CHAPTER 431 – OPERATION GENERALLY

431.01   Driving upon Right Side of Roadway; Exceptions

431.02   Passing to Right When Proceeding in Opposite Directions

431.03   Overtaking and Passing of Vehicles Proceeding in the Same Direction

431.04   Overtaking and Passing upon Right of Another Vehicle

431.05   Overtaking, Passing to Left of Center

431.06   Additional Restrictions on Driving upon Left Side of Roadway

431.07   Hazardous or No Passing Zones

431.08   Driving in Marked Lanes or Continuous Lines of Traffic

431.09   Space Between Moving Vehicles

431.10   Turning at Intersections

431.11   Turning into Private Driveway, Alley or Building

431.12   “U” Turns Restricted

431.13   Starting and Backing Vehicles

431.14   Signals Before Changing Course, Turning or Stopping

431.15   Hand and Arm Signals

431.16   Right-of-Way at Intersections

431.17   Right-of-Way When Turning Left

431.18   Operation of Vehicle at Yield Signs

431.19   Operation of Vehicle at Stop Signs

431.20   Emergency or Public Safety Vehicles at Stop Signals or Signs

431.21   Right-of-Way of Public Safety or Coroner's Vehicle

431.22   Right-of-Way at Highway from Any Place Other than Another Roadway; Duty to Yield

431.23   Driving onto Roadway from Place Other Than Roadway; Stopping at Sidewalk

431.24   Right-of-Way of Funeral Procession

431.25   Driver’s View and Control to be Unobstructed by Load or Persons

431.26   Driving upon Street Posted as Closed for Repair

431.27   Following and Parking Near Emergency or Safety Vehicles

431.28   Driving over Fire Hose

431.29   Driving Through Safety Zone

431.30   One-Way Streets and Rotary Traffic Islands

431.31   Driving upon Divided Roadways

431.32   Entering and Exiting Controlled-Access Highway

431.33   Obstructing Intersection, Crosswalk or Grade Crossing; Penalty

431.34   Failure to Control; Weaving; Full Time and Attention

431.35   Occupying a Moving Trailer or Manufactured Home

431.36   Squealing Tires, “Peeling,” Cracking Exhaust Noises

431.37   Driving upon Sidewalks, Street Lawns or Curbs

431.38   Stopping for School Bus; Discharging Children

431.39   Driving Across Grade Crossing

431.40   Stopping at Grade Crossing

431.41   Shortcutting at Intersections

431.42   Signs on Vehicles Selling Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts

431.43   Driving with Open Rear Hatch

431.44   Idle Reduction, Exemptions, Penalty

431.45   Operation of Low-Speed Vehicle

Cross-reference:
   Funeral processions on drawbridges, CO 577.11
   Intersections where right turns on red prohibited, CO 413.09, 413.10
   Motor vehicle operation at airports, CO 571.24 et seq.
   Obedience to traffic control devices, CO 413.01
   Operation of bicycles, motorcycles, and mobility devices, CO Ch. 473
   Regulations for motor vehicle operation in parks, CO 559.59

Statutory reference:
   See sectional histories for similar State law

§ 431.01 Driving upon Right Side of Roadway; Exceptions

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

      (1)   When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or when making a left turn under the rules governing those movements;

      (2)   When an obstruction exists 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 all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the highway within such distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;

      (3)   When driving upon a roadway divided into three (3) or more marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon;

      (4)   When driving upon a roadway designated and posted with signs for one (1) way traffic;

      (5)   When otherwise directed by a police officer or traffic control device.

   (b)   (1)   Upon all roadways any vehicle or trackless trolley proceeding at less than the prevailing and lawful speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, and far enough to the right to allow passing by faster vehicles if the passing is safe and reasonable, except under any of the following circumstances:

         A.   When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;

         B.   When preparing for a left turn;

         C.   When the driver must necessarily drive in a lane other than the right-hand lane to continue on the driver's intended route.

      (2)   Nothing in division (b)(1) of this section requires a driver of a slower vehicle to compromise the driver's safety to allow overtaking by a faster vehicle.

   (c)   Upon any roadway having four (4) or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two (2) way movement of traffic, no vehicle or trackless trolley shall be driven to the left of the centerline of the roadway, except when authorized by official traffic-control devices designating certain lanes to the left of the center of the roadway for use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use the lanes, or except as permitted under division (a)(2) of this section. This division shall not be construed as prohibiting the crossing of the centerline in making a left turn into or from an alley, private road or driveway.

(RC 4511.25; Ord. No. 1279-15. Passed 4-24-17, eff. 4-25-17)

§ 431.02 Passing to Right When Proceeding in Opposite Directions

   Operators of vehicles and trackless trolleys proceeding in opposite directions shall pass each other to the right, and upon roadways having width for not more than one (1) line of traffic in each direction, each operator shall give to the other one-half (1/2) of the main traveled portion of the roadway or as nearly one-half (1/2) as is reasonably possible.

(RC 4511.26; Ord. No. 1279-15. Passed 4-24-17, eff. 4-25-17)

§ 431.03 Overtaking and Passing of Vehicles Proceeding in the Same Direction

   (a)   The following rules govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles or trackless trolleys proceeding in the same direction:

      (1)   The operator of a vehicle or trackless trolley overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall, except as provided in division (a)(3) of this section, signal to the vehicle or trackless trolley to be overtaken, 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 or trackless trolley. When a motor vehicle or trackless trolley overtakes and passes a bicycle or mobility device, three (3) feet or greater is considered a safe passing distance.

      (2)   Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the operator of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle at the latter's audible signal, and the operator shall not increase the speed of the operator's vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

      (3)   The operator of a vehicle or trackless trolley overtaking and passing another vehicle or trackless trolley proceeding in the same direction on a divided highway as defined in Section 431.31, a limited access highway as defined in RC 5511.02 or a highway with four (4) or more traffic lanes, is not required to signal audibly to the vehicle being overtaken and passed.

   (b)   The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or mobility device proceeding in the same direction on a roadway shall leave a safe distance, but not less than three (3) feet, when passing the bicycle or mobility device and shall maintain that distance, and shall not increase the speed of his or her vehicle, until safely past the overtaken bicycle or mobility device. The same requirements shall apply to the operator of a commercial motor vehicle, commercial truck, commercial unit, or bus, except that the safe distance shall not be less than six (6) feet. However, in the case of a bus operated by a transit authority that has implemented a training program that promotes safe bus operation while overtaking a bicycle or mobility device, that safe distance shall be not less than three (3) feet.

   (c)   The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or mobility device proceeding in the same direction on a roadway shall vacate the lane in which the bicycle user is located if the roadway has two (2) or more marked lanes running in the same direction.

(Ord. No. 464-2019. Passed 6-3-19, eff. 7-5-19; Am. Ord. No. 396-2020. Passed 6-3-20, eff. 6-9-20)

Statutory reference:
   Similar State law, see RC 4511.27