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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55642</law_id><section_number>46.2-838</section_number><catch_line>Passing when overtaking a vehicle</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-492</reference><reference>46.2-868.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Regulation of Traffic</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="4">Passing</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">driver</span> of any <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> overtaking another <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> proceeding in the same direction shall pass at least two feet to the left of the overtaken <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> and shall not again drive to the right side of the <span class="dictionary">highway</span> until safely clear of such overtaken <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span>, except as otherwise provided in this article. <a id="paragraph-203959" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-838/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">driver</span> of any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, upon overtaking a stationary vehicle that is displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating amber <span class="dictionary">light</span> as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Rural mail carriers stopping on highways" href="/46.2-892/">46.2-892</a> or subdivision A 10 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Flashing amber, purple, or green warning lights" href="/46.2-1025/">46.2-1025</a>, shall proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for <span class="dictionary">highway</span> conditions. <a id="paragraph-203960" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-838/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">driver</span> of any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, upon overtaking a stationary vehicle in the process of refuse collection operations, shall (i) on a <span class="dictionary">highway</span> having at least four <span class="dictionary">lanes</span>, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a <span class="dictionary">lane</span> change into a <span class="dictionary">lane</span> not adjacent to the stationary vehicle or (ii) if changing <span class="dictionary">lanes</span> would be unreasonable or unsafe or on <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">highways</span></span> having fewer than four <span class="dictionary">lanes</span>, proceed with due caution and decrease speed to 10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit and pass at least two feet to the left of the vehicle. <a id="paragraph-203961" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-838/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 46-224; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-208; 1989, c. 727; 1999, c. 999; 2004, cc. 947, 973; 2015, cc. 189, 197.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
