Can I drive the speed limit in the “fast lane?”

  We’ve all seen the signs on many freeways that state “Slower Traffic Keep Right.”  Usually somewhere down the road from that is a speed limit sign that states the maximum and the minimum speed.  To me this means that if you choose to drive less than the maximum speed limit, then you need to stay in the right hand lane.  However, if you are driving the speed limit, then you have every right to be in the left hand lane for as long as you like, right?  Well, I’m not so sure everyone feels that way.

The other day I was driving east on I-40 headed toward downtown OKC.  I had two of my children in the mini van with me.  The speed limit was 65mph so that is what I was doing.  I was happily driving along in the right hand lane.   There were vehicles whizzing past me in the left hand lane. I swear, some of them had to have been going 90mph.  That really ticks me off.   I’m a rules kind of girl.  I feel like the speed limit and other traffic laws are there for our safety and protection.  It irritates me when many drivers only obey traffic laws when they see a police car around.  I’m all for unmarked police cars.  Why do these drivers feel that they are above the law?  Do they think that the traffic laws don’t apply to them?  Even if I’m going to be late to something I drive the speed limit.  Better to arrive late than to not arrive at all because I’ve been in a car accident because I was driving too fast.  Many times fast driving goes hand in hand with reckless driving.  

  Anyway, so I’m driving along in the right hand lane going the speed limit of 65 mph and I come upon a car that is going just a little slower than that, so I signal (I always signal too.  My greatest pet peeve in all the world is drivers who don’t signal, but that will be another entry) look behind me and move into the left hand lane, maintaining the 65 mph speed limit.  A few seconds later a guy in a big ‘ole truck comes roaring up behind me.  I’ve not quite passsed the car yet, so I’m still in the left hand lane and the car in the right hand lane is just slightly behind me.  The guy in the big ’ole truck is stuck.  He is obviously irritated.  He blinks his brights at me.  He is gesturing with his hand for me to move along by rolling his hand over and over.  He’s mad because I’m in the left hand lane going the speed limit and now he can’t speed anymore.  Until I can pass the car on my right, which will only take another minute at the most, he’s just going to have to slow down. 

My neighbor Scott is an OKC police officer.  I told him about my encounter with the big ‘ole truck and asked if I was in the wrong.  Do I have a right to be in the left hand lane and drive the speed limit?  Is that lane for “speeders?”  He said I did nothing wrong and that all drivers are expected to drive the speed limit regardless of the lane they are in.  He noted that many accidents are caused by drivers not paying attention to their surroundings. Whats beside them, behind them, and way ahead of them?  

So I did eventually pass the car on my right and move back into the right hand lane continuing to maintain the speed limit.   The guy in the big ‘ole truck must have floored it because he went roaring by me as fast as he could.  I didn’t look at him as he passed.  I didn’t need to see his angry, irritated face and I didn’t think giving him a disgusted look would make any difference.  Now that I think about it I should have looked at him and smiled and maybe even waved.  I wonder what kind of reaction that would have brought?   

I just don’t understand why so many drivers feel the need to disobey traffic laws.  We cannot pick and choose which laws we want to obey.  I teach my children that all people who live in or visit this country must abide by all its laws, not just those that are convenient.  This is a great country and a great state, and everyone has a responsibility to be a good citizen. 

Well, until next time…Stay Great Oklahoma!

820 comments May 2nd, 2006