Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-117 (2026)
Overtaking and passing of vehicles
✓ current as of May 2026
The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions and special rules hereinafter stated:
- (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; and
- (2) 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 the overtaking vehicle on audible signal and shall not increase the speed of the overtaken vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.
Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 16; T.C.A., § 59-817.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2
cases, 1988–2013 · leading case: Hardeman Cnty. v. Judy I. McIntyre, 420 S.W.3d 742 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013).
Hardeman Cnty. v. Judy I. McIntyre, 420 S.W.3d 742 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013). “In addition, the Court of Appeals concluded that the fire truck driver acted reasonably under the circumstances in passing to the left of the car, see Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-117 (detailing the procedure for passing on the left), despite the evidence that the fire truck was…”
Kowalski v. Eldridge, 765 S.W.2d 746 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1988). “§ 55-8-109, or the procedure set forth in T.C.A. § 55-8-117 for passing a car to the left.”
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