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A NEW law has banned certain vehicles from using the left-hand lane on several major roads and forced drivers to pack more in their trunks.
Versions of the rules have been enforced previously, but officials have decided to significantly extend their scope.
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Winter is very much on the way, with parts of the country seeing temperatures dropping as low as 20F overnight.
Drivers in traditionally colder states in the North and Mid-West are bracing for snowy conditions and icy roads as Fall wears on.
This includes lawmakers bringing in temporary restrictions to improve safety on wintry routes until the thaw.
A recently enacted law in Colorado is one example, with the state cracking down on certain vehicles driving in the snow.
The National Weather Service is forecasting lows of 20F in the area around the Rockies, while the densely populated Denver Metropolitan Area could see around 43F.
Given the oncoming chill, officials are particularly concerned about the prospect of larger vehicles losing control in wintry conditions.
As a result, commercial vehicles weighing over 16,000 lbs have now been banned from using the outside lane in multiple areas in the mountainous part of the state.
Drivers must keep to the inside if they are travelling through any of the following:
- Glenwood Canyon
- Dowd Junction (The section of I-70 between Avon and Vail)
- The west side of Vail Pass
- The tunnel grade on both sides of the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnels
- Georgetown Hill
- Floyd Hill
The only exception is pulling out to overtake a vehicle up ahead if it is travelling below the posted speed limit.
This includes new “heightened speed limit enforcement zones”, where the limit can be lowered by law enforcement depending on conditions.
Any trucker caught violating the rule will be charged with a moving violation and could be hit with fines.
Likewise, the law allows penalty charges to be double for any commercial vehicle caught speeding in the enforced areas.
What is reckless driving?
Laws across the country are cracking down on careless drivers who endanger other people on the road. Here are some behaviors that are considered reckless driving:
- Speeding
- Street racing
- Aggressive driving/road rage
- Tailgating
- Driving under the influence
- Using a phone while driving
- Running red lights
- Inattentive driving
- Improperly changing lanes
- Not signaling
- Carrying too many passengers
- Weaving in and out of traffic
In addition to the new speed and lane restrictions, motorists will also be required to carry snow chains or other form of traction assistance on any of the following roads:
- I-70 west of milepost 259 (Morrison)
- Colorado Hwy. 9 milepost 63 to milepost 97 (Frisco to Fairplay)
- Route 40 west of milepost 256 (Empire)
- U.S. Route 50 west of milepost 225 (Salida)
- U.S. Route 160 west of MP 250 (Morrison)
- U.S. Route 550 from milepost 0 to 130 (State line south of Durango to Montrose)
This marks a change from the previous rules, which only required chains on I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison.
The restrictions came into force on September 1 and will apply to all commercial vehicles in the state until May 31.
