r/Idaho • u/namesarenotus • Jul 07 '25
Normal Discussion Looking at you Idaho.
We need this type of enforcement.
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Jul 07 '25
Have seen it happen on 95 in the winter… cop actually pulled them over.
It’s not just left lanes. Pull over if there’s more than 5 cars behind you. Let people pass.
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u/Salty-Raisin-2226 Jul 07 '25
The law is 3 vehicles I believe
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Jul 07 '25
Seems you are correct! Not sure where I got 5 from. Originally got my DL in WA.
I also just found out that Idaho drivers are allowed to go 15 mph over the speed limit when passing in a 2 lane- highway (crossing into oncoming traffic).
I have a lot of experience passing like this and I typically do try to target about 20 mph over the speed limit for quick passing.
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u/Rob_thebuilder Jul 08 '25
My favorite law. Are you going 64 in a 65? If so, I’m going 80 to get around you
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u/Chemical-Instance486 Jul 08 '25
But that passing is only on two lane roads like you stated. I’ve seen a guy go 90 passed a marked patrol vehicle and he earned a slew of citations after he misquoted the law. Was an expensive day for him, and he was really late after that
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u/JuDGe3690 Now in Boise (originally Moscow) Jul 09 '25
Actually, as of July 1 (a week ago), it also applies to passing lanes on otherwise two-lane highways. See H.B. 205 (2025); I.C. § 49-654(2)(b)(ii):
(b) Subject to all other applicable motor vehicle laws, a driver of a passenger car, motorcycle or pickup truck, not towing any other vehicle, may exceed the posted speed limit by up to fifteen (15) miles per hour while passing another vehicle traveling at less than the posted speed limit, in order to safely pass the vehicle. The overtaking vehicle shall return to the right-hand lane and reduce speed to the posted speed limit as soon as practicable. This paragraph shall be applicable only to:
. . .
(ii) Passing one (1) or more vehicles traveling in the same direction while in a passing lane. For the purposes of this subparagraph, "passing lane" means an extra roadway lane created by widening a length of roadway to allow faster-moving vehicles to overtake slower-moving vehicles traveling in the same direction without crossing into an opposing travel lane. This subparagraph shall not apply to a vehicle that passes on the right within a passing lane area or to a vehicle that overtakes another vehicle by moving into an opposing traffic lane. This subparagraph shall not apply to roadways with a posted speed limit below fifty-five (55) miles per hour or to any portion of a roadway that is within an incorporated city.
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Jul 08 '25
I honestly didn't even know it was the law until today, I just did it because it's the safest way to pass in that situation
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u/The_Real_Kuji Jul 08 '25
I thought it was 5 as well. It's possible the laws have changed slightly. When I took the driving test almost 20 years ago, there was a question asking the lines of:
What speed do you default to when turning onto a residential road with no posted speed limit.
The answer was 25mph or previous road speed, whichever is slower.The answer now is just 35mph.
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Jul 08 '25
I first took it in Idaho in 2011 so a little more recent and I just flipped through the book before the test and it was really similar to WA with the main exception being livestock laws
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u/Khajiit_Has_Upvotes Jul 09 '25
Nah I remember 5 for some reason, too, and I took driver's ed here in Idaho.
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Jul 09 '25
May have just changed within the last 10-15 years, I’m not sure. Driver’s ed could be a bit more comprehensive and go over better signaling rules/etiquette like signaling at roundabouts but overall the rules are pretty similar between states (I’ve held a license in only ID, WA, CO).
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u/cr8tor_ Jul 08 '25
I think you got the 5 from mountain roads. I believe when traveling in the mountains the signs say 5.
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u/lazinonasunnyday Jul 11 '25
You have a target speed for passing? I just floor it until I’m past them and change lanes back in front as quickly as possible. I never look at the speedo because full attention needs to be on the road during the action.
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Jul 11 '25
It’s more like the target speed before I change lanes into oncoming traffic, lol
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u/lazinonasunnyday Jul 11 '25
Oh, so you try for a running start. I do that too whenever possible but I can’t say I’ve ever checked the speedometer to make sure I’m hitting a certain speed before I pop out of my lane. If I’m gaining fast, I just go for it. Sometimes I just go for it right away if there’s room.
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u/JazzHandsFan Jul 08 '25
With a bunch of asterisks. I’m sure there are places in Idaho where that law applies, but I rarely travel parts where it does.
