First and foremost, lane courtesy makes our roads safer. Government agencies spend billions of dollars on campaigns to promote speed limits and seatbelt laws, but lane courtesy is ignored even though numerous states have laws that require slower traffic to keep right.

This simple act of courtesy significantly improves highway safety by promoting smooth traffic flow. When lane courtesy is ignored, congestion increases, tailgating and dangerous passes become more frequent, and speeds fluctuate more. All of these things cause accidents.

Lane courtesy also greatly reduces road rage. When you ask drivers what irritates them the most, many will answer, "left-lane hogs." The failure of slower traffic to keep right or yield makes driving frustrating. By practicing lane courtesy, driving becomes more enjoyable and motorists are less likely to engage in aggressive behaviors brought on by frustration.

Another, often overlooked, benefit of lane courtesy is improved gas mileage. Right now, this is of particular importance since gas prices are so high. Vehicles consume the most fuel when they are accelerating, and they burn less fuel when they maintain a consistent speed. A road full of "left-lane hogs" is also full of other motorists that have to brake when they encounter a slower vehicle and then accelerate when they finally pass the driver blocking the left lane. This wastes gas and money!

Lane courtesy offers many great benefits, that’s why it’s so important. To find out how we can make lane courtesy a reality everyday, click here.