Drivers who linger in the left lane on interstates in Georgia had best put on their blinker: A bill making it illegal to clog the passing lane is on the move in the House.
House Bill 459, sponsored by Rep. Bill Hitchens, R-Rincon, was approved by a subcommittee Thursday.
The bill would make it a misdemeanor to drive in the left lane if another car approaches from behind going faster. Hitchens, a former head of the state Department of Public Safety, said the bill is designed to promote “lane discipline” and educate drivers about the need to, well, get out of the way.
Hitchens said word of his bill has “gone viral” and created great interest from motorists who deal with these kinds of drivers every day.
“Truthfully, this resonates with a lot of people,” Hitchens said.
The bill next goes to the full House Motor Vehicles Committee for consideration.
HB 459 would make it illegal to drive in the left lane, except for the following circumstances:
- When passing another vehicle.
- When no other vehicle is directly behind the vehicle in the left lane.
- When traffic make it impractical to drive in the right lane.
- When weather conditions make it necessary to drive in the left lane.
- When obstructions or hazards exist in the right lane.
- When a vehicle changes lanes to comply with other laws.
- When exiting on the left.
- To pay tolls or use a toll pass.
- When driving in the left lane to comply with traffic control.
The restrictions also would not apply to police, paramedics, firefighters, other emergency vehicles, or to highway maintenance and construction traffic.
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