Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-230 (2026)

Driving in right-hand lane

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) Upon all highways, each vehicle, other than a vehicle described in subsection (c) of this section, shall be driven upon the right, except (1) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, (2) when overtaking and passing pedestrians, parked or standing vehicles, animals, bicycles, electric bicycles, mopeds, scooters, electric foot scooters, vehicles moving at a slow speed, as defined in section 14-220, or obstructions on the right side of the highway, (3) when the right side of a highway is closed to traffic while under construction or repair, (4) on a highway divided into three or more marked lanes for traffic, or (5) on a highway designated and signposted for one-way traffic.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic shall be driven in the right-hand lane available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the highway, 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.

(c) Any vehicle which exceeds the maximum width limitations specified in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 14-262 and operates on an interstate highway with a special permit issued by the Commissioner of Transportation under the provisions of section 14-270, shall be driven in the extreme right lane of such highway, except (1) when such special permit authorizes operation in a traffic lane other than the extreme right lane, (2) when overtaking and passing parked vehicles, animals or obstructions on the right side of such highway, (3) when the right side of such highway is closed to traffic while under construction or repair, or (4) at such locations where access to or egress from such highway is provided on the left.

(d) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.

(1955, S. 1382d; 1957, P.A. 53; P.A. 75-577, S. 73, 126; P.A. 87-525, S. 2; P.A. 15-41, S. 6; P.A. 18-165, S. 7; P.A. 19-162, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 75-577 added statement that violation of provisions is an infraction; P.A. 87-525 divided the section into Subsecs., inserting as Subsec. (c) provision requiring wide vehicles to be driven in extreme right lane of interstate highways; P.A. 15-41 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by adding references to standing vehicles, bicycles, mopeds, scooters and vehicles moving at a slow speed, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 18-165 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by adding “electric bicycles,”; P.A. 19-162 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by adding “electric foot scooters,”.

See Sec. 14-99 re requirement that drivers of commercial vehicles drive at extreme right to allow others to pass.

See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.

Annotations to former section:

Defendant is not liable for accident unless he was negligent. 40 C. 560; 67 C. 47. Violation of law by plaintiff, to constitute a defense, must have contributed to cause collision. 59 C. 20; 63 C. 155; 89 C. 329; Id., 701. One may drive to left side of road if he has business there, using ordinary and reasonable care to avoid collision. 67 C. 47. Duty to drive on right side of road exists only when a person or vehicle approaches. 81 C. 499; 107 C. 710. The “rule of the road” does not apply on established racetrack with special driving rules. 91 C. 341. High degree of care is required of one crossing line of traffic going in opposite direction. 109 C. 606. Charge concerning passing over to left of center of road approved. 111 C. 99. Right to drive on left is conditioned upon noninterference with approaching machines, upon proper use of left side, and upon reasonable care. 112 C. 606; 119 C. 180. Duty to turn to right when meeting another is conditioned on practicability. 112 C. 606. “Traveled portion” includes only that portion intended for normal travel. 114 C. 336. Excludes shoulders. 114 C. 341; Id., 651; 127 C. 340. Cited. 115 C. 116. Finding sustained that driving slightly to the left of center line was not proximate cause of collision. 116 C. 665. Turning to right may be “impracticable” because of situations created by the person met. 123 C. 127. Not a violation when car crosses center line involuntarily and without fault of driver. 124 C. 226. Cited. 129 C. 379; 133 C. 554.

Annotations to present section:

Enumeration of exceptions to requirement that vehicles operate on the right should also include exception applicable when a vehicle is preparing for a left turn at an intersection in a case where an overtaking police vehicle has the right-of-way. 150 C. 349. Cited. 171 C. 35; 179 C. 388; 190 C. 285; 193 C. 442; 206 C. 608; 208 C. 94; 235 C. 614.

Cited. 4 CA 451; 30 CA 810; 33 CA 44.

Cited. 32 CS 650.

