Maryland Code
Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 21-309 (2026)
§ 21-309
✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
MD-GAmgaleg.maryland.gov
Justiaon Justia
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
§21–309.
(a) On any roadway that is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic, the following rules, in addition to any others consistent with them, apply.
(b) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and may not be moved from that lane or moved from a shoulder or bikeway into a lane until the driver has determined that it is safe to do so.
(c) On a roadway that is divided into three lanes and that provides for two-way movement of traffic, a vehicle may not be driven in the center lane except:
(1) While overtaking and passing another vehicle going in the same direction and while the center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance;
(2) In preparing to make a left turn; or
(3) When the center lane is allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the same direction that the vehicle is going and the allocation is designated by a traffic control device.
(d) The driver of a vehicle shall obey the directions of each traffic control device that directs specified traffic to use a designated lane or that designates those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the center of the roadway.
(e) The driver of a vehicle shall obey the directions of each traffic control device that prohibits changing lanes on sections of a roadway.
(f) On a roadway that has two or more lanes for traffic moving in the same direction, the driver of any truck, truck tractor, trailer, or bus shall obey the directions of each traffic control device that requires the vehicle to be driven in a certain lane.
(g) On a roadway along which a two-way left turn lane has been provided through traffic control devices, vehicles may not enter that lane except when preparing for or making a left turn from or into the roadway or when preparing for or making a U-turn, and may enter only if the lane is clear of an opposing movement.
(h) A vehicle shall be driven within a lane described under subsection (g) of this section the shortest distance practicable prior to making a left turn or U-turn or after making a left turn.
(i) On roadways along which a two-way left turn lane has been placed, left turns shall be made only from within such lane.
(a) On any roadway that is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic, the following rules, in addition to any others consistent with them, apply.
(b) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and may not be moved from that lane or moved from a shoulder or bikeway into a lane until the driver has determined that it is safe to do so.
(c) On a roadway that is divided into three lanes and that provides for two-way movement of traffic, a vehicle may not be driven in the center lane except:
(1) While overtaking and passing another vehicle going in the same direction and while the center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance;
(2) In preparing to make a left turn; or
(3) When the center lane is allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the same direction that the vehicle is going and the allocation is designated by a traffic control device.
(d) The driver of a vehicle shall obey the directions of each traffic control device that directs specified traffic to use a designated lane or that designates those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the center of the roadway.
(e) The driver of a vehicle shall obey the directions of each traffic control device that prohibits changing lanes on sections of a roadway.
(f) On a roadway that has two or more lanes for traffic moving in the same direction, the driver of any truck, truck tractor, trailer, or bus shall obey the directions of each traffic control device that requires the vehicle to be driven in a certain lane.
(g) On a roadway along which a two-way left turn lane has been provided through traffic control devices, vehicles may not enter that lane except when preparing for or making a left turn from or into the roadway or when preparing for or making a U-turn, and may enter only if the lane is clear of an opposing movement.
(h) A vehicle shall be driven within a lane described under subsection (g) of this section the shortest distance practicable prior to making a left turn or U-turn or after making a left turn.
(i) On roadways along which a two-way left turn lane has been placed, left turns shall be made only from within such lane.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2002–2022 · leading case: Lewis v. State, 920 A.2d 1080 (Md. 2007).
Lewis v. State, 920 A.2d 1080 (Md. 2007). “The trooper stopped the car for failing to drive in a single line in violation of Section 21-309 of the Transportation Article.”
Steck v. State, 197 A.3d 531 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2018). “Steck not only urges this Court to find that the driver of the Impala did not violate Section 21-309(b) of the Transportation Article, the offense for which Mr.”
Edwards v. State, 792 A.2d 1197 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2002). “), § 21-309 of the Transportation Article (“Tr.”
Motor Veh. Admin. v. Illiano, 888 A.2d 329 (Md. 2005). “), Section 21-309 of the Transportation Article; failure to yield the right of way upon entering onto a highway, Maryland Code, (1977, 2002 Repl.”
Hart v. A.C.E. Taxi, 442 F. Supp. 2d 268 (D. Md. 2006). “Although not discussed by plaintiffs, defendant Reed arguably violated his statutory duty under Maryland Code, § 21-309(b) of the Transportation Article, which requires a driver intending to change lanes to ensure that it is safe to do so before leaving his lane.”
Trantham v. Prince George's Cnty., MD, No. 8:20-cv-02158 (D. Md. Feb. 16, 2022). “Md. Code, Transp. § 21-309(b) provides: A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and may not be moved from that lane or moved from a shoulder or bikeway into a lane until the driver has determined that it is safe to do so.”
State of Tennessee v. Linzey Danielle Smith, No. M2013-02818-SC-R11-CD (Tenn. Feb. 11, 2016). “2001) (concluding that motorist‟s “momentary crossing of the edge line of the roadway and later touching of that line did not amount to an unsafe lane change or unsafe entry onto the roadway, conduct prohibited by [Maryland‟s version of Section 123(1)], and, thus, cannot support…”
United States v. Olabimpe Adetayo, 682 F. App'x 216 (4th Cir. 2017). “§ 16-lQ5(b)(l) (LexisNexis 2012); failing to carry vehicle registration, in violation of Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 13-409 (a) (Lexis-Nexis 2012); and unsafe lane changing, in violation of Md.”
State Of Washington v. Donald Kinsell Jones, No. 70620-9 (Wash. Ct. App. Apr. 6, 2015). “2d 879 (2001) (momentarily crossing the shoulder line twice not a violation of Maryland statute requiring vehicle to stay within lane "'as nearly as practicable'" (quoting Md. Code Ann. Transp. § 21-309(b)))); see also Crooks v.”
Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 21-309(b): 5 cases
Lewis v. State, 920 A.2d 1080 (Md. 2007). “The trooper stopped the car for failing to drive in a single line in violation of Section 21-309 of the Transportation Article.”
Steck v. State, 197 A.3d 531 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2018). “Steck not only urges this Court to find that the driver of the Impala did not violate Section 21-309(b) of the Transportation Article, the offense for which Mr.”
Hart v. A.C.E. Taxi, 442 F. Supp. 2d 268 (D. Md. 2006). “Although not discussed by plaintiffs, defendant Reed arguably violated his statutory duty under Maryland Code, § 21-309(b) of the Transportation Article, which requires a driver intending to change lanes to ensure that it is safe to do so before leaving his lane.”
Trantham v. Prince George's Cnty., MD, No. 8:20-cv-02158 (D. Md. Feb. 16, 2022). “Md. Code, Transp. § 21-309(b) provides: A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and may not be moved from that lane or moved from a shoulder or bikeway into a lane until the driver has determined that it is safe to do so.”
State Of Washington v. Donald Kinsell Jones, No. 70620-9 (Wash. Ct. App. Apr. 6, 2015). “2d 879 (2001) (momentarily crossing the shoulder line twice not a violation of Maryland statute requiring vehicle to stay within lane "'as nearly as practicable'" (quoting Md. Code Ann. Transp. § 21-309(b)))); see also Crooks v.”
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.