The center and left lanes are for overtaking or when traffic or road conditions make it advisable, as long as it does not hinder the progress of another vehicle that is following you. The general rule is that you must drive in the right lane, as the DGT recalls via Twitter.
Despite this warning, there are numerous vehicles that seem to subscribe to the central and left lanes, being very common to drive on a motorway or expressway in which the right lane is empty and if a vehicle circulates in it, it cannot be changed to overtake. because those on the right are busy. Some drivers explain on social networks that they do it this way for the greater comfort of not having to overtake vehicles that circulate on the right, such as trucks or vans. It is the so-called left lane syndrome, and it is a behavior for which we can be fined.
The general rule is that you should drive in the right lane.
The central and left ones are for overtaking or for when the traffic/road circumstances make it advisable, as long as it does not hinder the progress of another vehicle that is following you.#DriveBetter pic.twitter.com/4WIXxuic19
— Director General Traffic (@DGTes) April 26, 2022
According to article 31 of the General Traffic Regulations «on roads with more than one lane reserved for your direction of travel, you will normally circulate in the one located furthest to your right, although you may use the rest of those in that direction when circumstances of the traffic or the road advise it, on the condition that it does not hinder the progress of another vehicle that is following it”. That is why the traffic regulations contemplate fines of 200 euros without loss of points for improper use of the left lane.
Strictly, those who circulate in the left and central lanes can be sanctioned when the right is free, especially if the progress of other vehicles is hindered.
According to the DGT, “drivers who drive continuously in the left lane only manage to cause more retentions, braking and reaching.” The data from this body reflects that the percentage of use of the right lane reaches 60% on dual-lane expressways.
From the RACE they explain that according to the traffic regulations, as a rule we will circulate on the right and not in the central lane or the others on the left. However, in this norm there are a series of exceptions that are indicated in chapter VII of the same regulation.
By driving subscribers to the central lane and the one on the left we are also limiting the visibility of the vehicles that circulate behind, and preventing other road users from overtaking us, since it is also an infraction to overtake on the right.
In the lane furthest to the right, it is not allowed to pass cars that circulate slower on our left. Doing so is considered a serious offense according to article 82, chapter VII, of the General Traffic Regulations.
Thus, to overtake a slower car driving in the center lane, you have to change to the adjacent left lane. Then we will finish the maneuver by returning to the right lane. In addition, you have to remember that you cannot drive permanently in the left lane to continually overtake. If we are overtaking on the right and do not comply with the aforementioned exceptions, it is considered a serious offense and the fine can be up to 200 euros.
In articles 82 and 83, which speak of overtaking on the left, a series of exceptions are cited:
If the car we are overtaking goes to the left: «If there is enough space for it, the overtaking will be carried out on the right and taking the maximum precautions, when the driver of the vehicle that is intended to be overtaken is clearly indicating his intention to change direction. direction to the left or stop on that side, as well as, on roads with traffic in both directions, to trams that run through the central area.
If you are driving through a town or a city, you can overtake on the right: «Within towns, on roads that have at least two lanes reserved for traffic in the same direction of travel, delimited by longitudinal markings, It allows overtaking on the right on condition that the driver of the vehicle that carries it out previously makes sure that he can do so without danger to other users.
If you are in a traffic jam and stay in the right lane, it is only passing, not overtaking. “When traffic density is such that vehicles occupy the entire width of the roadway and can only travel at a speed that depends on that of the vehicle preceding them in their lane, the fact that those in one lane travel faster than those of another will not be considered as an overtaking«, they explain from the RACE.
In this situation, no driver should change lanes to overtake or to carry out any other maneuver other than preparing to turn right or left, leave the road or take a certain direction.