Passing on the right — Tennessee Permit Test

Passing on the right is never permitted by driving off the pavement.

Drivers ahead do not look for a car on the shoulder and may turn or pull off right into it.

Passing on the right is never permitted by driving off the pavement of the roadway.

You may pass on the right when the vehicle ahead has signaled or is about to make a left turn; never pass on the left of a driver signaling a left turn.

Passing on the left of a left-turning car puts you right where it is about to turn.

When the vehicle overtaken has signaled to make or is about to make a left turn.

You may pass on the right on an unobstructed road wide enough for two or more lanes of moving traffic in each direction.

With two lanes your way, the right lane is a real travel lane, not a squeeze past a car.

When the driver is on a street or highway with unobstructed pavement, not occupied by parked vehicles, and such paved roadway is of sufficient width for two or more lanes of moving vehicles in each direction.

You may pass on the right on an unobstructed one-way street paved for two or more lanes, but use extra care because drivers may not expect it.

Drivers often look only to their left for passing cars, so they may drift right without seeing you.

Use extra care when you pass on the right.

Do not pass on the right using a bike lane or parking lane, or in the emergency lane within sight of a traffic light or stop sign.

A bike lane may have a rider in it, and a car ahead may turn right across it when the light changes.

Do NOT pass on the right using a bike lane or parking lane at any location, nor in the emergency lane within sight of a traffic light or stop sign.

If you pass on the right and a car properly turning right from its lane hits you, you are at fault.

The turning driver was in the lane and doing nothing wrong. You were the one somewhere you should not be.

The person passing on the right will be “at fault” because the vehicle turning right was properly traveling within the marked lane of traffic.

May you pass on the right by driving off the pavement?

No, that is never permitted. Drivers ahead do not look for a car on the shoulder and may turn or pull off right into it. Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.62: “Passing on the right is never permitted by driving off the pavement of the roadway.”