H.B. 180 Enrolled

HIGHWAY AMENDMENTS
2000 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Blake D. Chard
AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING CERTAIN FOLLOWING TO
CLOSE PROVISIONS; PROVIDING CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; PROHIBITING DRIVING
OVER CERTAIN DELINEATED AREAS ON A HIGHWAY; PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS;
AMENDING CERTAIN YIELD PROVISIONS; PROVIDING PENALTIES; AND MAKING
TECHNICAL CHANGES.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
41-6-62, as last amended by Chapter 138, Laws of Utah 1987
41-6-75.5, as last amended by Chapter 138, Laws of Utah 1987
ENACTS:
41-6-63.30, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 41-6-62 is amended to read:
41-6-62. Following another vehicle -- Safe distance -- Exceptions.
(1) The operator of a vehicle:
(a) may not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having
regard for the:
(i) speed of the vehicles [and the];
(ii) traffic upon the highway; and [the]
(iii) condition of the highway[.]; and
[(2)] (b) [Motor vehicles operated upon any roadway outside of an urban district, whether
in a caravan, motorcade, or otherwise, or whether or not towing other vehicles,] shall allow
sufficient space [between each] in front of the vehicle [or combination of vehicles] to enable any
other vehicle to enter and occupy the space [without danger. This provision].
(2) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply to funeral processions or to congested traffic

conditions resulting in prevailing vehicle speeds of less than 35 miles per hour.
Section 2. Section 41-6-63.30 is enacted to read:
41-6-63.30. Definitions -- Gore area -- Driving over gore prohibited -- Exceptions --
Penalties.
(1) As used in this section, "gore area" means the area delineated by two solid white lines that
is between a continuing lane of a through roadway and a lane used to enter or exit the continuing lane
including similar areas between merging or splitting highways.
(2) (a) A person may not operate a vehicle over, across, or within any part of a gore area.
(b) Subsection (2)(a) does not apply to:
(i) a person operating a vehicle that is disabled; or
(ii) an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle under conditions described under Section
41-6-14 .
(3) A person who violates Subsection (2) is guilty of class C misdemeanor.
Section 3. Section 41-6-75.5 is amended to read:
41-6-75.5. Merging lanes -- Yielding.
The operator of a vehicle traveling in a lane that is about to merge into [another] a continuing
lane, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles traveling in the continuing lane [or lanes into which
the lane of the operator is merging] and which are so close as to be an immediate hazard. [This
section does not apply to entry lanes to limited access highways.]

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