State: Panel's split vote kills get-out-of-lane bill

TALLAHASSEE - Don't worry, left lane lingerers, you won't be accused of inciting road rage this year.

Senators on Tuesday killed a bill that would have required drivers to move out of the left lane if they are approached from behind by a speedier driver.

Bill sponsor Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, thought the third time might be a charm for his Florida Highway Patrol-backed bill, which Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed two years ago.

But Tuesday's tie vote in the Senate Committee on Transportation spelled its demise once again with Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, Alex Villalobos, R-Miami, and Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden, all opposed.

"Wow," Bennett said as he left the lectern, shaking his head, clearly frustrated by the lack of support.

Dockery said she worried the bill would unfairly penalize those who don't speed and favor those who do. "What he really wants is a left lane with no speed limit," she said.

Villalobos said the vote was a sign of smarter government. Extra scrutiny early in the lawmaking process is better than moving legislation along just for the sake of it.

He was disappointed to hear of the Senate committee vote: "That's an unfortunate turn of events. ... We'll have to retool."

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by Cory	02/21/07 11:09 PM
After reading a majority of the comments I am confused has why the left lane is always backed up. It seems everybody already knows what the lane is for anyway.

by Georgia	02/21/07 09:31 PM
I am glad the law did not pass as there are plenty of times when ALL lanes are full of traffic and it is impossible to clear the left lane for passing only.Truckers equally guilty. I hear them on the CB's taunting the 4 wheelers. Very dangerous.

by Andrew	02/21/07 06:48 PM
Art here you go again drinking and writing. If someone attacks me I would defend myself with deadly force wouldnt you. or would you sit there and let them kill you. People have a right to defend themselves from the the riftraft. Shoot at me and u die

by Paul	02/21/07 05:07 PM
Isn't it already possible to be issued a citation for "Failure To Keep Right" This has nothing to do with speeding/it is meant to deal with people driving UNDER the limit in the PASSING lane and obstructing those who wish to drive at the limit.

by John	02/21/07 03:56 PM
Donò019t be discouraged keep proposing the bill, it would be a great boon to travel in this state to have those nowhere-to-go-and-all-day-to-get-there, control freak people out of the way

by Art	02/21/07 03:50 PM
FHP wanted this law! They also supported the new Shoot First law that elevates a car to the same status as your home, in that car you do not have to retreat, can meet force with force and if threatened can apply deadly force. Yes legally!

by jay	02/21/07 03:29 PM
I think the bill should be passed. If there are three lanes in a 45 mph zone and all three lanes are doing 30, that is ridiculous! Accidents are also caused by people going too slow and they have no place to really be, they are just "Sunday" driving!

by Art	02/21/07 03:26 PM
Dumber than dumb. If you want to stop road rage stop people from carrying guns in their cars! Guns in cars coupled with the NRA's new shoot first law, a combinaton that has already produced deadly road rage and will produce more!

by Mike	02/21/07 03:20 PM
This issue has nothing to do with speeding or breaking the law, but with yielding to vehicles proceeding faster than you. Obstructing traffic causes more accidents than speeding does. This is standard ops outside the US. We could stand to catch up.

by davy	02/21/07 03:13 PM
slower traffic should should stay to the right, and cell phone users think there going the max. speed limit, NOT !

by BadFLDrivers	02/21/07 02:53 PM
I agree with this bill. It works well in Germany. The left lane is for passing. Not to sit and hold up traffic.

by Ross	02/21/07 12:53 PM
I drive I-75 between Tampa and Ocala a lot. It's not the guy doing 73mph in the fast lane that holds up traffic.It's the guy/gal that has the cruise on doing 65 with no one in front of them and refuses to get over.That's what causes road rage.

by Jamie	02/21/07 12:49 PM
Beside being just plain inconsiderate,those who linger cause significant risk to other drivers.By disrupting the traffic flow,people need to change lanes or slow down unexpectedly.This is responsible for more accidents and traffic jams than speeding

by Me	02/21/07 12:46 PM
I think there should be more driver ed on this stuff. Some people just don't get it. Others are just arrogant. Some of these same people don't know how to react when an emergency vehicle is coming their way.

by Fred	02/21/07 12:25 PM
Talk about an unenforceable law. It is a shame to think of how much time, effort, energy and tax payers money has been wasted on this.

by Mark	02/21/07 12:01 PM
Sen. Bennett needs to give it a rest. The signs say speed "limit" for a reason. If you're doing the limit or a little over you shouldn't need to move, what's the point. Legally, nobody has the right to exceed the "limit" anyway.

by Chuck	02/21/07 11:15 AM
The law is not intended to incourage speeders, its meant to get the inconsiderate 50mph drivers out of the passing lane. Anyone who has driven 75 towards Naples knows how frustrating it is to be behind these drivers. Passing on the right is dangerous

by Mikey	02/21/07 10:29 AM
Guess what? You are not the enforcer of the speed limit. If I choose to speed, and you do not, might you be smarter to NOT be in the left lane, talking on your cell phone, while the rest of us pass on the right rather than crawl up your tailpipe?

by Alan	02/21/07 10:18 AM
The basic concept is "keep right, except to pass". So, the left lane or passing lane is for "passing". It is not intended for those driving at the speed limit. The lane you are driving in shouldn't have anything to do with what your speed is.

by JOE	02/21/07 10:17 AM
WE SHOULD COPY WASHINGTON STATE. FIVE CARS BEHIDE YOU, YOU GET OUT OF THE WAY. SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT. IT WILL CUT ROAD RAGE WAY DOWN.

by DMC	02/21/07 10:09 AM
Does this mean the "Slower Traffic Keep Right" signs are also suggestions?

by Dean	02/21/07 10:04 AM
By law you are able to drive 5mph over the posted limit, except in a construction or school zone. If you're not doing the speed limit get out of the way of thoses who do drive the speep limit. I have seen my share of drivers WAY under the limit.

by Mike	02/21/07 10:03 AM
There shouldn't need to be a law; it's in the driver's manual. DON'T TRAVEL IN THE PASSING LANE! Use common sense.

by Danny	02/21/07 09:53 AM
This just proves that Florida is full of ingnorant inconsiderate citizens. What is the point of having "Slow Traffic Yield Right" signs on the highways if there is no law to support it?

by Lynn	02/21/07 09:52 AM
I disagree with the person who wants to have the left lane without a speed limit. There are enough accidents and deaths on our roads today due to the carelessness of drivers when driving,whether it is speeding, to slow or even road rage.

by Kay	02/21/07 09:48 AM
Plenty of states already have this rule in place. Maybe it shouldn't be law, but it is common sense. It is a matter of safety. The left lane is for passing. You hang out there, going below the speed of traffic flow, you cause snarls. That's a danger.

by Frank	02/21/07 09:24 AM
The bottom line of this bill is we should get out of the way so people can speed and cause more accidents!

by Lisa	02/21/07 08:56 AM
Now I understand why people in Florida think the speed limit is merely a suggestion.

by paul	02/21/07 07:30 AM
more proof that the state legislature cares more about votes than saving lives

by Floyd	02/21/07 05:07 AM
I can't believe this Bill didn't pass!!! Traffic would move so much better if the left lane were used for passing only! (As many other states have come to realize). To see someone driving 40 MPH (left lane) in a 55 MPH posted area drives me nuts!!!

Politics

Panel's split vote kills get-out-of-lane bill