FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5177

                          C 253 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Facilitating smoother flow of traffic.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Horn, Wood, Prince, Winsley, Deccio and Johnson).

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Transportation Policy & Budget

Background:  On any highway with two or more lanes in one direction, all vehicles are to remain in the right lane then available for traffic except when overtaking another vehicle, traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow, moving left to allow for merging traffic, or preparing to turn left.

In the state of California certain vehicles are restricted from using the left lane(s) on a multi-lane facility.  On a highway with two lanes in the same direction, trucks must stay in the right lane except to pass.  On a three-lane facility a truck must remain in the right lane and use the center lane to pass.  On a highway with four or more lanes in the same direction, a truck must stay in the first two right lanes and can pass only in the third lane.  The restrictions apply not only to trucks, but also to any vehicle pulling a trailer, school buses, a farm vehicle transporting passengers, a vehicle transporting explosives, etc.

Summary:  Any vehicle towing a trailer or any vehicle over 10,000 pounds is prohibited from driving in the left lane on a limited access highway with three or more lanes in the same direction.  The exceptions are a vehicle preparing to turn left or an authorized vehicle traveling in a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane.  An HOV lane is not considered to be the left lane.  The Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Washington State Patrol, must adopt rules providing exemptions (a) under emergency circumstances or to facilitate the orderly flow of traffic, and (b) for certain segments of three-lane limited access roadway, due to the operational characteristics of the highway.

Examples of exemptions under emergency circumstances or to facilitate a smoother flow of traffic include (1) when the other two lanes are blocked with slow traffic; (2) when one or more lanes are blocked with military convoys; (3) when an overwidth load is occupying two lanes; (4) when a recent accident has occurred and the traffic has not yet been redirected by law enforcement; (5) when temporary signs direct the use of the left lane; and (6) when an emergency vehicle or tow truck is responding to an emergency.

An example of an exemption due to the operational characteristics of the highway is several miles through downtown Seattle where both exits and entrances are located on the left.  All lanes are needed through this area in order to keep the traffic flowing in a reasonable manner.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 45 1

House     95 3 (House amended)

Senate    42 1 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 27, 1997