Written by Gregory Monte.
While I didn’t do exhaustive research, a quick Google search revealed that many states have laws which direct how drivers should behave when “meeting” a vehicle coming in the opposite direction on a narrow road. The language was the same in each of the examples I came across:
“Drivers of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions, shall pass each other to the right, and upon roadways having width for not more than one line of traffic in each direction each driver shall give to the other at least one-half of the main-traveled portion of the roadway, as nearly as possible.”
Do we really need the State to pass a law to force selfish “road hogs” to mind their manners?
This law is similar to that silly Virginia car door law I wrote about last week: A Ticket for Improperly Opening Your Car Door? Another Silly Virginia Driver Law.
Here are some of the states that have instituted the “Road Hog Statute:”
Pennsylvania – Title 75, Section 3302
Minnesota Transportation Chapter 169.18 Traffic Regulations
Washington State Title 46, Section 61.105
New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1121
Maybe in the next legislative session they can all introduce a law to enforce the common courtesy of covering your mouth when you cough.
All sarcasm aside, the reason for this particular statute is probably the same as for the Virginia car door law – the police can use it to find someone at fault if an accident occurs. As a Facebook user commented in the thread for that Virginia post:
Casey Cyrus The law is simply put there so when someone opens a door into traffic and some poor innocent driver smashes through it, the police can find someone at fault. There is not a cop in this state that will go out of their way to write you a ticket for this unless you cause an accident.
Traffic Ticket Defense Blog 
2 thoughts on “The “Road Hog Statute” – A Motor Vehicle Law to Enforce Common Courtesy.”