Three states take action on left lane use; other efforts remain active

Action is underway at statehouses around the country to make changes to lane-use rules.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the National Motorists Association say that blocking the left lane, whether intentional or not, results in reduced road safety and efficiency.

Mississippi is one state so far this year to enact a change to left-lane rules.

The state already requires vehicles driving slower than the normal speed of traffic to stay in the right lane of multilane highways. Vehicles are allowed to merge left to overtake and pass slower moving traffic.

Gov. Phil Bryant has signed into law a bill to permit police to ticket travelers lingering in the far-left lanes of multilane highways.

Effective July 1, the new law expands the state’s rule to require travelers on multilane roadways to stay to the right except when overtaking or passing another vehicle. Also, drivers would be exempt if they are in the left lane to turn or exit.

Violators would face fines between $5 and $50.

Idaho
Also in effect the first of July in Idaho is a new law intended to keep vehicles out of the far-left lane for “an unreasonable amount of time.”

State law already prohibits impeding the “normal and reasonable movement of traffic.”

The new rule covers impeding “the flow of other traffic traveling at a lawful rate of speed.”

Violators would face $90 citations.

Elsewhere, officials in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania are pursuing changes to how trucks use the far-left lane.

Oklahoma
Less than one year after enacting a new rule for left-lane use, legislators in Oklahoma City have spent time considering and making revisions to the rule. Elected officials want to further discourage drivers from hanging out in the passing lane.

Oklahoma already limits left-lane use on highways with at least two lanes of traffic in the same direction. Since Nov. 1, state law specifies that drivers are required to stay to the right unless passing or preparing to turn left or for safety measures.

Violators face $235 fines.

One bill signed into law specifies roadways within the city limits of a municipality are not covered by the lane-use rule, as long as such roadways are not part of the interstate highway system.

Previously HB3290, the new rule also adds road conditions and weather conditions to the list of exceptions for left-lane use.

A separate bill failed to get final legislative approval that sought to prohibit large trucks from accessing the far-left lane.

HB3306 called for limiting truck traffic from the left lane on roadways with at least three lanes of traffic in one direction.

OOIDA says that truckers are first-hand observers of the negative consequences of misguided traffic laws, and while perhaps not intended, efforts to restrict trucks from certain lanes pose serious challenges for truckers and jeopardize the safety of the traveling public.

Exceptions were included in the bill for moving left to accommodate merging traffic, and preparing for a left turn. The Senate added a provision to the bill to permit large trucks to access the far left lane for up to 2 miles while preparing for a left turn.

House lawmakers refused to sign-off on the provision added in the Senate. As a result, the bill was effectively killed for the year.

Pennsylvania
One House bill singles out large trucks in the left lane.

HB2032 would create “commuter lanes zones” in congested areas. The intent is to restrict vehicles with more than two axles from accessing the left lane.

Violators would face $100 fines.

Zones would be a minimum of seven miles long. Municipalities would have the option of asking the Pennsylvania DOT to establish a commuter lanes zone within their limits.

“As any experienced driver knows, large trucks traveling in the left lane of highways can be both dangerous and an impediment to traffic flow,” wrote Rep. Eli Evankovich, R-Westmoreland.

The bill is in the House Transportation Committee.

Louisiana
An effort to limit lane use for trucks during evening rush hour in Baton Rouge was sidelined.

Louisiana law already requires all vehicles to stay in the right lane on highways except when passing. Fine amounts vary by parish.

Sponsored by Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, he said during committee discussion of his bill he is “willing to try anything” to address congestion issues in the area.

The introduced version called for requiring any truck-tractor, trailer, semitrailer or school bus to stay in the far-right lane while traveling along Interstates stretches of 10, 12, and 110 in East Baton Rouge Parish. The restriction along 31 miles of highway would be in effect on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The bill advanced from its committee despite concerns voiced about how large trucks would be able to maneuver through multiple lanes near the I-10/I-12 split headed east toward the city of Hammond.

Carter later amended the bill, HB432, to turn it into a study resolution. The issue can be discussed at the conclusion of the regular session.

Efforts to limit lane use in other states call for applying rules to all vehicles.

New Hampshire
The Legislature has sent to the governor’s desk a bill that targets left-lane laggards.

State law specifies that anyone driving slower than the normal speed of traffic must stay in the right lane, except to pass or turn left.

HB1595 would eliminate the speed language in the rule. Instead, the bill prohibits continuous operation in the left lane of multilane roadways when impeding traffic.

Violators would face $50 fines.

Advocates say they are hopeful the change will result in drivers showing more discipline in their use of the left lane.

Illinois
A Senate bill to cover left lane use on interstates or fully access controlled freeways has been derailed.

State law limits left lane use for actions that include overtaking or passing another vehicle. Violators face $75 fines.

SB2820 called for adding an exception for instances when no other vehicle is directly behind the vehicle in the left lane.