A 3-minute lesson from the Missouri course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Highway driving is about keeping right, checking blind spots and passing smoothly. Look down the road, to the sides and behind you. Never take your eyes off the road for more than a few seconds; to read a map, pull safely off the road.
Know the rule
On a highway with two lanes total (one each way), drive in the right lane. You may cross the center line to pass when there are no oncoming vehicles and no solid yellow line.
On highways with four or more lanes, keep right unless you're passing slower traffic, letting another driver enter safely, or getting ready for a legal left turn.
Use the left lane only to pass. You may use the right lane to pass a vehicle that is making a left turn. Never pass on the shoulder or unpaved part of the highway.
Avoid driving on either side and slightly behind another vehicle. Speed up or drop back, and get through a blind spot as quickly as you can without speeding.
When another vehicle starts to pass you, stay in your lane and don't speed up. If many vehicles pass you on the right on a multilane road, move to the right lane when clear, unless you'll turn left soon.
On a four-lane highway you catch up to a slow car. Check your mirrors, glance over your left shoulder, signal and pass in the left lane. Return right only when you can see the car in your rearview mirror, after checking over your right shoulder and signaling.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
On a highway with four or more lanes (two or more each direction), which lane should you normally drive in?
The far left lane
The right lane, except passing
Whichever lane has the least traffic
The center lane at all times
Answer: The right lane, except passing
On highways with four or more lanes, keep to the right unless passing slower traffic, letting someone merge, or preparing for a legal left turn.
