State Representative Jerry Torr, of Carmel, Indiana, has proposed a bill to give large trucks the right-of-way on roundabouts in the state.
The city of Carmel, Indiana, is known as “roundabout city.” Over the last 15 years, it has aggressively replaced traditional intersections with newly designed roundabouts.
Carmel Mayor James Brainard, who brought the issue to Rep. Torr, says the two-lane roundabouts were designed to give large trucks enough room to get through, however current laws make it difficult.
“The two-lane roundabout, the civil engineers that designed them know that large trucks, long trucks or wide trucks have to take up more than one lane to get through them, and they have been designed that way, but the law did not really account for it,” Brainard said.
House Bill 1039, which will give trucks longer than 40-feet the right-of-way on roundabouts, passed a House vote 82-0 and was referred to the Senate.
After a multi-year education period, motorists will be fined up to $500 for failing to yield to a large truck in a roundabout.
Rep. Torr says the law will prevent nearly 100 accidents a year and also protect truckers’ driving records.
“A (truck driving license) is like gold,” Rep. Torr said. “Any blemish on your record can really hurt your livelihood, even if it’s not your fault.”