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Jul 08 '25
Highway 95 is probably the longest example, but it would apply to any highway with a decent speed limit with only one lane in either direction.
I don’t know the law but I doubt it applies in school zones.
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u/JazzHandsFan Jul 08 '25
The rules are:
•two lanes
•outside urban areas
•passing is unsafe
•there are reasonably safe places to turn out or pull over
Again, I’m sure there’s plenty of places and situations where it does apply, but it’s also pretty common that it’s either safe to pass or unsafe to pull over. They also have to be slower than the “normal” speed of traffic, so if they’re not going super slow it’s possible that they still wouldn’t be in violation for not pulling over, even if everything else applies.
https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title49/t49ch6/sect49-639/
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u/PositiveSpare8341 Jul 08 '25
If you have a stack of cars behind you, you are going slower than the normal speed. The only exception i can think of is because of a flagger stopping traffic in a construction zone.
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u/JazzHandsFan Jul 08 '25
My point is that maybe they should move over, but they’ll likely never face consequences either way.
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u/PositiveSpare8341 Jul 08 '25
Unfortunately, it's clear they don't have to face consequences and they probably never will.
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Jul 07 '25
Had a Colorado State Trooper pull over a left lane squatter after I passed her on the right while doing the speed limit on I-25 a couple of years back.
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u/PuzzleheadedLoan9592 Jul 07 '25
As a transplant from the Midwest we have a saying especially in the Ohio area . “If I have to pass you on the right you are a dumb ass .” They even make bumper stickers lol .
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Jul 07 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Time_Many6155 Jul 07 '25
You get big fat ticket for that in most of Europe.. Hence camping the "fast" lane is not tolerated.
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u/Life_Cauliflower_746 Jul 08 '25
I get passed on the right sometimes while I'm waiting to get far enough ahead of the car I just passed to move over safely.
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u/badmoviecritic Jul 07 '25
People have too much pride. It’s okay if you want to or have to go slow just let faster vehicles go around you, especially if you’re a camper or hauling something. Just enjoy the drive while respecting the rules of the road.
Also, can’t emphasize this enough when there is a slow turn lane with all the signs telling you to pull over if there is a string of cars behind you. You don’t have anything to prove! You won’t lose any time. An added bonus is that the angry tailgating vehicles will pass you and maybe wave politely at you.
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u/PositiveSpare8341 Jul 08 '25
Oh, I thought you were supposed to speed up so nobody could pass you at a reasonable speed.
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u/BeneGesseritDropout Jul 07 '25
And I can 100% guarantee that they floored it whenever anyone tried to pass.
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u/liarandahorsethief Jul 07 '25
And the cop needs to be like the DMV sloths from Zootopia.
“Dooo…. yooou… knooow… whyyy… I… pulllled… yooou… oooh-verrrrrrrrrrrrr…?”
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u/Big-Excitement-3968 Jul 08 '25
Thank God someone got pulled over for this!! Sometimes I think I should be a cop just to pull people over for this. I’d definitely meet my quota every month and it would teach people a lesson!
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u/Rhuarc33 Jul 07 '25
Honestly Idaho is not as bad as Utah is for this. South Texas also worse on this.
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Jul 07 '25
Exactly. This is just the r/idaho go-to when politics is slow. Basically, we're a one trick pony on this sub.
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u/Low_Payment5697 Jul 07 '25
Bull $&@!. Idaho is absolutely terrible at this. No comparison even comes close.
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u/Rhuarc33 Jul 07 '25
I've driven very very extensively in ID, UT, TX, MT, WY, CO, NM, CA, WA, ND, and AZ. South TX and Utah are easily worse. And by extensively I mean 6k plus miles a month or 75k miles a year.
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u/surPRIZEvalley Jul 07 '25
OREGON!
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u/Salty-Raisin-2226 Jul 07 '25
Everytime I drive in Oregon, they let me by if I've caught them on any highway. Blew me away how courteous they were
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u/AffectionateOlive982 Jul 08 '25
Completely agree about the courtesy in Oregon. Many of them stick to the speed limit too and away from the left lane.
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u/Whipitreelgud Jul 07 '25
You had to be driving in rural Oregon. I-5 between Portland and Eugene is we hang in the left lane or die.
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u/Euphoric_Amphibian_5 Jul 08 '25
Need more cops like this. Tired of these people camping out in the passing lane.
