Title 39, Motor Vehicles

1. An individual may not drive a motor vehicle at a reduced speed so as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law. 2. If the director and the superintendent of the highway patrol, ac…

1. The provisions of this title relating to the operation of vehicles apply to the operation of vehicles upon highways or other places open to the public for the operation of vehicles except when a different place is specifically referred to in a given section. 2. The provisions …

It is unlawful and, unless otherwise declared in this chapter or in chapter 39-06.1 with respect to particular offenses, it is a class B misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this chapter.

No person may willfully refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer or firefighter invested by law with authority to direct, control, or regulate traffic.

In addition to any special regulations, any person riding an animal or driving any animal-drawn vehicle upon a roadway must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except those provisions which by the…

1. The driver of a class A authorized emergency vehicle may: a. Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter. b. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation. c. Exceed the speed limit so long …

1. The driver of a class B authorized emergency vehicle may: a. Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter. b. Exceed the speed limit so long as the driver does not endanger life or property during the time of a local or national disaster. c. Disregard regulati…

All class B specifications apply to class C authorized emergency vehicles except that a blue flashing light must be displayed in place of an amber light as provided in section 39-10-03.1.

1. The driver of a vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an …

Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red, and yellow may be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word or leg…

Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" or the symbols of a walking person, symbolizing "Walk", or an upraised hand, symbolizing "Don't Walk" are in place, such signals must indicate as follows: 1. "Walk": Pedestrians facing such in…

1. Whenever an illuminated flashing red or yellow light is used in a traffic signal or with a traffic sign, it requires obedience by vehicular traffic as follows: a. Flashing red (stop indication). When a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicle…

When lane-direction-control signals are placed over the individual lanes of a street or highway, vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green signal is shown, but may not enter or travel in any lane over which a red signal is shown.

1. No person may place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any highway, any unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the mo…

A person may not, without lawful authority, attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, remove, or interfere with the operation of any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield, or insignia thereon, or any other part th…

1. Upon all roadways of sufficient width a vehicle must be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows: a. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing such movement; b. When an obstruction exists making i…

Drivers of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions shall pass each other to the right, and upon roadways having width for not more than one line of traffic in each direction each driver shall give to the other at least one-half of the main-traveled portion of the roadway as ne…

The following rules govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules hereinafter stated: 1. The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to…

The driver of a vehicle shall leave a safe distance when overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a roadway and shall maintain clearance until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle. "Safe distance" as used in this section means no less than three feet …

1. The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions: a. When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn; or b. Upon a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines …

No vehicle may be driven to the left side of the center of the roadway in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless such left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and…

1. No vehicle may be driven to the left side of the roadway under any of the following conditions: a. When approaching or upon the crest of a grade or a curve in the highway where the driver's view is obstructed within such distance as to create a hazard in the event another vehi…

1. The director and local authorities are hereby authorized to determine those portions of any highway under their respective jurisdiction where overtaking and passing or driving on the left side of the roadway would be especially hazardous and may by appropriate signs or marking…

1. The director and local authorities with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions may designate any highway, roadway, part of a roadway, or specific lanes upon which vehicular traffic shall proceed in one direction at all or such times as shall be indicated by o…

Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following rules in addition to all others consistent herewith apply: 1. A vehicle must be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and may not be moved from such lane…

1. The driver of a motor vehicle may not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway. 2. The driver of any truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle…

Whenever any highway has been divided into two or more roadways by leaving an intervening space or by a physical barrier or clearly indicated dividing section so constructed as to impede vehicular traffic, every vehicle must be driven only upon the right-hand roadway, unless dire…

No person may drive a vehicle onto or from any controlled-access roadway except at such entrances and exits as are established by public authority.

The director may by order, and local authorities may by ordinance, with respect to any controlled-access roadway under their respective jurisdictions, prohibit the use of any such roadway by any class or kind of traffic which is found incompatible with the normal and safe movemen…

1. The highway patrol or local law enforcement authorities having jurisdiction over a road may close a road temporarily due to hazardous conditions for the protection and safety of the public. If a closing is made, the authority ordering the closing shall make every reasonable at…

1. If a vehicle approaches or enters an intersection that does not have an official traffic-control device and another vehicle approaches or enters from a different highway at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the v…

A vehicle entering a freeway, as defined in section 24-01-01.1, from an acceleration lane, ramp, or any other approach road shall yield the right of way to a vehicle on the main roadway entering the merging area at the same time, regardless of whether the approach road is to the …

The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an im…

1. Preferential right of way may be indicated by stop signs or yield signs as authorized in section 39-07-03. 2. Except when directed to proceed by a police officer, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, or, if none, then at t…

The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a roadway from any place other than another roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching on the roadway to be entered or crossed.

1. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle displaying a visible flashing, revolving, or rotating blue, white, or red light, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as…

1. The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to any authorized vehicle or pedestrian actually engaged in work upon a highway within any highway construction or maintenance area indicated by official traffic-control devices. 2. The driver of a vehicle shall yield the ri…

The registered owner of a motor vehicle may not permit that motor vehicle to be operated in violation of section 39-10-26. If a motor vehicle is seen violating section 39-10-26, it is a disputable presumption that the registered owner of the motor vehicle permitted that violation…

1. If a motor vehicle is stopped, standing, or parked along the interstate system, or a multilane highway outside the limits of a city, with flashing hazard warning signals, the driver of an approaching or passing vehicle shall proceed with caution and yield the right of way by m…

1. A pedestrian shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device specially applicable to the pedestrian, unless otherwise directed by a police officer. 2. Pedestrians are subject to traffic-control and pedestrian-control signals as provided for in sections 39-10…

1. When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway…

1. Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway. 2. Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or …

Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter or the provisions of any local ordinance, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary and shall exercise proper precaution upon…

Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalks.

1. Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway. 2. Where a sidewalk is not available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk only on a shoulder, as far as practicable fro…

The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian on a sidewalk.