united-states traffic speeding
Are Fast Lanes Legal?
<p>I've seen plenty of signs that say things like "Slower Traffic Keep Right," in fact some of them even threaten a fine if you disobey. So I think it is fair to assert that the US Department of Transportation recognizes that "fast lanes" are a real thing.</p>

<p>But isn't the speed limit still technically 55 (or whatever the limit is) for every lane? I mean, they would never put up a sign that said "Drunk Drivers Keep Left" or "Use Middle Lane if you have Jimmy Hoffa tied up in your trunk."</p>

<p>Are signs like these an acknowledgement that you are permitted, maybe even required, to speed?</p>

<p>The US Department of Transportation does not "recognize" fast lanes, or have any limits on highway speed, which are determined by the states. <a href="https://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html" rel="noreferrer">Here is a resource</a> on the various keep-right laws of the states. No state has a "fast lane" that allows speeds greater that the legal limit, nor does any state have a law requiring drivers to drive <em>exactly</em> the posted limit. Every state has some provision regarding slow-moving vehicles, and none frame the matter in terms of fast-moving vehicles. The legal convention is that slow-moving vehicles must be on the right, not the left. Some states have the restriction that you may not drive in the left lane except to pass, for example <a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=062500050HCh%2E%2011&amp;ActID=1815&amp;ChapAct=625%20%3BILCS%20%3B5%2F&amp;ChapterID=49&amp;ChapterName=VEHICLES&amp;SectionID=28620&amp;SeqStart=99900000&amp;SeqEnd=122700000&amp;ActName=Illinois%20Vehicle%20Code%2E" rel="noreferrer">625 ILCS 5/11-701(b), (d)</a>. You may drive in the left lane in <a href="https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter6A/41-6a-S704.html" rel="noreferrer">Utah</a>, but you must not impede traffic (which means you must move to the right). The signage depends on the laws of that state, and in all cases reflects laws against too-slow driving, and never approval of too-fast driving.</p>

<p>If "fast lanes" means "lanes for cars that are faster than most of the other traffic," then yes, fast lanes are legal.</p>

<p>But establishing them does not suggest you are permitted to speed; it merely acknowledges that some cars move faster than others and that slower cars impede the flow of faster-moving traffic. Preventing faster cars from passing slower cars creates traffic congestion, and traffic congestion increases the risk of injuries and property damage. The laws are meant to reduce the likelihood of those harms by managing the flow of traffic.</p>

<p>Of course, this doesn't necessarily have to involve speeding. If the speed limit is 70 MPH, a truck going 55 should move to the right if other cars are going 60.</p>

<p>But even if it is an <em>acknowledgement</em> of speeding, a law that acknowledges a crime by requiring others to help reduce the resulting harm isn't <em>permission</em> to commit the crime. A law requiring police to process rape kits isn't permission for you to rape anyone, a law requiring teachers to report child abuse isn't permission for you to beat your children, and a law requiring the government to prepare for a nuclear attack isn't permission to detonate a dirty bomb.</p>

<p>These are all just laws meant to help the government manage foreseeable problems.</p>
