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-89.
Nothing brings drivers together quite like shared rage at some slowpoke who just won't leave the left lane. For Vermonters, not only are they infuriating, but they could also be breaking the law.
What are the left lane driving laws in Vermont?
Vermont 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 going slower than the normal speed of traffic at the time or being 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 pass at a safe distance. You should return to the right lane “as soon as practicable.” Vermont law says you must not pass another vehicle when approaching or upon the crest of a hill or a curve where your view is obstructed, when 100 feet of a railroad crossing, or when your view is obstructed approaching a bridge or tunnel.
What are the fines for driving in the left lane in Vermont?
Violators of Vermont's left lane driving laws are guilty of a civil violation and subject to a minimum fine of $47, according to the Vermont Judicial Bureau.
Can I exceed the speed limit in the left lane in Vermont?
No, you are not legally allowed to exceed the posted speed limit, even in the left lane passing a slower vehicle. In Vermont, the speed limit on most public highways is 60 miles per hour unless a posted sign says otherwise.
How do other states compare to Vermont's left lane law?
Vermont 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 Burlington Free Press: Is it illegal to drive slow in the left lane under Vermont law?
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