Is it illegal to drive too slow in the left lane on Texas highways? Here’s the law
The left lane on highways is designated as the passing lane in Texas, but that does not stop drivers from going below the posted speed limit.
Three Texas cities — Austin, San Antonio and Houston — were among the top ten worst U.S. cities to drive in, according to a 2022 list compiled by route planner company Circuit.
The data looked at congestion levels, traffic jams, driving speeds and distracted driving fatalities.
Driving slower than the posted speed limit can slow down traffic and endanger others, according to Allstate.
Here is what Texas law says about driving too slow in the left lane and whether it is illegal to do so.
Is it illegal to drive too slow in the left lane?
Signs that say “left lane for passing only” are posted by the Texas Department of Transportation to indicate a pass-only lane, which requires drivers to move to the right after passing another vehicle.
According to TxDOT, impeding the flow of traffic in the left lane is punishable by a fine of up to $200. This would include driving slower than the posted speed limit or not passing.
Are all left lanes passing lanes?
The left lane on a divided highway is for passing only, TxDOT said in a Tweet.
Divided highways have some sort of physical barrier or median which can be anything from a concrete barrier to a piece of land.
