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 Granite Staters, not only are they infuriating, but they could also be breaking the law.
What are the left lane driving laws in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire law requires drivers to stay in the right lane except when passing another vehicle, avoiding an obstruction in the right lane, 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 an audible signal and pass at a safe distance. You should not return to the right until you are “safely clear” of the other car.
The law also stipulates that cars should not drive continuously in the left lane of a multilane roadway if it impedes the flow of traffic at or below the posted speed limit, unless it’s reasonable to do so considering the hazards at the time.
What are the fines for driving in the left lane in New Hampshire?
Violators of New Hampshire’s left lane driving laws are guilty of a violation and subject to a fine of $50.
Can I exceed the speed limit in the left lane in New Hampshire?
No, you are not legally allowed to exceed the posted speed limit, even in the left lane passing a slower vehicle. In New Hampshire, the speed limit on most interstate highways is 65 miles per hour unless a posted sign says otherwise.
How do other states compare to New Hampshire's left lane law?
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire. 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 Portsmouth Herald: Is it illegal to drive slow in the left lane under New Hampshire law?
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