Amends existing law to require drivers to drive in the right-hand lane on multilane highways unless passing and to provide penalties for driving in the left-hand lane of a controlled access highway and impeding the flow of traffic.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE SENATE SENATE BILL NO. 1340 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO RULES OF THE ROAD; AMENDING SECTION 49-630, IDAHO CODE, TO RE-2 QUIRE VEHICLES TO BE DRIVEN ON THE RIGHT-HAND LANE ON MULTILANE HIGHWAYS3 AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 49-655, IDAHO CODE,4 TO PROVIDE A PENALTY; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFEC-5 TIVE DATE.6

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:7

SECTION 1. That Section 49-630, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby8 amended to read as follows:9 49-630. DRIVE ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY -- EXCEPTIONS. (1) Upon all10 highways of sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of11 the roadway except as follows:12 (a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same13 direction under the rules governing such movement;14 (b) When an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to the left15 of the center of the highway. Any person doing so shall yield the right-16 of-way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the un-17 obstructed portion of the highway within a distance as to constitute an18 immediate hazard;19 (c) Upon a highway divided into three (3) marked lanes for traffic under20 the applicable rules; or21 (d) Upon a highway restricted to one-way traffic.22 (2)(a) Upon all multilane highways, no vehicle shall be driven in23 the left-hand lane except when directed otherwise, preparing for a24 left turn at an intersection or private road or driveway, overtaking25 or passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or when26 right-hand lanes are congested. However, no vehicle being driven in the27 left lane except when directed otherwise or preparing for a left turn at28 an intersection, private road, or driveway shall impede any other vehi-29 cle that is traveling in the same lane and behind that vehicle.30 (b) Upon all multilane highways, no vehicle traveling in the left-hand31 lane shall be driven at a speed slower than any vehicle traveling to its32 right on the same roadway.33 (2) (c) Upon all multilane highways, any vehicle proceeding at less34 than normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the condi-35 tions then existing, shall be driven in the right-hand lane available36 for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge37 of the highway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle pro-38 ceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an39 intersection or into a private road or driveway.40 (3) No vehicle shall be driven to the left of the center line upon any41 highway having four (4) or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for42

2 two-way movement of traffic, except when authorized by a traffic-control de-1 vice designating certain lanes to the left side of the center of the high-2 way for use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such lanes, or except3 as permitted under subsection (1)(b) of this section. This subsection shall4 not be construed as prohibiting the crossing of the centerline in making a5 left turn into or from an alley, private road or driveway.6 (4) A violation of subsection (2) of this section shall be an infraction7 punishable by a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75.00).8 (5) The Idaho transportation department is directed to place signs on9 multilane highways, in an effort to make motorists aware of the provisions of10 this section.11

SECTION 2. That Section 49-655, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby12 amended to read as follows:13 49-655. MINIMUM SPEED REGULATION. (1) No person shall drive a motor14 vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement15 of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in16 compliance with the law.17 (2) Notwithstanding any minimum speed that may be authorized and posted18 pursuant to this section, no person shall operate a vehicle in the extreme19 left-hand lane of a controlled-access highway for a period of time that im-20 pedes the flow of other traffic traveling at a lawful rate of speed. A vio-21 lation of this subsection shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of sev-22 enty-five dollars ($75.00).23

SECTION 3. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby24 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after25 July 1, 2026.26