(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
Similar State law, see RC 4511.27