How to Drive on a Narrow Road

Before the Road Narrows

Slow down. It is too unsafe to drive fast on a narrow road. Worst case, you can end up off the road if you lose control. Keeping a slow speed is important, as well as being able to negotiate with other drivers.

Look for traffic signals. Sometimes, a narrow road will have traffic signals on either end to assign right of way to cars. If you see a traffic signal, make sure to stop before the stop line if it is red and to keep the exit to the narrow road clear.

Determine the flow of traffic. Some narrow roads are one-way, while others are two-way. If there is no sign indicating that the road is one-way, assume that it is two-way, and be prepared to stop if you see a vehicle coming toward you. If you see "Do not enter" or "Wrong way" signs, or if you see red bumps on the road, then you are entering the road in the wrong direction. K-turn and return where you came from.

Stop if you see a vehicle coming out of the narrow road. This will save you the inconvenience of having to reverse out because you do not have enough room to pass that vehicle.

When the Road Narrows

Continue at a slow speed. You need enough reaction time to be able to stop your car if a vehicle is coming toward you or if a pedestrian suddenly crosses. You risk running off the road if you have to swerve or getting into a head-on collision should a car continue towards you.

Watch for wildlife. In the countryside or mountains, deer, bison, boars, cattle, and mountain lions are a few animals you may need to look out for. If you see a wild animal, stop to let it cross.

Yield to pedestrians on the road. Narrow roads may contain a lot of pedestrian traffic, whether there are crosswalks or not. For example, in residential areas, you may find people walking to shops on the street. Even if pedestrians do not legally have the right of way, you should still give it because a pedestrian might not have enough time to recognize and respond to the presence of a motor vehicle, especially if they are very young, very old, or have a visible or invisible disability.

Give way to vehicles traveling uphill. Vehicles traveling uphill do not have as much control in reverse as vehicles traveling downhill; they can easily roll backward on a steep grade without realizing what is going on. As such, if you encounter a vehicle traveling uphill you should reverse until you reach a place where you can safely pull over and let the vehicle pass. Be wary of curves in the road that you will have to maneuver around. If a vehicle is at the base of a hill, it should give way to traffic coming towards them. If you see a car backing up on a narrow road, you will probably need to back up as well to a place where you can allow for oncoming traffic to pass you safely.

Give way to oncoming traffic if you can safely move aside. Turn your indicator on, check your mirrors and blind spot, and move to the correct side of the road. Let traffic pass, then continue driving once it is clear. In most of North America and Europe, allow traffic to pass you on the left side of the road. In most of Australia, Japan, India, Pakistan, and the UK, allow traffic to pass you on your right.

When the Road Widens

Move to the correct side of the road. You may see arrows indicating the correct direction for traffic. In most of North America and Europe, keep to the right side of the road. In most of Australia, Japan, India, Pakistan, and the UK, keep to the left side of the road.

Be aware the road may narrow again. The road may only have widened briefly to allow for oncoming traffic to pass safely. If you see the road narrowing again, pay attention to signals and the flow of traffic before continuing on, and let vehicles exit the road before you enter.