Keep Right: Indiana BMV Reminds drivers that hogging the left lane is against the law

Monday, August 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM

By Kathy Bottorff

If you've ever found yourself stuck behind a slow driver camped out in the left lane of an interstate, you're not just frustrated — you're witnessing a violation of Indiana law.

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles is reminding Hoosiers that slower-moving vehicles are legally required to stay in the right lane on multi-lane highways, leaving the left lane clear for faster-moving traffic and passing.

The Indiana Driver's Manual is direct on the matter: "On the highway, slower vehicles should use the right lane. Leave the left-hand lane for faster-moving or passing vehicles."

It's a rule that many drivers may know instinctively but don't always follow — and with August traditionally ranking among the highest months for vehicle miles traveled in Indiana, the timing of the reminder is no accident. End-of-summer road trips combined with the surge of back-to-school travel mean more vehicles on the road and more opportunities for lane-related frustration and potential hazards.

The BMV is encouraging all Indiana drivers — regardless of how long they've been licensed — to take a few minutes to brush up on the rules of the road. The Indiana Driver's Manual covers a wide range of safe driving topics including changing lanes and passing, interstate highway travel, speed limits, and seatbelt laws.

The bottom line for Hoosier drivers is straightforward: travel at the posted speed limit unless road or vehicle conditions require otherwise, stay in the right lane when traveling slower than surrounding traffic, and keep the left lane open for passing.

Copies of the Indiana Driver's Manual are available at any local BMV branch office, or a digital version can be downloaded directly from the BMV's website or here.