Which highways get the signs?
TxDOT is installing approximately 3,400 new “Left Lane for Passing Only” signs on all highways with a speed limit of 75 mph or higher.
Why now?
“Engineers generally consider highway travel to be the safest when vehicles are traveling at the same speeds,” said Carol Rawson, TxDOT’s Traffic Operations Division Director. “The use of these signs will help ensure that vehicles traveling at the posted speed limit will not be impeded or forced to make excessive lane changes when encountering a slower vehicle.”
Safety of the traveling public is always TxDOT’s No. 1 priority. Agency leaders think the expanded use of these signs will allow highway users to reach their intended destinations more safely and without undue delay due to slower moving vehicles. This is more important than ever with an increasing number of Texas highways with speeds of 75 mph or higher.
So what if I block the left lane anyway?
The signs are enforceable and violators can be stopped and ticketed by law enforcement.
When does this kick in?
TxDOT expects installation of approximately 3,400 new “Left Lane for Passing Only” signs to be completed by summer of 2013.