Bill Would Make Some Left-Lane Driving Illegal

A new bill in the Ohio House proposing to increase the speed limit on interstate highways to 70 also would make staying in the left lane generally illegal unless drivers are exiting or passing slower vehicles.

House Bill 395 will have its first hearing today.

“If someone’s in the left-hand lane and someone’s trying to pass them on the right…that is dangerous,” said state Rep. Ron Maag, R-Lebanon, the bill’s sponsor. “Give me one reason why someone should be driving in that (left) lane and not passing.”

Well, for one, according to the State Highway Patrol, it might be “almost impossible” to reserve an entire lane for passing vehicles only.

“We believe both lanes are needed to maintain the traffic flow with the amount of traffic on a four-lane, divided interstate,” said Lt. Anne Ralston, a patrol spokeswoman.

Current Ohio law requires drivers to use the right or center lanes, with a number of exceptions. The proposed legislation essentially would limit the leeway of left-lane users to mosey down the interstates.

Accordingly, motorists would not be permitted to travel in the left-hand lane except when exiting, passing or allowing other vehicles to enter the right lane, or when existing road conditions would make driving a vehicle in the right lane unsafe.

Ralston said she can’t determine how troopers would enforce tougher laws restricting left-hand-lane use without seeing the final legislation. But “it does raise concerns of how things are going to be enforced,” she said.

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