Left-lane driving as a traffic offense is stupid

The Iowa Senate passed a bill (SF 2116) that makes driving in the left lane of double lane highway a traffic offense, unless you are passing. This is a stupid bill.

The next time you are driving on I-380, imagine what traffic would be like if everyone both obeyed the speed limit and drove only in the right lane, except to pass. The result would be a single long line of traffic in the right lane, disrupted periodically by someone passing a slightly slower vehicle. Congestion would increase, along with crashes, driving time, and ultimately driver impatience. It would become a vicious downward spiral.

Double lane highways exist for a purpose — to increase the capacity of the road. Why restrict use of that extra capacity? If there is data to support that this law would reduce traffic crashes, let’s see it. Otherwise, the House needs to vote it down.

Tom Persoon

Coralville