H. B. 4583
(By Delegates Butcher and Dempsey)
[Introduced February 18, 2000; referred to the
Committee on Roads and Transportation then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section one, article seven, chapter
seventeen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to driving on right
side of roadway; requiring vehicles to use the most
right-hand lane; exceptions.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section one, article seven, chapter seventeen-c of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 7. DRIVING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY, OVERTAKING AND
PASSING, ETC.
§17C-7-1. Driving on right side of roadway; exceptions; penalty.
(a) Upon all roadways of sufficient width a vehicle every vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, in
the most right-hand lane then available for traffic, or as close
as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway,
except as follows:
(1) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding
in the same direction under the rules governing such movement;
(2) When the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic
while under construction or repair;
(3) Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for
traffic under the rules applicable thereon or For a distance of
not more than two miles, when preparing for a lawfully permitted
left or U turn;
(4) Upon a roadway designated and signposted for one-way
traffic When otherwise directed by official traffic-control
devices, signals or markings, a police officer or a special
traffic control officer authorized to direct traffic;
(5) When yielding to a vehicle entering a multilane highway;
(6) When necessary in an emergency or for safe operation to
avoid a road hazard.
(b) Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than
the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane
then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the
right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking
and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or
when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a
private road or driveway.
(c) In addition to any other requirement established by this
chapter or lane or highway usage restriction established by the
commissioner of highways or local authorities within their
respective jurisdictions, except when necessary in an emergency,
for safe operation to avoid a road hazard, when performing
maintenance or construction work or, for a distance of not more
than one mile, when necessary to exit the highway via a left
exit, no person may drive any vehicle equipped with more than six
wheels or commercial motor vehicle, as defined in chapter
seventeen-e of this code, on any highway having more than two
lanes allowing movement in the same direction except on one of
the two most right-hand lanes thereof.
(c) (d) Any person violating the provisions of this section
is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
fined not more than one hundred dollars; upon a second conviction within one year thereafter, shall be fined not more than two
hundred dollars; and upon a third or subsequent conviction, shall
be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require vehicles to use
the right-hand most lane when driving on a roadway, except for
certain exceptions.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.