Ore. legislator proposes 'keep right' driving law
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Frustrated by slow drivers who don't stay to the right, a state lawmaker has proposed a bill that would make it illegal to drive in the left lane of interstate highways unless passing another vehicle.
"If you're not passing, stay out of the left lane," said Sen. Ginny Burdick (D-Portland), the measure's sponsor. "It's really not that hard."
Burdick, who commutes to the Capitol daily, testified in support of the bill Monday before the Senate Business and Transportation Committee. She said the measure would improve traffic flow by clearing the left lane for drivers to safely overtake vehicles that are on the right.
The law would not apply when traffic is heavily congested.
Under the bill, drivers could face penalties of up to $1,000. But Burdick says the proposal's primary purpose is to educate drivers, not penalize them.
A handful of other states have keep-right laws on their books, including Washington, which Burdick pointed to as a model.
Burdick's bill would amend a current state law that she said is "vague and imprecise." The current law prohibits trailers, campers and trucks from driving in the left lane unless passing. The bill would expand this law to include all vehicles.
In 2012, Oregon state police troopers cited 125 drivers for left lane-related violations, according to police statistics.
In the same year, the Washington State Patrol stopped 14,241 drivers for left-lane violations. Of those stops, troopers ticketed 1,097 motorists, about 10 percent, according to Washington State police statistics.
"We treat this as an education issue rather than an enforcement issue," said Robert Calkins, a Washington State Patrol spokesman. He said there are some areas throughout the state where motorists can drive in the left lane. These spots are clearly marked by road signs.
The Oregon bill seemed to resonate with the committee members, who each had a story to tell about being stuck on Interstate 5 behind a slow-moving vehicle. But some had concerns.
"So will it make things better or worse?" committee Chairman Lee Beyer, D-Eugene, asked Ted Phillips, director of Oregon State Police Patrol Services.
Phillips laughed and said only that he has witnessed reckless driving resulting from drivers frustrated with slower vehicles in the left lane.
Committee member Fred Girod, R-Stayton, said he was worried the measure may negatively impact drivers like himself who use speed control during their daily commutes.
"The bill has nothing to do with how fast anybody's going," Burdick clarified. She said the bill's aim is strictly to keep the left lane open so drivers can easily and safely pass vehicles.
Burdick said the bill has received a lot of support already and hopes it will be up for a Senate floor vote soon.
"If you're not passing, stay out of the left lane," said Sen. Ginny Burdick (D-Portland), the measure's sponsor. "It's really not that hard."
Burdick, who commutes to the Capitol daily, testified in support of the bill Monday before the Senate Business and Transportation Committee. She said the measure would improve traffic flow by clearing the left lane for drivers to safely overtake vehicles that are on the right.
The law would not apply when traffic is heavily congested.
Under the bill, drivers could face penalties of up to $1,000. But Burdick says the proposal's primary purpose is to educate drivers, not penalize them.
A handful of other states have keep-right laws on their books, including Washington, which Burdick pointed to as a model.
Burdick's bill would amend a current state law that she said is "vague and imprecise." The current law prohibits trailers, campers and trucks from driving in the left lane unless passing. The bill would expand this law to include all vehicles.
In 2012, Oregon state police troopers cited 125 drivers for left lane-related violations, according to police statistics.
In the same year, the Washington State Patrol stopped 14,241 drivers for left-lane violations. Of those stops, troopers ticketed 1,097 motorists, about 10 percent, according to Washington State police statistics.
"We treat this as an education issue rather than an enforcement issue," said Robert Calkins, a Washington State Patrol spokesman. He said there are some areas throughout the state where motorists can drive in the left lane. These spots are clearly marked by road signs.
The Oregon bill seemed to resonate with the committee members, who each had a story to tell about being stuck on Interstate 5 behind a slow-moving vehicle. But some had concerns.
"So will it make things better or worse?" committee Chairman Lee Beyer, D-Eugene, asked Ted Phillips, director of Oregon State Police Patrol Services.
Phillips laughed and said only that he has witnessed reckless driving resulting from drivers frustrated with slower vehicles in the left lane.
Committee member Fred Girod, R-Stayton, said he was worried the measure may negatively impact drivers like himself who use speed control during their daily commutes.
"The bill has nothing to do with how fast anybody's going," Burdick clarified. She said the bill's aim is strictly to keep the left lane open so drivers can easily and safely pass vehicles.
Burdick said the bill has received a lot of support already and hopes it will be up for a Senate floor vote soon.
