KRS § 189.340 — KY Code / Title XVI / Chapter 189 / Section 189.340
189.340 Overtaking vehicles, bicycles, or electric low-speed scooters -- Traffic lanes -- Following vehicles -- Exemption for commercial motor vehicle platoon trailing vehicle
Status: in_force

189.340 Overtaking vehicles, bicycles, or electric low-speed scooters -- Traffic lanes

-- Following vehicles -- Exemption for commercial motor vehicle platoon

trailing vehicle.

(1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking other vehicles proceeding in the same direction

shall pass to the left of them and shall not again drive to the right until reasonably

clear of those vehicles. The driver of a vehicle overtaking streetcars may pass either

to the right or left when so directed by a police officer, when on a one (1) way street

or where the location of the tracks prevents compliance with this section, with

regard for other traffic.

(2) (a) The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or electric low-speed scooter

proceeding in the same direction shall:

1. If there is more than one (1) lane for traffic proceeding in the same

direction, move the vehicle to the immediate left, if the lane is available

and moving in the lane is reasonably safe; or

2. If there is only one (1) lane for traffic proceeding in the same direction,

pass to the left of the bicycle or electric low-speed scooter at a distance

of not less than three (3) feet between any portion of the vehicle and the

bicycle or electric low-speed scooter and maintain that distance until

safely past the overtaken bicycle or electric low-speed scooter. If space

on the roadway is not available to have a minimum distance of three (3)

feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or electric low-speed scooter,

then the driver of the passing vehicle shall use reasonable caution in

passing the bicyclist or electric low-speed scooter operator.

(b) The driver of a motor vehicle may drive to the left of the center of a roadway,

including when a no-passing zone is marked in accordance with subsection

(6) of this section, to pass a person operating a bicycle or electric low-speed

scooter only if the roadway to the left of the center is unobstructed for a

sufficient distance to permit the driver to pass the person operating the bicycle

or electric low-speed scooter safely and avoid interference with oncoming

traffic. This paragraph does not authorize driving on the left side of the center

of the roadway when otherwise prohibited under state law.

(c) The operator of a bicycle or electric low-speed scooter shall not ride more

than two (2) abreast on a single highway lane unless operating on any part of

the roadway marked exclusively for bicycle use. Persons riding two (2)

abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.

(3) The operator 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; or

(b) Upon a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two (2)

or more lines of vehicles moving lawfully in the direction being traveled by

the overtaking vehicle.

(4) The operator of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only

under conditions permitting the passing in safety, and not by driving off the

roadway unless the vehicle being passed is at a complete stop and the passing may

be made safely.

(5) A person shall not drive a vehicle 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 free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance

ahead to permit 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 two hundred (200) feet of any

vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.

(6) The commissioner of highways is hereby authorized to determine those portions of

any highway where overtaking and passing or driving to the left 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 signs or markings

are in place and clearly visible to an ordinarily observant person, every driver of a

vehicle shall obey the directions thereof, except as provided for in subsection (2)(b)

of this section.

(7) Whenever any roadway has been divided into three (3) or more clearly marked

lanes for travel in one (1) direction, the following additional rules shall apply:

(a) A person shall drive a vehicle as nearly as may be practical entirely within a

single lane and shall not move from that lane until the driver ascertains that

the movement can be made with safety;

(b) A person shall not drive a vehicle 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 a center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic

moving in the direction in which the vehicle is proceeding and is signposted

to give notice of the allocation;

(c) A person shall not operate a truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer in the leftmost

lane except when entering or leaving a highway, yielding to traffic coming

onto the highway, or when traffic conditions exist which would prohibit safe

use of the right or center lanes; and

(d) Official signs may be erected directing slow-moving traffic to use a

designated lane or allocating specified lanes to traffic moving in the same

direction and operators of vehicles shall obey the directions of these signs.

(8) On any limited access highway of four (4) lanes or more with a posted speed limit

of at least sixty-five (65) miles per hour, a person shall not operate a motor vehicle

in the leftmost lane, except when:

(a) Overtaking a slower vehicle;

(b) Yielding to traffic coming onto the highway; or

(c) Traffic or road conditions exist which would prohibit safe use of the right or

center lanes.

(9) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, the operator of a motor

vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and

prudent, having regard for the speed of the vehicle and the traffic upon and

condition of the highway.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, the operator of any

motor truck, semitrailer truck, bus, or heavy construction equipment unit,

when traveling upon a highway outside of a business or residential district,

shall not follow within two hundred fifty (250) feet of another vehicle or

equipment unit. This subsection shall not prevent overtaking and passing, nor

shall it apply to any lane specially designated for use of motor trucks or

semitrailer trucks, buses or heavy construction equipment units.

(c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection shall not apply to a trailing

commercial motor vehicle involved in a platoon as defined in KRS 281.010,

but shall apply to the commercial motor vehicle leading a platoon.