I’m So Sick of Drivers Doing This on Maine Highways

It happened to me again this weekend.

I hopped onto the Maine Turnpike heading north from Portland to Auburn, Maine. Right after passing the Gray exit, I approached what looked like a traffic snarl before the New Gloucester toll.

But it wasn't a traffic issue that required police intervention. It was just another instance of a driver doing that thing that far too many motorists do in Maine these days.

Camping out in the left lane.

Maine Law Says Left Lanes on Highways Are Strictly For Passing

Sure, this entire article so far reads like an aggravated old man yelling at a cloud. But there's an explicit law in Maine that backs up the point.

Google Maps

If you haven't noticed (and judging by how many people actually camp in the left lane) there's signs up and down the Maine Turnpike and other busy highways that state KEEP RIGHT UNLESS PASSING. That means use the left lane to pass and then move right again.

On busy holiday weekends in Maine, left lane campers are causing actual traffic nightmares simply by refusing to do what should be common sense and common courtesy. Move right.

Police Could Give Fines to Drivers That Camp in The Left Lane

On Saturday, the traffic backup I was involved with happened in New Gloucester. It was caused by a tractor trailer going about 60mph in the right lane (as they should be) and a driver in the left lane going about 62mph.

This is a 70mph speed limit zone.

4 cars in front of me was a truck clearly aggravated and riding the bumper of the car going 62mph.

Perhaps that car was fearful of passing the tractor trailer. Perhaps they were daydreaming or on a bluetooth call or just enjoying the sights and sounds of a nice Saturday afternoon in Maine.

an aerial view of a highway with cars driving on it

I don't really care what it was. Get out of the left lane if you're not passing that tractor trailer in a reasonable fashion.

and they didn't pass anyone. After going through the EZ Pass express lane, 7 different cars (including myself) passed this driver on the right because they simply wouldn't move from the left lane. It's not illegal to do that but generally is viewed as an unsafe practice.

This might sound like whining to many but it really boils down to a safety issue. People are going to drive fast on highways and the left lane is a place for faster drivers to pass. We can hope they do so in a safe way but that lane needs to be as clear as possible.

Police could fine any driver "camped" in the left lane if they witness it. But everyone knows state police are generally far too busy to look for that type of infraction.

So please, for the love of god, just get out of the left lane. Unless you're passing someone, of course.