VEHICLES TRAVELING IN PLATOONS H.B. 5749:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 5749 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Michael Webber
House Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
Senate Committee: Transportation
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to exclude vehicles traveling in a platoon from a requirement that operators of trucks or truck tractors to leave sufficient space between the vehicle and another truck or truck tractor.
Specifically, the Code requires the operator of a truck or truck tractor, when traveling upon a highway outside of a business or residence district, when conditions permit, to leave sufficient space between the vehicle and another truck or truck tractor so that an overtaking vehicle may enter and occupy the space without danger. This provision does not prevent the operator of a truck or truck tractor from overtaking and passing another truck, truck tractor, or other vehicle in a lawful manner.
Under the bill, these provisions would not apply to a vehicle in a platoon.
(The Code defines "platoon" as a group of individual motor vehicles that are traveling in a unified manner at electronically coordinated speeds.)
The bill would take effect 90 days after it was enacted.
MCL 257.643a Legislative Analyst: Drew Krogulecki
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State, and could have a negative fiscal impact on local government. Any associated decrease in civil infraction fine revenue would decrease funding to public libraries.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.