers.
“The survey results are eye-opening in that many Virginia drivers admit to seeing slower drivers in the left lane impeding the traffic flow and have witnessed dangerous behaviors by other drivers because of it,” says Morgan Dean, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.
There isn’t specific traffic crash data on left lane loafers, but it is clear that aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors, that can be a side effect of slower drivers in the left hand lane or improper passing, are a factor in many crashes.
In 2021, according to The National Safety Council’s Injury Facts report, improper lane usage, aggressive driving, erratic lane changing, and following improperly were factors in 10 percent of all fatal crashes.
In Virginia alone in 2022, according to DMV, 1,568 crashes were related to someone passing improperly.
Share
Chris Graham