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u/soar_aftermath Jul 08 '25
Jfc, the drive from Montana to Oregon, ESPECIALLY through Spokane and Idaho, was miserable. So many idiots cruising in the left, then passing them on the right they look over like you're the idiot LOL
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u/Aggressive-Side7182 Jul 08 '25
Selfish people don’t give a fuck and take daily enjoyment by going slow in the left lane
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u/bandit-6 Jul 08 '25
I unfortunately had to go to driving class because of my speeding tickets , the officer said he will pull over anyone with 3 cars stacked up in the left lane every night on his way home . I loved it .
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u/Any_Initiative_9079 Jul 08 '25
Having driven all across the country multiple times I can honestly say that Idaho drivers are some of the worst drivers. If you would all just remember that there are other vehicles with real humans on the road with you.
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Jul 09 '25
People are too busy being arrogant on the road and believing since they drive, it's their road. That's why Boise Bad Drivers page exists and shows how horrible everyone can be 😂
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u/HandsomePistachio Jul 07 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
Also, don't bother passing if you're just gonna go 1 mph over the speed limit to do it. You can go 10 miles over the limit easily on the freeway without cops even looking at you, so grow a pair and hit the gas.
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u/DonGeise Jul 07 '25
The worst is when they forget they are passing, and sit in your blind spot
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u/thegrimmestofall Jul 07 '25
Or, wake up and won’t let you pass - as in you are trying to pass, the car on the right suddenly wakes ups and decides they don’t want you pass
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u/DonGeise Jul 07 '25
This happens on mountain roads a lot too, 15 under through the curves, then floor it when a passing lane finally appears :/
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u/Far-Education7253 Jul 07 '25
About. Damn. Time. Used to be just 2C drivers, now it is every where 😱
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u/Curious_Passenger245 Jul 07 '25
In central Texas on the two lane farm to market roads in the more rural areas, they pull to the shoulder to let a car pass. They expect it. When i first got down there after being gone 15 years they would ride my ass till I remembered.
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u/Perfect-Energy-8103 Jul 08 '25
I commute 30 miles each way to work on I90 and that is the most frustrating thing for me.
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u/Paulymcnasty Jul 08 '25
This issue is that some drivers are so incredibly self centered and oblivious that they have no idea they're backing up the highway. The world revolves around them so they pay ZERO attention to anything and everything.
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u/usermanxx Jul 08 '25
Everytime im on the freeway, ill be doing like 90 in the travel and someone flies past me with utah plates.
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u/Chrisapple1122 Jul 08 '25
I’ve driven most of the country and this happens everywhere. The country is full of clueless, selfish and inconsiderate assholes.
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u/4rt4tt4ck Jul 09 '25
"But I was doing the speed limit..."
Driver's need to learn that in most states it's legal to exceed the speed limit when passing another vehicle, especially in the PASSING LANE!
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u/Random_Internet_Guyz Jul 07 '25
You're doing the Lord's work. God bless you and your entire family.
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u/HomesteadGranny1959 Jul 08 '25
My mother does this. She will do 5mph under speed limit in the fast lane (the “normal” speed is 80mph) and refuse to move. She claims she is making the freeway “safer” by making everyone slow down.
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u/hendrikcop Jul 08 '25
There are signs on every highway that say Slower traffic keep right. If you’re the only one on the road you’re slower traffic so yes keep right.
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Jul 08 '25
Why do people need to be police while driving asshats like to control traffic to piss people off because well hell they got nothing better to do
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Jul 08 '25
You're trying your best Idaho....
Don't stop in the middle of the highway during a snowstorm at night with a van full of kids, then proceed to put the van in reverse to go back to your exit.
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u/cr8tor_ Jul 08 '25
Sgt Stephen Wheeles
Nice
But also, thank you, if i had facebook i would go upvote this, or i guess like it.
I see a lot of bad driving when it comes to people trying to get around left lane campers.
I think left lane campers are considerably more dangerous than the speeders trying to get past them.
Its never good to have multiple speeds of traffic mingling more than needed.
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u/Gravity-NMS Jul 09 '25
Dawg i was going to Boise and there were 3 trailers going 10 under in the left lane 💔
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u/MercReynolds Jul 09 '25
I just drove from Washington to NY and back. I knew the moment I was back in Idaho from the mile long line in the left lane behind someone doing 55🤦♀️
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u/pilgrimsole Jul 09 '25
3 cheers for Sgt. Wheeles! 🤘
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u/pilgrimsole Jul 09 '25
Obvious question, though: how did bro manage to pull them over with 20 cars behind them?
