The new law includes several key changes:

• It updates the locations where truck drivers must use chains and requires a study to explore expanding these locations.

• It establishes a special speed enforcement zone on highways in Glenwood Canyon.

• It makes it illegal for commercial vehicles to use the left lane in certain areas.

“Ensuring that our roads and highways are safe is important, especially here in Colorado’s high country, and these bills help accomplish that,” said Polis when signing the bill into law. “I appreciate the work of the sponsors on this legislation and look forward to making our roads safer by signing these bills.”

The legislation specifies seven areas on the western slope where commercial vehicles weighing over 16,001 pounds are required to use chains from September 1 to May 31 under certain conditions. These areas are:

• Interstate 70 west of milepost 259 (Morrison)

• Colorado state highway 9 from milepost 63 to milepost 97 (Frisco to Fairplay)

• U.S. Route 40 west of milepost 256 (Empire)

• U.S. Route 50 west of milepost 225 (Salida)

• U.S. Route 160 west of milepost 304 (Walsenburg)

• U.S. Route 285 west of milepost 250 (Morrison)

• U.S. Route 550 from milepost 0 to 130

Additionally, the Colorado Department of Transportation now has the authority to set special speed-limit zones through Glenwood Canyon on I-70, with double fines for truckers exceeding those limits.

The law also prohibits commercial vehicles from driving in the farthest left lane on certain sections of highways, except when passing a slower vehicle. These sections include:

• Milepost 115.5 to 131.0 in Glenwood Springs

• Milepost 169.5 to 173.0 in Dowd Junction

• Milepost 180.0 to 190.5 in Vail Pass

• Milepost 205.5 to 221.0 in the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel

• Milepost 224.0 to 228.5 in Georgetown Hill

• Milepost 243.0 to 247.0 in Floyd Hill

Furthermore, the new law grants port of entry officers the same authority as peace officers to enforce highway closures and the state’s winter traction device regulations.

Source: Truckers News

The post Colorado Enacts Law Restricting Trucks from Left Lane and Mandating Additional Chain Use appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

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

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