This is a law in WA? If so, it doesn't work. WA drivers are a hundred times worse than OR drivers, or any other state for that matter.
What does the picture have to do with the story? That kind of situation would be exempt under the new law.Â
I think there is already a law against impeding traffic, we don't need a new law. When you get away from the city, and everyone is doing the speed limit, why shouldn't we spread out and use all the lanes? If some maniac wants to go 20 over, you can always move over and let him dig his own grave.
Police do it all the time. Time and again I have seen police cars in the fast lane just traveling along at or just below the speed limit. They make no effort to move over for others.
@dmw2913Â The fast lane is not a lane that allows people to break the law. If the police were traveling at or just below the speed limit and moved over then they would be moving over to allow speeders. Kind of goes against some basic principles about the police...
I think it's more dangerous to have to continue going in and out of lanes just to pass someone in front of you. So you cannot be in the left lane if you are not passing someone? Well, what if you have 6 people in front of you that are going barely 55 and you want to go 60? I see no problem with people driving in the fast lane(as I grew up calling it) and people shouldn't get fined for it. The cops should be looking for the slowpokes that drive in the left lane. If you aren't doing the speed limit or up to 5 over, then you should get a ticket. And yes for those that say going over the speed limit by any amount is wrong, I don't agree. Maintaining a constant speed and staying in one lane(not holding up traffic) is the safest way to drive.
125 Vs 14,241...yeah...he is looking at it as a potential revenue source....FIRST it will be a secondary item..then, just like WA it will become a primary offense. Which can be the RC for stopping a driver and TICKETING THEM...$$$KAChing$$$!!
People in Portland are insanely baffled on how a gas peddle works and the general rules of the road. No big surprise such a law is being proposed.Â
Time for WSP to start penalizing people, instead of educating them. If they can't read the big signs stating "KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS" then there is no hope of education. Simply fine them off the roadways and clear them for the rest of us who know how to drive. Otherwise the problem of clogged highways will only continue to get worse (not the only factor, yes, I know).
@dg54321 I'd rather have a "Don't be on the road if you are a dumbass" law. I can't count the number of things I've seen people do that should land them in jail.
@SeattleJoe @dg54321 I don't know what's going on but the last week alone we've almost been run off the road and avoided accidents WAY more than usual....full moon I guess.
@dg54321 @SeattleJoe I hear you there. I recently had a Prius cut in front of me and there couldn't have been a micron of space between my front bumper and their car.Â
"...is to educate drivers, not penalize them."Â That's the funnest thing I've heard in years.
It works great in Germany, sometimes in France, not at all in Italy and sometimes in Spain in season. Lane ? in Greece.
Lets see - when do Alaskans worry about roads?
@contraryjim Works great in Germany because they enforce the HELL out of it. They also have lower mortality rates and injury rates then the USA.
One of the news stations did a study about this very topic. They had a reporter go 1 or 2 MPH below the speed limit. You could see from the footage from the air that it caused a major traffic jam.  Also, his camera in the car showed quite a few drivers swerving around him, flipping him off, yelling at him, etc. They proceeded to interview someone from the WSP and they said that without a doubt, people that go slow or hold up traffic in the left lane are a significant contributing factor of road rage.Â
They should just call it the Prius Penalty
It's never enforced here despite being a law. Makes me mad too, stupid "I'm going to go 50 in the left lane cause I'm an idiot" people in my way.
Amen to that, it's been enforced in Europe for a very long time, slow pokes stay in the right lane
Not sure why we get so many Oregon stories here but...
Someone should tell Oregon legislators that we've had the same law here for decades and it does diddly-squat. It's not enforced and most drivers could give a rat's you-know-what. Just another example in a long line of laws that don't produce a desired result (anti-gunners take a note).
@jimbob thats the problem, It is not enforced.
It's a law in this State. I only wish it were enforced more frequently. These ignorant drivers that insist they have the 'right' to pace the car to their right only add to the tension on road and beyond that it impedes traffic. The Europeans have this down to a science. You'll get flashed in a nano second. It is rare however.... not only is it a law over there as well... it is a common courtesy. One I wish folks over here would embrace.
@d_2 I got a ticket for passing a car that was going under the speed limit in the left lane...and by bringing this law into the argument, I got my ticket dropped. While rarely enforced it can be used in your behalf.
@d_2I agree, when I was driving in Germany they were pretty good about using the left turn signal to signal the car ahead that they need to move out of the left lane. This also has the added benefit of showing the car behind you that you are trying to get some idiot of out of the left lane if they can't see that you're blocked.
Make it illegal to pass on the right as well.Â