New Restrictions Bar Commercial Vehicles from Left Lane on I-70

Semi-trucks are heavy. With a full load, the average weight of a truck, along with its trailer, cargo, and fuel, is right around 50,000 pounds. Legally, they can be as heavy as 80,000. Trying to lug that weight up I-70 inevitably results in slower speeds and heightened risks for collision. Its contribution to downhill speeds exacerbates these risks substantially.

The primary purpose of the left lane is to pass slower vehicles. This helps improve traffic flow and, when used appropriately, reduces unnecessary (and sometimes risky) lane changes that can increase the chance of collision. When slow-moving semi-trucks clog the left lane, faster traffic stacks up behind them, sometimes for what seems like an eternity. This can prompt smaller vehicles to dart in front of the slow-moving trucks, significantly increasing the odds of a high-speed sideswipe or another type of serious truck accident.

Colorado’s new Senate Bill 24-100 bans most commercial trucks from the far-left lane on key stretches of I-70 in the mountains. These are:

• Between mileposts 115.5 and 131.0 (Glenwood Springs)
• Between mileposts 169.5 and 173.0 (Dowd junction)
• Between mileposts 180.0 and 190.5 (Vail pass)
• Between mileposts 205.5 and 221.0 (Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel)
• Between mileposts 224.0 and 228.5 (Georgetown Hill)
• Between mileposts 243.0 and 247.0 (Floyd Hill)

Regardless of weather conditions, no commercial vehicle can travel in the far left lane on these portions of I-70 unless it is for the express purpose of passing a slower-moving vehicle. When a truck enters the left lane on one of these stretches and causes a wreck, the driver might face fines and penalties from the State, in addition to liability for the injuries they have caused.

Injured in a Truck Crash on I-70? Call Burg Simpson to Learn About Your Rights

If you have been injured by a trucker who was violating Colorado’s new left lane restrictions, call Burg Simpson at 303-792-5595. Located in Denver, our I-70 truck accident lawyers serve victims of serious injury in I-70 collisions from Floyd Hill to Glenwood Springs and every mountain town and exit in between.

Speeding and Left Lane Restrictions for Commercial Vehicles

On steep mountain grades, speed is the enemy of control. This is even more true when the speeding vehicle weighs 50,000+ pounds. This means that truckers must exercise extreme caution when driving up and down the hills and passes on I-70. Tragically, when they fail in this imperative, they place everyone at heightened risk for injury.

The Large Truck Crash Causation Study found that 23% of all large-truck crashes occur when the driver is traveling “too fast for conditions.” Add traveling downhill, a maneuver that makes brake failure and tire blowout more likely, and you have the conditions for serious or fatal collisions that should have been avoidable.

Colorado is targeting the problem with a “heightened speed limit enforcement zone” in Glenwood Canyon that doubles fines and surcharges for speeding commercial motor vehicles. CDOT has identified Glenwood Canyon and Floyd Hill for the state’s new automated speed-camera program, with the first cameras going live in June of 2025 to help identify speeding violations.

Why Do Truckers Speed?

Truckers are professional drivers. They know how to operate heavy commercial vehicles. They know how to drive safely, obey traffic laws, and prevent unnecessary accidents. All the same, a truck driver may be tempted to speed when:

• They have an unrealistic delivery deadline. Tight schedules and just-in-time freight models can push drivers to make up time, particularly on steep and lengthy descents like Floyd Hill.
• They are facing pressure from carriers and shippers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has found that commercial drivers violate speed limits 50% more than the drivers of smaller vehicles, often to appease demanding carriers and shippers.
• They are forced to drive while tired. Long hours reduce reaction times. Violation of Hours-of-Service rules to meet unrealistic deadlines or calm excited carriers is all too common.

Truckers may choose to violate left lane restrictions when they are traveling too fast to stay safely behind slower-moving traffic. However, their presence in the left lane where restrictions exist should be only long enough to make the pass. Lingering in the left lane impedes traffic flow and increases crash risks.

According to the FMCSA, brake issues were coded for over a quarter of the trucks involved in speed-related crashes. Faulty brakes are a significant concern for semis traveling downhill on I-70. This issue undoubtedly played a role in the fiery crash that killed four people on I-70 in Lakewood in 2019.

When a trucker is speeding, loses control of their safety systems, or violates left lane restrictions and causes a wreck, they may be held liable for any damages that ensue. However, as was the case with the crash mentioned above, sometimes the motor carrier shares blame as well. In that case, they had failed to properly train or vet their driver before sending him to navigate the perils of I-70 in Colorado.

Carriers that pose unrealistic schedules or fail to properly train their drivers can be held liable for damages following a truck accident. So too can brokers that hire unsafe fleets, maintenance contractors who ignore brake issues, and even the manufacturers of faulty parts. But when liability is shared, it can be very difficult to know how to proceed.

The Colorado truck accident lawyers at Burg Simpson are here to help you understand your options. We will review your case free of charge and without future commitment, assess what damages you may be owed, and help you determine the best way to seek the compensation you deserve.

Our I-70 Truck Crash Lawyers Can Help

At Burg Simpson, we know the dangers of mountain driving. We also know the law. When a truck driver violated left lane restrictions, speeds, or otherwise drove irresponsibly, we are here to hold all liable parties accountable and help you pursue maximum compensation.

Our experienced truck accident lawyers can help by:

• Securing Evidence Fast. We work quickly to secure evidence, such as ECM data, driver logs, and cargo records.
• Working With Experts. We work with in-house professionals and external specialists to understand all contributing factors, enabling us to identify all liable parties.
• Carefully Calculate Damages. We consider your financial losses, such as medical expenses and lost wages, as well as any emotional and physical struggles caused by your accident.
• Fight for Full Compensation. We work to negotiate a settlement when possible, but our trial-tested legal team is prepared to take cases as far as necessary to ensure justice is served.

Burg Simpson has stood side-by-side with truck accident victims for nearly five decades, securing a number of significant settlements and verdicts in the process. We understand Colorado’s left lane restrictions for commercial vehicles and know how to hold drivers who cause harm to full account for their actions.

Contact an Experienced Colorado Truck Accident Attorney for FREE

Were you injured by a speeding trucker on I-70 or harmed by a commercial driver violating Colorado’s left lane restrictions? You may be entitled to compensation. No matter if you were injured near Idaho Springs, Vail, or Rifle, the truck accident lawyers at Burg Simpson are here to help. Contact us online or call us at 303-792-5595 to schedule a FREE and confidential case review with one of our lawyers.