A bipartisan pursuit within the Michigan state house is seeking to redefine the usage of the left lane for trucks on expressways. Existing state regulations already forbid lingering in the left lane for all vehicles, allowing its use solely for overtaking and passing vehicles. Additionally, commercial vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds are barred from utilizing the far left-hand lane on controlled-access highways with three or more lanes.
Introduced earlier this month, the bill, led by Rep. Will Bruck, R-Erie, has support from both sides of the aisle, boasting 10 Republican co-sponsors and six Democratic co-sponsors. Specifically, HB5304 seeks to confine large trucks to the right two lanes when navigating expressways with three or more lanes in the same direction.
Citing large trucks as culprits for congestion, Representative Bruck contends that this proposed alteration aims to ease traffic flow on bustling roadways, ensuring that these sizable vehicles do not hinder the left lane.
“By ensuring that trucks stay in the right lanes, we can keep traffic flowing smoothly in the left lanes, promoting safer and more efficient transportation for all drivers,” Bruck said.
He emphasized that these trucks are contributing factors to the aggravation associated with traffic congestion.
“This legislation is a vital step toward reducing the frustration of long traffic lines on our busiest freeways,” he said.
Bruck collaboratively worked with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan State Police to write legislation that aligns with the priorities of these agencies.
However, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) voices its opposition to this initiative. Asserting that truck drivers are firsthand witnesses to the adverse repercussions of misguided traffic laws, the OOIDA warns that restricting trucks from specific lanes presents substantial challenges for truckers and compromises the safety of the general public.
The proposed bill, HB5304, has progressed to the House Transportation, Mobility, and Infrastructure Committee. As of now, the committee has yet to schedule the left lane bill for deliberation, and the earliest possible date for its consideration in committee sessions is Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Source: Land Line
