OVERTAKING VEHICLES

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 9, ch. 9-36

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-36-010 Overtaking on the left.

9-36-010 Overtaking on the left. (a) 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. (b) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle. (c) The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall leave a safe distance, but not less than 3 feet, when passing the bicycle or individual and shall maintain that distance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 3-12-08, p. 22781, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-36-020 Overtaking vehicle on the right.

9-36-020 Overtaking vehicle on the right. (a) The driver of a vehicle or a Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions: (1) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn and there is sufficient safe clearance distance between the turning vehicle and the right edge of the roadway; (2) Upon any roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lanes of moving vehicles in each direction; or (3) Upon any roadway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement, where the unobstructed pavement is of sufficient width for two or more lanes of moving vehicles. (b) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions permitting such movement in safety. In no event shall such movement be made by driving off the pavement or main-traveled portion of the roadway. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 99061, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-36-030 Limitation on overtaking on the left.

9-36-030 Limitation on overtaking on the left. No vehicle shall be driven to the left side of the center of the roadway in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless such 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 of any vehicle overtaken. In every event the overtaking vehicle must return to the right- hand side of the roadway before coming within 100 feet of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-36-040 Driving on right side of roadway.

9-36-040 Driving on right side of roadway. (a) All vehicles shall be driven in the right-hand lane available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway: (1) When proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing; or (2) When designed and used for transportation, pulling or hauling of freight, except when overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at the intersection or into a private road or driveway. (b) Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a vehicle shall be driven in the right-hand lane available for traffic, except: (1) When the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic while under construction or repair; (2) Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon; or (3) Upon a roadway designated by signs for one-way traffic. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-36-050 Overtaking school bus.

9-36-050 Overtaking school bus. (a) The driver of a vehicle on a roadway, upon meeting or overtaking, from either direction, any school bus which has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children, shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus where there is in operation on the school bus a visual signal as specified in Section 12-805 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, and the driver shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion, or the school bus driver signals the driver to proceed, or the visual signals are no longer actuated. (b) Every bus used for the transportation of school children shall bear upon the front and rear thereof plainly visible signs containing the words "school bus" in letters not less than eight inches in height and in addition shall be equipped with visual signals, meeting the requirements of the Illinois Vehicle Code, which shall be actuated by the school bus whenever the brakes are applied. (c) The driver of a vehicle upon a street or highway of which the roadways for traffic moving in opposite directions are separated by a strip of ground which is not surfaced or suitable for vehicular traffic need not stop his vehicle upon meeting or passing a school bus which is on the opposite roadway, and the driver of a vehicle on a controlled access highway need not stop when a school bus is stopped in a loading zone adjacent to the surfaced or improved part of the controlled access highway where pedestrians are not permitted to cross such controlled access highway. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-36-060 Overtaking at crosswalks.

9-36-060 Overtaking at crosswalks. Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake or pass such stopped vehicle. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2645482Fetched: 10/24/2026