Michigan Drivers Should Know This Quirky Driving Law from Ohio

It doesn't take drivers in Michigan very long to begin to navigate some of the state's quirks of driving like the Michigan Left. But what about the odd things that may happen on the roads when you cross a state line?

Ohio has a pretty tricky law when it comes to driving that most drivers aren't aware of.

The rule involves the double yellow line down the middle of a road.

The Standard Double Yellow Line Rule

You almost certainly learned in Driver's Education that a double yellow means Do Not Pass without exception. (A dashed yellow line in the middle of the road means passing is permitted by both lanes of traffic, while half dashed half solid yellow lines means passing is permitted in one lane and not in the other.)

Ohio? When it comes to the double yellow line, Ohio is a little different. In fact, different than every other state and province in North America.

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In Ohio, there is the ability to pass on a double yellow line.

A map from the Amazing Maps Facebook page shows how rare Ohio's exception to the double yellow rule is.

The red states/provinces are areas where no passing is permitted on a double yellow. Ohio's yellow means the move is permitted if the vehicle is travelling at a sufficiently low speed. In Pennsylvania its law is considered "ambiguous." While Ontario and Vermont don't make the move legal; rather, don't explicitly ban the double yellow pass.

Ohio's Unique Double Yellow Exception Explained

According to the Ohio State University Extension office, here are the conditions when passing on a double yellow is permissible:

• The slower vehicle is proceeding at less than half the speed of the speed limit applicable to that location.
• The faster vehicle is capable of overtaking and passing the slower vehicle without exceeding the speed limit.
• There is sufficient clear sight distance or center line of the roadway to meet the overtaking and passing provisions of the slower vehicle.

So, say you're driving in a 55 mph zone with a double yellow and come up on a slower vehicle you wish to pass.

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The other vehicle (likely a farm implement), would need to be travelling at 27.5 mph or lower. You would not need to exceed 55 mph to complete the pass and you would need to have a clear line-of-sight to ensure no one is coming in the opposite direction.

If you ever find yourself in rural Ohio farm country and behind a slow moving vehicle, be ready to pass with caution and legally.