DEAR SUN SPOTS: Noting your request for questions in this slow season, I have something that I would like to know: How, why and when did highway laws change so that it is now legal and acceptable to drive in the left-hand lane on two-lane roads? Is it now legal to pass on the right? If so, why do we waste highway dollars on signs that say “Keep to the right, except to pass”?

I find it very annoying to move to the left, allowing someone to enter the highway from the right, and then have them cut across to the left lane and drive at speeds lower than the posted limit. What was the logic behind such a move? If the signs “keep to the right” are to be left in place, are they to be enforced?

Thanks. — Cal Brown, Litchfield, cebro11@gmail.com

ANSWER: For an answer to Cal’s question as well as the next letter, Sun Spots emailed with Derek Olson, Region Traffic Engineer for the Maine Department of Transportation.

Although Cal did not specify, for the purpose of answering this question it was assumed that he was referring to two lanes traveling the same direction, as on a four-lane highway.

Derek wrote:

“’Keep to the Right, Except to Pass’ signs are only installed on four-lane highways such as interstates or divided highway sections (like Route 202 between the Turnpike and Auburn). Note that a four-lane highway means two-lanes each direction.

“According to state law, vehicles are ‘… restricted in ordinary operation to the right-hand lane and may use adjacent lanes for overtaking and passing another vehicle, but must return to the right-hand lane at the earliest opportunity.’

“There is another part of the law that states ‘… a vehicle moving slowly shall keep the vehicle as close as practicable to the right-hand boundary of the public way, and allow faster moving vehicles reasonably free passage to the left.’

“The following state laws address this: Chapter 19, Subchapter 1, Section 2052, Paragraph 6; and Chapter 19, Subchapter 1, Section 2053, Paragraph 1 and 2.

“Note that the Department of Transportation is NOT an enforcement agency and nothing in this answer should be construed as legal advice.”

Sun Spots suspects that the drivers who annoy Cal also annoy law enforcement, but that time and personnel limitations keep them from ticketing them all.

Drivers who stay in the left-hand lane are one of Mr. Sun Spots’ pet peeves, and it was his constant “reminders” that broke Sun Spots of this habit. Mr. Sun Spots was given excellent driving instruction by his father.

Sun Spots theorizes that many drivers no longer benefit from that kind of extensive parental attention to their lessons, hence they are unaware of the rules and have bad habits. This is certainly true of Sun Spots, whose father had no patience and whose mother was too terrified to be helpful.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: We have three merges on Main Street in Lewiston. When two cars come to the merge, which one has the right of way, the car on the right or the one on the left? Thank you. — No Name, Lewiston

ANSWER: Derek also answered this question:

“When lanes get reduced, engineers have to decide which lane makes more sense to merge into. This is usually based on the geometry of the road. Warning signs are installed to inform the driver which lane ends. The Department of Public Safety should be consulted for interpretation of state laws regarding who has the right of way.”

If No Name knows of a merge without signs indicating which lane should merge, please let the city know so they can put one up. Merge signs indicate the lanes with one straight line, one that bends in to it. The straight line indicates the lane with the right of way.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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