Many States have, over the years, passed laws to restrict 18-wheelers and other large vehicles from driving in the far left lane of Interstate and other Highways. Many times I have seen the signs that alert drivers to this fact as reading “No Trucks”. This is not a literal meaning, as I have never seen a pick-up pulled over for driving in the left lane. So, when is a "truck" a truck that has to stay out of the left lane?

While driving on a local Interstate the other day, I noticed a sign that read “No vehicles over 5 tons GVWT in left lane”. Ah! Now we have a definition!

5 tons is 10,000 pounds. Well now, that is a weight that many of us exceed when pulling our rigs. You folks that have a motor home take note also.

A large pick-up can easily weigh 6,000 lbs. Even the smaller ones typically weigh in at 5K or more. SUVs are in the same boat. Add a boat and trailer to this, and you are probably over the limit.

So, how many of you have driven in the left lane on an Interstate while towing your rig without a thought to this? Come on - be honest. :rolleyes: I have.

I think the aim of such regulations is to help enforce the use of the left lane as it was intended: as a passing lane. I'm a lot less concerned with the TYPE of vehicle using that lane, than with the indescriminate manner of its use. "Left lane bandits" are not only a pet peeve of mine, but are a significant highway menace. Get in it, go around the traffic, and MOVE OVER! The left lane is not for travel, no matter what vehicle you're in!

And yes, Big Blue has been seen in the passing lane at high speeds...

I agree, pass left, ride along to the right.

If you tow alot, speed may be OK, If you tow very seldom, the safest thing to do is to stay right and tow slow.

In our area, the purpose of these laws (at least what the Politicians were saying at the time) is to keep 18-wheelers out of the leftmost lane of our four lane highways. The reasoning (if you can call it that) was for safety. Even though truckers as a group are some of the safest drivers anywhere. They were getting a bad rap do to the number of accidents they were involved in. Never mind that these “accidents” were almost always the result of some other driver who cut off a large truck and caused it.

I agree that the left lane is for passing only. However, as anyone who drives in a congested area knows, that is an ideal that is rarely met. When traveling long distances on open road, I always stay to the right unless passing. The other time I will move into the left lane (if safe to do so) is to make room for someone that is entering the highway.

I wish I saw more drivers with your good manners, Sir Mike! Less and less common, it seems.

I agree with Seabuddy about the speed, too. Even with the thousands of miles we have in front of towed loads, we travel early and late to get empty freeways whenever possible. The big danger, as Mike alludes, is the passel of idiots willing to cut off any rig tall enough to block their view and "foolish" enough to leave space between their rig and the car in front of them.

The New York Thruway is a much more pleasant ride at 5:00 am Monday morning than it is on Sunday evening!

Many boat dealers drive slow and keep out of the far lanes while towing. They tow alot and they may know something.

In bumper to bumper merge lanes situations I have had cars try to get between me and the towed boat rig. I wonder if everyone understands that they attached to each other.

That's a good trick! I hope they discovered the "connection" before they became part of the fiberglass!

Someone around here really likes that "back" button. :rolleyes:

I have deleted the "double post". In the future, I may simply delete these kind of things and go about my merry way without saying anything. " src="cool.gif" />

A lot of violent hand waving kept it short of that.

It never ceases to amaze me at what people will do on the roads. :rolleyes:

I will move over to let someone merge onto the highway, but to be honest, a lot of it has to do with the amount of times I have had some joker pull in front of me without getting up to speed first. That’s when the brakes get real hot real fast.

That there are people who will try to get between the boat and truck makes me want to hang a big red flag between them.

Hi, my name is Skiboat Dave, and I'm a left laner.

I do travel in the left lane often. I tow at a higher speed than I probably should.
I am no stanger to 70 mph. Road conditions permitting.

Mike, you said to be honest.

(Edit) I am sorry Boatin Fool, I read Mikes post and had his name in my head. I should have said,
Boatin Fool, you said to honest. Sorry agian.
(end edit)

I do not stay in the left lane if there is open road in the middle or right and I am always looking in my mirrors for those fast guys in blue Ford pick up's towing Cobolts that want to pass me.
Don't get the worng idea, I am not one of those dolts that get in the left lane at 50mph and forgets that anyone else exists in the world.

Speedy Skiboat Dave

I will admit that I like to stay in the left lane as much as I can so that I have one less side to worry about. If the traffic is real heavy and everyone is using both (or all three lanes)already and I can keep up with the flow, I will tend to stay in the left lane. I do not like doing this, but feel it's the safest thing to do rather than having to constantly split my attention between the right AND left sides. If you ride in the far right lane, you have to worry about all the people who do not seem to grasp the concept of merging.

The problem is that riding the left lane can create an unsafe contition due to all the clowns who feel they just HAVE to pass you. Even though they will not be getting anywhere any quicker, they will try to pass you on the right and then cut in front of you, only to ride the bumper of the next car in front.

These issues are why I try to leave for a long journey either late at night or extra early in the morning.

No such law in AZ. General practice here is that slow traffic should stick to the outside lane. If you aren't "slow", use any lane you want.

Remember, this is cowboy country,
Kelly