TITLE FIVE: VEHICLES
Section
331.01 Driving upon right side of roadway; exceptions
331.02 Passing to right when proceeding in opposite directions
331.03 Overtaking, passing to left; driver’s duties
331.04 Overtaking, passing to right of vehicle
331.05 Overtaking, passing to left of centerline
331.06 Driving upon left side of roadway
331.07 Hazardous or no passing zones
331.08 Driving within lanes or continuous lines of traffic
331.09 Following too closely
331.10 Turning at intersections
331.11 Turning into private driveway, alley or building
331.12 “U” turns restricted
331.13 Starting and backing vehicles
331.14 Signals before changing course, turning or stopping
331.15 Hand and arm signals
331.16 Right-of-way at intersections
331.17 Right-of-way when turning left
331.18 Operation of vehicle at stop and yield signs
331.19 Operation of vehicle at stop signs (Recodified)
331.20 Emergency or public safety vehicles at stop signals or signs
331.21 Right-of-way of public safety or coroner’s vehicle
331.22 Driving onto roadway from place other than roadway; duty to yield
331.23 Driving onto roadway from place other than roadway; stopping at sidewalk
331.24 Right-of-way of funeral procession
331.25 Driver’s view and control to be unobstructed by load or persons
331.26 Driving upon street posted as closed for repair
331.27 Following and parking near emergency or safety vehicles
331.28 Driving over fire hose
331.29 Driving through safety zone
331.30 One-way streets and rotary traffic islands
331.31 Driving upon divided roadways
331.32 Entering and exiting controlled-access highway
331.33 Obstructing intersection, crosswalk or grade crossings
331.34 Weaving; full time and attention
331.35 Occupying travel trailer, fifth wheel vehicle, or manufactured or mobile home while in motion
331.36 “Peeling;” cracking exhaust noises
331.37 Driving upon sidewalks, street lawns or curbs
331.38 Stopping for school bus; actuating visual signals; discharging children
331.39 Driving across grade crossings
331.40 Stopping at grade crossings
331.41 Quiet zones
331.42 Shortcutting, evading traffic-control signal or device
331.43 Littering from motor vehicles
331.44 Use of earphones while driving
331.45 Stop signs on private roads and driveways
331.46 Slow-moving vehicles or equipment at grade crossings
331.47 Texting while driving prohibited
331.48 Use of electronic wireless communication devices by minors or probationary drivers while driving prohibited
331.99 Penalty
Cross-reference:
Obedience to traffic-control devices, see § 313.01
Operation of bicycles and motorcycles, see §§ 373.01 et seq.
Statutory reference:
School bus operation, see O.A.C. Ch. 4501-3
(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 the distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;
(3) When driving upon a roadway divided into three or more marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon;
(4) When driving upon a roadway designated and posted with signs for one-way traffic;
(5) When otherwise directed by a police officer or traffic-control device.
(b) (1) Upon all roadways any vehicle 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 or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two-way movement of traffic, no vehicle 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.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(c) If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under § 303.99(b).
(R.C. § 4511.25)
(a) Operators of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions shall pass each other to the right, and upon roadways having width for not more than one line of traffic in each direction, each operator shall give to the other one-half of the main traveled portion of the roadway or as nearly one-half as is reasonably possible.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(c) If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under § 303.99(b).
(R.C. § 4511.26)
(a) The following rules govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction:
(1) The operator of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall, except as provided in division (a)(3) of this section, signal to the vehicle 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. When a motor vehicle overtakes and passes a bicycle or electric bicycle, three 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 overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction on a divided highway as defined in R.C. § 4511.35, a limited access highway as defined in R.C. § 5511.02, or a highway with four or more traffic lanes is not required to signal audibly to the vehicle being overtaken and passed.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(c) If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under § 303.99(b).
(R.C. § 4511.27)
(a) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass on the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions:
(1) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn; or
(2) Upon a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of vehicles moving lawfully in the direction being traveled by the overtaking vehicle.
(b) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle only under conditions permitting the movement in safety. The movement shall not be made by driving off the roadway.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(d) If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under § 303.99(b).
(R.C. § 4511.28)
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