State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > North-carolina > Chapter_20 > GS_20-146

§ 20‑146.  Drive onright side of highway; exceptions.

(a)        Upon all highwaysof sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of thehighway except as follows:

(1)        When overtaking andpassing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rulesgoverning such movement;

(2)        When an obstructionexists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the highway;provided, any person so doing shall yield the right‑of‑way to allvehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of thehighway within such distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;

(3)        Upon a highwaydivided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon;or

(4)        Upon a highwaydesignated and signposted for one‑way traffic.

(b)        Upon all highwaysany vehicle proceeding at less than the legal maximum speed limit shall bedriven in the right‑hand lane then available for thru traffic, or asclose as practicable to the right‑hand curb or edge of the highway,except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the samedirection or when preparing for a left turn.

(c)        Upon any highwayhaving four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two‑waymovement of traffic, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of the centerlineof the highway, except when authorized by official traffic‑controldevices designating certain lanes to the left side of the center of the highwayfor use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such lanes or except aspermitted under subsection (a)(2) hereof.

(d)        Whenever any streethas been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, thefollowing rules in addition to all others consistent herewith shall apply.

(1)        A vehicle shall bedriven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not bemoved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movementcan be made with safety.

(2)        Upon a street whichis divided into three or more lanes and provides for the two‑way movementof traffic, a vehicle shall not be driven in the center lane except whenovertaking and passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction whensuch center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in thepreparation for making a left turn or where such center lane is at the timeallocated exclusively to traffic moving in the same direction that the vehicleis proceeding and such allocation is designated by official traffic‑controldevice.

(3)        Official traffic‑controldevices may be erected directing specified traffic to use a designated lane ordesignating those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular directionregardless of the center of the street and drivers of vehicles shall obey thedirection of every such device.

(4)        Official traffic‑controldevices may be installed prohibiting the changing of lanes on sections ofstreets, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of every suchdevice.

(e)        Notwithstanding anyother provisions of this section, when appropriate signs have been posted, itshall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle over and upon theinside lane, next to the median of any dual‑lane highway at a speed lessthan the posted speed limit when the operation of said motor vehicle over andupon said inside lane shall impede the steady flow of traffic except whenpreparing for a left turn. "Appropriate signs" as used herein shallbe construed as including "Slower Traffic Keep Right" or designationsof similar import. (1937,c. 407, s. 108; 1965, c. 678, s. 2; 1973, c. 1330, s. 3; 1975, c. 593; 1985, c.764, s. 25; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 852, s. 17; 2001‑487, s. 11.)

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > North-carolina > Chapter_20 > GS_20-146

§ 20‑146.  Drive onright side of highway; exceptions.

(a)        Upon all highwaysof sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of thehighway except as follows:

(1)        When overtaking andpassing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rulesgoverning such movement;

(2)        When an obstructionexists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the highway;provided, any person so doing shall yield the right‑of‑way to allvehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of thehighway within such distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;

(3)        Upon a highwaydivided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon;or

(4)        Upon a highwaydesignated and signposted for one‑way traffic.

(b)        Upon all highwaysany vehicle proceeding at less than the legal maximum speed limit shall bedriven in the right‑hand lane then available for thru traffic, or asclose as practicable to the right‑hand curb or edge of the highway,except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the samedirection or when preparing for a left turn.

(c)        Upon any highwayhaving four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two‑waymovement of traffic, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of the centerlineof the highway, except when authorized by official traffic‑controldevices designating certain lanes to the left side of the center of the highwayfor use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such lanes or except aspermitted under subsection (a)(2) hereof.

(d)        Whenever any streethas been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, thefollowing rules in addition to all others consistent herewith shall apply.

(1)        A vehicle shall bedriven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not bemoved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movementcan be made with safety.

(2)        Upon a street whichis divided into three or more lanes and provides for the two‑way movementof traffic, a vehicle shall not be driven in the center lane except whenovertaking and passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction whensuch center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in thepreparation for making a left turn or where such center lane is at the timeallocated exclusively to traffic moving in the same direction that the vehicleis proceeding and such allocation is designated by official traffic‑controldevice.

(3)        Official traffic‑controldevices may be erected directing specified traffic to use a designated lane ordesignating those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular directionregardless of the center of the street and drivers of vehicles shall obey thedirection of every such device.

(4)        Official traffic‑controldevices may be installed prohibiting the changing of lanes on sections ofstreets, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of every suchdevice.

(e)        Notwithstanding anyother provisions of this section, when appropriate signs have been posted, itshall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle over and upon theinside lane, next to the median of any dual‑lane highway at a speed lessthan the posted speed limit when the operation of said motor vehicle over andupon said inside lane shall impede the steady flow of traffic except whenpreparing for a left turn. "Appropriate signs" as used herein shallbe construed as including "Slower Traffic Keep Right" or designationsof similar import. (1937,c. 407, s. 108; 1965, c. 678, s. 2; 1973, c. 1330, s. 3; 1975, c. 593; 1985, c.764, s. 25; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 852, s. 17; 2001‑487, s. 11.)


State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > North-carolina > Chapter_20 > GS_20-146

§ 20‑146.  Drive onright side of highway; exceptions.

(a)        Upon all highwaysof sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of thehighway except as follows:

(1)        When overtaking andpassing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rulesgoverning such movement;

(2)        When an obstructionexists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the highway;provided, any person so doing shall yield the right‑of‑way to allvehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of thehighway within such distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;

(3)        Upon a highwaydivided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon;or

(4)        Upon a highwaydesignated and signposted for one‑way traffic.

(b)        Upon all highwaysany vehicle proceeding at less than the legal maximum speed limit shall bedriven in the right‑hand lane then available for thru traffic, or asclose as practicable to the right‑hand curb or edge of the highway,except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the samedirection or when preparing for a left turn.

(c)        Upon any highwayhaving four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two‑waymovement of traffic, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of the centerlineof the highway, except when authorized by official traffic‑controldevices designating certain lanes to the left side of the center of the highwayfor use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such lanes or except aspermitted under subsection (a)(2) hereof.

(d)        Whenever any streethas been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, thefollowing rules in addition to all others consistent herewith shall apply.

(1)        A vehicle shall bedriven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not bemoved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movementcan be made with safety.

(2)        Upon a street whichis divided into three or more lanes and provides for the two‑way movementof traffic, a vehicle shall not be driven in the center lane except whenovertaking and passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction whensuch center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in thepreparation for making a left turn or where such center lane is at the timeallocated exclusively to traffic moving in the same direction that the vehicleis proceeding and such allocation is designated by official traffic‑controldevice.

(3)        Official traffic‑controldevices may be erected directing specified traffic to use a designated lane ordesignating those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular directionregardless of the center of the street and drivers of vehicles shall obey thedirection of every such device.

(4)        Official traffic‑controldevices may be installed prohibiting the changing of lanes on sections ofstreets, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of every suchdevice.

(e)        Notwithstanding anyother provisions of this section, when appropriate signs have been posted, itshall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle over and upon theinside lane, next to the median of any dual‑lane highway at a speed lessthan the posted speed limit when the operation of said motor vehicle over andupon said inside lane shall impede the steady flow of traffic except whenpreparing for a left turn. "Appropriate signs" as used herein shallbe construed as including "Slower Traffic Keep Right" or designationsof similar import. (1937,c. 407, s. 108; 1965, c. 678, s. 2; 1973, c. 1330, s. 3; 1975, c. 593; 1985, c.764, s. 25; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 852, s. 17; 2001‑487, s. 11.)