California Auto Association Denounces Wide Load Bill

07/08/96

Press Release from the CSAA:

'WIDE LOADS' BILL THREATENS MOTORIST SAFETY, SAYS CSAA

SAN FRANCISCO, July 5 -- California drivers may soon be
forced to share the road with wider commercial truck loads.

A bill allowing 16-foot-wide manufactured homes on California
highways faces its final legislative hurdle next week in the California
Senate.  AB 420 by Assemblyman Ted Weggeland (R-Riverside) already has
been approved by the state Assembly.

Current law restricts manufactured homes transported on California
roads to a maximum width of 14 feet.  A 16-foot-wide manufactured
housing unit with proper side-view mirrors would occupy 18 feet in total
width -- virtually taking up two standard traffic lanes.

"On roads with only two traffic lanes, 16-foot-wide loads would
prevent normal traffic flow," said CSAA spokesman Barry Shiller.  "That
doesn't take into account the difficulty of maneuvering wide loads
around turns and other challenging road conditions.  We believe that's
bad for highway safety."

Most traffic lanes in California are 12 feet wide, but some are as
narrow as nine feet.  The bill requires permits to be issued for
transporting these units but does not limit their number.