THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	346
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO the statewide traffic code.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 291C-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§291C-41[]]  Drive on right side of roadway; exceptions.  (a)  Upon all roadways of sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:

     (1)  When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing such movement;

     (2)  When an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the highway; provided that 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;

     (3)  Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon; or

     (4)  Upon a roadway designated and signposted one-way traffic.

     (b)  Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

     (c)  Upon any roadway having four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two-way movement of traffic, no vehicle shall 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 (a)(2).  This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit the crossing of the center line in making a left turn into or from an alley, private road, or driveway.

     (d)  No pole trailer, semitrailer, tractor-semitrailer combination, truck, truck-tractor, or truck-trailer combination having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than ten thousand pounds shall be driven in the far left lane of any roadway having three or more lanes of moving traffic proceeding in the same direction; provided that this subsection shall not apply to:

     (1)  Mass transit vehicles using a zipper lane or a high occupancy vehicle lane, as defined in section 291C‑221;

     (2)  An emergency vehicle as defined in section 291‑11.6;

     (3)  Any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than ten thousand pounds that is using the left lane to execute a left turn, pass a vehicle that is stalled or stopped, or comply with section 291C-27;

     (4)  Circumstances that make it necessary for the driver to follow traffic control devices that direct use of a lane other than the right lane; or

     (5)  Situations where the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic while under construction or repair.

     (e)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Mass transit vehicle" shall have the same meaning as in section 291‑11.6.

     "Pole trailer" shall have the same meaning as in section 286-2.

     "Semitrailer" shall have the same meaning as in section 286-2.

     "Tractor-semitrailer combination" shall have the same meaning as in section 286-2.

     "Truck" shall have the same meaning as in section 286-2.

     "Truck-tractor" shall have the same meaning as in section 286-2.

     "Truck-trailer combination" shall have the same meaning as in section 286-2."

     SECTION 2.  Section 291C-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  A person violates this section if the person drives:

     (1)  A motor vehicle at a speed greater than the maximum speed limit other than provided in section 291C‑105[; or

     (2)  A motor vehicle at a speed] or less than the minimum speed limit, where the maximum or minimum speed limit is established by county ordinance or by official signs placed by the director of transportation on highways under the director's jurisdiction[.]; or

     (2)  A truck, as defined in section 286-2, having a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of ten thousand pounds, at a speed greater than fifty-five miles per hour."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Traffic Safety; Trucks; Speed Limit

 

Description:

Prohibits certain large vehicles of more than 10,000 pounds from being driven on the far left lane of any roadway having three or more lanes, with certain exceptions.  Establishes a fifty-five mile per hour speed limit for trucks having a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of 10,000 pounds.

 

 

 

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