Over the last few years there has been a development on our roads that is unpleasant for many traffic participants, but advantageous to only a very few: I am talking of the fact that it seems to be en vogue to drive cars on the left or middle lanes instead of on the right-hand one.

It is very unnerving if the right-hand lane is free, but you still can’t pass-by slow-moving vehicles blocking the left-hand lanes. In Switzerland (and, as far as I remember, in all of continental Europe), driving on the right-hand side of the road is mandated by the law. Plus, there are harsh fines for passing someone by on their right. This means that you fundamentally have to use the right-most lane, except if that lane is specially marked, such as a bus-lane or a directional lane. The other lanes are meant for bypassing slower cars only.

Now, there are those who say that this doesn’t matter when the road is free. And if a car comes up from behind and wants to bypass them, they would yield and switch lanes. Nice idea, only it ain’t true. I observe many times that people cozily drive in the center lane, maybe believing that the right-hand lane is reserved for trucks. When close up behind them, being in the right lane, of course, as needs be, then I have to switch two lanes to bypass the idiot blocking the middle lane who is oblivious to other traffic members.

Therefore: If there is more than one lane available (such as on highways), then please stay on the rightmost lane. Use the other lanes only for bypassing slower vehicles. If everyone would stick to this rule, then there would be ever so much more space on our roads.