A new ban for these solo drivers using these vehicles is set to go into effect later this year in this one state. When it comes to updates to road traffic policies and legislation, lawmakers are constantly needing to monitor the reality of the roads in order to ensure that current laws are suitable and sufficient to protect all road users. As the world sees increasingly technological advancements in vehicles, the introduction of automated camera technology, and changes to internal traffic patterns, states have an increased responsibility to keep the roads safe.
New sweeping changes for all road users
In an ever-advancing technological world, changes to road legislation and policies continue to need to be revised to suit the conditions and realities that drivers and other road users are currently facing. Cracking down on speeding has been a particular focus for local lawmakers across states this year. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding accounted for approximately one-third of all road accident-related fatalities and serious injuries in 2023, making it an extreme imperative for states to stamp out this practice.
Increasing the severity of penalties for drivers caught speeding excessively has been one trend seen across states. With new fines reaching highs worth thousands of dollars and even the risk of jail time if convicted for speeding excessively, law enforcement is prioritizing the safety of road users. In addition, to assist with catching drivers who are still not abiding by speeding laws, more states are starting to rely on automated camera technology.
While this type of technology has been well established in certain locations, such as New York City, others are only just starting to implement it. San Francisco in California recently rolled out a new speeding camera program across 33 locations in the city, where if you are caught speeding, you will be fined between $50 and $500, depending on the severity of your speeding violation.
New ban in this state for these ‘solo’ drivers
While other states are coming down hard on illegal driving practices like speeding, Arizona is making a new change for owners of electric vehicles. Previously, if you owned an electric or alternative vehicle, you were permitted to drive in the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane as a solo driver. However, the Arizona Department of Transportation has recently announced to its residents that after September 30 of this year, you will need to have at least two drivers in the electric or alternative vehicle to use the HOV lane.
A vehicle that is considered to use alternative fuel is any car that runs on the following:
- Electric
- Hydrogen
- Natural gas and/or biofuels
- Solar power
Arizona will not be the only state affected by this change. Unless Congress does not extends this deadline exemption for alternative vehicles, the change will go into effect for all alternative vehicle drivers across the nation beginning October 1.
Electric vehicles continue to be on the rise
The past decade has continued to see a rise in electric vehicles as the world strives to achieve carbon-neutral goals. From fully electric cars to plug-in hybrids, consumers are embracing the technology like never before, and locations across the nation are seeing an upscaling in supporting infrastructure.
What’s more, automobile developers are continuing to come up with increasingly creative vehicle designs and concepts, drawing inspiration from iconic vehicle designs of the past while embracing the technology of the future. However, widespread adoption of these alternative vehicles will require not only continuous work in upscaling supporting infrastructure, but will also require these vehicles to have more entry-level prices for consumers to purchase.
