3.3 Passing, Roundabouts, and Parking

Passing Other Vehicles

You normally pass on the left. On a two-lane road, a dashed yellow center line on your side means you may use the oncoming lane to pass when it is safe; a solid yellow line on your side means do not pass. Pass only when you can see far enough ahead to complete the move and return before any oncoming vehicle reaches you. Once you have passed, move back into your lane as soon as you can see the vehicle you passed in your rear-view mirror — that gap confirms you are clear of it. Never pass by driving onto the shoulder; that is illegal and dangerous.

When You May NOT Pass

Under Washington law (RCW 46.61.125 and the Driver Guide), do not pass — by driving left of center — in these situations:

• A solid yellow line (or double solid yellow) is on your side of the road.
• You are within 100 feet of, or crossing, an intersection or a railroad crossing.
• You are within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct, or tunnel where your view is obstructed.
• You are approaching or on a hill or curve where you cannot see oncoming traffic.
• A school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing — never pass it, and a carpool or center turn lane does not exempt you.

These 100-foot rules do not apply on a one-way roadway. When you are being passed, maintain your speed (or ease off slightly) and stay right so the other driver can complete the pass safely.

Roundabouts

A roundabout is a circular intersection where every entering vehicle yields on entry and traffic flows counterclockwise around a raised center island. They are designed for low speeds — 15 to 25 mph — and remove the dangerous left-turn-across-traffic movement entirely. Drive one in this order:

1. Slow down as you approach and read the lane-choice sign; pick your lane (right lanes for right turns/straight, left lanes for straight/left) and stay in it until you exit.
2. Stop for pedestrians and bicyclists in the crosswalks at the entry and exit.
3. Yield to all traffic already in the roundabout — look left, because circulating traffic has the right-of-way — and enter only when you see a safe gap.
4. Enter to the right and travel counterclockwise, staying in your lane and keeping clear of large trucks, which may need both lanes and the truck apron.
5. Signal as you exit at the street you want. If an emergency vehicle approaches, exit first, then pull over — never stop inside the circle.

Parking: Where You May Not Park

A legally parked vehicle is never a hazard to others. Washington (RCW 46.61.570) prohibits parking within set distances of key features. The big three to memorize are 15 / 20 / 30:

You also may not park in an intersection, on a crosswalk, sidewalk, or bike lane, on a bridge or in a tunnel, facing oncoming traffic, or more than 12 inches from the curb. Always set your parking brake, take your keys, and use the Dutch Reach (open the door with your far hand) so you turn and spot approaching bicyclists.

Parking on a Hill — Turn Your Wheels

On a hill, point your front wheels so a rolling car moves away from traffic in case the parking brake fails. Memorize it by the curb:

• Facing uphill, with a curb: turn the wheels away from the curb so the back of the front tire rests against it — the car rolls back into the curb.
• Facing downhill (with a curb): turn the wheels toward the curb so the front of the tire catches it — the car rolls forward into the curb.
• No curb, either direction: turn the wheels toward the edge of the road, so a rolling car heads off the road rather than into traffic.

Always set the parking brake too — the wheel direction is a backup, not a substitute.

Worked Example: Reading a Curb on a Hill

Example: You parallel park facing downhill on a street with a normal curb. Which way do the front wheels go, and why?

Ask one question: if the brake fails, where do I want the car to roll? Away from the travel lane, into the curb. Facing downhill, gravity pulls the car forward. To catch it on the curb, turn the wheels toward the curb so the front of the front tire wedges against it. Now a runaway car rolls forward a few inches and stops against the curb instead of rolling into the street.

Flip the scenario — facing uphill with a curb — and gravity pulls the car backward, so you turn the wheels away from the curb and let the back of the front tire rest against it. With no curb at all, there is nothing to catch the tire, so you aim the wheels toward the edge of the road so the car would drift off the pavement rather than into traffic. In every case, set the parking brake first.