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Why is it important to stay right except to pass?

On Behalf of | Apr 20, 2017 | Car Accidents |

If you have ever driven on one of Georgia’s many multi-lane highways, you may have observed a driver who stubbornly remained in the left lane despite the fact that the other cars on the road were going much faster. This practice is considered illegal in many states. In Georgia, the law says that cars going slower than the rest of the traffic on the road should keep right. In fact, violation of this law is actually considered a misdemeanor, according to Vox.

You may be under the impression that drivers who speed are the cause of many accidents on the road. However, many accidents actually result from cars traveling at different speeds in different lanes. For example, some highways in Germany have high or no speed limits but have fewer accidents and fatalities because lane maintenance is strictly enforced.

Slower drivers who fail to stay right not only block the overall flow of traffic and cause congestion, they also make the road more dangerous. Drivers who wish to go faster must then weave between the slower cars on the road and slam on the brakes when they come up behind someone going slow in the wrong lane. That is what is more likely to lead to an accident, rather than the fact that the person was driving fast in the first place.

Statistics show that 10 percent of highway accidents are caused by people changing lanes. Therefore, if you want to remain safe on the road, you should stay right unless you are actively passing someone. This is general information on this topic and is not intended to be legal advice.

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