Ohio's New Traffic Laws

[CbrGirl]

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Big changes are coming to Ohio’s interstates and highways as several new traffic laws take effect Wednesday.

The biggest change allows tractor-trailers to travel at 65 mph, NBC 4‘s Candice Lee reported.

Bill Braack a semi driver said he welcomes the new speed limit.

“It’s going to be a safety factor, I think. It’s not so much the speed of these rigs, it’s the difference in speed between us and the little cars that I think cause problems,“ Braack said.

The money for the conversion is coming from the state transportation department’s 2010-2011 budget, which was approved back in April.

However ODOT has plans to limit overtime and cost of materials.

“When they start their shift in the day tomorrow, their priority is to get those signs changed to reflect what the law is,“ said Nancy Burton, spokesperson, ODOT District 6.

Within the eight counties in District 6, there are 109 speed limit signs. ODOT crews will replace four signs while removing 62 signs.

Other speed limit signs will be covered with a white reflective material, hiding the old limit of 55 mph.

Burton said the savings is enormous, compared to buying and posting new signs.

Another law will go a long way in protecting tow truck operators.

The new law requires motorists slow down or move over when they see a tow truck on the side of the road.

The law carries a fine of $300 plus court costs for first-time violators. The fee will be $500 for second violations.

Another law provides for transition zones when speed limits drop by more than 20 mph—eliminating speed traps.

Drivers will also be required to turn on their headlights when they use windshield wipers in the rain.

http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/new_traffic_laws_speed_limits_take_effect/18338/

[SchmuckGirl]

I thought they were going to raise the limit for cars as well.....

[wrillo]

Another law provides for transition zones when speed limits drop by more than 20 mph—eliminating speed traps.
:woo:

I'm not sure how I feel about faster moving trucks, but I guess its okay. Anytime I see activity on the side of the road, cop, tow truck, semi, etc, I move over or slow down if I can't. Doesn't everyone already do that?

[V4junkie]

I thought they were going to raise the limit for cars as well.....

That would have been nice . . . :(

[KhaoticRebel]

Don't forget the new law that's slightly less known: All ridiculously slow drivers now drive in the left lane and must refuse to move over despite how many cars are stacked up behind them.

[blue03636]

They talked about the bump to 70mph for cars, not sure what happened to that.

[Fatbikez]

i do not think that trucks should be going that fast. especially the interstate ups trucks pulling 2 trailers. i seen them jack kneif before.. not a pretty scene.

I welcome the lights on while raining .. that law has been in effect in new york for over 10 years. easier to see the douche bag behind you.

they outlawed texting while driving in cleveland. with a !50 + fine if you get caught. that should be state wide.

now im waiting for them to allow you to do 65 on roads like 33 which have red lights.

[EvilTwin]

Finally morons have to turn their lights on when it rains! I can't believe people drive in the rain with their lights off, b/c it's so fucking hard to see them.

[KhaoticRebel]

I welcome the lights on while raining .. that law has been in effect in new york for over 10 years. easier to see the douche bag behind you.


I hate people that don't turn on their lights in rainy weather. It annoys me even more when they're like a grey car that is nearly invisible without their lights on in that weather. Ugh, dummies.

[wrillo]

I coulda swore the lights on in rain thing was already a law? Maybe it was just Montgomery county before?

[magley64]

I'm cool with semis doing 65 under the current law, but i still feel the whole "speed" limit structure should be reworked in favor of a "momentum" limit...

still I think this change will allow for more fluidity, especially here where the roads are pretty much flat and straight.

[wht_scorpion]

fatbikez that in PA that law if its in ny that law no one knows about it but it should be law there just like no talking or texting on cell phone while driving cars

[wht_scorpion]

maybe in the ny city not in suffolk county or upstate

[wrillo]

even if we simplified it down to linear momentum, half the idiots out there still wouldn't be able to do that math.. however that could lead to some great advertising setups

[r1crusher]

Now now....the article stated that lights must be on when WIPERS are in USE. That is easily negated...ever heard of a product call 'RainX'?

If you haven't, look it up AND USE IT!

I have been in some hella down pours on 71 and never touch the wiper switch. Never had a single issue of not being able to see people behind me either even without their lights on.

To me is sounds like another way to make some revenue. I wanna see a cop try to give me a ticket for not having my lights on when it's raining.

