After passing a car, when should you return to the right lane?

Returning to the right lane after passing a vehicle should occur only once you can see the entire car you just passed in your rearview mirror. This ensures that you have created enough space between your vehicle and the car you overtook. It’s essential for maintaining a safe distance and minimizing the chances of collision, as returning too early might disrupt the flow of traffic or create an unsafe situation.

Choosing to return to the right lane only after you’ve confirmed that the vehicle is clearly visible in your mirror allows you to properly gauge that you have sufficiently cleared the vehicle, ensuring you can merge without cutting them off or being too close. This principle of safety is crucial for all drivers to understand and apply to prevent accidents on the road.