Posted on 04/08/2005 6:29:31 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
TALLAHASSEE -- Slowpokes could get a $60 fine for hogging the fast lane and ticking off motorists who want to pass.
The "Road Rage Reduction Act" is speeding through the Legislature following a 27-10 vote in the Senate on Thursday, two days after the House passed a similar bill by an even wider margin, 109-4. A spokesman for Gov. Jeb Bush said the governor must still evaluate the issue.
The bill requires drivers to stay in the right lane unless they're passing a vehicle or making a left turn. Supporters -- including the Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida Police Benevolent Association -- said the bill would ease traffic flow and make it unnecessary for motorists to dangerously maneuver around slower moving vehicles.
Opponents, including Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, said the bill's emphasis on slower drivers was misplaced.
"We should have our police catching all the offenders of speeding," Lynn pleaded on the Senate floor.
In addition to the proposed fine, the bill calls for a three-point penalty on a driver's record (motorists who accumulate 12 points can lose their license). Bill sponsor Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, had pitched a four-point penalty but critics said it should be less than the four points assessed to reckless drivers.
The proposed law would allow for many exceptions to the right lane rule, such as using the left lane to avoid hydro-planing in a rain storm or to dodge debris in the roadway. Plus, it doesn't apply when there's no one else on the road.
"You can drive from (Tallahassee) to Miami as long as there's no one behind you," Bennett said.
Still, Sen. Rod Smith, D-Gainesville, called it a "traffic ticket enhancement" act, and Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, one of the few opponents in the House, said it would increase speeding.
Local motorists were mixed in their reaction to the proposal.
Terry Carter, 26, of Holly Hill liked the idea of separating lanes for faster and slower drivers: "Most older people go slow. I have problems when I get cut off by an older person," Carter said.
Donna Parks, 48, of Volusia County said the bill was necessary: "All truck drivers should be in the right lane. Once when I was merging onto the interstate a truck driver was going so slow he almost ran me off the road," she said.
Naamon Lewis of Holly Hill, though, had doubts.
"We got a lot of people that hog that left lane, but I don't know about making a law," Lewis said. "Good gracious. I don't necessarily agree with the fine and (three) points off your license. I think that's stepping a little too far."
-- Staff Writer Eileen Zaffiro contributed to this report.
SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER
· Do you get angry at drivers who cut you off, tailgate or go slowly?
· Are you impatient at stoplights or when driving in the slow (right) lane?
· Do you compete with other drivers, drag racing from stoplights or moving ahead in traffic jams?
· Do you punish bad drivers by tailgating, cursing, flashing high-beam headlights or blocking drivers attempting to pass?
SOURCE: Adapted from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety aggressive driving quiz at www.aaafoundation.org/quizzes
Post 112 :)
Same here. It is a fact of life that, at times, someone is going to be in front of you. I don't know how many times I've been out on a very busy interstate and had someone flash me to move over. Where do they want me to go? It's as if they want everyone to the rigth and only their car in the left lane.
That being said I also agree with you as I know that you agree with me that courtesy on the road is a requirement of all.
Actually, there should be no one in the left except those actively passing.
Nope. I'll get over as soon as I can, but not necessarily "immediately."
Even when I drove a 75hp Honda Civic I had no problems reaching the speed of traffic, whatever it's speed, before merging. The problem isn't the performance of the car, it's the timid drivers who are afraid to step on the gas!
No worries...Most truckers are as courteous as they can be while still trying to operate a profitible business. Some of their actions make typical drivers wonder what the heck they are doing and don't understand that almost every odd maneuver or behavior you see from a trucker has a specific reason behind it. To the normal driver they just think the truckers are trying to make them mad.
Those people make me insane! In Florida, I figured there'd be more of them b/c it's something I associate with the elderly.
Thank God a common sense law that is unfortunately necessary. Whatever happened to yeilding to faster traffic?
Get out of the left lane then.
Has anyone else noticed - the person going slow in the left lane virtually always has their mouth open (whether talking on the cell phone or not)? Check it out.
Ever heard of a road with more than two lanes? Don't have those around your farm?
I think, depending on where you live, you'd be absolutely amazed at how many people run reds. In this area, where traffic is really very bad, I've seen two cars go through reds (and that is after the one that goes through while the light changes from yellow to red). Waiting a second after the green is much safer.
You should signal before your turn not the five streets previous to it. If you have your turn signal on turn at the NEXT street! Don't start slowing with your turn signal on and not turn like an idiot.
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