(A) Drive on right side of roadway. Exception: upon all roadways to driver of a vehicle shall drive upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:
(1) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing that movement;
(2) When the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic while under construction or repair;
(3) Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon; or
(4) Upon a roadway designated and signposted for one-way traffic.
(B) Passing vehicles proceeding in opposite directions. Drivers of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions shall pass each other to the right and upon the roadways having width for not more than one line of traffic in each direction. Each driver shall give to the other at least one-half of the main traveled portion of the roadway as nearly as possible.
(C) Overtaking a vehicle on the left. The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions and special rules hereinafter stated:
(1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; and
(2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give away the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal and shall not increase the speed of his or her vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.
(D) When overtaking on the right is permitted.
(1) The driver 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;
(b) Upon a street or highway with unobstructed pavement not occupied by parked vehicles of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles in each direction; or
(c) Upon a one-way street, or upon any roadway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement, when the roadway is free from obstruction and of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles.
(2) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions permitting the movement in safety. In no event shall the movement be made by driving off the pavement or main traveled portion of the roadway.
(E) Limitations on overtaking on the left. No vehicle shall be driven 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 is free of oncoming traffic for sufficient distance ahead to permit the 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 100 feet of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.
(F) Further limitations on driving to left of center of roadway.
(1) No vehicle shall at any time be driven to the left side of the roadway under the following conditions:
(a) Where sight restriction is such that the section of highway being traversed lies within a no-passing zone as determined and marked in accordance with division (G) below;
(b) When approaching within 100 feet of any bridge, viaduct or tunnel; or
(b) Within 100 feet of an intersection.
(2) The foregoing limitations shall not apply upon a one-way roadway.
(G) No passing zone. The City Council of the City of Canton are hereby authorized to determine by resolution those portions of any highway in the city limits of the City of Canton where overtaking and passing or driving on the left side 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 the signs or markings are in place and clearly visible to any ordinarily observant person every driver of a vehicle shall obey the directions thereof.
(H) One-way roadways and rotary traffic islands.
(1) The City Council of the City of Canton may designate any highway or any separate roadway under its jurisdiction for one-way traffic and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof.
(2) Upon a roadway designated and signposted for one-way traffic the driver of a vehicle shall drive only in the direction designated.
(3) The driver of a vehicle passing around a rotary traffic island shall drive only to the right of the island.
(I) Driving on roadways laned for traffic. Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic the following rules in addition to all others consistent herewith shall apply:
(1) The driver of a vehicle shall drive as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from that lane until the driver has first ascertained that the movement can be made with safety;
(2) Upon a roadway which is divided into three lanes the driver of a vehicle shall not drive 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 the center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is signposted to give notice of the allocation; and
(3) Official signs may be erected directing slow moving traffic to use a designated lane or designating those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction regardless, of the center of the roadway and drivers of vehicles shall obey the direction of every such sign.
(J) Following too closely. The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of the vehicles and the traffic upon and the conditions of the highway.
(K) Driving on divided highways. Whenever any highway has been divided into two roadways by leaving an intervening space or by a physical barrier or clearly indicated driving section so constructed as to impede vehicular, traffic, every vehicle shall be driven only upon the right hand roadway and no vehicle shall be driven over, across or within any such dividing space, barrier or section, except through an opening in the physical barrier or dividing section or space or at a crossover intersection established by public authority.
(Ord. 64-12, passed 12-21-1964)