HOUSE BILL No. 5916

 

May 18, 2004, Introduced by Rep. Rivet and referred to the Committee on Transportation.

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Michigan vehicle code,"                                                    

                                                                                

    by amending section 634 (MCL 257.634), as amended by 1988 PA                

                                                                                

    346.                                                                        

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 634.  (1) Upon each roadway of sufficient width, the                   

                                                                                

2   driver of a vehicle shall drive the vehicle upon the right half             

                                                                                

3   of the roadway, except as follows:                                          

                                                                                

4       (a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in               

                                                                                

5   the same direction under the rules governing that movement.                 

                                                                                

6       (b) When the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic                   

                                                                                

7   while under construction or repair or when an obstruction exists            

                                                                                

8   making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the               

                                                                                

9   highway.  A driver who is driving on the left half of a roadway             

                                                                                

10  under this subdivision shall yield the right-of-way to an                   

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   oncoming vehicle traveling in the proper direction upon the                 

                                                                                

2   unobstructed portion of the roadway.                                        

                                                                                

3       (c) When a vehicle operated by a state agency or a local                    

                                                                                

4   authority or an agent of a state agency or local authority is               

                                                                                

5   engaged in work on the roadway.                                             

                                                                                

6       (d) Upon a roadway divided into 3 marked lanes for traffic                  

                                                                                

7   under the rules applicable on the roadway.                                  

                                                                                

8       (c) When and where official traffic-control devices are in                  

                                                                                

9   place designating a lane or lanes to the left side of the center            

                                                                                

10  of the roadway for the movement indicated by the devices.                   

                                                                                

11      (d) Upon a roadway restricted to 1-way traffic.                             

                                                                                

12      (e) When making a left turn in the manner allowed by law.                   

                                                                                

13      (2) Upon all roadways, any vehicle proceeding at less than                  

                                                                                

14  the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the             

                                                                                

15  conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane             

                                                                                

16  then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the               

                                                                                

17  right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking              

                                                                                

18  and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or             

                                                                                

19  when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into an                

                                                                                

20  alley, private road, or driveway.  This subsection does not apply           

                                                                                

21  to a driver who must necessarily drive in a lane other than the             

                                                                                

22  right-hand lane to continue on his or her intended route.                   

                                                                                

23      (3)  (2) Upon a roadway  Except as provided in subsection                   

                                                                                

24  (4), on a limited access highway having 2 or more lanes for                 

                                                                                

25  travel in 1 direction, the driver of a vehicle shall drive the              

                                                                                

26  vehicle in the extreme right-hand lane available for travel                 

                                                                                

27  except  as otherwise provided in this section.  However, the                


                                                                                

1   driver of a vehicle may drive the vehicle in any lane lawfully              

                                                                                

2   available to traffic moving in the same direction of travel when            

                                                                                

3   the lanes are occupied by vehicles moving in substantially                  

                                                                                

4   continuous lanes of traffic and in any left-hand lane lawfully              

                                                                                

5   available to traffic moving in the same direction of travel for a           

                                                                                

6   reasonable distance before making a left turn.  in any of the               

                                                                                

7   following situations:                                                       

                                                                                

8       (a) When overtaking and passing a vehicle proceeding in the                 

                                                                                

9   same direction.                                                             

                                                                                

10      (b) When traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow.                

                                                                                

11      (c) When moving left to allow traffic to merge.                             

                                                                                

12      (d) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection, exit,                

                                                                                

13  or into a private road or driveway, if that left turn is legally            

                                                                                

14  permitted.                                                                  

                                                                                

15      (4)  (3) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a                  

                                                                                

16  vehicle traveling in the appropriate direction from traveling in            

                                                                                

17  any lane of a freeway having 3 or more lanes for travel in the              

                                                                                

18  same direction.  However, a city, village, township, or county              

                                                                                

19  may not enact an ordinance which regulates the same subject                 

                                                                                

20  matter as any provision of this subsection.  The  Unless                    

                                                                                

21  otherwise posted, the driver of a truck with a gross weight of              

                                                                                

22  more than 10,000 pounds, a truck tractor, or a combination of a             

                                                                                

23  vehicle and trailer or semitrailer shall not drive the vehicle or           

                                                                                

24  combination of vehicles  only in either of the 2 lanes farthest             

                                                                                

25  to the right, except for a reasonable distance when making a left           

                                                                                

26  turn or where a special hazard exists that requires the use of an           

                                                                                

27  alternative lane for safety reasons  in the left-hand lane of a             


                                                                                

1   roadway having 3 or more lanes for traffic moving in the same               

                                                                                

2   direction except when preparing for a left turn at an                       

                                                                                

3   intersection, exit, or into a private roadway or driveway, if               

                                                                                

4   that left turn is legally permitted.                                        

                                                                                

5       (5)  (4)  A person who violates this section is responsible                 

                                                                                

6   for a civil infraction.