Rolling Hills Municipal Code Ch. 10.32 Driving, Overtaking and Passing

Upon all roads, a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the road, except as follows:

A. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing that movement;

B. When placing a vehicle in a lawful position for, and when the vehicle is lawfully making, a left turn;

C. When the right half of a road is closed to traffic under construction or repair;

D. Upon a road restricted to one-way traffic;

E. When the road is not of sufficient width;

F. When the vehicle is necessarily traveling so slowly as to impede the normal movement of traffic, that portion of the road adjacent to the right edge of the road may be utilized temporarily when in a condition permitting safe operation;

G. This section does not prohibit the operation of bicycles on any shoulder of a road, where the operation is not otherwise prohibited by this title.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21650, 1973).

A. Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, any vehicle proceeding upon a road at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, 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.

B. If a vehicle is being driven at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time, and is not being driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, it shall constitute prima facie evidence that the driver is operating the vehicle in violation of subsection A of this section.

C. The City Manager may place and maintain upon roads official signs directing slow-moving traffic to use the right-hand traffic lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or preparing for a left turn.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21651, 1973).

No person shall drive a vehicle when it is so loaded, or when there are in the front seat such a number of persons, as to obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides of the vehicle or as to interfere with the driver's control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21652, 1973).

No person shall wilfully interfere with the driver of a vehicle or with the mechanism thereof in such manner as to affect the driver's control of the vehicle. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a drivers' license examiner or other employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles when conducting the road or driving test of an applicant for a driver's license nor to a person giving instruction as a part of a course in driver training conducted by a public school, educational institution or a driver training school licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21653, 1973).

The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon, and the condition of the road.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21654, 1973).

No motor vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle, shall follow within three hundred feet of any authorized emergency vehicle which is responding to an emergency call.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21655, 1973).

No person shall drive or propel any vehicle or conveyance upon, or over or across or in any manner damage any fire hose or chemical hose used under the supervision and control of the Fire Department except when suitable jumpers or other appliances are installed to protect the hose.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21656, 1973).

No person shall operate a train of vehicles when any vehicle being towed whips or swerves from side to side or fails to follow substantially in the path of the towing vehicle.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21657, 1973).

No passenger vehicle, regardless of weight, or any other motor vehicle under four thousand pounds unladen, shall draw or tow more than one vehicle in combination, except that an auxiliary dolly or tow dolly may be used with the towed vehicle. No motor vehicle under four thousand pounds unladen shall tow any vehicle weighing six thousand pounds or more gross.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21659, 1973).

The driver of a motor vehicle when traveling downgrade, shall not coast with the gears of such vehicle in neutral.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21663, 1973).

A. No person driving a motor vehicle shall knowingly permit any person to ride on any vehicle or upon any portion thereof not designed or intended for the use of passengers.

B. No person shall ride on any vehicle or upon any portion thereof not designed or intended for the use of passengers.

C. Subsections A and B of this section shall not apply to any employee engaged in the necessary discharge of his duty or in the case of persons riding completely within or upon vehicle bodies in spaces intended for any load on the vehicle.

D. No person shall drive a motor vehicle that is towing a trailer coach, camp trailer, or trailer carrying any vessel, containing any passenger, except when a trailer carrying or designed to carry a vessel is engaged in the launching or recovery of the vessel.

E. No person shall knowingly drive a motor vehicle which is towing any person riding upon any motorcycle, motorized bicycle, bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, skis or toy vehicle.

F. Subsection D of this section shall not apply to a trailer coach being towed with a fifth-wheel device if the trailer coach is equipped with safety glazing materials wherever glazing materials are used in windows or doors, with an audible or visual signaling device which a passenger inside the trailer coach can use to gain the attention of the motor vehicle drive, and with at least one unobstructed exit capable of being opened from both the interior and exterior of the trailer coach.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21658, 1973).

The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left at a safe distance without interfering with the safe operation of the overtaken vehicle, subject to the limitations and exceptions hereinafter stated.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21660, 1973).

On a two-lane road, no vehicle shall be driven to the left side of the center of the road in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless the left side is clearly visible and free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21661, 1973).

No vehicle shall be driven to the left side of the road under the following conditions:

A. When approaching or upon the crest of a grade or a curve in the road where the driver's view is obstructed within such distance as to create a hazard in the event another vehicle might approach from the opposite direction;

B. When the view is obstructed upon approaching within one hundred feet of any bridge, viaduct or tunnel;

C. When approaching within one hundred feet of or when traversing any intersection or railroad grade crossing.

This section shall not apply upon a one-way road.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21662, 1973).

Except when passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21664, 1973).

The driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and pass to the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions:

A. When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn;

B. Upon a road within a business or residence district with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles in the direction of travel;

C. Upon any road outside of a business or residence district with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width and clearly marked for two or more lines of moving traffic in the direction of travel;

D. Upon a one-way street;

E. Upon a road divided into two roadways where traffic is restricted to one direction upon each of such roadways.

The provisions of this section shall not relieve the drive of a slow moving vehicle from the duty to drive as closely as practicable to the right hand edge of the roadway.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21665, 1973).

The driver of any vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle in response to an emergency, approaching any horse drawn vehicle, any ridden animal, or any livestock, shall exercise proper control of his vehicle and shall reduce speed or stop as may appear necessary or as may be signaled or otherwise requested by any person driving, riding or in charge of the animal or livestock in order to avoid frightening and to safeguard the animal or livestock and to ensure the safety of any person driving or riding the animal or in charge of the livestock.

(Ord. 261 § 1(part), 1996: Ord. 116 § 21666, 1973).