1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
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3 SENATE BILL 1070 By: Newhouse
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to motor vehicles; amending 47 O.S.
7 2021, Section 11-301, which relates to driving on the
8 right side of the roadway; prohibiting certain left
8 lane travel by semi-trucks; permitting certain
9 signage; defining term; and providing an effective
9 date.
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12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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13 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 47 O.S. 2021, Section 11-301, is
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14 amended to read as follows:
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15 Section 11-301. A. Upon all roadways of sufficient width a
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16 vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except
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17 as follows:
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18 1. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in
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19 the same direction under the laws governing such movement;
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20 2. When an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to
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21 the left of the center of the highway; provided, any person so doing
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22 shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles traveling in the proper
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23 direction upon the unobstructed portion of the highway within such
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24 distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;
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 1 3. Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for traffic
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2 under the laws applicable thereon;
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3 4. Upon a roadway restricted to one-way traffic; or
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4 5. Upon a roadway having four or more lanes for moving traffic
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5 and providing for two-way movement of traffic.
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6 B. Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than the
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7 normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the
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8 conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane when
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9 available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand
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10 curb or edge of the roadway and may be temporarily driven upon the
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11 right-hand shoulder for the purpose of permitting other vehicles to
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12 pass. This subsection shall not apply when overtaking and passing
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13 another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing
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14 for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or
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15 driveway.
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16 C. Upon any roadway having four or more lanes for moving
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17 traffic and providing for two-way movement of traffic, no vehicle
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18 shall be driven to the left of the center line of the roadway,
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19 except when authorized by official traffic control devices
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20 designating certain lanes to the left side of the center of the
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21 roadway for use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such
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22 lanes, or except as permitted under paragraph 2 of subsection (a) of
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23 this section. However, this subsection shall not be construed as
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 1 prohibiting the crossing of the center line in making a left turn
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2 into or from an alley, private road or driveway.
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3 D. Upon any roadway having six (6) or more lanes for moving
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4 traffic and providing for two-way movement of traffic, semi-truck
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5 shall be driven in the farthest left lane from the center line of
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6 the roadway, except when authorized by official traffic control
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7 devices designating certain lanes to the left side of the center of
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8 the roadway for use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such
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9 lanes, or except as permitted under paragraph 2 of subsection A of
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10 this section. The Department of Transportation may post signate
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11 forbidding semi-truck usage in the left lane. As used in this
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12 subsection, “semi-truck” means any heavy automotive vehicle with a
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13 manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand (10,000)
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14 pounds or more, used for transporting loads of any kind, including
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15 but not limited to, gravel trucks, dump trucks, log trucks,
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16 tractors, or automotive towing vehicles that tow semi-trailers.
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17 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023.
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19 59-1-858 BG 1/19/2023 1:35:21 PM
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