Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 2245

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires that the operator of the vehicle or combination of vehicles on the right yield the right-of-way to the vehicle or combination of vehicles on the left when one or more vehicles or combination of vehicles using a roundabout has a length greater than 40 feet or a width greater than 10 feet, and they are approaching the roundabout at approximately the same time or so closely as to constitute a hazard of collision.
Authorizes the operator of a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is approaching and driving through a roundabout to deviate from the lane in which the operator is driving as necessary, with due regard for other traffic, if the operator is driving a vehicle that meets the requirements for a semitrailer and either has a total length in excess of 40 feet or a total width in excess of 10 feet.

Background:

A vehicle passing around a rotary traffic island must be driven to the right of the island. Whenever a roadway is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, a vehicle must be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and may not be moved from the lane until the driver concludes that the movement can safely be made.

It is unlawful for any person to operate on public roadways any vehicle with an overall length, with or without load, in excess of 40 feet, subject to the following exceptions:

a municipal transit vehicle;
an auto stage (which carries passengers and/or incidental baggage and freight), private carrier bus, school bus, or motor home with an overall length no greater than 46 feet;
an articulated auto stage with an overall length no greater than 61 feet (excluding a bike rack up to 4 feet long); and
an auto recycling carrier up to 42 feet in length manufactured prior to 2005.

It is unlawful for any person to operate on public roadways any combination of vehicles consisting of a tractor and semitrailer that has a semitrailer length in excess of 53 feet or a combination consisting of a tractor and two trailers in which the combined length of the trailers exceeds 61 feet, with or without load, subject to certain exceptions, including specified exceptions for two trailers or semitrailers, a truck and trailer, a log truck and stinger-steered pole trailer, and vehicles transporting poles, pipe, machinery, or certain objects required for emergency public utility repair.

Federal law permits a maximum vehicle width of 8 feet on the Interstate Highway System, except for buses and commercial trucks, which are permitted to have a maximum vehicle width of 8.5 feet. Under state law, vehicle widths are limited to 8.5 feet on public roadways, unless a special permit is obtained for greater widths within certain maximum vehicle widths by roadway type. On two-lane roadways outside the limits of a city or town, a special permit may be obtained for vehicles with a maximum width of 14 feet.

A "semitrailer" includes every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by a vehicle, motor vehicle, or truck tractor, that is constructed so that an appreciable part of its weight and its load rests on and is carried by another vehicle, motor vehicle, or truck tractor.

Summary of Bill:

A "roundabout" is defined as a circular intersection consisting of one or more lanes where vehicles travel counterclockwise.

When two vehicles or combinations of vehicles, one or both of which has a total length in excess of 40 feet or a total width in excess of 10 feet, approach or drive through a roundabout at approximately the same time, or so closely as to constitute a hazard of collision, the operator of the vehicle or combination of vehicles on the right must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle or combination of vehicles on the left and, if necessary, reduce the vehicle's speed or stop it in order to yield.

The operator of a vehicle or combination of vehicles that meets the requirements for a semitrailer under state law and that has a total length in excess of 40 feet or a total width in excess of 10 feet may, with due regard for other traffic, deviate from the lane in which the operator is driving to the extent necessary to approach and drive through a roundabout.