Drivers going too slow in the left lane? NC lawmakers think they can fix that
Many believe it’s common courtesy to get out of the left lane of the highway to let faster drivers pass.
In North Carolina, as in most states, it’s actually against the law in many instances to impede traffic by driving less than the speed limit in the left lane.
But now House lawmakers want to make the law more explicit and have it apply regardless of how fast people are driving.
House Bill 864 would bar people from using the left lane of a multi-lane highway “at a speed that impedes the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.” Rep. Ray Pickett, a Republican who represents three counties in the northwest corner of the state, said he drafted the bill to address what he calls “left-lane campers” and to persuade them to get out of the way.
Enforcement would be at the discretion of police, sheriff’s deputies or state troopers, who would have to determine if a left-lane driver is impeding traffic, Pickett said.
“What I’ve seen in other states, if it is forcing people to pass them on the right, then that would be the indication that they need to be informed that this is a law now and that they need to move over,” he told members of the House Transportation Committee on Wednesday.
The law would apply to interstates and other limited-access highways and all four-lane roads, Pickett said.
Violators would not face a fine or other punishment under the bill; Pickett hopes that getting pulled over is enough to send a message, but said he would consider coming back with another bill in the future to add a fine.
Rep. Jeff McNeely, a Republican from Iredell County, jokingly suggested that other drivers be empowered to enforce the law.
“Is there any provision in here that allows for like a citizens arrest,” McNeely said, “where you can pull the slow driver over? And write them some kind of nasty note or something and hand it to them?”
Rep. John Blust, a Republican from Guilford County, asked whether someone would violate the provision if they were driving as fast as the law allows.
“Would that be a defense of ‘Hey, officer, I was going the speed limit,’?” Blust said. “’You can’t expect me to speed up and have a speeding infraction so I can get out of the way.’”
Pickett wasn’t sure.
“From what I’ve heard from other states, they’re instructing drivers that they’re not law enforcement and they shouldn’t be trying to slow down traffic,” he said. “But it could be a defense. This is an initial attempt at this, and we’ll see where it goes.”
What NC law says about driving in the left lane
Requiring a driver to get out of the way of someone exceeding the speed limit is one way the House bill differs from current state law. The current law says people must vacate the left lane only if they’re going under the speed limit.
Current law also appears to apply only to four-lane divided highways and only in places with posted signs that say “Slower Traffic Keep Right.”
It reads: “When appropriate signs have been posted, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle over and upon the inside lane, next to the median of any dual-lane highway at a speed less than the posted speed limit when the operation of said motor vehicle over and upon said inside lane shall impede the steady flow of traffic except when preparing for a left turn.”
Pickett’s bill contains two other provisions aimed at improving the flow of traffic.
The first would ban large trucks from using the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes. That’s the case on busy highways in urban areas, such as Interstate 40 in the Triangle or I-85 in Charlotte; the bill would expand that rule statewide.
The second provision would increase the minimum speed for passenger vehicles on interstate and primary highways to 10 mph below the posted speed limit. Under current law, the minimum speed is 40 in 55 mph zones and 45 where the speed limit is 60 mph or higher.
“We currently have 70 mph zones on our interstates,” Pickett said. “Forty-five mph is completely too slow to be going on interstates at those speeds.”
The transportation committee approved Pickett’s bill and sent it on to the House Rules Committee.
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Drivers going too slow in the left lane? NC lawmakers think they can fix that."
