Attention Slowpoke SR 347 Drivers: Your Wake-Up Call Has Arrived!

A sign reading “trucks right lane only” is currently displayed along Interstate 10. In a similar vein, new signage may soon appear on State Route 347.

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is set to install at least one sign in each direction, urging slower vehicles to utilize the right lane on this state highway. This measure is in line with existing traffic regulations.

Kimberly Larson, the community relations project manager for ADOT, explained, “The team is currently evaluating the details of the sign and placement and will collaborate with the Gila River Indian Community to determine the specific locations and installation methods.”

According to Larson, installation of the signs could occur within the next three months.

This initiative aligns with House Bill 2235, proposed by state Rep. Teresa Martinez. The bill aims to penalize individuals who unnecessarily occupy the left lane on two-lane highways, including SR 347.

Martinez, a Casa Grande Republican representing Maricopa at the State Capitol, emphasized the negative impact of slower drivers on traffic flow. “They just back up traffic, and I think that’s where your road rage comes in, and that’s where people really start getting frustrated,” she stated in a January interview with InMaricopa.

If passed, the legislation would impose fines of up to $250 on drivers who linger in the left lane. It is currently advancing through the state Senate after receiving unanimous support from the Committee on Public Safety this week.

Once the signs are operational on SR 347, contesting such citations in court may become significantly more challenging.