CHARLESTON, W. Va.–The state Senate Transportation Committee plans to have more discussion on a bill that would set a limit on how long drivers could stay in the passing lane of interstates and highways in West Virginia.
The bill, which is being originated by committee chairman Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel, puts the fast lane driving limit at two miles. He said he’s introducing the bill after hearing from his constituents.
“Just general complaints, people saying people are in the left lane and they stay there for miles and miles and hold up traffic,” Clements told committee members Tuesday.
Existing traffic laws discourage passing lane driving unless it’s being used to pass other motorists but there’s no set length on when a motorist has to get back in the slow lane. Clements said two miles should be more than enough.
“This at least gives somebody a yardstick of what’s expected,” Clements said.
Police officers could pull over a driver if they observe them traveling in the passing lane in excess of two miles. The bill says the driver would only have to move over when he or she could safely do so.
The committee decided Tuesday to do more research on the bill before voting on it.
Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, had questions about notifying motorists.
“How are we going to let these out of state drivers know to get in the right hand lane?” Roberts asked.
Sen. Bob Beach, D-Monongalia, wondered if the bill took into consideration congested areas.
“Through Monongalia, Marion and Harrison, I could go 20 miles just trying to pass a line of cars,” Beach said. “That’s not isolated to north central West Virginia, the same thing between Huntington and Charleston and probably the Turnpike as well and certainly in the eastern panhandle on I-81,” Beach said.