We have an epidemic in the U.S. of drivers cruising along in the left lane just because they don’t feel like slotting in amongst traffic in the right lane. It’s annoying, dangerous, and illegal. But there’s something we can do about it.

In many states, it is illegal to drive in the left lane of the highway unless you are completing a pass or exiting. Experts have found that cruising slowly in the left lane is more likely to cause a crash than driving 10 mph over the speed limit. Why? Because you clog up the highway, congesting traffic. Drivers behind you get angry. They may even be forced to pass you on the right.

It’s easy to throw up our hands and say there’s nothing we can do about left-lane slowpokes. But the truth is there’s another way, and it will require a cultural shift. In Europe, highways such as the Autobahn have much higher average speeds. There’s a culture of drivers–even ones moving quickly–getting over to the right when a faster car comes up behind them. This keeps everyone moving along.

One key to creating a cultural shift will be enforcing the laws we have. Every state has some kind of law against slow drivers blocking traffic. An increasing number of police departments are catching onto how dangerous “camping out” in the left lane is. Many states have begun handing out tickets for blocking the left lane. So the first thing we can do is to reach out to our government representatives. But that’s not all.

When you encounter a slower driver in Europe, it is common to flash your brights at them. Instead of getting angry, you assume they just didn’t see you. This is an excellent first tactic when you meet a “left lane slowpoke,” even in the U.S. Obviously, pay attention to the situation. If they are completing a pass, just slower than you’d like, back off. But if they are cruising in the left lane, try flashing your lights a time or two.

If you flash your lights and nothing happens, wait a bit. Perhaps the driver was looking down at their infotainment screen and hasn’t had a chance to check their mirrors. If they ignore you for a long stretch, try to tap your horn lightly. Not a long, road-rage honk. Just do a double tap so they know you are there.

If this slow car in the left lane continues to ignore you, it is tempting to pass on the right side. But you should know that right-side passes are dangerous: you are in the car’s blindspot and interrupting the flow of traffic. Instead, continue following the slowpoke without tailgating. As more cars build up behind them, so will the peer pressure. Hopefully, when they see how much they are congesting the road, they will move over.

Next, you can read about which states are ticketing left lane slowpokes, or see why the practice is so dangerous in the video below: