(a) Except as provided in sections 14-233 and 14-234, (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 highway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; and (2) the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle and shall not increase the speed of his or her vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle. For the purposes of this subsection, “safe distance” means not less than three feet when the driver of a vehicle overtakes and passes (A) a person riding a bicycle, an electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter, (B) a commercial motor vehicle equipped with a garbage compactor, a detachable container or a curbside recycling body, (C) a tank vehicle, (D) a vehicle authorized by the United States government to carry mail, (E) a vehicle operated by an express delivery carrier, or (F) an agricultural tractor.

Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 14-232

  • another: may extend and be applied to communities, companies, corporations, public or private, limited liability companies, societies and associations. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
  • Carrier: means (A) any local or regional school district, any educational institution providing elementary or secondary education or any person, firm or corporation under contract to such district or institution engaged in the business of transporting students, or (B) any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of transporting primarily persons under the age of twenty-one years for compensation. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-212
  • Motor vehicle: includes all vehicles used on the public highways. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-212

(b) No vehicle shall be driven to the left side of the center of the highway in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless the left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction or any vehicle overtaken.

(c) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.