189.340 Overtaking vehicles, bicycles, or electric low-speed scooters -- Traffic lanes
1,173 words·~5 min read·
/ky/189-340A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
-- Following vehicles -- Exemption for commercial motor vehicle platoon
trailing vehicle.
(1)The driver of a vehicle overtaking other vehicles proceeding in the same direction
shall pass to the left of them and shall not again drive to the right until reasonably
clear of those vehicles. The driver of a vehicle overtaking streetcars may pass either
to the right or left when so directed by a police officer, when on a one
(1)way street
or where the location of the tracks prevents compliance with this section, with
regard for other traffic.
(a)The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or electric low-speed scooter
proceeding in the same direction shall:
1. If there is more than one
(1)lane for traffic proceeding in the same
direction, move the vehicle to the immediate left, if the lane is available
and moving in the lane is reasonably safe; or
2. If there is only one
(1)lane for traffic proceeding in the same direction,
pass to the left of the bicycle or electric low-speed scooter at a distance
of not less than three
(3)feet between any portion of the vehicle and the
bicycle or electric low-speed scooter and maintain that distance until
safely past the overtaken bicycle or electric low-speed scooter. If space
on the roadway is not available to have a minimum distance of three
feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or electric low-speed scooter,
then the driver of the passing vehicle shall use reasonable caution in
passing the bicyclist or electric low-speed scooter operator.
(b)The driver of a motor vehicle may drive to the left of the center of a roadway,
including when a no-passing zone is marked in accordance with subsection
(6)of this section, to pass a person operating a bicycle or electric low-speed
scooter only if the roadway to the left of the center is unobstructed for a
sufficient distance to permit the driver to pass the person operating the bicycle
or electric low-speed scooter safely and avoid interference with oncoming
traffic. This paragraph does not authorize driving on the left side of the center
of the roadway when otherwise prohibited under state law.
(c)The operator of a bicycle or electric low-speed scooter shall not ride more
than two
(2)abreast on a single highway lane unless operating on any part of
the roadway marked exclusively for bicycle use. Persons riding two
abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.
(3)The operator of a vehicle may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle
only under the following conditions:
(a)When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn; or
(b)Upon a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two
or more lines of vehicles moving lawfully in the direction being traveled by
the overtaking vehicle.
(4)The operator of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only
under conditions permitting the passing in safety, and not by driving off the
roadway unless the vehicle being passed is at a complete stop and the passing may
be made safely.
(5)A person shall not drive a vehicle to the left side of the center of the roadway in
overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless the
left side is clearly visible and free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance
ahead to permit overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering
with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction or
any vehicle overtaken. In every event, the overtaking vehicle must return to the
right-hand side of the roadway before coming within two hundred
(200)feet of any
vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.
(6)The commissioner of highways is hereby authorized to determine those portions of
any highway where overtaking and passing or driving to the left of the roadway
would be especially hazardous and may by appropriate signs or markings on the
roadway indicate the beginning and end of the zones, and when signs or markings
are in place and clearly visible to an ordinarily observant person, every driver of a
vehicle shall obey the directions thereof, except as provided for in subsection (2)(b)
of this section.
(7)Whenever any roadway has been divided into three
(3)or more clearly marked
lanes for travel in one
(1)direction, the following additional rules shall apply:
(a)A person shall drive a vehicle as nearly as may be practical entirely within a
single lane and shall not move from that lane until the driver ascertains that
the movement can be made with safety;
(b)A person shall not drive a vehicle in the center lane except when overtaking
and passing another vehicle where the roadway is clearly visible and the
center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in preparation for a left
turn or where a center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic
moving in the direction in which the vehicle is proceeding and is signposted
to give notice of the allocation;
(c)A person shall not operate a truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer in the leftmost
lane except when entering or leaving a highway, yielding to traffic coming
onto the highway, or when traffic conditions exist which would prohibit safe
use of the right or center lanes; and
(d)Official signs may be erected directing slow-moving traffic to use a
designated lane or allocating specified lanes to traffic moving in the same
direction and operators of vehicles shall obey the directions of these signs.
(8)On any limited access highway of four
(4)lanes or more with a posted speed limit
of at least sixty-five
(65)miles per hour, a person shall not operate a motor vehicle
in the leftmost lane, except when:
(a)Overtaking a slower vehicle;
(b)Yielding to traffic coming onto the highway; or
(c)Traffic or road conditions exist which would prohibit safe use of the right or
center lanes.
(a)Except as provided in paragraph
(c)of this subsection, the operator of a motor
vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and
prudent, having regard for the speed of the vehicle and the traffic upon and
condition of the highway.
(b)Except as provided in paragraph
(c)of this subsection, the operator of any
motor truck, semitrailer truck, bus, or heavy construction equipment unit,
when traveling upon a highway outside of a business or residential district,
shall not follow within two hundred fifty
(250)feet of another vehicle or
equipment unit. This subsection shall not prevent overtaking and passing, nor
shall it apply to any lane specially designated for use of motor trucks or
semitrailer trucks, buses or heavy construction equipment units.
(c)Paragraphs
(a)and
(b)of this subsection shall not apply to a trailing
commercial motor vehicle involved in a platoon as defined in KRS 281.010,
but shall apply to the commercial motor vehicle leading a platoon.