Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-123 (2026)
Driving on roadways laned for traffic
✓ current as of May 2026
Whenever any roadway has been divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following rules, in addition to all others consistent with this section, shall apply:
- (1) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from that lane until the driver has first ascertained that the movement can be made with safety;
- (2) Upon a roadway that is divided into three (3) lanes, a vehicle shall not be driven in the center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle where the roadway is clearly visible and the center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in preparation for a left turn or where the center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is signposted to give notice of this allocation;
- (3) Official signs may be erected directing slow-moving traffic to use a designated lane or designating those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction regardless of the center of the roadway, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of every such sign; and
- (4)
- (A) Where passing is unsafe because of traffic in the opposite direction or other conditions, a slow-moving vehicle, including a passenger vehicle, behind which five (5) or more vehicles are formed in line, shall turn or pull off the roadway wherever sufficient area exists to do so safely, in order to permit vehicles following it to proceed. As used in this subdivision (4), a slow-moving vehicle is one which is proceeding at a rate of speed that is ten miles per hour (10 mph) or more below the lawful maximum speed for that particular roadway at that time;
- (B) Any person failing to conform with subdivision (4)(A) shall receive a warning citation on first offense and be liable for a fine of twenty dollars ($20.00) on second offense, and fifty dollars ($50.00) on third and subsequent offenses;
- (C) Subdivision (4)(A) shall not apply to funeral processions, school buses, farm tractors, or implements of husbandry.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 76,s 1, eff. 3/28/2019.
Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 22; T.C.A., § 59-823; Acts 1983, ch. 172, §§ 1, 2; 1984, ch. 518, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 68
cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1994–2025 · leading case: State of Tennessee v. Linzey Danielle Smith, 484 S.W.3d 393 (Tenn. 2016).
State of Tennessee v. Linzey Danielle Smith, 484 S.W.3d 393 (Tenn. 2016). “He testified that he stopped the driver because she failed to maintain her lane of travel as required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-123. *399 Trooper Achinger testified that he video-recorded the car as he followed it, but the video did not record the fog line…”
State of Tennessee v. William Whitlow Davis, Jr., 484 S.W.3d 138 (Tenn. 2016). “Factual and Procedural History The Defendant was charged in August 2010 with two alternative counts of driving under the influence and one count of failing to drive within a single lane in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-123 (2008). The Defendant filed a…”
State v. Garcia, 123 S.W.3d 335 (Tenn. 2003). “Additionally, the State does not contest that the defendant was driving in compliance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-123(1) (1998), which states: Whenever any roadway has been divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for traffic .”
State v. Binette, 33 S.W.3d 215 (Tenn. 2000). “" Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-123(1)(1998) (emphasis added).”
United States v. Gross, 550 F.3d 578 (6th Cir. 2008). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-123. The district court found that “[c]ertainly, the movements of Defendants’ vehicle which [Rit-ter] describes fit well within the conduct proscribed by the clear language of the statute.”
State v. Levitt, 73 S.W.3d 159 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). “] Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-123(1) (1998). The prosecutor also referred the trial court to the statute which permits passing on the right only under limited conditions: When overtaking on the right is permitted.”
United States v. Page, 154 F. Supp. 2d 1320 (M.D. Tenn. 2001). “Moreover, the defendant’s driving appears to have violated Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-123, which requires that “[w]hen-ever any roadway has been divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, .”
United States v. Steven Pittman, 816 F.3d 419 (6th Cir. 2016). “at 465-66 ; see Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-123 (1). Unlike the driver in Freeman , Pittman did violate *424 traffic laws, giving the police probable cause to stop him.”
Ammons v. Bonilla, 886 S.W.2d 239 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1994). “§ 55-8-121, which concerns designation of a no passing zone, (3) *246 T.C.A. § 55-8-123, which concerns changing lane of travel, and (4) T.”
United States v. Olson, 59 F. Supp. 2d 725 (M.D. Tenn. 1999). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-123. The defendants argue that if the legislature intended for signals to be required for lane changes, it would have stated so in this section.”
Parks v. Daily Express, Inc., 719 F. Supp. 2d 894 (E.D. Tenn. 2010). “Defendants also point to Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-123(1), which provides that: Whenever any roadway has been divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for traffic .”
Ricketts v. Robinson, 169 S.W.3d 642 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “§ 55-8-123. No vehicle shall be turned so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any curve, or upon the approach to or near the crest of a grade, where such vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of any other vehicle approaching from either direction within five hundred feet…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-123(1) — 26 cases
State v. Garcia, 123 S.W.3d 335 (Tenn. 2003). “Additionally, the State does not contest that the defendant was driving in compliance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-123(1) (1998), which states: Whenever any roadway has been divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for traffic .”
State of Tennessee v. Linzey Danielle Smith, 484 S.W.3d 393 (Tenn. 2016). “He testified that he stopped the driver because she failed to maintain her lane of travel as required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-123. *399 Trooper Achinger testified that he video-recorded the car as he followed it, but the video did not record the fog line…”
State of Tennessee v. William Whitlow Davis, Jr., 484 S.W.3d 138 (Tenn. 2016). “Factual and Procedural History The Defendant was charged in August 2010 with two alternative counts of driving under the influence and one count of failing to drive within a single lane in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-123 (2008). The Defendant filed a…”
State v. Levitt, 73 S.W.3d 159 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). “] Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-123(1) (1998). The prosecutor also referred the trial court to the statute which permits passing on the right only under limited conditions: When overtaking on the right is permitted.”
United States v. Page, 154 F. Supp. 2d 1320 (M.D. Tenn. 2001). “Moreover, the defendant’s driving appears to have violated Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-123, which requires that “[w]hen-ever any roadway has been divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, .”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-123(1)(1998) — 1 case
State v. Binette, 33 S.W.3d 215 (Tenn. 2000). “" Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-123(1)(1998) (emphasis added).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-123(a) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. Gary Lee Hunt (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
State of Tennessee v. Jeffery D. Aaron (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015).
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