12.29.2007
|
 | Truck Forum Supporter | | Last Seen: 04.16.2009 06.42 AM Member Since: Oct 2008
Posts: 13,844
Thanks: 2,066
Thanked: 2,556 Times
| |
| Pennsylvania bills to split speeds, restrict left lanes, boost truck fines stall
Pennsylvania bills to split speeds, restrict left lanes, boost truck fines stall
12/28/07 Quote:
The Pennsylvania Senate wrapped up its work for 2007 in December without advancing a pair of bills of interest to truck drivers. However, they could both be brought back for consideration.
One bill that remained in committee at the end of the 2007 session would require truck drivers to travel 5 mph slower than they do now and stay in the right lanes on certain highways in the state.
Sponsored by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery, the bill – SB369 – would mandate that vehicles with a registered gross weight in excess of 26,000 pounds be slowed to 60 mph on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, rural interstates and other limited-access routes. All other vehicles would be allowed to continue to travel at the current 65 mph speed limit.
Supporters say the change is needed for safer travel. Opponents say requiring trucks to drive at speeds slower than other vehicles does not promote safety on the highways.
“It does exactly the opposite by requiring that vehicles are constantly in conflict with each other. Lane changes and passing are constantly required to avoid crashes,” Todd Spencer, executive vice president for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, told Land Line.
Another point of contention in the bill is a provision that would restrict large trucks to the far right-hand lane of highways. State law already prohibits trucks from traveling in the far left-hand lane of highways with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction.
Supporters say the lane ban would allow traffic to move more freely.
Spencer said that thinking is flawed.
“Adopting lane restrictions would be an ill-advised step to take,” he said. “Such restrictions invariably cause more problems than they fix.
“Trucks and other vehicles need to be able to move over a lane when necessary. It’s common courtesy, but this is also about highway safety.
| Landline>>>>>  |
Similar Threads 
Linear Mode
