We’ve all been there: late to work, foot on the gas, and up ahead, a left-lane lingerer coasting five under the speed limit like they’re on a scenic tour of the highway.
Nothing brings drivers together quite like shared rage at some slowpoke who just won’t leave the left lane. For Ohioans, not only are they infuriating, but they could also be breaking the law.
What are the left lane driving laws in Ohio?
Much to the chagrin of those Ohioan loiterers, the left lane on multi-lane roads can — for the most part — only be used for passing, according to Ohio Revised Code § 4511.25
Exceptions apply if you’re avoiding an obstruction, preparing to turn left, or if you need to be in the left lane to follow your planned route.
Ohio also has a “slow speed” law, per Ohio Revised Code § 4511.22, which prohibits driving at “an unreasonably slow speed” that affects normal traffic flow, unless it is necessary for safety or compliance with the law.
What happens if I break an Ohio left-lane driving law?
A first-time violation of either law is a minor misdemeanor. Repeat offenders are susceptible to steeper penalties, like fourth- or third-degree misdemeanors.
Can I exceed the speed limit in the left lane in Ohio?
No, you are not legally allowed to exceed the posted speed limit, even in the left lane passing a slower vehicle.
Is Ohio the only state that prohibits slow driving in the left lane?
Dozens of other states have similar laws that require slower drivers to stay out of the left lane.
Though all 50 states have some form of “Keep Right” law, what they actually mandate differs from state to state.
Michigan’s law is somewhat similar to Ohio’s, encouraging right-lane travel except when passing or avoiding an obstruction. The penalty for violating this law is slightly more lax, however, with an offender responsible only for a civil infraction.
Some states take it a step further than Ohio. Indiana law, for example, says if a driver is being overtaken from behind by another vehicle, they must move out of the left lane. A person who violates this law commits a Class C infraction.
Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@dispatch.com, or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is slow left lane driving illegal in Ohio? Learn the state law