SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5237

           AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 6, 1991

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

SPONSORS:Senators Bailey, Johnson, Patterson, Rinehart, Vognild, Anderson, Cantu, McCaslin, Oke, Nelson, Conner and Erwin.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5237 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Nelson, Vice Chairman; Conner, Erwin, Madsen, McMullen, Oke, Skratek, Snyder, and Vognild. 

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786‑7309)

Hearing Dates:March 6, 1991

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:

The provision that trucks remain in the right lane on any road with two lanes in the same direction (except under the above mentioned conditions) is extended to motor homes, travel trailers, and buses (for-hire, private, excursion, school charter and transit) with a licensed gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more.

Trucks, motor homes, travel trailers, and buses weighing 10,000 pounds or more are prohibited from using the left lane on any road with three or more lanes in the same direction, except when preparing to turn left or using a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

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 an HOV lane.  Travelling faster than the traffic flow is no longer considered an exception to the keep right provisions.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 24, 1991

TESTIMONY FOR:

Clarification to the keep right provisions may enhance enforcement.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Senator Bailey, prime sponsor; Dave Peach, DOT; Rick Jensen, WSP; Martin Sangster, WTA