304.015. Drive on right of highway--traffic lanes--signs--violations, penalties.
Drive on right of highway--traffic lanes--signs--violations,penalties.
304.015. 1. All vehicles not in motion shall be placed with theirright side as near the right-hand side of the highway as practicable,except on streets of municipalities where vehicles are obliged to move inone direction only or parking of motor vehicles is regulated by ordinance.
2. Upon all public roads or highways of sufficient width a vehicleshall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:
(1) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in thesame direction pursuant to the rules governing such movement;
(2) When placing a vehicle in position for and when such vehicle islawfully making a left turn in compliance with the provisions of sections304.014 to 304.025 or traffic regulations thereunder or of municipalities;
(3) When the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic while underconstruction or repair;
(4) Upon a roadway designated by local ordinance as a one-way streetand marked or signed for one-way traffic.
3. It is unlawful to drive any vehicle upon any highway or road whichhas been divided into two or more roadways by means of a physical barrieror by means of a dividing section or delineated by curbs, lines or othermarkings on the roadway, except to the right of such barrier or dividingsection, or to make any left turn or semicircular or U-turn on any suchdivided highway, except at an intersection or interchange or at any signedlocation designated by the state highways and transportation commission orthe department of transportation. The provisions of this subsection shallnot apply to emergency vehicles, law enforcement vehicles or to vehiclesowned by the commission or the department.
4. The authorities in charge of any highway or the state highwaypatrol may erect signs temporarily designating lanes to be used by trafficmoving in a particular direction, regardless of the center line of thehighway, and all members of the Missouri highway patrol and other peaceofficers may direct traffic in conformance with such signs. Whenauthorized signs have been erected designating off-center traffic lanes, noperson shall disobey the instructions given by such signs.
5. Whenever any roadway has been divided into three or more clearlymarked lanes for traffic, the following rules in addition to all othersconsistent herewith shall apply:
(1) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirelywithin a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driverhas first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety;
(2) Upon a roadway which is divided into three lanes a vehicle shallnot be driven in the center lane, except when overtaking and passinganother vehicle where the roadway ahead is clearly visible and such centerlane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in preparation for aleft turn or where such center lane is at the time allocated exclusively totraffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and issign-posted to give notice of such allocation;
(3) Upon all highways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normalspeed of traffic thereon shall be driven in the right-hand lane for trafficor as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, except asotherwise provided in sections 304.014 to 304.025;
(4) Official signs may be erected by the highways and transportationcommission or the highway patrol may place temporary signs directingslow-moving traffic to use a designated lane or allocating specified lanesto traffic moving in the same direction and drivers of vehicles shall obeythe directions of every such sign;
(5) Drivers of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions shall passeach other to the right, and except when a roadway has been divided intotraffic lanes, each driver shall give to the other at least one-half of themain traveled portion of the roadway whenever possible.
6. All vehicles in motion upon a highway having two or more lanes oftraffic proceeding in the same direction shall be driven in the right-handlane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or when preparingto make a proper left turn or when otherwise directed by traffic markings,signs or signals.
7. All trucks registered for a gross weight of more than forty-eightthousand pounds shall not be driven in the far left-hand lane upon allinterstate highways, freeways, or expressways within urbanized areas of thestate having three or more lanes of traffic proceeding in the samedirection. This restriction shall not apply when:
(1) It is necessary for the operator of the truck to follow trafficcontrol devices that direct use of a lane other than the right lane; or
(2) The right half of a roadway is closed to traffic while underconstruction or repair.
8. As used in subsection 7 of this section, "truck" means anyvehicle, machine, tractor, trailer, or semitrailer, or any combinationthereof, propelled or drawn by mechanical power and designed for or used inthe transportation of property upon the highways. The term "truck" alsoincludes a commercial motor vehicle as defined in section 301.010, RSMo.
9. Violation of this section shall be deemed an infraction unlesssuch violation causes an immediate threat of an accident, in which casesuch violation shall be deemed a class C misdemeanor, or unless an accidentresults from such violation, in which case such violation shall be deemed aclass A misdemeanor.
(L. 1953 p. 587 § 304.020, A.L. 1971 H.B. 110, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1047, A.L. 2001 S.B. 244, A.L. 2008 S.B. 930 & 947)