IMPROPER LANE PASSING ACCIDENT LAWYER

In both Louisiana and Texas, left lanes on multi-lane roads are generally reserved for making left-hand turns and passing slower vehicles in right-hand lanes (unless the right lane is closed or there’s an exception for an emergency vehicle).

The idea is to alleviate congestion by keeping an “open” lane for passing or turning vehicles. Consequently, motorists in both states can be fined for driving in left lanes if, instead of passing or turning, they’re blocking the flow of traffic.

Another lane passing law shared by the Pelican and Lone Star states involves school buses. In both LA and TX, motorists are NOT generally permitted to pass school buses that have extended Stop signs and/or flashing red lights.

That’s the law whether you’re following a bus in the same direction or you’re in the oncoming lanes of traffic on a 2-, 3-, or 4-lane roadway that does not have a median separating opposite lanes of traffic. In fact, motorists can ONLY pass stopped school buses in TX or LA IF they are in the opposite lanes of traffic on 4-lane roads with medians separating opposing traffic lanes.

Both Louisiana and Texas have passed “move-over” laws that require motorists to move away from emergency vehicles and parked vehicles, including police making traffic stops or assisting car accident victims. These move-over laws also apply when transportation officials or roadway work crews are parked (or working) on the roads.

While motorists should move to the left lanes when emergency or transportation vehicles are parked on the right-side of the roads, drivers should move to the right if parked vehicles are on the left-side of the roads. Also, motorists are typically required to slow down when passing parked vehicles, regardless of whether they have to move over to the right or left lane of traffic to do so.