Driving over the speed limit is one of the most prevalent ways to get fined on the road. Speeding has some of the highest accident risks associated with it and for this reason, depending on how much you were going over the speed limit, you can rack up significant costs on just one fine. However, many people do not know that you can also be fined for driving too slowly. While cautious driving is always recommended to avoid accidents, driving too slowly can actually be just as much of a hazard as speeding.
How driving too slowly can cause an accident
Driving too fast has obvious reasons as to why it is dangerous. Not only do you not have enough time to react if another driver does something unexpectantly, but you may also not be as aware of your surroundings. Slow driving on the other hand has less obvious reasons as to why it is just as much of a danger on the road. When you drive too slowly, you end up disrupting the flow of traffic. This is particularly a problem if you are on a highway as it can cause major collisions from behind.
If other drivers are not expecting someone to be driving significantly below the speed limit, it endangers other road users as it can prompt faster drivers to do sudden lane changes or to brake unexpectedly. If you are driving too slowly during lane merging, it can also be hazardous as other drivers are forced to make abrupt stops to let you in.
This state will fine your for slow driving
A new piece of legislator in Louisiana has recently been announced to deter drivers form driving too slowly. Louisiana legislator Senator Jay Luneau has recently filed a bill pushing for more stringent measures to be taken to prevent slow driving occurring on the roads. The bill is particularly for drivers who end up blocking the left lane, the designated lane for drivers to pass in.
SB11 in the Louisiana State Legislature if passed would mean that these drivers blocking the left lane would receive a fine. The bill is intended to promote highway safety as well as reduce driver frustration against slower drivers. If passed, the bill would fine drivers who are driving in the left lane below the speed limit and are not trying to pass other vehicles.
We’ve all encountered that at sometimes in our life where two people are driving side by side on a four-lane highway, and it causes a backlog of traffic, but more importantly it creates danger,” Luneau said.
For a first time offence, the bill outlines that the driver would be fined $150. Thereafter, if you are caught violating the speeding law again, you will be fined $350. If it happens for a third time, you could receive up to 30 days in jail. While the new bill has good intentions, many have pointed out that unless a state trooper is there to witness the violation and enforce the bill, there is not much it can actually do in reality.
Driving laws consistently being updated to keep drivers safe
Driving laws are are constantly being updated, amended, discarded, and changed, more so than any other type of legislation. This is to adapt to changing vehicle technology on the road as well as in response to keeping roads safe. Speeding however, remains one of the biggest reasons for reckless driving behavior over slow driving, and many traffic bills are aimed at reducing speeding on the road through steep fines, implementing more cameras, jail time, and even license suspension for an extended period of time.
