I enjoy my daily ride in the car to and from work. I am content to lie snugly in my crate, which is secured in the back seat with seat belts. I can snooze or look out the window. For the most part, these daily rides are uneventful. The view remains the same, the length of time remains the same, the music remains on an oldies station, usually 106.7, and, my Mom is pointing out yet another thoughtless driver in the left lane, impeding the flow of traffic, oblivious to other drivers that want to pass. This thoughtless driver is usually driving at minimum or below the speed limit with their focus of attention directed at the cell phone held up to their ear. My Mom asks aloud to this oblivious driver, (knowing he or she can't hear her), "where did you learn to drive? Move over when someone wants to pass!"
Yes, I hear this every day, often several times a day. The State of Georgia has statutes defining vehicles driving in the left lane, taking into account differing statutes for one-way streets; divided roadways; two, three, and even four or more lane roadways. Georgia Statute O.C.G.A. 40-6-40, states that
vehicles are to drive on the right side of the roadway, with, for example, some exceptions: Passing; hazards in the right lane necessitating a move to the left lane; roadways that have three lanes. The two biggest violators we see on a daily basis: 1) vehicles in the left lane proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic, and, 2) two vehicles impeding traffic by driving side by side at the same time in adjacent lanes, and there is no third left lane to pass in. Please, have some consideration for your fellow drivers, get off your phone, wake up, quit putting on your makeup, quit reading your books; quit assuming that since you have to make a left turn several miles up the road you must stay in the left lane all the way to your turn!!
Move over!
Another Georgia statute, O.C.G.A. 40-6-42, concerns passing in general, and states in part:
".... the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaken vehicle and
shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle." I bet a large majority of you would raise your hands if you ever experienced the driver you were attempting to pass speed up so you could not pass. How many of you would raise your hands is asked if you yourself were guilty of this very violation? What is wrong with you people? You go slow in the right lane until someone starts to pass you--what, you think it's a race??
It's a public roadway, and lives are at stake--learn to drive or get off the road.
The Official Code of Georgia (Georgia's state laws) is public and freely available for review on the State of Georgia's government web site, just "Google" to learn more. Go expand your mind at your local library, or, on your e-reader. Stay informed. Drive Safely. Be considerate.
Take care, y'all,
Tuck the Law Dog
http://criminallawyercherokeecobb.com
http://tuckthelawdog.wordpress.com
