MENU
SEARCHTwo new highway laws that went into effect on Sept. 1 in Alabama attempt to combat left-lane road rage and unbuckled passengers, according to media reports.
Alabama has rolled out new laws to address road rage and unbuckled passengers. View of Interstate 10 westbound in Mobile County.
Photo via Michael Rivera/Wikimedia.
Two new highway laws that went into effect on Sept. 1 in Alabama attempt to combat left-lane road rage and unbuckled passengers, according to media reports.
One new rule mandates that all motor vehicle passengers including those in the backseat must now buckle up, reports the Andalusia Star News.
Another law mandates that motorists may not drive more than 1.5 miles in the left lane on divided highways and interstates without passing other vehicles or turning left, reports Moulton Advertiser. Also know as the Anti-Road Rage Act, the law is intended to keep slow drivers out of the left lane.
State law enforcement has endorsed the new measures, noting that they are good laws designed to save lives, according to reports. State law previously required only drivers, front seat passengers and minors in the backseat to wear seat belts.
The state's Department of Transportation statistics indicate that 47% of the 37,133 people who lost their lives in collisions in 2017 were unbelted, notes the Star News. Worse still, data from 2016 shows that back seat passengers tend to wear their seat belts less often because they falsely believe they are safer than those seated in the front of the vehicle. However, some 57% of back seat vehicle occupants who died in crashes were unrestrained.
Penalties for violating the new laws vary by jurisdiction, but are about $25 or $30 plus court fess. Law enforcement will only be handing out warnings for the first 60 days of the Anti-Road Rage Act due to a grace period, according to reports.
Fleet drivers face constant visual, cognitive, and environmental interruptions the moment they hit the road. From roadside chaos to mental fatigue and digital overload, today’s biggest driving risks often come from outside the vehicle itself.
Read More →
FLASH Weather AI has launched a first-of-its-kind hail prediction model capable of forecasting hail size and arrival time at 1-kilometer resolution up to 55 minutes ahead, giving fleets and insurers critical time to prepare for severe storms.
Read More →
As litigation risk rises, vehicles are increasingly targeted. This Coca-Cola bottler shares how it’s reducing exposure through driver training, technology, and a proactive risk management approach.
Read More →
Drivers, supervisors, and data often speak different safety “languages.” Getting on the same page will drive better results.
Read More →
From identity management to third-party certifications, the right technology partner should make security easier to manage. Here are the three building blocks that fleet managers need to stay in control as connected systems scale.
Read More →
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
Read More →
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Read More →
What fleets capture to improve safety can also expose them in litigation, forcing leaders to rethink how data is managed, stored, and shared.
Read More →
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Read More →
While serious crashes are declining, a rise in minor incidents and ongoing risk hotspots underscore the need for continued fleet safety investment.
Read More →
