We had a great conversation this week after Tonya brought up how many people don’t know how to use roundabouts. And honestly… she’s not wrong. But it got me thinking about another driving habit that really grinds my gears—passing lanes.
Now, let me be clear: I love passing lanes. Out here, they’re a lifesaver. They keep traffic moving, reduce risky passing, and make highway driving a whole lot less stressful. When everyone uses them properly, it’s a beautiful thing.
But… not everyone does.
You know exactly the situation I’m talking about. You’re cruising along behind someone going a bit under the speed limit. No big deal—you’re patient. You wait for the passing lane to open up, thinking, “Perfect, here we go.”
And then it happens.
As soon as that passing lane appears… they speed up.
Not just a little bit either—just enough to make passing awkward, longer than it should be, or sometimes nearly impossible. Then, the second the lane ends… boom—they slow right back down again.
Come on.
It’s like some kind of unwritten challenge I didn’t sign up for.
If you’re driving slower, that’s totally fine. No one’s expecting you to floor it. But the whole point of a passing lane is to let other drivers safely get around you. Speeding up during that stretch defeats the entire purpose—and honestly, it creates more frustration (and risk) than anything else.
I’ll admit, I’ve had a few choice words in those moments… usually followed by “the look” when I finally do get by them down the road. You know the one.
At the end of the day, it’s pretty simple:
- If you’re going slower, just keep a steady speed.
- Let faster traffic pass safely.
- Everyone gets where they’re going with a little less stress.
Passing lanes aren’t a race—they’re a courtesy.
And if we could all get on the same page with that, driving would be a whole lot smoother for everyone.
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