_______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 5177
_______________________________________________
AS
AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed
Legislature - 1997 Regular Session
State of Washington 55th
Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/10/97.
Facilitating
smoother flow of traffic.
AN
ACT Relating to proper lane travel for heavy vehicles; and amending RCW
46.61.100.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
46.61.100 and 1986 c 93 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
Upon all roadways of sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right
half of the roadway, except as follows:
(a)
When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction
under the rules governing such movement;
(b)
When an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the
center of the highway; provided, any person so doing shall yield the right of
way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed
portion of the highway within such distance as to constitute an immediate
hazard;
(c)
Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes and providing for two-way
movement traffic under the rules applicable thereon; or
(d)
Upon a street or highway restricted to one-way traffic.
(2)
Upon all roadways having two or more lanes for traffic moving in the same
direction, all vehicles shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available
for traffic, except (a) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding
in the same direction, (b) when traveling at a speed greater than the traffic
flow, (c) when moving left to allow traffic to merge, or (d) when preparing for
a left turn at an intersection, exit, or into a private road or driveway when
such left turn is legally permitted. On any such roadway, a ((motor truck))
vehicle or combination over ten thousand pounds shall be driven only in
the right-hand lane except under the conditions enumerated in (a) through (d)
of this subsection.
(3)
No vehicle towing a trailer or no vehicle or combination over ten thousand
pounds may be driven in the left-hand lane of a limited access roadway having
three or more lanes for traffic moving in one direction except when preparing
for a left turn at an intersection, exit, or into a private road or driveway
when a left turn is legally permitted. This subsection does not apply to a
vehicle using a high-occupancy vehicle lane. A high-occupancy vehicle lane is
not considered the left-hand lane of a roadway. The department of
transportation, in consultation with the Washington state patrol, shall adopt
rules specifying (a) those circumstances where it is permissible for other
vehicles to use the left lane in case of emergency or to facilitate the orderly
flow of traffic, and (b) those segments of limited access roadway to be exempt
from this subsection due to the operational characteristics of the roadway.
(4)
It is a traffic infraction to drive continuously in the left lane of a
multilane roadway when it impedes the flow of other traffic.
(((4))) (5) Upon any roadway having four or more
lanes for moving traffic and providing for two-way movement of traffic, a
vehicle shall not be driven to the left of the center line of the roadway
except when authorized by official traffic control devices designating certain
lanes to the left side of the center of the roadway for use by traffic not
otherwise permitted to use such lanes, or except as permitted under subsection
(1)(b) of this section. However, this subsection shall not be construed as
prohibiting the crossing of the center line in making a left turn into or from
an alley, private road or driveway.
