Staying In Your Lane
ORS 811.370 and ORS 811.300 — within a single lane as nearly as practicable, and half the road to oncoming traffic
Within a single lane. On a roadway divided into two or more clearly marked lanes, a driver operates the vehicle as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane, and does not move from it until first making certain the movement can be made safely. Failing to is failure to drive within a lane, a Class B traffic violation.
A commercial motor vehicle in a multilane roundabout may use more than one lane where staying in one is not practicable.
Half the road to oncoming traffic. On a road with no more than one lane in each direction, a driver passes oncoming vehicles to the right and gives them at least one-half of the main traveled portion of the road as nearly as possible, unless a traffic control device directs otherwise. Failing to is a Class B traffic violation.
Passing, the left lane and lane changes on multilane highways are covered by other sections. Whether a particular drift out of a lane was practicable to avoid is a question of fact, and for a licensed Oregon attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- ORS 811.370 — Failure to drive within lane
- ORS 811.300 — Failure to drive on right of approaching vehicle
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Oregon attorney.