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Passing on the right on a highway

Why is it illegal to pass someone on the right on the highway in the US? In Canada if there’s a three lane highway which, in my case, isn’t very prominent, there’s really no law that enforces it, it’s more of a respect thing here on two lane highways both ways if someone is going slow in the left lane to go into the right but I’m just curious as to why it’s actually enforced in the US?

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  • It’s to make the standard practice passing on the left, so people aren’t surprised by someone passing on the right. Since drivers sit on the left, another vehicle approaching on that side is easier to see.

  • It's more dangerous, if you're about to pass a vehicle which limits your vision like a semi, box truck, delivery van, etc. and you can't really see what's ahead of you in the right lane, if you're sitting in the left side of the vehicle, you won't get good visibility until you are a decent amount of the way into the lane already.

    By the time you're far enough In to see what's ahead of you it may be too late to switch back if there's a slow vehicle and you can rear end them. Passing on the left you can see what's ahead by just moving close to the left and craning your head a bit.

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