Va. Code » Title 46.2. Motor Vehicles » Subtitle III. Operation » Chapter 8. Regulation of Traffic » Article 7. Reckless Driving and Improper Driving
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-856 (2026)

Passing two vehicles abreast

✓ current as of May 2026
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A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who passes or attempts to pass two other vehicles abreast, moving in the same direction, except on highways having separate roadways of three or more lanes for each direction of travel, or on designated one-way streets or highways. This section shall not apply, however, to a motor vehicle passing two other vehicles when one or both of such other vehicles is a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped; nor shall this section apply to a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped passing two other vehicles.

Code 1950, §§ 46-209, 46-209.1; 1950, p. 880; 1952, c. 671; 1954, cc. 225, 401, 458; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-190; 1960, c. 510; 1964, c. 266; 1966, c. 694; 1968, c. 575; 1970, c. 521; 1974, cc. 222, 455; 1975, c. 633; 1978, c. 27; 1979, c. 86; 1981, cc. 333, 585; 1985, c. 148; 1989, c. 727; 2001, c. 834; 2002, c. 254.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 1998–2018 · leading case: Sink v. Commonwealth, 507 S.E.2d 670 (Va. Ct. App. 1998).
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Sink v. Commonwealth, 507 S.E.2d 670 (Va. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “He concedes that his privilege to drive had not been restored by a Virginia court pursuant to Code § 46.2-856. In 1997, when Sink traveled to Roanoke, a Roanoke city police officer stopped Sink and charged him with driving after having been declared an habitual offender.”
Victor Clay Barringer v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 19× “A state trooper observed appellant’s conduct, initiated a traffic stop, and issued a summons under Code § 46.2-856. At his bench trial in the trial court, appellant argued that the exception within the statute applied to his conduct.”
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