House File 2513 - Introduced



                                       HOUSE FILE       
                                       BY  COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

                                       (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 513)


    Passed House,  Date              Passed Senate, Date              
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to requirements for operation of a motor vehicle
  2    in merging traffic and providing a penalty.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  4 TLSB 5481HV 82
  5 dea/rj/14

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  321.319A  DRIVERS REQUIRED TO
  1  2 MERGE.
  1  3    Notwithstanding section 321.319, where traffic lanes are
  1  4 provided for merging traffic, each driver of a vehicle on the
  1  5 converging roadways or lanes shall adjust the speed and
  1  6 lateral position of the vehicle as necessary to avoid a
  1  7 collision with any other vehicle and to facilitate safe entry
  1  8 of merging vehicles into the common lane.  However, the driver
  1  9 of a vehicle traveling on any traffic lane, ramp, or
  1 10 converging roadway marked with a yield sign, stop sign, or
  1 11 other traffic control sign or signal shall obey such sign or
  1 12 signal.
  1 13    A person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty
  1 14 of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation
  1 15 under section 805.8A, subsection 7, paragraph "b".
  1 16    Sec. 2.  Section 805.8A, subsection 7, paragraph b, Code
  1 17 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  1 18    b.  For violations under sections 321.298, 321.307,
  1 19 321.308, 321.313, 321.319, 321.319A, 321.320, 321.321,
  1 20 321.327, 321.329, and 321.333, the scheduled fine is
  1 21 thirty=five dollars.
  1 22    Sec. 3.  PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.  The department of
  1 23 transportation, in cooperation with the department of public
  1 24 safety and other interested parties, shall develop and
  1 25 implement a public awareness and education program to foster
  1 26 compliance with the requirements for merging in traffic as
  1 27 established in this Act.  The department may incorporate the
  1 28 education initiative into existing programs administered by
  1 29 the department and coordinate efforts with other state or
  1 30 local agencies to reach the widest population possible.
  1 31                           EXPLANATION
  1 32    This bill describes the actions motorists must take when
  1 33 driving in merging traffic.  Drivers on traffic lanes, ramps,
  1 34 or converging roadways are required to obey yield or stop
  1 35 signs where provided.  In the absence of such signage, each
  2  1 driver of a vehicle on converging roadways or lanes shall
  2  2 adjust the speed and lateral position of the vehicle as
  2  3 necessary to avoid collisions and to facilitate safe merging
  2  4 of vehicles.  A violation is punishable by a scheduled fine of
  2  5 $35.
  2  6    The bill requires the department of transportation, in
  2  7 cooperation with the department of public safety and other
  2  8 interested parties, to develop and implement a public
  2  9 awareness and education program regarding the bill's
  2 10 requirements.
  2 11 LSB 5481HV 82
  2 12 dea/rj/14