Passing and Freeways

Passing Rules

Passing is one of the most dangerous things you do on an ordinary road. Pass only when it is necessary, legal and safe, all three.

When you may pass

• The centerline is a dashed yellow line, or a solid-and-dashed pair with the dashed line on your side.
• There is no "No Passing" sign or yellow pennant.
• You can see far enough ahead to complete the pass and return to your lane before meeting oncoming traffic.
• You do not exceed the speed limit while passing. The limit does not relax because you are overtaking.

When you may not pass

• On double solid yellow lines, or when the solid line is on your side.
• Approaching the crest of a hill or a curve where you cannot see oncoming traffic.
• Within 100 feet of, or while crossing, an intersection or railroad crossing.
• On bridges, in tunnels or on overpasses where the view is obstructed.
• When the vehicle ahead is stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian. Never pass a car stopped for a pedestrian; the person you cannot see may step out in front of you.
• A school bus with flashing red lights, from either direction.
• On the shoulder, ever.

How to pass

1. Check your mirrors, look over your shoulder at your blind zone, and signal left.
2. Accelerate smoothly and pass on the left. Do not linger beside the other vehicle.
3. When you can see both headlights of the vehicle you passed in your rearview mirror, signal right and return to your lane.
4. Do not slow down right after passing. It is one of the most common provocations on the road and it is dangerous.

Passing on the right is allowed only in two cases: the vehicle ahead is turning left and there is enough paved road to its right, or the road has two or more lanes in your direction. Never drive onto the shoulder to pass on the right.

When you are being passed: hold your speed or slow slightly, keep right, and leave room for the other driver to return. Speeding up to block a pass is illegal and dangerous.

Passing bicyclists and farm vehicles: with two lanes in your direction, move over a full lane; with one lane each way, wait until there is no oncoming traffic and leave at least 3 feet between the widest part of your vehicle and the bicyclist or farm vehicle. Never cross into oncoming traffic to pass a bicyclist. Make sure you are fully past before returning, and do not pass a bicyclist just before a right turn.

Entering and Leaving the Freeway

Entering

• If the ramp has a ramp meter, stop at the white line on red and go on green, usually one vehicle at a time.
• Use the whole acceleration lane to bring your speed close to the flow of traffic, signal left, check your mirrors and blind zone, and merge into a gap that is large enough.
• Traffic on the freeway has the right-of-way. If the gap is too small, adjust your speed up or down. Do not stop on the ramp unless there is truly no gap.
• When merging in front of a large truck, wait until you can see both of its headlights in your rearview mirror before pulling in, then keep up with traffic.

Exiting

• Read the signs early and move into the exit lane early. A lane marked EXIT ONLY must leave the freeway.
• Signal right and slow down only after you are in the deceleration lane, not on the main roadway.
• Watch for advisory speed plates on the ramp; ramp curves are often sharper than they look.
• If you miss your exit, continue to the next one. Backing up on the freeway or shoulder, or U-turning across the median, is illegal and extremely dangerous.

Never

• Stop in a travel lane. If your vehicle has trouble, get it off the road onto the shoulder and turn on your hazards.
• Park on a freeway shoulder except in an emergency.
• Hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers on a Washington freeway. It is illegal.

Driving on the Freeway

Lane choice: drive on the right and keep right except to pass, returning to the right lane after each pass. The left lane is not a "fast lane," and camping in it while blocking traffic behind you is also a violation. The carpool lane is not a passing lane.

Speed: the default freeway limit is 60 mph, with some segments posted at 70. Watch for variable speed limit signs; the number on the electronic sign changes with traffic and weather and is enforceable. Keep roughly to the speed of traffic; both too fast and too slow create hazards.

Around large vehicles

• Blind zones: if you cannot see the driver in the truck's mirror, the driver cannot see you. Trucks have large blind zones on all four sides, so do not ride beside one.
• Stopping distance: a loaded truck at 55 mph needs 450 feet to stop. Cutting in front of one is dangerous for everyone.
• Following: leave extra room behind a truck so you can see the road ahead.
• Turning: trucks may need more than one lane to turn and two lanes in a roundabout. Never pass a truck while it is turning; it is one of the most common causes of crashes involving large vehicles.
• Hazardous materials: avoid driving near vehicles with hazardous materials placards when you can.
• Long, steep grades: trucks are slow going up and down. Expect slow vehicles in the right lane.
• Snowplows: a plow throws snow off the road and can create blizzard conditions for anyone following too closely.

Stay alert: on long trips plan a stop every 100 miles or 2 hours. Not remembering the last few miles, blinking often or hitting the rumble strip are fatigue signals; stop at the next rest area or exit.

Mile markers: the small green signs tell you where you are. If you break down or see a crash, giving the route number and mile marker helps responders find you fast.