We’ve all been there before. Stuck behind a left lane hog who refuses to change lanes despite having plenty of opportunities.
It’s a common annoyance on American highways but one police officer has been praised for taking action against people who slow down the flow of traffic.
In a tweet, Indiana State Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Stephen Wheeles posted a picture of a Chevrolet Captiva that he pulled over for a “left lane violation.” As Wheeles explained, the crossover had approximately 20 vehicles slowed down behind it because the driver wouldn’t change lanes. He added, “If there are vehicles behind you, you must move to the right lane to allow them to pass.”
Local ABC affiliate RTV6 reports Indiana passed a law in 2015 which gave officers the authority to ticket left lane drivers who refuse to let traffic pass. The fine can vary but the station notes violators can be hit with penalties of up to $500.
The law would likely be welcomed elsewhere and Wheeles noted Indiana State Troopers have issued 4,688 warnings to drivers. However, only 331 citations have been written since the law was passed.
While the law seems to encourage speeding, Wheeles noted it’s really about safety. As he explained, “The spirit of the law is that since many people drive well above the speed limit, it creates an ‘accordion effect’ as traffic starts backing up behind the slower vehicle.” He says this causes a number of accidents so the law was passed to prevent backups and improve safety.
Besides the obvious safety benefits, the law could help to reduce road rage as people are less likely to become angry when traffic is flowing freely and no one is causing slowdowns.
I stopped this vehicle today for a left lane violation on I-65. The driver had approximately 20 cars slowed behind her because she would not move back to the right lane.
Again…if there are vehicles behind you, you must move to the right lane to allow them to pass. pic.twitter.com/tePjJ1Xigy
— Sgt. Stephen Wheeles (@ISPVersailles) June 16, 2018