SB 5907 — Concerning roadside safety measures and public awareness of emergency vehicles providing roadside assistance.

S-4159.1S-3664.2 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5907 State of Washington 67th Legislature 2022 Regular Session By Senate Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators J.

Wilson)Wilson READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/07/22.01/19/22.

ANReferred ACT Relating to roadsideCommittee safetyon measures;Transportation.

amendingAN RCWACT 46.37.184,Relating 46.37.196,to roadside safety measures and 46.61.212;public awareness of emergency vehicles providing roadside assistance;

addingamending aRCW new46.61.212; section to chapter 46.08 RCW;

adding a new sectionsections to chapter 46.2046.61 RCW;

addingand acreating new sectionsections. to chapter 47.04 RCW;

creating new sections;

and providing effective dates.

RCW 46.37.184 and 1961 c 12 s 46.37.184 are each amended to read as follows:

All fire department vehicles in service shall be identified by red lights of an intermittent flashing type, visible from both front and rear for a distance of ((five hundred)) 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions.

Such red flashing lights shall be well separated from the headlights so that they will not black out when headlights are on.

Such red flashing lights shall be in operation at all times when such vehicle is on emergency status.

Fire department vehicles may also operate rear facing blue lights for use only at the scene of an emergency.

The combination of red and blue lights may be used only at the scene of an emergency.

p.

1 SSB 5907 Sec.

3.

RCW 46.37.196 and 1977 ex.s.

c 355 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:

All emergency tow trucks shall be identified by an intermittent or revolving red light capable of 360((°)) degree visibility at a distance of five hundred feet under normal atmospheric conditions.

((This intermittent or revolving red light shall be used only at the scene of an emergency or accident, and it will be unlawful to use such light while traveling to or from an emergency or accident, or for any other purposes.)) The emergency tow trucks may also operate rear facing blue lights for use only at the scene of an emergency or accident.

The red lights may be used when the tow truck is reentering the roadway from the scene of an emergency or accident for a reasonable distance to reach operating speed from the scene, and the combination of red and blue lights may be used only at the scene of an emergency or accident.

It is unlawful to use the combination of lights when traveling to or from the scene of an accident or for any other purpose.

Sec.

4.

(b) A tow truck that is making use of visual ((red))red lights meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.196;

(d)p. A police vehicle properly and lawfully displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating emergency light or lights;

1 SB 5907 (d) A police vehicle properly and lawfully displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating emergency light or lights;

p.(a) On a highway having four or more lanes, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, and, if the opportunity exists, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change or moving away from the lane or shoulder occupied by an emergency or work zone vehicle identified in subsection (1) of this section;

2 SSB 5907 (a) On a highway having four or more lanes, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, and, if the opportunity exists, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change or moving away from the lane or shoulder occupied by an emergency or work zone vehicle identified in subsection (1) of this section;

or (c) If changing lanes or moving away would be unsafe, proceed with due caution and continue to reduce the speed of the vehicle to at least ((ten)) 10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit,limit. except for when the posted speed limit exceeds 60 miles per hour or more, then reduce the speed of the vehicle to 50 miles per hour or lower.

(6) The department shall suspend for ((sixty)) 60 days the driver's license, permit to drive, or nonresident driving privilege of a person convicted of reckless endangerment of emergency or work zone workers.

NEW SECTION.

Sec.

5.

A new section is added to chapter 46.08 RCW to read as follows:

32 SSBSB 5907 (6) The department shall developsuspend anfor appropriate((sixty)) training60 moduledays relatingthe driver's license, permit to thedrive, requirementsor nonresident driving privilege of RCWa 46.61.212,person forconvicted inclusionof inreckless allendangerment newof driveremergency trainingor curricula.work zone workers.

6.3.

A new section is added to chapter 46.2046.61 RCW to read as follows: