Motorists hogging the passing lane and driving below the posted speed limit are creating dangerous situations on Nevada highways.
Nevada News Group
We see the Nevada State Police and local law enforcement agencies are patrolling the highways and byways and local streets during the holiday season and rightfully so.
Not only are we celebrating Christmas and New Year’s, officers are also ensuring drivers aren’t distracted or — yes, they still do it — consuming too many hot toddies before navigating Nevada’s highways.
Officers are ensuring drivers don’t text and drive, which is a big no-no, or speeding. As luck would have it, a patrol car is not too far behind. Law enforcement officers also ensure a vehicle’s occupants are wearing their seatbelts, and motorists are obeying the speed limits on city streets and state highways.
We thought this problem was more of a summer problem, but the bad habit has ebbed into the winter solstice. Nevada has a law that drivers can receive a ticket for going too slow in the left lane.
That’s correct. Nevada drivers like to camp in the left lane of a four-lane highway, and that causes a dangerous situation with angry drivers passing on the right and extending their best finger salute. We’re sure that’s not wishing Good Tidings to All.
Drivers still haven’t received the word or they choose to ignore it. Their choice of driving slow in the fast lane is causing heartburn among Nevada’s motorists.
According to the law, “If the highway has two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic traveling in the direction in which the driver is traveling, drive in the extreme right-hand lane except when necessary to pass other slowly moving vehicles.”
According to the NSP, the No. 1 issue that causes road rage on Nevada’s four-lane roadways is — you guess it — drivers poking along in the passing lane like they’re pioneers navigating the 40-mile desert in a covered wagon.
The four-lane stretches of highway between Fallon and Carson City or Fallon and Fernley present the most angst among drivers leaving town to see friends, attending a meeting or shopping.
The worst culprit for drivers’ inattention is the Reno Highway from Walmart to Leeteville Junction, and Dayton Hill, both directions to and from Carson City. Drivers tend to hog the passing lane at 10 to 15 mph below the posted speed and will stay there for miles until they make a left-hand turn onto a side road or parking lot.
Beware of the USA Parkway heading into Reno on Interstate 80, which has become one of the most dangerous stretches of highway leading into the Truckee Meadows. Not only are drivers chugging along at a slower pace in the passing lane, but truckers in their 18-wheelers also believe it’s their right to pass another slow-moving vehicle on an incline and then choke traffic to a 35-40 mph crawl for one to two miles.
For local motorists going to or coming back from Carson City, the stretch of U.S. Highway 50 from the bottom of Dayton Hill to Mound House is another culprit. Drivers tend to drive side by side and back up the cars and truckers behind them.
Police can’t be everywhere, but it would be nice to see law enforcement launch a three-to-four-day campaign over the holidays to crack down on slow-moving motorists in our area.
In Nevada, the fine for first-time offenders is a $50, and the second occurrence rises to $100. A third violation ups the ante to $250. A fourth violation should ban drivers to the right-hand lane for a year.
One of these days, these slow-moving drivers crawling in the passing lane will either cause a major pileup resulting in a number of serious injuries or fatalities. It’s either time for these drivers to pay attention to this law or surrender their licenses.
We re-emphasize the following for the holiday season and for the future:
• Don’t impede traffic by driving in the left or passing lane.
• Slower traffic should remain in the right-hand lane until the driver must turn on to a street or another highway.
• Slow down for choke points such as USA Parkway.
• Allow yourself enough time always.
Remember, the highway is not for playing the tortoise and the hare.
This editorial is the viewpoint of the Lahontan Valley News. Happy holidays and safe travels.