132Keeping to the left of the centre of a road or the dividing line

132 Keeping to the left of the centre of a road or the dividing line

Rule 132(1) amended by S.R. Nos 35/2021 rule 5(1), 135/2021 rule 47(1).

(1) A driver on a two-way road without a dividing line or median strip must drive to the left of the centre of the road, except as permitted under rule 133, 139(1) or 144A(2).

1 Centre of the road*,* dividing line, median strip and two-way road are defined in the dictionary.

2 For the meaning of driving to the left of something, see rule 351(3).

3 Rule 133 deals with driving to the right of the centre of the road to overtake another vehicle, to enter or leave a road, to move from one part of the road to another, or because of the width or condition of the road. Rule 139(1) deals with driving to the right of the centre of the road to avoid an obstruction.

Note 4 to rule 132(1) inserted by S.R. No. 35/2021 rule 5(2), amended by S.R. No. 135/2021 rule 47(2).

4 Rule 144A(2) deals with driving to the right of the centre of the road to pass a bicycle or an electric scooter.

Rule 132(2) amended by S.R. Nos 35/2021 rule 5(3), 135/2021 rule 47(1).

(2) A driver on a road with a dividing line must drive to the left of the dividing line, except as permitted under rule 134, 139(2) or 144A(2).

Note to rule 132(2) amended by S.R. Nos 35/2021 rule 5(4), 135/2021 rule 47(3).

Rule 134 deals with driving to the right of the dividing line to overtake another vehicle, to enter or leave a road, or to move from one part of the road to another. Rule 139(2) deals with driving to the right of the dividing line to avoid an obstruction. Rule 144A(2) deals with driving to the right of the dividing line to pass a bicycle or an electric scooter.

The effect of this subrule, in relation to continuous dividing lines, is as follows—

• in the case of a dividing line that is only a single continuous dividing line, or that is a broken dividing line to the right of a single continuous dividing line, a driver may only drive to the right of such a line in the circumstances set out in rules 134(3) and 139(2) (as supplemented by rule 139(3));

• in the case of a dividing line that is a single continuous dividing line to the right of a broken dividing line, a driver may only drive to the right of such a line in the circumstances set out in rules 134(2) and (3) and 139(2);

• in the case of a dividing line that is 2 parallel continuous dividing lines, a driver may only drive to the right of such a line in the circumstances set out in rule 139(2) (as supplemented by rule 139(3)).