Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 89, § 1 (2026)

Meeting vehicles

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 1. When persons traveling with vehicles meet on a way, each shall reasonably drive his vehicle to the right of the middle of the traveled part of such way, so that the vehicles may pass without interference, except that the department of highways may modify such restriction by pavement markings on state highways, on ways leading thereto and on all main highways between cities and towns. The department may by permit, revocable upon notice, authorize cities and towns to modify such restriction by pavement markings. All markings shall be in accordance with accepted standards of engineering practice, as provided in section two of chapter eighty-five.

The provisions of this section shall not be construed as prohibiting a vehicle from crossing a solid center pavement marking line or lines in making a left turn into or from a private way.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 13 cases, 1929–1993 · leading case: Wall v. King, 182 N.E. 855 (Mass. 1932).

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Wall v. King, 182 N.E. 855 (Mass. 1932). · cites it 2× “89, § 4, which required him, whenever safe and practicable so to do, to keep his vehicle to the right of the middle of the travelled part of the way when there was not an unobstructed view of the road for at least one hundred yards.”

Commonwealth v. Germano, 397 N.E.2d 663 (Mass. 1979). “The defendant, Carmelo Germano, is charged with failing to keep to the right (G. L. c. 89, § 1), failing to stop on entering a through way (G.”

Commonwealth v. Provost, 426 N.E.2d 453 (Mass. App. Ct. 1981). “90, § 24(2) (a), and failing to stay to the right of the road, G. L. c. 89, § 1. Prior to trial, the defendant moved to dismiss all six complaints on the ground that the State police officer who investigated the accident had failed to issue citations *480 under G.”

O'CONNELL v. Esso Stand. Oil Co., 151 N.E.2d 65 (Mass. 1958). · cites it 2× “The plaintiff contends that the defendant’s automobile was travelling on its left of the way in violation of G. L. c. 89, § 1, which provides that “When persons traveling with vehicles meet on a way, each shall seasonably drive his vehicle to the right of the middle of the…”

Isaacson v. Boston, Worcester & New York Street Ry. Co., 180 N.E. 118 (Mass. 1932). “(c) G. L. c. 89, § 1, provides that “When persons traveling with vehicles meet on a way, each shall seasonably drive his vehicle to the right of the middle of the traveled part of such way, so that the vehicles may pass without interference.”

Kenyon v. Hathaway, 73 A.L.R. 156 (Mass. 1931). “All the evidence bearing on the question of liability is not reported, but it is clear from the charge that the only question submitted to the jury on this, issue related to the *49 violation of G. L. c. 89, § 1, requiring persons travelling with vehicles when they meet on a way…”

Calderone v. Wright, 274 N.E.2d 588 (Mass. 1971). “” The markings on the road and the testimony of Brown were enough to permit a finding by the jury that the contact took place in the westbound lane traveled by the decedent.”

Knapp v. Amero, 11 N.E.2d 467 (Mass. 1937). “The declaration in each case contains two counts: count 1 alleging negligence on the part of the defendant, and count 2 alleging violation by the defendant of the provisions of G. L. c. 89, § 1. The plaintiff in each case seasonably claimed trial by jury.”

Donovan v. DiPaolo, 355 N.E.2d 484 (Mass. App. Ct. 1976). “Accepting the plaintiff’s testimony that the defendant was straddling the center line just prior to the collision, the jury could have found that the defendant, who testified that he was travelling at twenty to twenty-five miles per hour, could have seasonably turned to the…”

Commonwealth v. Cameron, 606 N.E.2d 934 (Mass. App. Ct. 1993). “90, § 24, failure to stay within marked lanes in violation of G. L. c. 89, § 1, and speeding in violation of G.”

Coates v. Bates, 265 Mass. 444 (Mass. 1929). “The evidence was conflicting, not only as to the position upon the highway of the respective automobiles, but as to many other material facts. Upon this aspect of the case the judge instructed the jury, in substance, that persons travelling upon a way when passing each other…”

Podwapinska v. Teixeira, 178 N.E. 830 (Mass. 1931). “As a result of the collision the plaintiff was seriously injured.”

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