Left lane law in Florida: Complicated? No. Followed? Rarely

Enjoy the calm before the storm.

We are not talking about a hurricane, thankfully. We’re talking about the annual traffic storm that will be here in Southwest Florida before you know it.

The first wave is October. Then another wave will arrive between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. Then. the biggest wave of them all − from the middle of January until April.

The seasonal traffic, featuring snowbirds and tourists is upon us. For some, it means the urge to curl up in a ball and hide. For others, it’s an opportunity to brush up on the “rules of the road”

More: Florida left-lane bill returns, makes left lanes passing-only. What to know about HB 351

When it comes to the “rules of the road”, there is one rule that has a high propensity of being broken here in Southwest Florida.

Can you drive in the left lane without passing? What Florida law says

This one:

According to the Florida Highways Safety and Motor Vehicles website:

On multi-lane streets, roads and highways, section 316.081(3), Florida Statutes, requires that drivers drive in the right-hand lanes to prevent impeding the flow of traffic resulting in dangerous driving situations.

Drive in the right lane and pass on the left.

Drivers must not continue to drive a vehicle in the far left lane when being overtaken by a faster moving vehicle, unless the driver is preparing for a left-hand turn at an intersection.

Over 84% of Florida drivers admit to misusing the left lane, according to legal firm Anidjar & Levine. There were 12,970 tickets issued for it in 2024, according to the firm, and each one carried a maximum fine of $75 and 3 points on your license. But enforcement was moderate, the firm said in an email.

The firm examined state laws on left-lane driving and found that the severity of the punishments and the inconsistency of their enforcement can be a problem. The strictest state was Virginia, where misusing the left lane can mean up to $2,500 in fines and potential jail time.

Can you get a ticket in Florida for not driving in the ‘right lane’

Drivers failing to move from the far left lane will receive a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: What is the Florida law for driving in the left lane?