Not a ‘fast lane’: Miros tells Malaysian motorists to keep left, overtake right

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — Think the right-most lane on a Malaysian highway is simply the “fast lane”?

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) has a simpler rule: keep left, move right to overtake, then return left when it is safe.

Director of the Road Safety Engineering and Environment Research Centre Rizati Hamidun said the left lane is generally meant for normal travelling and slower-moving vehicles, while the middle lane can be used for travelling and, where appropriate, overtaking slower vehicles in the left lane.

“The right-most lane is primarily for overtaking and should not be treated as a permanent cruising lane, even by motorists travelling at the maximum speed limit,” she said.

“Traffic should respect the dedicated function of each lane. The lane is there for a purpose, and motorists need to understand what that purpose is.

“The more correct concept is to keep left, move to the right to overtake, and once you have completed the manoeuvre, return to the left when it is safe,” she said.

This is consistent with Rule 4 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959, which requires slower vehicles to be kept as near as practicable to the left and driven in a manner that does not obstruct faster traffic.

What each highway lane is for

On a three-lane highway, motorists should generally use the left lane for normal travelling, particularly if they are driving slower or operating heavy vehicles.

The middle lane can be used by motorists travelling at moderate speeds and by vehicles overtaking slower traffic in the left lane.

The right-most lane is primarily for overtaking, meaning a motorist travelling at 110kph on a highway with a 110kph speed limit does not automatically have the right to remain there indefinitely.

Rizati said motorists should return to the left after overtaking once there is sufficient clearance and it is safe to do so.

“You need to make sure there is adequate clearance from the vehicle that you have overtaken and that there is a sufficient gap in the lane you want to move into.

“Once you have that clearance, you should move back as soon as it is reasonably practical and safe to do so,” she said.

What if the driver ahead refuses to move?

A motorist approaching a slower vehicle in the right-most lane should first maintain a safe following distance rather than tailgate, while giving the driver ahead sufficient time and space to assess the traffic and move left safely.

Rizati said motorists should not respond to a vehicle that refuses to move by attempting a dangerous manoeuvre.

“If the front vehicle does not move aside, we cannot attempt a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre or overtake on the left simply out of impatience.

“We have to wait for a safe, lawful opportunity to overtake and give the vehicle in front enough time and space to move safely,” she said.

Can you flash your headlights?

Briefly flashing the headlights can be used to communicate an intention to overtake, but Rizati said it should not become an aggressive demand for another driver to move.

“One or two flashes are enough to give a signal that you want to overtake. After that, you have to wait for the vehicle ahead to move to the left in a safe condition,” she said.

Repeated flashing or tailgating could create tension and encourage unsafe driving, while a motorist travelling above the speed limit cannot expect another driver to immediately move aside simply because they want to travel faster.

What about the right indicator?

Using the right turn signal simply to tell a vehicle ahead to move aside is not recommended because indicators are intended to communicate an intention to turn or change lanes.

For example, a motorist in the middle lane intending to move into the right lane should activate the right indicator before making the lane change.

A driver already in the right-most lane, however, should not use the right indicator merely as a “move over” signal because there is no lane to the right.

“The right signal has a clear traffic-management purpose. It communicates an intention to move to the right or to turn right.

“If you are already in the right-most lane and put on your right signal simply to tell the vehicle ahead that you want to overtake, that can be misleading because there is no lane to your right,” she said.

Can you overtake on the left?

Miros advises motorists not to use the left lane simply to get around a vehicle occupying the right lane.

Rizati said a motorist could move into the left lane to continue travelling there, but should not use it as an overtaking manoeuvre before cutting back into the right lane.

“You can join the left lane and continue travelling there. The left lane should not be used to overtake a vehicle and then cut back to the right,” she said.

The distinction matters when a seemingly clear gap appears on the left while a vehicle ahead is occupying the right lane, as motorists should instead maintain a safe distance and wait for a lawful opportunity to overtake.

What does the law say about lane hogging?

Rule 4 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 requires vehicles travelling at slow speeds to be driven as close as possible to the left and in a manner that does not obstruct faster vehicles.

Rule 4A specifically prohibits drivers of goods vehicles and public service vehicles from continuously using the extreme right lane on any road or highway, except when overtaking a vehicle ahead.

Rule 5 provides that motorists should overtake traffic travelling in the same direction from the right, subject to specified exceptions.

“Actually those travelling on the right lane all the time are committing an offence; it’s hogging the right lane. Meaning they’re maintaining (their vehicle) in the right lane, monopolising the lane and not letting others pass. It can also cause congestion because when a vehicle stays in the right lane without overtaking, it affects the movement of other vehicles behind it,” said Rizati.

“You can’t stay in the right lane too long. If you face this situation do not overtake on the left; that’s not allowed as well. Go back to the left lane and find a safe distance to move back to the right if you need to,” she said.

Lane hogging and speeding are separate issues: the former concerns failure to use the appropriate lane, while the latter involves driving above the legal speed limit.

So where do 60, 80 and 100kph come in?

Miros is currently conducting a minimum-speed advisory proof-of-concept initiative on selected sections of the PLUS Highway and South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), with motorists advised to maintain minimum speeds of 60kph in the left lane, 80kph in the middle lane and 100kph in the right lane where conditions permit.

The figures are advisories under the ongoing trial and are not intended to require motorists to maintain those speeds when doing so would be unsafe, such as during heavy rain or congestion.

Rizati said the initiative is intended partly to address large variations in vehicle speeds and poor lane discipline, as motorists previously had a maximum speed limit but no corresponding minimum-speed reference for different lanes.

“We would like to test whether 60 is suitable for this lane, whether 80 is suitable for this lane and whether 100 is suitable for this lane.

“We also want to minimise speed variation because previously we only had a maximum speed limit. Everyone could drive at their own favourable speed, and the variation could become very large,” she said.

The initiative is also intended to improve traffic flow and safety while reducing aggressive overtaking from the left.

Rizati said feedback so far had been generally positive, although the trial remains ongoing and Miros has yet to draw final conclusions.

“This is only a trial. So far, it is progressing and people are responding to it. We have received a lot of positive feedback.

“We still have August, September and until the end of October, so there is quite a long way to go. We cannot judge it yet,” she said.

The simple rule

For motorists, Miros’ message is straightforward: keep left, use the right lane to overtake, give other drivers time and space to move over, and return left once the manoeuvre is safely completed.

The right-most lane may commonly be called the “fast lane”, but travelling at the maximum speed limit does not make it a permanent cruising lane.

Likewise, being stuck behind a slower vehicle is not a licence to tailgate, repeatedly flash the headlights or attempt an unsafe manoeuvre.

Good lane discipline ultimately comes down to recognising that every lane has a purpose.

Know your highway lanes

Left: Normal travelling and slower-moving or heavy vehicles; 60kph minimum-speed advisory under the current trial.

Middle: Normal travelling and appropriate overtaking of slower traffic; 80kph minimum-speed advisory under the current trial.

Right: Primarily for overtaking; 100kph minimum-speed advisory under the current trial, where conditions permit.

Remember: The 60/80/100kph figures are minimum-speed advisories under the current proof-of-concept trial, not blanket instructions to maintain those speeds regardless of weather, traffic or road conditions.

If you’re behind someone in the right lane

Keep a safe following distance.

Give the vehicle ahead time and space to move over.

One or two brief headlight flashes can signal that you want to overtake.

Do not repeatedly flash, tailgate or harass the driver.

Do not use the right indicator simply to say “move over”.

Do not use the left lane to undertake and then cut back into the right lane.

Once you have overtaken, return left when it is safe.