Overtaking

By the end of this topic you can

• You can decide whether an overtake is safe and legal.
• You can read centre lines to know whether you may cross them.
• You can overtake using a safe routine and return without cutting in.
• You can name the situations when passing on the left is allowed.
• You can help a faster vehicle overtake you safely.

What you need to know and understand

• Overtake on the right, except in a few set situations.
• You must not break the speed limit while overtaking.
• Do not overtake near a junction, a pedestrian crossing, a bend, a dip, a hump-back bridge or the brow of a hill.
• Do not cross a continuous white line, except in an emergency or for access.
• Where a broken line is beside a continuous line, obey the line nearest to you.
• Overtaking in prohibited circumstances carries 3 penalty points on payment of the fixed charge.
• On a 2+1 road, overtake only in the section with two lanes in your direction.

Ask before you pull out

• Is the road ahead clear for long enough to pass and get back without forcing anyone to move?
• Is there a junction, bend, crest, crossing or continuous white line ahead?
• Is anyone already overtaking me, or about to?
• Can I do it without going over the speed limit?
• If any answer is wrong, stay back and wait.

A safe overtake, step by step

1. Keep a safe gap behind the vehicle so you can see past it.
2. Check your mirrors and right blind spot.
3. Signal right in good time and move out when safe.
4. Pass with minimum delay, staying within the speed limit.
5. Check your left mirror, signal and move back in gradually once you are well past. Do not cut in.

Passing on the left and being overtaken

You may pass on the left only when the driver ahead has moved out and signalled to turn right and you are going straight on, when you have signalled to turn left, or when traffic in both lanes is moving slowly and your lane is moving faster.

When someone overtakes you, keep a steady speed, keep left, do not speed up and be ready in case they cut back in.

Common mistakes

• Following another car out into an overtake without seeing the road ahead yourself.
• Pulling out too close behind the vehicle, so you cannot see past it.
• Speeding up when someone is overtaking you.
• Cutting in before you have cleared the vehicle you passed.
• Crossing a continuous white line to pass a slow tractor or cyclist.

Test yourself: Overtaking

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Overtaking Rules in Ireland