HB1946: Commercial vehicles; prohibits driving on left-most lanes of certain interstate highways.

HOUSE BILL NO. 1946
Offered January 12, 2011
Prefiled January 11, 2011
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-803.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to use of certain lanes of interstate highways by commercial vehicles.
Patron-- Cox, J.A.

Referred to Committee on Transportation

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 46.2-803.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-803.1. Commercial motor vehicles limited to use of certain lanes of certain interstate highways.

Except where the posted speed limit is less than 65 miles per hour, noNo person shall drive any commercial motor vehicle, as defined in § 46.2-341.4, on the left-most lane of any interstate highway having more than two lanes in each direction, except where (i) the posted speed limit is less than 65 miles per hour or (ii) the average annual daily traffic exceeds 10,000 vehicles per lane per day.

Furthermore, within the Eighth Planning District and on Interstate Route 81, no person shall drive any commercial motor vehicle, as defined in § 46.2-341.4, on the left-most lane of any interstate highway having more than two lanes in each direction, regardless of the posted speed limit. Every commercial motor vehicle shall keep to the right-most lane when operating at a speed of 15 miles per hour or more below the posted speed limit on an interstate highway with no more than two lanes in each direction.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) buses or school buses or (ii) other commercial vehicles when (a) preparing to exit a highway via a left exit or (b) being used to perform maintenance or construction work on an interstate highway.