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As one drives on Florida’s highways, he or she often encounters congestion caused by a high number of trucks and other vehicles vying for the same lanes.

For 30 years, restrictions have been in place on I-95 in South Florida, and for 20 years on I-75 from the Florida/Georgia border to the turnpike. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reports that these restrictions improve safety by reducing weaving maneuvers during passing preventing truck crashes with other vehicles.

Florida International University and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering conducted studies that concluded that truck lane bans reduce the number of lane changes without affecting speed.

The Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida conducted a study in 2005 on truck lanes in Florida. Part of its research involved studying FDOT truck crash data to identify the highway segments where truck safety could be an issue and have a high incidence of truck crashes. The researchers identified truck crashes as a significant variable when considering truck-restricted lane usage.

The Florida legislature enacted truck lane restrictions under Florida Statute 316.074. The FDOT enforces these restrictions throughout the state of Florida. In addition to I-95 and I-75, the FDOT enforces truck lane restrictions on roads including, but not limited to:

• Interstate 4 from Kissimmee to Tampa Airport – no trucks in the left lane
• Interstate 4 from Tampa Airport to Osprey – trucks with more than six wheels must use the right two lanes
• Florida Turnpike from Broward/Miami-Date border to Kendall – no trucks in the left lane
• Florida Turnpike from Palmetto Bay to Cutler Bay – no trucks in the left lane

Currently, truck lane restrictions include 6-lane interstate freeways that primarily consist of rural interstate sections. Left and inside travel lanes are restricted specifically to automobile traffic, not truck traffic. Recreational vehicles (RVs) and tour buses are not considered commercial trucks, so they are allowed to travel in designated left or inside travel lanes.

Truck lane restrictions were initiated to help protect passenger vehicles. However, accidents still happen. Drivers should use defensive driving techniques when sharing the road with large trucks, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA):

1. Avoid blind spots
2. Be aware of long stopping distances
3. Anticipate wide turns
4. Stay back
5. Merge and pass safely
6. Be patient
7. Buckle up
8. Stay focused
9. Avoid driving under the influence
10. Avoid driving when drowsy
11. Understand the difference between the weight and size of different types of vehicles

When trucks violate left-lane restrictions and cause accidents that injure or tragically kill other people, the trucking companies and/or the drivers may be held liable and be required to pay damages. Like all drivers, truck drivers owe other drivers a duty of care that includes following the rules of the road.

Fort Myers Truck Accident Attorney Randall Spivey Assists Victims of Truck Accidents

There are steps truck accident victims should take following an accident. The first two are:

1. Seek and report medical injuries immediately
2. Contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. at 239.337.7483, toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or online at SpiveyLaw.com.

Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. is available 24/7 for a free, confidential consultation if you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence. There are no costs or attorney fees until the firm receives a monetary recovery for you.