HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5237

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to proper lane travel.

Brief Description:  Requiring large, slow vehicles to keep right.

Sponsor(s):  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Bailey, Johnson, Patterson, Rinehart, Vognild, Anderson, Cantu, McCaslin, Oke, Nelson, Conner and Erwin).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, April 4, 1991, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 25 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Brough; Cantwell; Cooper; Day; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Horn; P. Johnson; R. Johnson; Jones; Kremen; Mitchell; Orr; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Background:  Current law requires a truck to remain in the right lane on any roadway with two or more lanes in the same direction except when passing, travelling faster than the traffic flow, moving left for merging traffic, or preparing to turn left.

Summary of Bill:  On a facility with two or more lanes in one direction, the keep right provisions apply to vehicles with a licensed gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more, except when passing, moving left for merging traffic, or preparing to turn left.  On a freeway with three or more lanes in the same direction, vehicles with a licensed gross weight of 26,000 pounds or more may not travel in the left lane except when preparing to turn left or using a High Occupancy Vehicle lane.  Travelling faster than the traffic flow is no longer considered an exception to the keep right provisions.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Clarification of the keep right provisions may enhance enforcement.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Marty Sangster, Washington Trucking Association; and Rick Jensen, Washington State Patrol.