Which Lane is Which? Highway Driving Strategies

Highway driving requires a different set of skills and knowledge than driving around town. It is important for safety and efficiency that we all understand what is needed to keep the highway traffic flowing smoothly. Some of the most important but most-ignored guidelines of the highway involve which lane to use and when to use it.

The Right Lane
If you are on a multilane highway, the right lane will be used for entering and exiting. People will be using this lane to speed up, slow down, and merge. If you are continuing on the highway, move over when you have reached the speed of traffic and when there is a big enough space to change lanes. Also, when you are in the right lane, it may be necessary to accommodate cars that are trying to merge.

The Middle Lanes
The middle lanes are the main traveling lanes for through traffic.

The Left Lane
This lane is meant for passing other vehicles. Once a slower-moving vehicle is passed, return to one of the middle lanes.

Two Lane Highways
On a two-lane highway, the left lane is still meant for passing. If you are behind a slow-moving car in the right lane, safely change into the left lane to pass them, then change back into the right lane when you are a safe distance in front of them. If you are traveling at your own pace in the left lane, other vehicles may feel the need to pass you on the right creating an unsafe situation. If you can, spend most of your "cruising" time in the right lane.

Nobody wants to be stuck behind someone who is going too slowly, but nobody wants to have a tailgater behind him or her either! Let's work together to keep our highway traffic moving smoothly.