Oregon drivers often ignore fundamental rules of the road, such as not following too closely and yielding before making a left turn.
Basic traffic laws are essential for keeping traffic moving and protecting all travelers on Oregon’s roads. Still, many motorists fail to obey the traffic code and present a danger to everyone else.
In this article, we have compiled seven of the most commonly ignored traffic laws in Oregon. Read on to better understand these rules of the road and how you can be a safer driver.
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1. Oregon Slower Traffic Keep Right Law: The “Move Over” Rule
In Oregon, if your vehicle is going slower than the rest of the traffic, you have to move as far to the right as possible. On highways, this means using the far-right hand lane. For two-lane roads, you need to stay as close to the right curb as practicable.
However, if you are passing another car or preparing to make a left turn, you do not need to stay right.
A person commits the offense of failure of a slow driver to drive on the right if the person is operating a vehicle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and the person fails to drive in the right-hand lane available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
This section does not apply when overtaking and passing another vehicle or preparing to turn left at an intersection, alley or private road or driveway.
2. Oregon Flow of Traffic Law: The “Minimum Speed” Rule
It is illegal in Oregon to drive so slowly that you hold up or block other traffic. Though there is no statewide minimum speed, going too slow is a traffic offense. Unless you need to drive slowly to operate the vehicle safely, such as when exiting a highway, it is illegal to impede the regular flow of traffic.
A person commits the offense of impeding traffic if the person drives a motor vehicle or a combination of motor vehicles in a manner that impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.
A person is not in violation of the offense described under this section if the person is proceeding in a manner needed for safe operation.
Proceeding in a manner needed for safe operation includes but is not necessarily limited to momentarily stopping to allow oncoming traffic to pass before making a right-hand or left-hand turn and momentarily stopping in preparation of, or moving at an extremely slow pace while, negotiating an exit from the road.
3. Oregon Driving in Left Lane Law: The “Passing on the Left” Rule
To legally pass another motorist in Oregon, you must do so on the left. When passing, you must leave a safe distance between your car and the other vehicle and not move back to the right until you have completed the pass. You also need to move back into your original lane as soon as it is safe and clear.
When your pass requires you to cross the center line into oncoming lanes of traffic, you must wait until the opposite direction is clear. You can only cross into lanes headed in the opposite direction if you can complete the pass without interfering with oncoming vehicles.
If you are being passed, Oregon law requires that you allow the vehicle to pass and not speed up until the pass is completed.
The driver of a vehicle that is overtaking any other vehicle shall pass to the left of the other vehicle at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.
Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of an overtaking vehicle and shall not increase the speed of the overtaken vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.
The driver of a vehicle shall not drive to the left side of the center of the roadway in overtaking and passing a vehicle unless the left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit the overtaking and passing to be completed without interfering with the operation of a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction or a vehicle overtaken.
An overtaking vehicle shall return to an authorized lane of traffic as soon as practicable.
4. Oregon Rear-End Collision Law: The “Following Too Closely” Rule
In Oregon, the law prohibits following another driver more closely than is “reasonable and prudent.” Whether the space left between two vehicles is too close depends on traffic and weather conditions, as well as the speed of travel.
A person commits the offense of following too closely if the person drives a motor vehicle so as to follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of the vehicles and the traffic upon, and condition of, the highway.
5. Oregon Mobile Phone Driving Law: The “Hands-Free Driving” Rule
Oregon law prohibits using a cell phone while driving unless the operation is entirely hands-free. If you are under 18, you cannot use a mobile phone while driving, even in hands-free mode.
However, you are always allowed to call for help in an emergency if you are the only person in the vehicle that can use a phone.
A person commits the offense of driving a motor vehicle while using a mobile electronic device if the person, while driving a motor vehicle on a highway or premises open to the public holds a mobile electronic device in the person’s hand; or uses a mobile electronic device for any purpose.
It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution of a person under this section that the person used the mobile electronic device to communicate if the person was summoning or providing medical or other emergency help if no other person in the vehicle was capable of summoning help; or was 18 years of age or older and was using a hands-free accessory.
6. Oregon Four-Way Intersection Law: The “4-Way Stop” Rule
The Oregon traffic code establishes that if two motorists approach an intersection simultaneously, the vehicle to the right has the right-of-way. It is illegal for the driver to the left to proceed without yielding to the vehicle to the right.
A person commits the offense of failure to yield the right of way at an uncontrolled intersection if the person is operating a motor vehicle that is approaching an uncontrolled highway intersection and the person does not look out for and give right of way to any driver on the right simultaneously approaching a given point, regardless of which driver first reaches and enters the intersection.
7. Oregon Left Turn Intersection Law: The “Right of Way” Rule
Prior to making a left turn in Oregon, you must yield the right of way to any vehicles headed in the opposite direction. If the oncoming traffic is close enough to create a safety hazard, you must wait until they clear before proceeding into the turn.
A person commits the offense of making a dangerous left turn if the person: is operating a vehicle; intends to turn the vehicle to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, driveway or place from a highway; and does not yield the right of way to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction that is within the intersection or so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
Oregon has created rules of the road to protect drivers and passengers. Following all traffic laws makes you a safer driver and can prevent you from getting a ticket. So, remember these seven often overlooked laws the next time you’re out on Oregon’s roads.