Passing — Utah Permit Test

On multi-lane roads the left lane is for passing slower vehicles, and a driver may never pass on the shoulder.

The shoulder has gravel, parked cars and people changing tires. It was never a lane and passing there is unlawful.

On multi-lane roads, the left lane is for passing slower vehicles. Never pass on the shoulder.

A driver returning from a pass must be back in the right-hand lane no less than 200 feet from oncoming vehicles.

Two hundred feet is about two seconds at highway speed. Cutting in later hands the oncoming driver your mistake.

Return to the right-hand lane no less than 200 feet from oncoming vehicles.

A driver should wait until they can see the passed vehicle in their rear view mirror, and do a head check, before returning to the lane.

Seeing the whole car in the mirror means you are far enough ahead to pull in without cutting it off.

Wait until you can see the passed vehicles in your rear view mirror, and do a head check.

When passing on the right it is illegal to leave the roadway.

Passing on the right is sometimes allowed. Dropping a wheel onto the dirt to do it never is.

When passing on the right, it is illegal to leave the roadway.

A driver being passed should stay in their lane and keep their speed steady to let the other driver pass.

Speeding up traps the passing car alongside you with nowhere to go, which is how a pass becomes a head-on crash.

If you are being passed, stay in your lane and keep your speed steady to allow the driver to pass.

A driver should slow down when passing bicyclists to give them as much space as possible.

A cyclist wobbles when a car goes past fast and close. Slowing is what turns a fright into a non-event.

Slow down when passing bicyclists to give them as much space as possible.

Which lane is for passing on a Utah multi-lane road?

The left lane. The shoulder has gravel, parked cars and people changing tires. It was never a lane and passing there is unlawful. Utah Driver Handbook 2026-2027, p.34: “On multi-lane roads, the left lane is for passing slower vehicles. Never pass on the shoulder.”