Is it legal to pass a motorcycle in the same lane as you?

• A. It is illegal to pass a motorcycle in the same lane.
• B. It is legal to pass a motorcycle in the same lane.
• C. You should always pass in the same lane.
• D. You should pass two feet to the left of the motorcycle.

Answer: (A)

Passing a motorcycle in the same lane is not allowed. When you’re traveling in the same direction as a motorcycle, you should only pass by moving into a different lane that you can legally and safely use, then resume in that lane after you’ve clearly cleared the motorcycle. Sharing a lane to pass leaves you with less room to maneuver and reduces the margin of error if the rider slows, shifts, or there’s debris in the lane, which is why the law discourages or prohibits passing in the same lane. The safer approach is to wait for a clear, adjacent lane to pass, or stay behind until you can pass safely. The idea of a fixed “two feet” offset isn’t a legal passing rule, and always passing in the same lane is unsafe and not advised.