Proposed Law to Keep Semi Trucks Out of Left Lane Does Not Pass in Tennessee
A proposed law designed to prevent semi trucks, tractor trailers and 18 wheelers, as they are often called, from driving in the left lane on highways was proposed but did not pass in Tennessee. Currently trucks are required to avoid the left lane on certain highways with three or more lanes. Vehicles would still be allowed to drive in the left lane to pass slow moving vehicles one at a time or to avoid vehicles on the side of the road.
In Florida, semi trucks have been banned from driving in the left lane in certain areas. For instance, there is a 40 mile stretch of the Florida Turnpike in South Florida on which semi trucks are banned from driving in the left lane as of February of this year, according to this article.
Supporters of this kind of law suggest that it helps traffic move more smoothly when big trucks are relegated to the right side of the road. Detractors of the law say that it will encourage drivers to drive faster.
