Published By ROBERT N. KATZ, ESQ.
By Robert N. Katz, Esq.
–When no other vehicle is directly behind the vehicle in the left lane.
–When traffic make it impractical to drive in the right lane.
–When weather conditions make it necessary to drive in the left lane.
–When obstructions or hazards exist in the right lane.
–When a vehicle changes lanes to comply with other laws.
–When exiting on the left.
–To pay tolls or use a toll pass.
The proposal comes on the tail of other states (like Arizona) that have successfully passed similar measures. The increasingly popular law also coincides with the Uniform Vehicle Code. According to the Code (which is utilized by most states), regardless of the speed limits, motorists are required to keep right if they are driving slower than the normal speed of traffic. Bill 459 would take the Code one step further by allowing drivers to use the left lane only for passing or turning left.
It's well and widely known that driving too fast is a violation of the law, warranting action by law officials. However, it may come as a surprise that slow drivers who fail to abide by the law could also face stiff penalties and fines. With the advent of the new measure, slow drivers would ostensibly become targets for ticketing. In other words, the bill is one way to give sluggish vehicles a polite (yet unyielding) nudge.
While the prospect of the law's impending passage may incense quite a few Georgia residents, car accident attorneys can see the logic behind the move. The type of driver one is directly affects the flow of traffic. High speeders, distracted drivers and slow motorists, for example, all increase the likelihood of automobile accidents and personal injury.
Fast and overconfident drivers tend to overestimate their driving abilities, for example. This means they take more unnecessary risks when navigating the roads. More specifically, they engage in high-risk behaviors like pulling out in front of people, tailgating, and running red lights. Distracted drivers are guilty of similar offenses, but for different reasons. Even more dangerous is the fact that any motorist may become a distracted driver at any time – a crying baby, a phone call, a text message, a spilled drink or even loose paraphernalia underfoot each have the potential to become a car accident-inducing distraction.
Personal injury lawyers with experience handling car crashes can easily foresee how slow drivers can be a hazard as well. By interrupting the steady flow of traffic, they force drivers who are moving along at a faster pace to take potentially perilous evasive maneuvers. Moreover, they often cause a driver trailing behind them to become increasingly frustrated, which results in split second decisions that would otherwise never be considered – getting over without first checking mirrors or using blinkers, for instance.
Copyright © 2019, ROBERT N. KATZ, ESQ.