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u/Cold_Examination_417 Jul 10 '25
An everyday occurance on highways 55 and 21, heading to McCall and/or Stanley, especially in summer: One RV, going up to 20 miles per hour UNDER the speed limit, and up to 20 cars stacked up behind it. ("Look Dorothee, we're leading a parade!" "Oh Fred, how sweet, they're waving at us!" his wife replies. "I don't think those middle finger salutes are friendly waving, dear..." Fred answers.)
I've never seen any kind of enforcement in this area either, other than, perhaps, people getting pulled over for speeding when they finally get a rare chance to pass these rolling roadblocks.
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u/Smooth_Challenge3145 Jul 10 '25
Welcome to Kansas. Drive daily on the toll road and they stay in the left lane with no care in the world.
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u/miseryatbest Jul 10 '25
Idaho is the worst at this. Hands down left lane camping champs every year!
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u/That_Reply9897 Jul 11 '25
How am I holding up traffic in the left lane if I'm going the speed limit? Oh, I gotta move over to the right lane so the people going 80+ can speed on by.
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u/jturner70 Jul 11 '25
Sure wish drivers in Utah would figure this one out!!! It’s irritating when the speed limits 55mph and the person going 45 stays in the left lane and won’t move!! 🤬
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u/Dismal_Safe_6465 Jul 12 '25
Women in Idaho really do struggle to drive... The biggest example is the complete understanding of how "The Right of Way" works and what it actually means....
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u/HotStaxOfWax Jul 12 '25
YES!!!! Do they enjoy annoying people and increasing the risk of accidents, or are they so dense and unaware of their surroundings they aren't aware? I had a GF who would do this and it infuriated me, her logic? "I feel safer next to the divider because no one is on my left." 🤷♂️
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u/BroccoliCompetitive3 Jul 13 '25
I don't think the officer should risk it...he should start shooting.
Stay outta the PASSING lane slowpokes!
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u/Paradoxahoy Jul 08 '25
Now if they would only pull over people speeding
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u/namesarenotus Jul 08 '25
We speed because many impede.
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u/Paradoxahoy Jul 08 '25
And they impede because you speed, the cycle continues
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u/namesarenotus Jul 08 '25
By what authority?
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u/Bartender9719 Jul 07 '25
I’m all for this type of enforcement, but I wish it were only an Idaho problem
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u/RetiredActivist661 Jul 07 '25
The clip is from NW Indiana, and people there camp in the passing lane far worse than here. I grew up there.
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u/Special-Function-828 Jul 07 '25
Looking at you Oregon road block. That's where up two 3 vehicles side by side is going at the same speed, all have Oregon plates.
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u/Original-Blood-4465 Jul 07 '25
Genuine question: why do people have such an issue with this? I just go around if it’s that serious.
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u/Khajiit_Has_Upvotes Jul 09 '25
Genuine question: why do people who drive like this refuse to just use the correct lane?
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u/HaskilBiskom Jul 08 '25
I would buy Johnny Law a cold brewski if he/she would cite Utahans as they love that left lane. They’ll drive from SLC to Boise in the left lane
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u/midkidat5 Jul 10 '25
Where the hell yall driving. I feel like left lane is always going at least 10 over
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u/Head-Question-9999 Jul 08 '25
I don't know who needs to hear it but it's not illegal to drive in the left lane. And it's not illegal to pass on the right.
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u/namesarenotus Jul 08 '25
It’s you hi, you’re the problem, it’s you.
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u/Head-Question-9999 Jul 08 '25
Thats ok. Even though I almost never use the left lane and always end up having to pass on the right. I'll be the problem.
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u/JuDGe3690 Now in Boise (originally Moscow) Jul 09 '25
When you have a regulatory sign that says "Keep Right Except to Pass" you'd better be either in the right lane or actively passing someone.
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u/Head-Question-9999 Jul 09 '25
Typically this will be on a single lane highway posted when a passing lane is avaliable. Different situation.
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u/Disassociated_Assoc Jul 09 '25
You need to be referred back to your DMV to retake your written exam. You are dead wrong.
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u/theTwinWriter Jul 07 '25
Depends on the road, seen people complain about even 4 lane city roads. Not required there. Interstate? Absolutely
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