Road rule motorists are being fined $200 for violating in Victoria
- The right lane is for overtaking
- Many drivers don’t realize this.
- Police are cracking down
Unaware drivers are being penalized with fines and demerit points for obnoxiously ignoring a little road rule that some drivers believe is little more than a courtesy.
Police are criticizing drivers along the Surf Coast Highway in Victoria for hogging the right lane on a dual carriageway.
At least five drivers were pulled over for driving in the lane on Wednesday and Thursday, which by law is only used for overtaking.
Some drivers were going slowly, while others were speeding, and all were fined $192 and received two demerit points.
Vic Roads states that the right lane on multi-lane roads with a speed limit of 50 miles or more is only for passing, turning right, or when the roads are congested.
Surf Coast Police have cracked down on Victorian drivers who continue to drive in the right hand lane, which is illegal on all roads at speeds over 50 mph.
Five drivers along Surf Coast Highway were fined $192 and received two demerit points for hogging the right lane, which is the maximum penalty.
The police shared the excuses they heard from the drivers after stopping them.
One driver said he was unaware of the rule as officers fined them $192 and two demerit points.
Another thought it was okay because they were ‘doing 100’, but they got penalized too.
A third driver tried to ask the police if they were serious while the officers wrote the ticket and assigned the demerit points.
Their last catch of the day said they were just tired as they got the same penalty.
Patrol officers followed each offender for more than a kilometer before stopping them and handing them the maximum penalty for the offence.
Photos of the victims were uploaded to their Eyewatch – Surfcoast Police Service Area media page, prompting some skepticism from one commenter.
“Revenue collection,” they said with an eye-rolling emoji.
“Yeah, no, it’s a pretty serious security issue,” Surf Coast police responded.
People agreed and praised the police for finally cracking down on inconsiderate drivers.
‘No, it’s because they’re actually listening to what the community wants. Most people are fed up with hoarders from the right lane,” said one.
“As a delivery person, I have been frustrated too many times by hoarders in the right lane in cars and trucks that are in la la land and won’t let us through with our lights and sirens going trying to get to someone in need,” another replied.
‘Can you patrol the Bellarine Highway? I promise you’ll be very busy,’ suggested one person.
Others in the comments questioned what kind of excuse it was for a driver to say they didn’t know the rule.
‘Rules are rules, we had to learn them on our driving tests to get our licences. I don’t understand how people seem to forget them after driving for less than six months,” they asked.
A Sydney woman tried to use this excuse in 2017 when she was pulled over for “driving too slow” in the right lane.
The woman, whom the Daily Mail chose not to name, pulled out her phone and filmed the ordeal, threatening to “expose” the abusive police.
‘Absolutely disgusting behavior by the police. I will have everyone exposed and informed, stopping me without reason,” he captioned the video on Facebook.
Although it is unknown if he also received a $192 fine and two demerit points, he received a great deal of ridicule from people who sided with the police.
The video was quickly removed.
