Is it legal to drive slowly in the left lane on the highway? This is the law in Idaho
One of the most common traffic violations in Idaho is driving over the speed limit, according to Idaho Public Records.
But what about driving under the speed limit?
Without a good reason, driving so slowly that traffic comes to a crawl isn’t acceptable under Idaho state law; this is generally true for most states. But how about driving slowly in the left lane on the highway?
Here is what Idaho state law says about driving in the left lane and whether or not there is a minimum speed limit drivers must abide by.
Idaho law on left lanes
In Idaho, a person cannot continuously drive in the left lane if the road has two or more lanes in the same direction.
The Idaho Legislature passed a bill in 2018 that made it illegal to drive in the left lane for an extended period of time while impeding the natural flow of safe traffic. While the bill does not outline a specific minimum speed, being pulled over for impeding traffic in the left lane can come with a $90 ticket.
In some other U.S. states, though, such as Maine, occupying the left lane is unlawful unless passing another vehicle while going at least 65 miles per hour. California law says drivers can occupy the left lane for an extended period but must travel at “maximum speed.” Tennessee targeted slow left-lane users in its 2021 “Slow Poke law.” Except for a few select purposes, drivers cannot occupy a left lane for a prolonged time.
Idaho’s law is similar to Tennessee’s but is a bit looser regarding the speed limit and penalties. The Gem State’s rules simply say that driving continuously in the left lane of a highway is a traffic infraction when it “impedes the flow of other traffic traveling at a lawful rate of speed.”
When can I use the left lane in Idaho?
According to the Idaho Statutes, a person can only drive in the left lane when:
Overtaking another vehicle that is driving in the same direction.
An obstruction makes it necessary to drive in the left lane.
On a highway restricted to one-way traffic.
A driver is preparing to turn left at an intersection, exit, private driveway or road.
