July 22, 2011
By: Bruce Berry
In the state of Washington, it's illegal for motorists to remain in the left lane if they're not using it to pass other drivers. But according to a recent poll, few of the state's motorists know that.
In a recent poll conducted by PEMCO Insurance Northwest, 43 percent of Washington drivers don't know that they must stay in the right lane unless they want to pass drivers, which is what the left-hand lane is for.
Of those who do know the law, the poll found that nearly 90 percent of motorists say they've seen violators "camping out" in the left lane on a regular basis.
Jon Osterberg, spokesperson for the Seattle-based insurer, said people may be oblivious of the law.
"If almost half of drivers don't know that left-lane camping is illegal, that might explain why it seems so common on our freeways," said Osterberg. "Perhaps we simply need to increase awareness."
However, that's not the case for everyone, as the poll found many know the law yet refuse to follow it. The survey revealed 17 percent of drivers under the age of 35 knowingly camp in the left-hand lane, compared to 7 percent of drivers over the age of 35.
Violators can be ticketed, which may cause their Washington auto insurance rates to rise.
For more about vehicle safety you can visit: The Department of Transportation- Vehicle Safety Page
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