Changing Lanes and Passing

 There will be times that you want or need to change lanes. You may even want to pass another vehicle. Typical reasons will be to pass a slower vehicle or to observe Alabama’s Move Over law. You might also need to change lanes if you notice an obstruction up ahead or see that an emergency vehicle is approaching from the rear. Whatever the reason, changing lanes and passing other vehicles can be dangerous if you are not fully attentive.

To make a lane change, follow these steps:

• Leave an appropriate cushion between you and any vehicle ahead of you. Allow for the fact that you will speed up a bit when you start the lane change. If the vehicle ahead of you slows just as you start your lane change, you can rear end it.
• Signal to indicate that you want to change lanes.
• Check to see that your path is clear. DO NOT just use your mirrors. Remember, side mirrors  have blind spots. Regular side mirrors will not allow you to see anything off to your sides and near the rear quarter of your vehicle. Quickly look over your shoulder along with using your mirrors. Be absolutely sure the way is clear.
• When you see that you have enough room to pull into the adjacent lane, accelerate slightly and pull into the other lane. Enough room means space for your vehicle plus a cushion to your front and rear. Once in the lane, maintain the same speed as the other traffic.
• Check you be sure your directional has reset itself. Do this manually if it did not reset.
• Resume normal travel.
• If you are passing a vehicle on a road where all traffic flows in your direction, continue in your new lane until you have passed the slower vehicle.
• Once you can see the entire front of the vehicle you just passed, or both headlights, prepare to re enter your original travel lane.
• Signal to indicate your intentions to the other driver.
• Check your mirrors and look over your shoulder to be sure the path is clear.
• Pull back in front of the slower vehicle, be sure your directional resets, and resume travel.

 

Passing another vehicle in two way traffic is a bit more involved and more dangerous. Carefully follow these steps to pass a slower vehicle:

• Be sure you have enough space between you and the vehicle ahead so you can accelerate with no danger of striking the lead vehicle.
• If you are passing a slow vehicle, someone behind you may have the same idea. Make sure nobody behind you is making a passing move.
• You are about to pull into the direction of oncoming traffic. Make absolutely sure you have the time and space to execute a complete and safe passing maneuver.
• Signal to indicate your intention to pass.
• Pull out into the adjacent lane while accelerating a bit. Continue until you pass the slower vehicle watching for oncoming traffic all the while. Remember, you can increase your speed a bit to pass, but you should not need to exceed the speed limit. If you must exceed the posted limit, chances are that the vehicle you want to pass was not traveling too slowly. There was really no legitimate need for you to pass it.
• As with same direction passing, wait until the entire front of the vehicle you passed is in your rear view.
• Signal to indicate you are returning to your lane, check your path by looking over your shoulder, and pull back in to your original lane.
• Be sure your directional resets.
• If someone is passing you in a two direction situation, maintain your speed. Do not accelerate! Let the other driver pass you and pull back into the lane. If you see that traffic is coming at them from the other direction, slow down immediately as long as it is safe. Let the other driver pull back into your lane as soon as possible.
• DO NOT PASS when you need to pull into the direction of oncoming traffic and you are 500 feet or less from a curve or hill where you cannot see oncoming traffic; when you see oncoming vehicles; near any type of intersection; anywhere that signs or painted lines expressly prohibit passing.

With only a couple of exceptions, always pass a slower vehicle on the left. Passing on the right is permissible when:

• You are on a one way road or roads with two or more marked lanes going in the same direction.
• When you can do so without driving on the shoulder of the road.
• You use signals as with standard passing on the left.
• Check for traffic both ahead of and behind you.
• Carefully observe the car you are passing on the right.
  That driver may not expect you to be there.