It's hard keeping up with all laws and regulations that come into effect year by year, month by month. Usually, you just want to drive and not get into trouble, but as time goes on, new rules come in to ensure road safety and alleviate some of the drivers' worries.
As it is, Florida has recently passed two new driving laws that are set to take effect in 2023. One is the Florida 50% Toll Relief program, while the other is the Florida Left Lane Bill.
Florida 50% Toll Relief Program
The Florida 50% Toll Relief program started on January 1, 2023. This program was proposed by Governor DeSantis and enacted by the Florida Legislature, and it gives credits to people who use toll roads across the state often. The program automatically puts a 50% credit on the account of Floridians who pay 35 or more tolls per month.
Under the Toll Relief Program, drivers of two-axle vehicles who use toll transponders like SunPass or other Florida-based transponders and have accounts in good standing with 35 or more qualifying toll transactions per month will get a 50% credit to their account. There is no need to apply for toll relief because credits will be put on each qualifying account automatically.
This program is meant to make it easier for people who use toll roads often to get to work or do other daily things. It also gives people a reason to use the SunPass or other transponders in Florida, since they will automatically get the credit without having to apply for it or do anything else. The program will last for a year, and lawmakers have agreed to spend $500 million to help toll agencies cover lost revenue.
Florida Left Lane Bill
The Florida Left Lane Bill is a new law that will make it illegal to drive continuously in the left lane unless you're passing other traffic. Currently, drivers are supposed to move over for faster traffic, but the new law would make the left lane off-limits for anything other than passing.
The new bill introduced in the Florida legislature would make cruising in the left lane of a divided highway illegal. Currently, the law lets drivers use the left lane for cruising as long as there isn't faster traffic coming up behind them. The new law would be similar to the "keep right except to pass" laws in other states that enforce safe lane discipline more strictly.
According to the bill, on a road, street, or highway with two or more lanes that all go in the same direction, a driver can't keep driving in the farthest left lane if he or she knows or should know that a faster vehicle is coming up behind them in that lane. This part of the law doesn't apply to drivers who are passing another car going in the same direction or getting ready to make a left turn at an intersection.
This new law aims to improve road safety by ensuring that drivers use the left lane only for passing, thus reducing the likelihood of accidents caused by slow-moving vehicles in the left lane. It also aims to reduce traffic congestion on highways by ensuring that vehicles move over to the right lane when not actively passing.
Currently, both laws aim to improve the driving experience in Florida by reducing commuting expenses and improving road safety. The Toll Relief program will help reduce the burden on frequent commuters, while the Left Lane Bill will ensure that drivers use the left lane only for passing, reducing traffic congestion and improving road safety.
