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Wide Load Regulations

shopping for a car trailer

Just a little reminder to yall who visit Texas during the winter. We appreciate you all coming down and spending that money..... but it really yanks my chain getting on a 2 lane with an improved shoulder behind a travel trailer doing 55 in a 70 for 30 miles.



Just a reimnder.



Driving on the shoulder - Advanced -



§545. 058 - DRIVING ON IMPROVED SHOULDER

(a) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of a roadway if that operation is necessary and may be done safely, but only:

(1) to stop, stand, or park;

(2) to accelerate before entering the main traveled

lane of traffic;

(3) to decelerate before making a right turn;

(4) to pass another vehicle that is slowing or stopped on the main traveled portion of the highway, disabled, or preparing to make a left turn;

(5) to allow another vehicle traveling faster to pass;

(6) as permitted or required by an official traffic control device; or

(7) to avoid a collision



[... ]



A common question I get, especially for newcomers to Texas, is whether it is legal to drive on the shoulder of a two-lane highway to allow other cars to pass as they have seen people doing. The answer is yes, it is, as declared in (a)(5) above. You'll find that most experienced drivers in Texas will automatically move onto the shoulder when a faster car comes up behind them on a two-lane road. It's just a common courtesy and helps the other person to pass them safely. However, there are some requirements to do this-- the shoulder must be wide enough and free of debris or stalled or parked vehicles (it is generally illegal to park on highways outside of business or residential districts). If you do move onto the shoulder to allow someone to pass, reduce your speed a bit and keep a sharp eye out for any obstructions ahead.



You are also allowed to briefly drive on the shoulder to pass a vehicle that is slowing or has stopped in the main lane to turn left or has stalled. Additionally, you can also drive on the shoulder to slow down to turn right, to speed up after turning onto the highway or after having stopped on the shoulder, or to avoid a collision.



You are not allowed to drive on the shoulder to overtake another moving vehicle (except as provided above). If the vehicle you are behind will not move onto the shoulder to allow you to pass, then you must pass them on the left.




http://home.att.net/~texhwyman/laws.htm#Shoulder
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must have some really wide shoulders.



I think it was just custom, not law, but it used to be the rule that you pulled over if there were five or more vehicles behind you. Unfortunately its rare to see that anymore.
 
The same courtesy applies up here but alot of people just do not "get it". Also there are alot of old farts that should not be pulling an RV as they have no idea where the side or rear end of their unit is. Alas there is no IQ requirement for getting an operators license.
 
Alaska law is if there's more than x cars behind you, you need to pull over and let them pass.



I think it's 5, but I can't remember for sure.
 
I spent 15 years in and out of Texas for work.

I made hundreds of trips between San Antonio and Del Rio.

Mostly a single lane road, sometimes two lanes.



I would easily be 1/2 mile away from a local p/u truck probably just running between parts of his land or between his ranch and a buddies... going 30mph, and I'm coming up at 55mph. . and even being a 1/2 mile away, they'd pull over onto the shoulder way before I got up on them, and then wave as I went past.



I use to love my time in Texas.

Loved Doc Holidays down there.





NY, if I remember right, we can't ride on the shoulder, unless it's an emergency vehicle trying to pass, then we have to pull over in any case.
 
THANK YOU!!!!!! I have run into this alot on US 77 from Victoria to Waco. I like running 77 vs. I35 when headed to jobs we have going on up around D/FW, Midlothian, Weatherford but it gets to be a pain when you've got someone running 50-55mph holding up the rest of us. I do appreciate the ones that do move over as I try to move over when its safe, not around curves or when climbing a hill like some.
 
Its an odd thing. My jeep, which can do 60mph downhill, I often find myself wondering why people have to drive so fast. I will pull over but not on an uphill section. Heck, I might have to put it in low range to get started again.



My truck though, which has no problem pulling most hills at 70mph i find myself getting very annoyed at slower drivers.



I can't explain the psychology behind it.
 
Please be safe.

dnorman said:
what the heck is the big hurry, slow down a little bit and enjoy life. Everybody is in suck a big hurry.





Sure, you got it right... ... ... However, Those making a living on the road are asking the public to travel the posted speed limit when road conditions permit. Or take the option of removing them selves from the highway system. It is the safe thing to do.
 
jnelson said:
Just a little reminder to yall who visit Texas during the winter. We appreciate you all coming down and spending that money..... but it really yanks my chain getting on a 2 lane with an improved shoulder behind a travel trailer doing 55 in a 70 for 30 miles.



