In the case of overtaking and overtaking traffic, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of the centre of the road unless this left side is clearly visible and free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance to permit complete overtaking and overtaking without compromising the safety of traffic coming from the opposite direction or overtaking. The driver of a vehicle passing on a shared highway, a restricted highway or a highway with four or more lanes and passing another vehicle in the same direction is not required to give an audible signal to the overtaken and passed vehicle. According to the new version of the ORC § 4511.27, the “safe passing distance” is explicitly defined as “not less than three feet”, but it is important that no maximum distance is set, so if you want to leave more than three feet. Violation of this 3-foot minimum will result in a minor infraction. The relevant part of the new law reads as follows: In all cases, the passing vehicle must return to an approved lane as soon as possible, and if the passing involves the use of an approved lane for oncoming traffic before approaching an approaching vehicle. Section 4511.27 of the Revised Ohio Code requires a driver passing another vehicle to signal the vehicle to be passed, must pass at a safe distance to the left of the vehicle, and must not return to the right side of the lane until the vehicle is safely abandoned. Except where overtaking and overtaking from the right are permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall, at the audible signal of the vehicle being overtaken, move to the right in favour of the vehicle passing him and the driver shall not increase the speed of the vehicle until the vehicle which has completely overtaken the vehicle. Of course, this would have to be harmonized with existing provisions of the revised Ohio Passport Code and other applicable laws, but it would explicitly create a different exception from the current “half-speed limit” standard. This would reduce driver frustration by giving them the opportunity to use common sense while respecting the limits of the law. Which we always want everyone to do. “If a motor vehicle or tracked streetcar passes a bicycle, the safe passing distance to the left shall not be less than three feet.” Some cycling supporters are already aware of this problem and suggest the following wording (or a variation of it) to change the law. Here is a possible modern exception: “The Ministry of Transportation may determine the parts of a national highway where passing and passing other vehicles or driving on the left side of the center or center line of the highway would be particularly dangerous, and may indicate the beginning and end of such areas by appropriate signs or markings on the highway.

When such signs or markings are affixed and clearly visible, any driver of a vehicle or tram without leaving a trace must follow the instructions given on the signs or markings. Basically, this means that authorities are not allowed to set up passing zones and you have to follow them when driving. This is the general rule that everyone knows, but it does not stop there. There are exceptions that allow you to cross a double yellow line to pass a slower vehicle. The section of the code that allows: “When passing a pedestrian, bicycle, tractor or other slow-moving vehicle, the driver of a vehicle may drive on the left side of the centre of a lane in a no-passing zone if such movement can be made safely and without disturbing or endangering other vehicles on the road. According to section 4511.29, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of the centre of the roadway when overtaking and passing in the same direction, unless the left side is clearly visible and free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance to permit such overtaking and complete overtaking without endangering the safety of traffic coming from the opposite direction or overtaking. The passing vehicle shall return to an approved lane as soon as possible and if overtaking requires the use of an approved lane for oncoming traffic before approaching an approaching vehicle. passing another vehicle with a clearly visible carriageway and centre (B)(1) On all carriageways, tracked vehicles or trams travelling at a speed lower than the speed in force and legal at the time, place and under the conditions in force shall be transported in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, and right enough to allow faster vehicles to overtake if that overtaking speed is safe and reasonable [emphasis added, drivers need to be a little more patient or risk not only hurting someone (or worse), but also breaking the law. The exception for slow speeds in § 4511.31(B) is not designed to be specific to the bicycle and therefore does not always resolve overtaking conflicts. Yes, the slow speed exception certainly helps alleviate some conflicts, as there are many cyclists who ride at 12-15 mph on local roads with a speed limit of 25 mph or 30 MPH, but there are many other cyclists who regularly ride at 18-22 mph (or more) on similar roads. This hypothetical assumption of a no-passing zone on a road with a high enough speed that a cyclist is less likely to reach half the indicated speed (such as a 40 mph or 50 mph road).

This assumption is less common than the first, as cyclists usually prefer slow roads, but especially in rural areas it is not always an option. Due to the higher speed limits often found on country roads, no-passing zones are more common. What should you do? To legally pass another vehicle in Ohio, you must signal and then pass the other driver on the left. The law also prohibits cutting off the other vehicle, so you must fill out the passport before returning to the right. If you pass a bike, you must leave a distance of at least three meters between your car and the cyclist. [This] new version of section 4511.25 of the bill retains the previous requirement that vehicles generally be driven on the right half of a roadway, but includes an additional requirement that vehicles travelling at lower than normal speeds be driven in the right lane or as close as possible to the curb or right edge of the roadway: except when overtaking or turning left. (1975 Ohio Legis. Serv.) This type of vagueness or ambiguity is common in legislation and reflects the nature of the legislative process. Think.

When writing a hypothetical highway code, passing someone at a “safe distance” seems like perfectly reasonable language. But this does not take into account the interpretation of “safe” by some people and, as a result, the people in the cars were intentionally or accidentally driven too close to the cyclists, which is extremely dangerous. The good news is that it was a simple solution, Ohio House Bill 154 inserted the following wording in Ohio Revised Code § 4511.27: When you put it all together, most people want to know how to pass a cyclist safely and legally. Here are three common scenarios and how I recommend you negotiate them. This situation occurs in places that have a speed limit of 30 miles per hour and a continuous double yellow line.