Why Does Maryland Have Such Weak Passing Lane Laws? (appointed, calculation)

[Calvin C]

We see this every day - cars driving in formation across all lanes. Inevitably the person in the left lane is on the phone, minding the children or simply wants to lounge at the expense of everyone else. It is more common to find the right lanes moving the fastest because all the slower drivers have camped in the left.

If there was one law that could help everyone out it would be designating the left lane as a passing lane. Right now there is no law in Maryland that encourages drivers to do so. It is only a mention in the learner's guide, which is quickly forgotten. We need something to let drivers know they should not be camping on the left lane. It would save our state billions of dollars and wasted hours in commuting time.

[dkf747]

Will cops enforce it if it's a law? Seems like they don't bother in a lot of states.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Calvin C

Why Does Maryland Have Such Weak Passing Lane Laws?

Q: Why do most smaller eastern states have weak passing lane laws?
A: They work better on less congested roads more typical of the west.

But yeah, there is still no good excuse for camping out in the left lane.
About the only worse behavior is from the self appointed deputies who try to pace traffic.

Compiled list by state: State "keep right" laws

[ay jayy]

Those laws are for areas with little traffic. Can you imagine 270 or 95 at rush hour with people using the left lane only as a passing lane? Not possible.

[Calvin C]

Technically cars on the left lane in a traffic jam are passing

It is not as much a matter of enforcement as letting people know that it is not okay to squat in the left lane. If you challenge someone at the moment, half of the time they will tell you that they have never heard of such a law and that they have a right to lane hog. The more useful thing would be signs on the highway encouraging drivers to give way to passing traffic. Most of the time drivers just don't know.

[MidValleyDad]

But on limited access roads sometimes the idea is that thru traffic should keep left leaving the right lane free(er) for traffic merging on and off. And sometimes trucks are restriicted from the Left lane so they can not use it to pass. And then there are the places where the left lane is restricted to HOV traffic.

Yes keeping right except to pass is GENERALLY a good idea but no matter how you word the law some idiot would screw it up.

[Calvin C]

It sounds complicated, however most states have do it so I reckon Maryland could too. The law could require the left lane to give way to faster traffic.

[Phyxius]

Originally Posted by ay jayy

Those laws are for areas with little traffic. Can you imagine 270 or 95 at rush hour with people using the left lane only as a passing lane? Not possible.

I disagree. With very few left hand exits on both 270 and I-95, there is no excuse for the left lane to be as congested as the other lanes. The problems lies when people traveling in the left lane when they have no business being there in the first place. You often see cars in the left lane in little traffic that creates heavy traffic. The clueless driver is apparently unaware of the pile of cars behind them. Traffic behind the clueless driver makes matters worst by tailgating. Eventually the car behind will eventually use their brake and so does everyone else.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by Phyxius

I disagree. With very few left hand exits on both 270 and I-95, there is no excuse for the left lane to be as congested as the other lanes. .

Sure there is. Try these calculations sometime:

Appendix N: Procedures for Estimating Highway Capacity - HPMS Field Manual - Highway Performance Monitoring System - Policy Information - FHWA

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by Calvin C

It sounds complicated, however most states have do it so I reckon Maryland could too. The law could require the left lane to give way to faster traffic.

They should do it, but if there's no enforcement, nothing will change. . People will say that they're going the speed limit so they don't have to give way, despite the law saying they have to. That's what Virginians often say, and they do have the law already.