[EvilTwin]

Yea RainX is amazing, I've driven 5 hours through a solid down pour and never used my wipers, mainly because the RainX was more effective than the wipers on my civic.

[RC51 John]

"Another law provides for transition zones when speed limits drop by more than 20 mph—eliminating speed traps"


Will hurt a few small town budgets.

[kawi kid]

Finally morons have to turn their lights on when it rains! I can't believe people drive in the rain with their lights off, b/c it's so fucking hard to see them.


agreed i thought that was common sense but then i forgot we are dealing with the general population.

[buildit]

The windsheild wiper/ lights law has existed in NY state since the 90's. but as they found out it is hard to enforce. as for trucks doing 65mph, you mean they don't do that already??? :LOL:

[e-flores]

for once i agree with new laws that are set into place. most of all the trucks new speed limit, though i think they should up the auto speed limit up to 70 to compensate for the speed/weight differences.

[KruelHouse]

I thought they were going to raise the limit for cars as well.....

I heard that last month as well. They were going to increase the limit to 70. Not only to compensate for the higher speed of semis, but also to achieve congruency with the limits of neighboring states (PA, WVa.)...

[Cheech]

For the love of god, PLEASE, PLEASE legalize lane splitting in Ohio. Even Jersey does it, and they are some of the worst drivers I've seen.

[warpspeed]

For the love of god, PLEASE, PLEASE legalize lane splitting in Ohio. Even Jersey does it, and they are some of the worst drivers I've seen.


ehhhh why would you want to go between to moronic soccer moms on cellphones?

[Cheech]

ehhhh why would you want to go between to moronic soccer moms on cellphones?


Because that puts me at the head of traffic at a stop sign. Last time I checked my bike can accelerate a hell of a lot faster than them.

[Strictly Street]

For the love of god, PLEASE, PLEASE legalize lane splitting in Ohio. Even Jersey does it, and they are some of the worst drivers I've seen.


Last I heard there is no law defining lane splitting in Ohio. So if it ain't illegal, then it must be legal.

http://www.ohio-riders.net/showthread.php?t=11965

http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws/result.asp?state=OH

http://accident-law.freeadvice.com/accident-law/motorcycle-helmut-laws.htm

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080912104308AAFfd30

[Likwid]

roflmao, "if it isn't defined it's legal" that scares me... mostly because if it's not DEFINED as legal it's up to officer interpretation.... "he passed unsafely, that makes it wreckless op"

Also, the tractor speed limit.... not sure the 10 mph difference will really make that big a change (as a side note some truck operators have the tracks set to max of 55, Roadway and Wal-Mart to name 2) I used to talk to the drivers when I worked at Roadway, they said it was terrifying in Montana because everyone is wizzing by at 100 and they can't go 60.... I truly doubt it was "terrifying" though... lol

[swingset]

i do not think that trucks should be going that fast.

Study after study has shown it's the difference in speed that causes wrecks on the interstate, not the speed of trucks.

It's the reason Ohio is one of the very few states left with the 55 for trucks, and 40 some other states get by just fine with trucks doing the same speed.'

This is a good move, for safety.

[John]

I thought they were going to raise the limit for cars as well.....

yeah but that would have defeated the purpose of raising the limit for trucks really...

[John]

they outlawed texting while driving in cleveland. with a !50 + fine if you get caught. that should be state wide.

the fine should be 10 times that.

same for talking on the phone too..

studies have shown that drivers chatting on the phone are just as impaired as drunk drivers. IMO the penalties should be the same then.


I wanna see a cop try to give me a ticket for not having my lights on when it's raining.


ORC 4513.03 states:

"Every vehicle upon a street or highway within this state during the time from sunset to sunrise, and at any other time when there are unfavorable atmospheric conditions
or when there is not sufficient natural light to render discernible persons, vehicles, and substantial objects on the highway at a distance of one thousand feet ahead, shall display lighted lights and illuminating devices as required by sections 4513.04 to 4513.37 of the Revised Code, for different classes of vehicles; except that every motorized bicycle shall display at such times lighted lights meeting the rules adopted by the director of public safety under section 4511.521 of the Revised Code. No motor vehicle, during such times, shall be operated upon a street or highway within this state using only parking lights as
illumination"

so technically, they COULD ticket you and say that conditions were unfavorable.

but really, why WOULDNT you have your lights on in the rain?