The ‘Get-Out-of-the-Way’ Driving Law You Didn’t Know Minnesota Had

Did you know there's a Minnesota driving law that, in really simple terms, says you have to get out of someone's way if they honk at you?

There's other pieces to the puzzle, though. For example, this is only if you're in the left lane. There's also a part of the law that talks about the driver not being allowed to speed up. We'll get into all of that though so you understand this lesser-known law.

(I called it the 'get-out-of-the-way' law in the headline but that's not the technical name for the law, just so you know.)

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If Someone Honks at You in the Left Lane, You Have to Get Over

I found this interesting law on Meshbesher and Spence Lawyers website. In the article about lesser-known Minnesota driving laws, I saw this:

The driver of a vehicle must yield to those drivers who issue an audible warning (honking) while attempting to overtake their vehicle. Once the driver has yielded, they cannot increase their speed again until the passing vehicle has completely overtaken them.

This in reference to Minnesota Statutes § 169.18, Subdivision 3(2) which states:

except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible warning, and shall not increase the speed of the overtaken vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle

Ok, ok, what the heck does all of that actually mean?

Basically, if you're driving in the left lane (which you're not supposed to be doing unless you're passing someone) and someone comes up behind you and honks, you legally have to get into the right lane to let them pass you.

Then, in the right lane, you have to maintain the speed you were at until the car passes you. Then you can speed up if you want to.

Now, of course, don't be mean about it if you're the car honking. A polite little honk will do. Don't go laying on your horn at everyone, ok?