Can You Pass On The Right Legally In Montana?
Tourist season is firing up here in Montana, and soon enough construction season might congest roadways for people trying to get to where they are going.
Once you are out of that, it's a mad dash to the front of the wolf pack to try and stay out of a random highway traffic jam that might happen in the not too distant future. You might use any means necessary to get ahead which may include thinking of using the right hand lane to pass traffic and what i was wondering whether it was legal to pass someone in the right lane.
READ MORE: Lane Filtering in Montana
Normally the left lane in the area where someone is permitted to pass slow traffic and and get ahead. But what's the ruling on the right lane? What if at some point everyone is in the left lane and you are not the slow one at this point?
There is in fact something on the books in Montana for traffic laws.
According to Montana Code Annotated 61-8-324 says YES, but there are certain ways you can do so legally and safely.
61-8-324. Overtaking vehicle on right. (1) The operator of a vehicle may overtake and pass on 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) on a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lanes of vehicles moving lawfully in the direction being traveled by the overtaking vehicle.
(2) The operator of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle on the right only under conditions permitting safe movement. The movement may not be made by driving off the pavement or main-traveled portion of the roadway, except that a person operating a bicycle may pass on the shoulder, provided the movement may be done in safety.
With these laws in place one can in fact pass on the right if it's needed, but just stay safe out there on your road trip this summer.
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