New state highway safety laws in effect this Labor Day weekend

With hundreds of thousands of Alabamians expected to hit the highways this Labor Day holiday weekend for the Gulf Coast, college football games and other gatherings, motorists are reminded that two new highway safety laws go into effect Sept. 1, 2019, including new seatbelt requirements for passengers and right lane restrictions for vehicles, unless passing.

New Alabama Laws (Effective Sept 1, 2019):

• Everyone, buckle up.  All passengers in a vehicle must wear a seat belt. Previously, adults in the rear seat were not required to wear a seat belt. The Alabama Legislature amended the law this year to include those riding in rear seats. In Alabama, 60 percent of people dying in vehicle crashes are not wearing a seat belt.
• Keep right, except to pass. Drivers on Alabama interstates must travel in the right lane. Drivers are no longer allowed to be in the left lane for more than 1.5 miles unless the driver is passing another vehicle. There are exceptions for road hazards, traffic congestion and moving over for emergency response vehicles.

“With so many people heading to football games or to the beach or lake during the holiday weekend, it’s even more important to focus on driving safely,” said Allison Green, Drive Safe Alabama Coordinator with ALDOT. “Buckle up every seat, every trip. A seat belt is your best defense on the road.”

Meanwhile, ALDOT is also doing its part to foster highway safety by having no temporary lane closures on Alabama interstates after noon on Friday, Aug. 30, through midnight, Monday, Sept. 2.

Motorists planning their holiday travel route can find Alabama traffic and road condition information at www.ALGOtraffic.com or by downloading the ALGO Traffic app. ALDOT asks motorists to use ALGO Traffic responsibly. Drivers should never text, tweet, or use a mobile device while operating a vehicle.