Trucks May Lose the Right to Drive in the Left Lane
The state of Michigan is considering new restrictions for the movement of freight vehicles on highways. Legislators will soon vote on a bill that will prohibit trucks from using the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes of traffic. Many drivers believe such changes will make roads safer and improve traffic flow.
Economic Importance of Freight Transportation
Semi-trailers are vitally important for the American economy, transporting almost everything that ends up on store shelves or at consumers’ doors. Without them, the economy would come to a halt, but drivers often feel their own progress is slowed when they end up behind a large truck.
Michigan’s Plans for Changes
The Michigan government believes it has a solution that can make life easier for regular drivers and, according to supporters, make highways safer. Legislators in the state capital Lansing will soon vote on a bill prohibiting trucks from moving in the far left lane on highways with three or more lanes.
Why Michigan is Acting
Michigan already has a rule requiring trucks to use the two right lanes, but the new law will explicitly prohibit them from moving into the left lane, even to perform an overtaking maneuver. Supporters of the bill claim it will also make it easier for police to issue fines to violators.
This is a safety issue, because when there is slow traffic in the left lane, it slows down the traffic flow, people start braking, overtaking everywhere possible, on the right, on the left, between lanes, they are just trying to move forward towards their destination
Driver Distrust and Safety Concerns
Many drivers hope the bill will be passed, and not just because it can be unpleasant to get stuck behind a truck that often moves into the left lane to overtake, but then gets stuck due to traffic on the right. For others, it’s more a matter of anxiety than impatience. Some feel fear simply being next to trucks, and worry even more when they try to change lanes to the right from the left lane, which can lead to an accident.
Opposition to the Changes
However, not everyone supports these changes. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association claims that restricting truck traffic is not the solution to the problem.
Studies have shown that restricting traffic lanes for trucks is difficult to enforce, they accelerate road surface wear, create speed differentials and increase the number of lane-changing conflicts and accidents
If the bill is passed, Michigan will not be the first state to create a truck-free zone in the left lane. Florida, Virginia, and Illinois have already restricted truck traffic to the middle and right lanes on their highways. The question remains: will such restrictions truly improve road safety, or will they create new problems? The experience of other states shows that the results can be mixed, and it is important to consider both the opinions of passenger car drivers and professional carriers.