The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Subchapter
003
:
USE OF ROADWAY
(Cite as: 23 V.S.A. § 1033)
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§ 1033. Passing motor vehicles and vulnerable users
(a) Passing motor vehicles generally. Motor vehicles proceeding in the same direction may be overtaken and passed only as
follows:
(1) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking another motor vehicle proceeding in the same
direction may pass to its left at a safe distance and when so doing shall exercise
due care, shall not pass to the left of the center of the highway except as authorized
in section 1035 of this title, and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of
the overtaken vehicle.
(2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken
motor vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking motor vehicle
and shall not increase the speed of his or her vehicle until completely passed by
the overtaking vehicle.
(b) Approaching or passing vulnerable users. The individual operating a motor vehicle approaching or passing a vulnerable user
as defined in subdivision 4(81) of this title shall exercise due care, which includes reducing speed and increasing clearance to
a distance of at least four feet, to pass the vulnerable user safely, and shall cross
the center of the highway only as provided in section 1035 of this title. An individual who violates this subsection shall be subject to a civil penalty of
not less than $200.00.
(c) Approaching or passing certain stationary vehicles. The individual operating a motor vehicle approaching or passing a stationary sanitation,
maintenance, utility, or delivery vehicle with flashing lights shall exercise due
care, which includes reducing speed and increasing clearance to a recommended distance
of at least four feet, to pass the vehicle safely, and shall cross the center of the
highway only as provided in section 1035 of this title. An individual who violates this subsection shall be subject to a civil penalty of
not less than $200.00. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973; amended 2009, No. 114 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2015, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 39; 2017, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 40; 2023, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 44, eff. July 1, 2024.)