A proposal to prohibit drivers from cruising in the left lanes of highways was introduced in the Florida Senate Wednesday.
The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved SB 258, a bill that would apply to drivers on highways with at least two lanes in the same direction and speed limits of 65 mph or higher.
It would prevent them from using the left lanes unless passing, and it could help reduce the number of motorists who use the right lanes to avoid left-lane drivers, according to the News Service of Florida.
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“It is illegal to pass on the right side, and that is for safety reasons,” bill sponsor Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, said. “If you look at data from the highway patrol, in the last five years there were 17,404 accidents that were the direct result of passing on the right side. … This (bill) is a way to keep traffic moving at a regular rate and also to keep our roads safe.”
The bill would impose non-criminal fines of up to $158 for using the left lane unless drivers are attempting to pass other motorists.
The proposal would need to be approved by two more Senate committees before it could be sent to the full Senate. An identical House bill (HB 317) has passed one committee but still requires approval by the House Infrastructure Strategies Committee.
Similar bills were introduced in the 2023 legislative session but did not pass.
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