Can you speed to pass a vehicle on a Missouri road? Here’s what the state law says
Most Missouri drivers have felt this pain before:
You’re running late for a meeting and you find yourself stuck behind someone going too slow on the road. But to pass the vehicle, you consider going over the speed limit.
Should you do it? More importantly, is it legal for you to do? Here’s what Missouri law says.
CAN YOU LEGALLY SPEED TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE ROAD IN MISSOURI?
If you need to pass someone on a Missouri road or highway, don’t speed up to do it.
Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson Corporal Justin Ewing said to The Star in August 2023 that driving faster than the posted speed limits on signs is a violation, even if it’s just 1 mph over. That means if you get caught going 56 mph in a 55 mph zone, an officer can issue a citation .
The penalties get more severe for drivers exceeding the speed limit by 6 mph or more.
Drivers can also receive infractions for going too slow. Missouri has minimum speed limits on its highways, and Ewing said you could be cited for impeding traffic.
WHAT DOES MISSOURI LAW SAY ABOUT DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE?
You should not be driving in the left lane for long, according to a 2010 law. With some exceptions, you should only use the left lane to pass drivers in the right lane.
Missouri statute 304.015 says vehicles should drive on the right half of a roadway except when:
- Passing another vehicle
- Making a left turn
- Right lanes are closed for construction
- Driving on a one-way street
The rule applies to drivers on all public roads that are large enough, including highways of three or more lanes. There are other exceptions, including when officials are directing traffic or if an emergency vehicle needs to get by.
Drivers staying in the left lane is a common violation seen by Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson Sgt. Andy Bell. And it’s something the patrol gets a lot of complaints about, especially on major highways like Interstate 70 and Interstate 435 , he previously told The Star.
“You shall — you don’t have a choice — travel in the right lane unless you’re passing someone else,” Bell said. “If the speed limit’s 70 and you come up on someone going 65, turn on your turn signal, merge to the left lane to go around them, turn on your turn signal and merge back to the right lane.”
WHAT ARE MISSOURI HIGHWAY SPEED LIMITS?
Missouri has speed limits on highways that citizens must follow:
- 70 mph maximum on Interstates, like I-70, I-35 I-435 and some rural state numbered routes with four lanes.
- 65 mph maximum on U.S. Highways, like US-50
- 60 mph maximum on state-numbered routes, like MO-291
- 55 mph on state-lettered routes.
These speed limits can be lower in urban areas with higher traffic, according to Missouri Highway Patrol.
Ewing said counties can set speed limits for their county roads and general speed limits for roads where signs are not posted.
