House bill aims to revise careless driving laws

Representative Neil Duram, R-Eureka, has introduced a bill to revise careless driving laws and expand the circumstances in which careless driving laws can be applied.

According to a press release from Durham's office, House Bill 179 is sponsored by Rep. Duram, a recently retired Highway Patrol officer who can testify to the importance of protecting road crews, highway patrol trooper and countless others who are put at risk on a busy highway.

“We want our roads to be safer," Duram said. “So when we can pass laws that help drivers know what is safe, and what is careful, that is in our best interest.”

This bill revises an existing Montana law, which briefly states that a person operating a vehicle on a public highway should drive in a careful and prudent manner that does not unreasonably endanger the 'life, limb, property or rights of the person entitled to the use of the highway."

While this is valuable code to have, specifications are greatly needed. According to MHP fatality reports, between 2018-2020, there was a 40% increase in deaths related to speeding.

HB 179 states that careless driving includes passing any of the following listed at speeds higher than the posted limit.

Such examples include a vehicle on the shoulder flashing its hazards, a person on the road wearing high-visibility reflective material, as well as a person riding a bike on the shoulder in reflective material and displaying and displaying a flashing redlight.

"Each of us would all like to see ourselves as careful drivers” Duram said. “This bill describes three instances of what a careless driver is. When there's a hazard on the shoulder, in our proximity, a careful driver will not go speeding by that vehicle.”

The bill, which was assigned to the House Transportation Committee, had its first hearing Jan. 13.