A 2024 Florida bill would prevent drivers from cruising in the left lane on highways with at least two lanes and a speed limit of 65 MPH or higher.
Bill HB 317
The “Interstate Safety” bill, labeled HB 317, would formally designate the left lane as a passing-only lane for most drivers in Florida, excluding emergency and highway maintenance vehicles.
The bill defines the left lane as the farthest left-hand lane, unless that lane is designated for high-occupancy vehicles or left turns—in which case the lane immediately to the right becomes the passing lane.
Reinforcing the current left lane law in Florida, the bill allows use of the left lane only for:
- overtaking and passing another vehicle
- preparing to exit the roadway
- following an official traffic control device
Why a ban on left lane cruising in Florida?
Senator Keith Perry of Gainesville is sponsoring the bill to reinforce proper lane usage—keeping slower traffic to the right and reducing unsafe passing behavior.
“In 2023 alone, there were 4,027 violations as a direct violation of passing on the right,” he said. “Last year we had 247 instances where people were either incapacitated or deaths that happened from improper passing on the right-hand side on someone’s blindside.”
The goal is to reduce situations where drivers pass on the right due to slower vehicles blocking the left lane.
“If someone in the left lane is going slower, and you pass them (on the right), you are creating an infraction and you can get ticketed,” Perry said.
Fines for cruising in the left lane could reach up to $158. If signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the law would take effect January 1, 2025.