Although the first weekend of your vacation promises to be busy, it’s useful to remember an essential (but little respected) rule on the highway. Driving in the center or left lane when not passing is prohibited. Violators risk a fine of 35 euros.
how does it meanarticle R412-9 of the highway code, “In normal operation, every driver must keep his vehicle close to the right edge of the road, as much as the state or profile of the road allows.” This article is valid on any type of road, even on a multi-lane highway.
In the event of an infraction, the driver is penalized with the fine provided for second class fines, that is, 35 euros.
a dangerous practice
And this crime turns out to be much more severely punished in Belgium since in order not to back down and staying in the middle lane now results in a €116 finecompared to 58 previously.
“On the motorway, many people get stuck in the middle lane, forcing faster vehicles to overtake them on the left, which is another offence, explains Laurence Guillerm, communication director for the Association of French Highway Societies. (ASFA). Of course, you overtake on the left, putting on the indicator, and when you do not overtake, you go back along the line furthest to the right.
“Driving in the center lane without overtaking is strictly prohibited. And it is dangerous for other motorists. In fact, they must cross two lanes to be able to overtake them,” says Etienne Lejeune, a highway law attorney.
“And contrary to a false belief (there are many in road law…), the right lane is not reserved at all for heavy and slow vehicles, except for specific signs, especially on the coast,” he continues.
Source: BFM TV
