Opinion: Get out of the right lane

The most annoying thing about drivers in Australia is the lack of enforcement for right-lane hogs. Everywhere I go, someone in the right lane of a 110km/h zone is doing 95km/h and overtaking someone doing 90km/h.

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This speed deficit is insanely dangerous. It disrupts the flow of traffic and makes people impatient. Plus, what is the point? If you're that nervous to do 110km/h, use a different route. We have some of the lowest maximum speed limits in the world.

I can hear the comments from here: "It's a speed LIMIT, not a target". Yeah, I get that, but why do 90 when you can do 110? The limit is there for a reason. What happened to having courtesy for your fellow road users? There's no reason to be in the overtaking lane.

I should add that it's not just a courtesy thing; it's the law. Not keeping out of the right lane in an over 80km/h or sign posted "keep left unless overtaking" zone in NSW will land you a $349 fine and two demerit points. It is hard to enforce because it's tricky to define the limit on how long you can loiter in the right lane. It'll be entirely up to the police to determine how long is too long.

Nationwide, the standard is 80km/h or above besides Western Australia and Queensland, where it is 90km/h or above. You don't need to be driving down a road that has a sign saying 'keep left unless overtaking' to cop a fine.

Just 120 right-lane misuse fines were issued in the second half of 2023, but it's simply not enough. In an hour's drive on the freeway, I could easily spot at least 10 drivers worthy of this fine.

Back in 2014, NSW Highway Patrol ran a blitz that issued fines to 300 people failing to keep left in one day. It makes my blood boil just thinking 300 people were sitting in the right lane in a single day. I think the Highway Patrol needs to run this blitz again.

Victorian police also ran a blitz in August of last year fining right-lane hogs. The Surf Coast Police Facebook page shared photos of five separate drivers apprehended during a blitz along the Surf Coast Highway.

According to Surf Coast Police, three of the five drivers they stopped were unaware of the road rule, with one responding "Seriously?", while another admitted they "didn't know it was an issue".

"But I was going 100," a third driver allegedly told police.

That "didn't know it was an issue" comment fills me with rage. There is no way you can not know about this rule; it's plastered on signs along the side of the freeway.

'Keep left unless overtaking' means get out of the right lane once you complete your overtake. It doesn't mean sit in the right lane because you can see a car you might overtake a kilometre ahead.

People seem to be terrified of changing lanes too many times. But believe it or not, sitting in the right lane doesn't actually save time.

Trucks in Western Sydney seem to be the worst when it comes to hogging the right lane. The Northbound M7 is consistently clogged with traffic because of one hill near the Wetherill Park turn-off. Trucks will try to overtake each other, with one in the right lane doing 60km/h and one in the left lane doing 70km/h, which quickly fades to 60km/h when they hit the hill.

Sections like this either need a third 'slow vehicle lane' or to completely ban trucks for the right lane up the hill. I'm yet to see a truck win the world's slowest drag race up there; they always end up slotting back in behind the other truck or only complete the pass at the top of the hill.

Right-lane hogs are a contributor to traffic jams. By congesting the flow of traffic, you are creating a flow-on effect that will slow the cars behind you until they inevitably come to a stop. Plenty of studies have been done that show maintaining a constant speed will eliminate traffic and congestion.

A lot of this stems from a lack of education. There are plenty of signs stating 'Keep left unless overtaking' but that's about the extent of it. Every time someone publishes a 'road rules you might not know that'll cost you hundreds' story, keep left unless overtaking makes the cut. How do people not know this already?

I also think it comes from a lack of care for fellow motorists. The thought process of your journey not being interrupted, therefore it doesn't matter, is an incredibly toxic and selfish way to share the road. Sure, some people might be exceeding the speed limit, but it's not up to you to be the 'hero' that slows them down by jumping in the right lane.

Regardless of laws and regulations, there's actually no reason to be in the right lane unless you're overtaking. Even on roads that have a speed limit below 80km/h, it pays to just jump in the left lane and cruise along at the pace you feel comfortable.

Seriously, if you're that nervous about overtaking and then making another lane change to the left, or doing the speed limit on the left, you need to take a few more driving courses to raise your confidence. Some of us have places to be.