This is funny cuz I have heard stories from travelers about Texas.

Next time your chain is getting yanked consider crossing over the (white) fog line is grounds for a ticket in other states and the last thing anyone wants is a ticket while out of state so they probably just didn't know.



I am glad you posted, its interesting to learn how the rules change from state to state.
 
dnorman said:
what the heck is the big hurry, slow down a little bit and enjoy life. Everybody is in suck a big hurry.

Time is $$$$ for alot of us out there using the nations hiways! :p
 
aaah... the good old days when most people on the roads were curtious. We also have the wide 2 laners and most everyone would move over so you had a clear view of the road ahead to pass. Have not seen that in a long time. Now they ride the center line so it is harder to see.
 
I always slide to the right if I see it's clear in front of me so the guy behind can get a good look to make up his own mind to pass. I'll remember this thread next time I'm in Texas! I remember growing up in PA you couldn't turn right on red. That didn't change until the 80's sometime.



Different rules in different states for the same thing are tough! Where I am now, one city says you have to wait for a person to clear the crosswalk before you procede, the other city requires they only be on the other side of the road. And I can't remember which is which!
 
dnorman said:
what the heck is the big hurry, slow down a little bit and enjoy life. Everybody is in suck a big hurry.



In some ways I agree with you, but lets be realistic here. If you are doing 55, pulling your 5th wheel, on a 70 posted speed limit and you have cars behind you, it is only common courtesy to pull over, when it's safe to do so, and let them pass.
 
dnorman said:
what the heck is the big hurry, slow down a little bit and enjoy life. Everybody is in suck a big hurry.



You only have one life spend your time wisely. If your on the road for a living time is money and also time away from your family and friends. Not to mention the you are alot more focused and attentive to driving when you are going the speed limit or faster. When some little old lady (my gma) or anyone goes below the speed limit it poses a serious (in my eyes) hazard to everyone. someone could get rearended, someone could try to pass and swerve to hit an animal seen at the last second. Just anything could happen. A cop pulled my grandmother over a few months agao for going too slow (25 in an unposted speedlimit 8 mile long street) Well the cop was ****** off cuz he had to jump on the brakes cuz he does 10-15 over the speed limit and she was doing 25 where everyone goes like 40. Yea the cop was at wrong cuz they shouldn't be able to go 10-15 over without their lights on. but then again my grandmother is a serious hazard and she should not be driving.



Overall If you are in front of me going too slow I personally will get close to you, then give you the mag light for a split second, and if that don't change I will pass in double solid and when I am passing I am sorry my truck is straight pipe and you had to find the nearest restroom. But I gave you notice that you were below the speed limit.
 
Lets not forget to start a thread talking about how when your hauling a heavy load and have you braking distance between the red light and your vehicle and some ****er thinks its ok to pass you but slamming on the brakes to pass you.



I guess I will post the thread right now.
 
DerekW said:
my grandmother is a serious hazard and she should not be driving.
maybe but how willing will you be to just hand over your lic. when the time comes?
Overall If you are in front of me going too slow I personally will get close to you, then give you the mag light for a split second, and if that don't change I will pass in double solid and when I am passing I am sorry my truck is straight pipe and you had to find the nearest restroom. But I gave you notice that you were below the speed limit.
Oh now thats just nice right there, imagine doing that to someones gma. Just how far below the maximum limit does someone need to be to get this treatment? The double solid reminds me a the dude who thought that was ok and hit my Mom head on, he reduced her speed from 55 to 0 and then pushed her car backwards another 300 feet. I won't say what that did to her body.
 
Road manors

DerekW said:
Overall If you are in front of me going too slow I personally will get close to you, then give you the mag light for a split second, and if that don't change I will pass in double solid and when I am passing I am sorry my truck is straight pipe and you had to find the nearest restroom. But I gave you notice that you were below the speed limit.



Mr DerekW,……. you have to know just about all of us think about doing a little ROADRAAAAG. Thankfully we don't all act on it. When you are thinking about misbehaving on the road, please cover up your TDR badge. Oh, and please don't cute me off after passing me. Thats when I wake up and we will have a contest.
 
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