2025 Georgia Codes – Page 283

40-6-49

Following too closely

(a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and pru-
dent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.
(b) The driver of any motor vehicle which is drawing another vehicle when traveling upon a roadway outside
of a business or residential district and which is following another motor truck or motor vehicle drawing
another vehicle shall, whenever conditions permit, leave sufficient space so that an overtaking vehicle may
enter and occupy such space without danger, except that this shall not prevent a motor truck or motor vehicle
drawing another vehicle from overtaking and passing any like vehicle or other vehicle.
(c) Motor vehicles being driven upon any roadway outside of a business or residential district in a caravan
or motorcade whether or not towing other vehicles shall be so operated as to allow sufficient space between
each such vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy such
space without danger. This subsection shall not apply to funeral processions, parades, or other groups of
vehicles if such groups of vehicles are under the supervision and control of a law enforcement agency.
(d) Vehicles which approach from the rear any other vehicle or vehicles stopped or slowed to make a lawful
turn shall be deemed to be following for purposes of this Code section.
(e) This Code section shall not apply to the operator of any non-leading vehicle traveling in a coordinated
platoon. For purposes of this subsection, the term “coordinated platoon” means a group of motor vehicles
traveling in the same lane utilizing vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology to automatically coordi-
nate the movement of such vehicles.

40-6-50

Controlled - access highway restrictions

Driving on divided highwayDriving on divided highway, controlled - access roadways, and emergency lanes

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “gore” means the area of convergence between two lanes of traffic.
(b) Every vehicle driven on a divided highway shall be driven only upon the right-hand roadway unless
directed or permitted to use another roadway by official traffic-control devices or police officers. No vehicle
shall be driven over, across, or within any dividing space, barrier, gore, paved shoulder, or section separating
the roadways of a divided highway; except that a vehicle may be driven through an opening in such physi-
cal barrier or dividing space or at an established crossover or intersection unless specifically prohibited by
an official sign, signal, or control device. No person shall drive a vehicle onto or from any controlled-access
roadway except at such entrances and exits as are established by public authority. Except as provided for in
subsection (c) of this Code section, no vehicle shall be driven in an emergency lane except in the event of an
actual emergency.
(c) For purposes of this subsection, “transit bus” means a bus used for the transportation of passengers within
a system which is operated by or under contract to the state, a public agency or authority, or a county or
municipality of this state. If the commissioner of transportation permits the use of emergency lanes of a
controlled-access roadway by transit buses in the metropolitan Atlanta nonattainment area, the commissioner
shall designate on which controlled-access roadways the use of emergency lanes by transit buses may be
allowed and upon such designation the commissioner shall only permit the use on that emergency lane of a
transit bus with a seating capacity of 33 passengers or more. Transit buses authorized to use the emergency
lanes under this subsection may be operated on the emergency lane only when main lane traffic speeds are
less than 35 miles per hour. Drivers of transit buses being operated on the emergency lanes may not exceed
the speed of the main lane traffic by more than 15 miles per hour and may never exceed 35 miles per hour.
Drivers of transit buses being operated on the emergency lanes must yield to merging, entering, and exiting
traffic and must yield to other vehicles on the emergency lanes. Transit buses operating on the emergency
lanes must be registered with the Department of Transportation.
(d) Nothing in this Code section shall prohibit the use of a FlexAuto lane in the manner permitted under Code
Section 32-9-4.1.