Section
General Provisions
72.001 Lanes of travel upon roadways
72.002 Driving through safety zone
72.003 Vehicles traveling in opposite directions
72.004 Rules governing overtaking and passing of vehicles
72.005 Permission to overtake and pass on the right
72.006 Driving to left of center line
72.007 Prohibition against driving upon left side of roadway
72.008 Hazardous zones
72.009 One-way highways and rotary traffic islands
72.010 Rules for driving in marked lanes
72.011 Space between moving vehicles
72.012 Divided roadways
72.013 Rules for turns at intersections
72.014 U-turns and turning in roadway prohibited
72.015 Starting and backing vehicles
72.016 Turn and stop signals
72.017 Hand and arm signals
Right-of-Way
72.030 Right-of-way at intersections
72.031 Right-of-way when turning left
72.032 Right-of-way at through highways; stop signs; yield signs
72.033 Stop at sidewalk area; stop signs on private roads and driveways
72.034 Right-of-way on public highway
72.035 Pedestrian on sidewalk has right-of-way
72.036 Right-of-way of public safety vehicles
72.037 Funeral procession has right-of-way
72.038 Pedestrians yield right-of-way to public safety vehicle
72.039 Pedestrian on crosswalk has right-of-way
72.040 Right-of-way yielded to blind person
72.041 Right-of-way yielded by pedestrian
Pedestrians
72.055 Pedestrian movement in crosswalks
72.056 Pedestrian walking along highway
72.057 Prohibition against soliciting rides; riding on outside of vehicle
72.058 Pedestrian on bridge or railroad crossing
72.059 Persons operating motorized wheelchairs
72.060 Intoxicated or drugged pedestrian hazard on highway
72.061 Operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices
72.062 Operation of personal delivery device on sidewalks and crosswalks
72.063 Low-speed micromobility devices
Grade Crossings
72.075 Stop signs at grade crossings
72.076 Driving vehicle across railroad grade crossing
72.077 Vehicles required to stop at grade crossings
72.078 Slow-moving vehicles or equipment crossing railroad tracks
School Buses
72.090 Regulations concerning school buses
72.091 Violation of regulations; report; investigation; citation; warning
72.092 Restrictions on the operation of school buses
72.093 School bus inspection
72.094 School bus not used for school purposes
72.095 Licensing by Department of Public Safety
72.096 Registration and identification of school buses
72.097 School bus marking
72.098 Flashing light signal lamps
72.099 Occupant restraining device for operator
Prohibitions
72.115 Obstruction and interference affecting view and control of driver
72.116 Occupying travel trailer, fifth wheel vehicle, or manufactured or mobile home while in motion
72.117 Driving upon closed highway prohibited
72.118 Driving upon sidewalk area or paths exclusively for bicycles
72.119 Obstructing passage of other vehicles
72.120 Following an emergency or public vehicle prohibited; approaching stationary public safety vehicle with caution
72.121 Driving over unprotected fire hose
72.122 Placing injurious material on highway or depositing litter from motor vehicle
72.123 Transporting child not in child-restraint system prohibited
72.124 Occupant restraining devices
72.125 Use of engine brakes prohibited
72.126 Operating motor vehicle while wearing earphones or earplugs
72.127 Chauffeured limousines and livery services
72.128 Operating traction engine upon improved highway
72.129 Cracking exhaust noises; peeling out
72.130 Shortcutting across private property
72.131 Texting while driving prohibited
72.132 Use of electronic wireless communication devices by minors or probationary drivers while driving prohibited
72.133 Truck routes
Statutory reference:
Notice of arrest of certain commercial drivers, see R.C. § 5577.14
GENERAL PROVISIONS
(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 such 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 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 such 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 center line 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 center line 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.
(E) 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 § 70.99(B).
(R.C. § 4511.25)
(A) No vehicle shall at any time be driven through or within a safety zone.
(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 § 70.99(B).
(R.C. § 4511.60)
(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 § 70.99(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 § 70.99(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 § 70.99(B).
(R.C. § 4511.28)
Loading...