One color has almost been banned on USA highways outside of major cities, and the implications for motorists may be breaking the laws of the road. Driving around any major city in the US can often come with varying laws that differ from state to state. However, the Federal Highway Administration has noted a new “interim approval” for a new road usage law in the United States that hopefully will clear up some confusion over where and which roads can be used by everyday motorists in America.
Change is the only constant in life, and necessity breeds innovation
Following the rules of the road is essential to ensuring a safe commute for anyone using America’s vast road network. Several US states have developed new laws that ensure the safety of all who make use of the American road network. Public transport has also been part of the conversation ver adapting laws and limitations being adapted for motorist, as the vast majority of the population uses buses to get around their respective cities and towns.
Making any significant changes to federal road usage requires approval from the Federal Highway Administration, and oftentimes is wrapped up in a world of regulatory and bureaucratic red tape. However, the Federal Highway Administration has plans to implement some changes to cities that have bus lanes dedicated solely to the buses that traverse the city landscape.
The federal government is asking cities to paint the town red, so to speak
Using red paint on federal roads to allocate bus lanes does not come without significant attention from the Federal Highway Administration. Red bus lanes require the approval of the Administration, which often comes as “interim approval”, allowing cities to paint their bus lanes red, making them much easier for motorists to identify and steer clear of.
Dedicated bus lanes help improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in major cities
Any jurisdiction that plans to paint its bus lanes with the vibrant and noticeable red colour will first need to get the approval of the Federal Highway Administration. The FHWA has revealed that it will consider “interim approval” for cities to use the red paint to clearly differentiate between regular and bus lanes in cities. The move comes after substantial testing of red paint markings in several cities, such as Chicago and New York, where traffic can often come to a complete standstill.
The Interim Approval 22 from the Federal Highway Administration provides a clear and precise framework for cities to adopt to paint their transit lanes for buses in a bright and noticeable red colour. Cities like New York are regularly making changes to their traffic laws in order to make streets safer fr all who use them, but any changes to federal roads will require approval from the Federal Highway Administration.
“It makes the street more intelligible and make people understand what the function of the street is. It really does change behavior. If it’s just [uncolored] marking, motorists often don’t realize they’re driving in a bus lane.” – National Association of City Transportation Officials spokesman Alex Engel
Colour influences people’s driving habits and attention to detail
Changes to colours on roads and traffic light signals can drastically influence people’s driving habits. Using red paint to identify bus lanes has become essential as a litany of motorists have reported being confused as to where a bus lane or bus stop may be, leading to significant fines and penalties from authorities. With some states aiming to bring in the new year with substantial changes to their traffic laws, the future of the US transit system depends on whether the red paint “interim approval” from the Federal Highway Administration will make a difference on major federal roads in America’s cities.