Can you pass on the left in a no-passing zone in Texas?
You are stuck behind a slow truck on a curving two-lane road with double yellow center lines. May you cross them to pass?
The answer
No. A driver may not drive on the left side of the roadway in a no-passing zone, or on the left side of pavement striping that marks one.
The state transportation commission and local authorities may mark the start and end of no-passing zones on hazardous stretches with signs or markings. The rule applies when those are in place and clearly visible to an ordinarily observant person.
Exceptions
- You may cross the striping to make a left turn into or out of an alley, private road or driveway.
- In a zone marked only by signs, with no striping, you may cross the center line for the same kind of left turn.
Why this rule matters for safety
No-passing zones mark stretches the state or a local authority has found especially hazardous for passing, such as curves and hills.
Official sources
- Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 545 (Operation and Movement of Vehicles) · Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes system)Sec. 545.055, passing to the left; passing zones. The PDF shows no publication date.
Rules checked against these sources on . Laws change. Confirm with the Texas agency before you rely on this for a legal matter.
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