What's happening
This bill adds new lane safety rules to the vehicle and traffic law, including fines for improper lane use to reduce road rage.
Why it matters
Creates specific lane usage rules. The bill requires drivers to stay in the right-most lane unless passing, preparing to turn left, or when otherwise directed by signage. This aims to clarify expectations and reduce unpredictable lane changes, which can lead to frustration or confrontations.
Sets standards for lane discipline. Drivers must not change lanes unless it is safe and must remain within a single lane as much as possible. This provision targets erratic driving that can trigger road rage or cause accidents.
Establishes penalties to encourage compliance. Fines of $100–$300 are introduced for violating these lane rules, providing a financial deterrent and emphasizing the seriousness of improper lane usage.
Empowers local authorities to manage traffic flow. The bill allows the state commissioner or local governments to designate certain lanes for slow or fast traffic, and to enforce appropriate speeds in those lanes, potentially improving traffic efficiency and reducing bottlenecks that often contribute to driver aggression.
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Who cares
Drivers on marked-lane roads
The bill would generally require keeping right except to pass or prepare for a left turn, require safe lane changes and impose a $100–$300 fine for violations.
Drivers using center or inside lanes
The bill would restrict center-lane use on three-lane highways and prohibit unnecessarily slowing traffic in designated inside lanes.
State motor vehicle commissioner and local highway authorities
The bill would direct them to designate lanes for slower traffic and traffic moving at the designated speed on highways under their jurisdiction.
Headline styles
Fine Unsafe Lane Changes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3572
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to penalties for certain traffic violations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 1132 to read as follows:
§ 1132. Lane safety. To decrease road rage, when a roadway is divided into clearly marked lanes for traffic, drivers of vehicles shall obey the following:
(a) A vehicle shall normally be driven in the lane nearest the righthand edge or curb of the roadway when that lane is available for travel, except when overtaking another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn.
(b) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from that lane until the driver has first ascertained that the movement can be made with safety.
(c) Upon a highway which is divided into three lanes, a vehicle shall not be driven in the center lane except when overtaking or passing another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or unless the center lane is at the time allocated for traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is signposted to give notice of that allocation.
(d) The commissioner shall, by regulation, or local authorities shall, by resolution or ordinance with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, designate right-hand lanes for slow moving traffic and inside lanes for traffic moving at the speed designated for the district, and when the lanes are signposted or marked to give notice of the designation, a vehicle may be driven in any lane allocated to traffic moving in the direction in which it is proceeding, but when traveling within
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03416-01-7
A. 3572 2
the inside lanes, the vehicle shall be driven at approximately the speed authorized in such lanes and speed shall not be decreased unnecessarily so as to block, hinder or slow traffic.
(e) The penalty for violation of this section shall be a fine of not less than one hundred dollars or more than three hundred dollars.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.