New Mexico law singles out trucks from left lane
A new left lane traffic rule in New Mexico is viewed as misguided by professional drivers.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed into law a bill to keep trucks to the right on interstate highways.
Current New Mexico law requires all vehicles to stay to the right. Violators face $25 fines.
Exceptions are applied for overtaking and passing another vehicle, or when the right lane is closed to traffic for repair.
The new law limits truck lane use. It takes effect July 1.
Previously SB102, the new rule mandates that large trucks traveling on multiple-lane highways outside of municipalities stay in the far-right lane. Exceptions will include overtaking and passing another vehicle.
Violators would face $250 fines.
Second time’s a charm
One year ago, a truck left-lane restriction bill cleared the legislature only to receive a pocket veto from Lujan Grisham. The veto resulted from the governor not acting on the bill.
Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, brought back the pursuit this year with minor revisions. He recently told a Senate committee that action is necessary to improve road safety.
“You get on I-40, and you’re going along at 75 mph, and a semi pulls out at 65 and tries to pass the other semi at 67, and traffic backs up for 10 miles, and frustration levels with people are getting ridiculous,” Munoz testified.
The Senate voted 30-6 to approve the bill. House lawmakers followed suit on a 60-9 vote clearing the way for the bill to head to the governor.
OOIDA opposition
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association says that truck drivers are first-hand observers of the negative consequences of misguided traffic laws, and, while perhaps not intended, restricting trucks from certain lanes poses serious challenges for truckers and jeopardizes the safety of the traveling public. LL