Cited. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 569. Defendant's plea of guilty to failure to drive on right-hand side of road was not conclusive of his liability in a civil action in which he pleaded the defense of the contributory negligence of plaintiff and the trial court concluded both parties were negligent. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 123.

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Notes of Decisions

Cited in 31 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1963–2025 · leading case: MacIejewska v. Lombard Bros., Inc., 368 A.2d 206 (Conn. 1976).

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MacIejewska v. Lombard Bros., Inc., 368 A.2d 206 (Conn. 1976). · cites it 20× “The plaintiffs alleged in their complaint that Stevenson had violated § 14-230 of the General Statutes by failing to drive the truck upon the right of the highway and they filed a request to charge on that statute.”

Cole v. New Haven, 337 Conn. 326 (Conn. 2020). · cites it 8× “94-2 (General Order) and the Department of Public Safety’s Uniform Statewide Pursuit Policy, namely, § 14-283a-4 (d) (5) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Statewide Policy), (3) drove her vehicle into the plaintiff’s travel lane in violation of certain motor…”

Daley v. Kashmanian, 344 Conn. 464 (Conn. 2022). · cites it 10× “to 2013) § 14-230) that requires vehicles to be driven on the right.”

Burton v. City of Stamford, 971 A.2d 739 (Conn. App. Ct. 2009). · cites it 5× “” 23 Despite that evidentiary basis, the court noted that Grabinski was immune from statutory liability on the basis of his vehicle’s presence in the opposing lane, stating: “Were it not for the fact that the officer was driving an emergency vehicle, there was a reasonable basis…”

Fogarty v. Rashaw, 476 A.2d 582 (Conn. 1984). · cites it 2× “General Statutes §§ 14-230, 14-231. His negligence, of course, was not imputable to the plaintiff.”

State v. Valinski, 756 A.2d 1250 (Conn. 2000). · cites it 7× “ed, after a trial in part to the court and in part to the jury, 3 of one count each of driving under suspension in violation of § 14-215 (c) and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drug (driving under the influence) in violation *111 of…”

Bishop v. Kelly, 539 A.2d 108 (Conn. 1988). · cites it 3× “” In response to the special interrogatories, the jury found that the defendant had violated General Statutes § 14-230, captioned “Driving in Right Hand Lane,” and that the vio *611 lation was the sole proximate cause of the accident.”

Trzcinski v. Richey, 460 A.2d 1269 (Conn. 1983). · cites it 3× “” 8 General Statutes § 14-230, entitled “Driving in right hand lane,” states: “Upon all highways, each vehicle shall be driven upon the right, except (1) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, (2) when overtaking and passing pedestrians,…”

Egri v. Foisie, 848 A.2d 1266 (Conn. App. Ct. 2004). · cites it 2× “8a; (2) by attempting to suddenly and unreasonably stop or divert his vehicle onto a dirt road or path off Turkey Hill Road; (3) by operating his vehicle in a negligent or unreasonably dangerous manner in light of all the circumstances then and there present; (4) by failing to…”

State v. Hickam, 668 A.2d 1321 (Conn. 1995). · cites it 2× “The defendant was also arrested for failure to drive on the right in violation of General Statutes § 14-230 (a). General Statutes § 14-227b (h) provides in relevant part: “The commissioner shall suspend the operator’s license .”

State v. Valinski, 731 A.2d 311 (Conn. App. Ct. 1999). · cites it 5× “to 1995) § 14-215 (c), 2 failure to drive on the right in violation of General Statutes § 14-230 (a) and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs in violation of General Statutes § 14-227a.”

State v. Birdsong, 384 S.E.2d 5 (N.C. 1989). · cites it 3× “C.G.S. § 14-230. The second is whether the evidence was sufficient to support the verdict in light of the indictment.”

Show all 31 citing cases →

— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-230(a) — 1 case

Wynn v. Frederick (N.C. 2023).

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.