Keeping to the Right
Driving a rig around Indianapolis or Atlanta can be like playing dodge ball in a broom closet for William C. Mayhew and other truckers who must contend with lane restriction laws in these metropolitan areas and others like them across the country.
A driver for ABF Freight System in Fort Smith, Ark., Mayhew must maintain unblinking watchfulness on a three- or four-lane highway when he and other truckers are relegated to the two right lanes by a state law. While Mayhew would prefer to maintain a constant course and speed in order to reach a far-off destination, he is forced to maneuver back and forth within a limited space to avoid motorists swooshing on and off the highways.
Many states already have such rules, but there is uncertainty about whether lane restrictions solve safety problems or create more traffic headaches for motorists and truckers alike.
For the full story, see the Feb. 14 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.
 |  Michael James - Transport Topics |
| Truckers face more lane restriction signs across the nation. |
This kind of problem could become more widespread if bills introduced in the state legislatures of Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia get the nod. Most seek to stick trucks in the two right lanes on highways of three or more lanes.
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