We've all been there: late to work, foot on the gas, and up ahead, a left-lane lingerer coasting five under the speed limit like they're on a scenic tour of the I-95.
Nothing brings drivers together quite like shared rage at some slowpoke who just won't leave the left lane. For Ocean Staters, not only are they infuriating, but they could also be breaking the law.
What are the left lane driving laws in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island law requires drivers to stay in the right lane except when passing another vehicle, when the right lane is closed, on a roadway with three marked traffic lanes, or on a roadway designated for one-way traffic.
Slower traffic must also keep right. This means that a vehicle about to be overtaken by another vehicle must give way to the right, unless they are preparing to turn left or also passing another vehicle.
If you are passing on the left, you must give a “timely, audible signal” and pass at a safe distance. You should not return to the right until you are “safely clear” of the other car.
What are the fines for driving in the left lane in Rhode Island?
Violators of Rhode Island’s left lane driving laws could be subject to a fine of up to $85.
Can I exceed the speed limit in the left lane in Rhode Island?
No, you are not legally allowed to exceed the posted speed limit, even in the left lane passing a slower vehicle. In Rhode Island, the speed limit on most interstate highways is 50 – 65 miles per hour unless a posted sign says otherwise.
How do other states compare to Rhode Island’s left lane law?
Rhode Island is one of the majority of states that regulate left-lane driving.
In fact, all 50 states have some form of "Keep Right" law, but what they actually mandate differs from state to state.
Most New England states have similar laws to Rhode Island. In Connecticut, a new state law will bring them more in line with states like Rhode Island and Massachusetts by allowing police to ticket drivers who are "camping" or cruising in the left lane of a highway without actively passing another car.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Is it illegal to drive slow in the left lane under Rhode Island law?
Comments