You’re traveling down a two-lane freeway in the fast lane (known to law enforcement as the #1 lane) with your cruise control set at 70 miles per hour. Approximately a quarter-mile ahead of you, there are two commercial tractors and trailers (big rigs) operating in the right lane (#2 lane). The big rig that had been following the other activates the vehicle’s left turn signal and moves into the #1 lane. Now, for the next few miles, you sit there and simmer as the big rig slowly passes the other truck.
In California, the maximum speed limit on any roadway when it is not posted is 55 miles per hour. There are certain areas that are defined in the vehicle code as having a specific speed limit, i.e., residential areas (25 mph) or alleys (15 mph). Once a roadway has a posted speed limit in excess of 55 miles per hour, another set of rules comes into play.
California has speed limits for specific vehicle combinations. Speed limits and traffic lane assignments are based on the number of axles your vehicle or vehicle combination has. Most cars, pickup trucks and motorcycles have two axles. The speed limit for these vehicles is whatever the posted speed limit is. Once you have three or more axles, for example, you are towing a trailer with your car, or your boat behind your motor home, you are governed by these laws.
California Vehicle Code Section 22406 states, “No person may drive any of the following vehicles on a highway at a speed in excess of 55 miles per hour; (a) A motortruck or truck tractor drawing any other vehicle. (b) A passenger vehicle or bus drawing any other vehicle. (c) A schoolbus transporting any school pupil…”
Also important to understand is that vehicles in the aforementioned category must comply with another vehicle code section.
California Vehicle Code Section 22348 (c) states, in essence, that if your vehicle has three or more axles, the vehicle shall be driven in the right-hand lane for traffic. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, you shall use the lane to the immediate left of the right-hand lane. There are a few exceptions, but in general, this is the rule.
So, you’re driving your pickup truck and towing your boat to the lake. The maximum speed limit is 55 miles per hour and except when passing slower traffic, you’re supposed to drive in the far right lane.
Now you are driving your vehicle, not towing a trailer on a two lane State Route (i.e., SR-299 East). The speed limit is 65 miles per hour and you catch up to another vehicle that is towing a trailer. The speed limit for that vehicle is 55 miles per hour, remember? It’s important that you understand the concept why this guy won’t speed up or even pull over. All too often, we get upset that this guy won’t get out of our way and we end up attempting to pass when it may not be safe to do so.
But isn’t there a law that requires this slower-moving vehicle to pull over and get out of the way? Yes. In essence, the rule is that if a vehicle is traveling at a speed less than the speed limit or the flow of traffic, whichever is greater, and there are five or more vehicles behind the slower-moving vehicle, that vehicle shall turn off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists. But remember, that vehicle towing a trailer is traveling at its allowed speed.
As you can see, there are lots of rules that govern who can go how fast and which lane we are supposed to be in. The best rule is the simplest one. Obey the posted speed limit, let those who wish to pass, pass, and remember, instead of making good time, make time good.
Monty Hight is a retired California Highway Patrol officer and Public Information Officer. He is the Northstate AVOID Campaign’s Public Information Officer. He lives in Redding. More information on AVOID can be found here.
