Driving on our nation’s highways can be very dangerous these days.

In our many growing metropolitan areas, a driving commute of 1 to 2 hours each way on a 4 to 6 lane highway is not very uncommon.  Nor is it uncommon to see 2 to 4, or even more vehicles involved in an accident on any given day while driving that commute.

Who is responsible for those accidents?  Speeders?  Tailgaters?  Reckless drivers?  While these types of drivers certainly contribute to the daily highway accidents, it may surprise some of you to find out that many “safe drivers” (as they consider themselves) may be playing a huge role, as well.

These so-called “safe drivers” may not be speeding or tailgating.  They may not be changing lanes without signaling.  They may not ever remove their hands from the “10 o’clock – 2 o’clock position”.  They may not even be talking on their cell phones while driving (Ok, that one may be hard to believe), but they may still be causing accidents by failing to adhere to one very important, but, often ignored traffic law:  SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT.

Most states have some form of this law in place and have the SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT signs posted along major highways, but so many of these so-called “safe drivers” choose to ignore them. 

There is a very good reason why these states have passed these laws and have taken the time and expense to post these signs along our nation’s highways.  That reason is to reduce the number of accidents on our highways, which can result in lives saved.  As an example, the reason stated for a Florida state bill, regarding this law, was “to decrease the incidence of drivers interfering with the movement of traffic, to reduce road rage and aggressive driving, to minimize crashes, and to promote the orderly, free flow of traffic on the roads and highways of the state.”

Many drivers who ignore these “Keep Right” laws have a common attitude:  “As long as I am driving the speed limit, I can drive in any lane that I want… And, who cares if the cars piling up behind me get in an accident… -they were speeding, so they deserve it.”  Drivers who have this attitude think of themselves as “morally or righteously or naturally superior (MORONS)” to other drivers.  But, consider this:  When traffic accidents happen, there is always at least one innocent victim that was not involved in the “cause” of the accident, but may have suffered just as much or more than the person responsible.

Unfortunately, these “Keep Right” laws are rarely enforced by our very busy highway patrolmen, because it is a somewhat difficult violation for them to witness and prove in court.  Legislation is being written in many states to help make the laws more enforceable, but it may remain difficult to enforce.  For this reason, we may have to settle for making people more aware of these laws to help promote them. 

This is why we have chosen the SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT message as our first Speed Shirt design.  So, get a shirt on your back and spread the word: 

Stay out of the fast lane (MORONS), unless you know how to use it! 

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