{"id":2821,"date":"2013-08-26T14:38:16","date_gmt":"2013-08-26T04:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.privatefleet.com.au\/?p=2821"},"modified":"2023-08-22T21:32:28","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T11:32:28","slug":"keeping-left-unless-overtaking-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.privatefleet.com.au\/blog\/home\/keeping-left-unless-overtaking-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Keeping Left Unless Overtaking Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

A couple of years ago, I had a good whinge on this blog –<\/p>\n

http:\/\/blog.privatefleet.com.au\/home\/keep-left-unless-overtaking\/<\/a><\/p>\n

The crux of it was complaining about how Australians seem to ignore the ‘Keep Left Unless Overtaking’ law.  The law seems to be observed in countries overseas but not in Australia and I just couldn’t understand why…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Well, the reason became apparent to me last week.  I was gobsmacked to find out that I have been completely wrong for all these years.   It appears that in Australia on a 3-lane freeway, despite the signs, one is perfectly entitled to sit in the middle lane!!  The signs ‘Keep Left Unless Overtaking’ really means ‘Don’t use the Right Lane Unless Overtaking’.<\/p>\n

Here’s the simplified rule as per the motoring authorities:<\/p>\n

On multi-lane roads with a speed limit of more than 80km\/h, motorists<\/em>
\n must not drive in the right-hand lane unless they are:<\/em>
\n \u2022 overtaking<\/em>
\n \u2022 turning right or making a U-turn<\/em>
\n \u2022 avoiding an obstacle<\/em>
\n \u2022 driving in congested traffic<\/em>
\n \u2022 driving in a special purpose lane or if there is a Left Lane Must Turn Left sign or a left traffic arrow and the driver is not turning left.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, I’ve been wrong all these years.  All this wasted anger and frustration directed to these ignorant law-breakers who it turns out were doing the right thing all along (in a legal sense)!  So let me hold my hand up and humbly apologise to all those who have been the subject of my angry feelings and\/or glares.  I’m sorry.<\/p>\n

Meekly, I will make a defence that I learned how to drive in the UK and have driven extensively in Europe where ‘middle lane hogging’ is clearly outlawed.  Further I will add that the signs used in Australia contributed to my mistake – why refer to the left lane at all when it is the right lane that the law refers to?<\/p>\n

However, saying all that, I am now even more astounded.  It’s not ill-informed motorists doing the wrong thing but the government!  What on earth were they thinking?  Many road rules in Australia have been adapted from overseas so why take this one and then snip off an important part for no apparent reason.  Why on earth did they do it?<\/p>\n

Let me put forth an objective list of reasons why I think the European model works better:<\/p>\n

\n
\"2-lane\"<\/a><\/dt>\n
3-lane freeways become 2-lane freeways<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n