Turns, lanes, passing and parking
In which situation may you pass another vehicle on its right?
- On an open highway with two or more lanes going in your direction, or when the driver ahead is turning left and you can pass safely. Correct answer
- Whenever the shoulder is paved and wide enough.
- Never; passing on the right is always illegal.
Why
Passing on the right is legal in exactly three cases: on an open highway with two or more lanes in your direction, when the vehicle ahead is turning left and you can get by safely on the right, and on a one-way street. Never pass on the left of a driver who is signaling a left turn, and never drop off the paved, main-traveled surface to get by: a wide shoulder does not make it legal. Whichever side you pass on, signal before you move over and again when you return to your lane, and check your blind spot over your shoulder first.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is On an open highway with two or more lanes going in your direction, or when the driver ahead is turning left and you can pass safely.
The rule behind this one
Turns, lanes, passing and parking in California goes through the whole topic, with the page of the California Driver's Handbook behind every rule.
More on turns, lanes, passing and parking
- When you finish parallel parking, how far from the curb may your vehicle be at most?
- You are on the freeway and want to move into the next lane. How far ahead of the move should you signal?
- What are you allowed to do at a curb painted yellow?
- You are driving slowly on a two-lane road where it is not safe for anyone to pass, and five cars are now following you. What does the handbook require?