Colo. Cracks Down on Left-Lane Dawdling

[Tom]

Its about time.
================
DENVER Apr 4, 2005 — Colorado is serious about its no-dawdling law in left lanes. Drivers who insist on staying in the passing lane are risking tickets as the State Patrol has begun enforcing a law requiring motorists to use the left lane for passing only.

Since the patrol started enforcing the "Left Lane Law" three months ago, troopers have written about 460 tickets or about an average of five a day to drivers who dawdle in the left lane.

The law applies in zones with speed limits of 65 mph or higher. It took effect July 1, but troopers gave drivers until January to get used to the new law; warnings were issued instead of tickets.

Master Trooper Ron Watkins said that since the ticketing campaign began three months ago about 90 percent of the drivers he has pulled over for dawdling or cruising in the left lane said they didn't know that it was illegal to do so.

Violators of the left lane rule may be fined up to $41 and have three points tacked onto their driver's licenses. The law is not enforced when the highway is too congested to allow drivers to pass.


Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=639205

 

[DrivingTopless]

AMEN! We need that in all 50 states. However I'd settle for CT being the second state to adopt it.

 

[bmw046series]

I agree, but the bad part about this is when you get on some roads it can be dangerous because of animals, if you are in the right lane usally you can see them and react, but if you are in the left lane (where the deer usally are), smaller reaction time to stop or swerve about 80% of the time deer are in the left lane to cross the highway.

 

[codex57]

We defintely need this. I know there's a ton of wiggle room, but I hope the hassle of fighting the ticket makes all the left lane campers think twice about sitting out there.

 

[DRWWE]

I wish this would happen in California. We have regulations about everything else so I'm suprised this isn't already on the books.

[driving2]

 

[Kirby]

We've had this law in Pennsylvania for about 5 years but enforcement is sporadic. I have seen left lane cruisers on the turnpike, being followed by a State Trooper for miles and not get pulled over.

That's one thing I loved about driving in Germany, Austria, northern Italy and the UK - they REALLY respect this law, and 99.9% of the drivers follow it to the letter. Traffic flows SO MUCH better. When I got back from England last week, I was ready to go postal on drivers on I-78 in New Jersey.

Article - http://www.mcall.com/news/local/roa...080604,0,17494.story?coll=all-roadwarrior-hed

 

[chuck abbott]

right on codeEX57. As a colorado resident I can't think of a better way to move those left lane hogs out of the way.

 

[Steve176]

You are right that it is about time to get the slow pokes out of the left lane. I can't believe that people don't know that the left lane is for passing. That is driver school 101. By giving tickets it will make the roads safer and reduce road rage. As for driving in the left lane because of animals, I don't think that is a good reason. We have deer all over the place, you hit them no matter what lane you are in.

 

[Big Daddy]

I think what he is saying about the deer is that if your in the left lane you have more manuver room. (Maybe I am wrong?) On hwy 18 here in Washington state the deer are a common cause of accidents. When I see them they are usually on the right shoulder and when there is no other traffic I drive the left lane to give me more options, however if there is other traffic I move right. I understand what you are saying too Steve I have seen them deceased in all lanes of traffic.

 

[///M SPEED]

[

I think what he is saying about the deer is that if your in the left lane you have more manuver room. (Maybe I am wrong?) On hwy 18 here in Washington state the deer are a common cause of accidents. When I see them they are usually on the right shoulder and when there is no other traffic I drive the left lane to give me more options, however if there is other traffic I move right. I understand what you are saying too Steve I have seen them deceased in all lanes of traffic.

No kidding! Highway 18 is one of the most deadly highways in the nation. Trees have even fallen on passing vehicles....

P.S. Dan you left an “e” out on manuver = maneuver…

 

[Big Daddy]

Oh man, your a moderator why didn't you fix that for m ? Hehe.

 

[///M SPEED]

Your Big Daddy, I didn't want to get my hand slapped for altering your post.....hehe [joke]

 

[Big Daddy]

Hehe thanks sometimes I type tooo fastttt to seeee what I ammmm typingggg and leave thins ot or pt toooo muh in. Hehe

 

[///M SPEED]

It's legible and that is all that matters....

 

[Big Daddy]

Ok back to the post and sorry for the hyjack!

I have said over and over WSP needs to begin a campaign in Washington state on this issue. We are the "home" of "left lane hogs".

 

[///M SPEED]

Ok back to the post and sorry for the hyjack!

I have said over and over WSP needs to begin a campaign in Washington state on this issue. We are the "home" of "left lane hogs".

And their piglets....

 

[MrElussive]

I would love to live in Colorado, purely for the roads. Denver is pretty busy, but Vail, oh man they got some amazing highways. Not much traffic at all, the roads are smooth as glass, and the speed limit is 75mph and you're driving through/around the mountains so it's all curves and uphills and downhills. God damn I would love to blast through that shit at 85mph on a daily basis.

 

[Average Jae]

awww, a mod bonding moment... get a room kids!!

the biggest gripe about lane hoggers is not so much about hanging out in the left lane, but because they won't move! i for one could careless if you drive in the passing lane, for deer and whatever the reason, but just have enough sense to freakin get out of the way, when someone needs to go faster!

i'm with Kirby on euro drivers. we should make a left blinker law!

 

[foomonkey525i]

People around here are usually very incosiderate drivers once they get out on the road. In parking lots and stuff, everyone's nice and curteous (that Southern hospitality thing, I suppose), but when you get out onto the streets, it's every man for themselves.

I have a 10 minute drive to school every day, and not a day goes by that I am not 'gated or stuck behind someone driving in the left lane, going exactly the speed limit, right next to someone in the right lane. I guess it comes from over half of the population of this city being senior citizens.(and I don't think that's an exaggeration).

On the bright side, TN is 2 or 3 in the nation for roads (and 48th or 49th for education), so we have pretty good streets to drive on.

 

[tool fan]

When I had my 530i (feels a bit sad) I would live in the left lane. Granted I was passing EVERYTHING at 140 mph (I sure miss that). The one thing that really sucks in Germany are the Big Trucks. I cannot count how may times I would be movin' at 120mph + and a truck would just pull out in front of me doing 48 mph. Thank God for ABS and giving me good reflexes. I saw my life pass before my eyes on more than one occasion. I have also passed people on the right when they blocked the left lane and refuse to get over. ILLEGAL as MURDER here in Germany...but hey.........GOTTA DO WHATCHA GOTTA DO.....right?