Can you overtake by borrowing the lane with a yellow dashed line?
2 Answers
The yellow dashed line in the center of the road indicates that it is possible to cross the line for overtaking if safety is ensured. When overtaking, pay attention to the following: Reduce speed and honk: When passing a parked vehicle, you should slow down and honk (in areas where honking is not prohibited), observe carefully, stay alert, maintain a large lateral distance, and be prepared to brake at any time to prevent the vehicle from suddenly starting and entering the traffic lane, causing a collision, or the driver suddenly opening the door and getting out. Especially when overtaking a bus parked at a station, be extra cautious of pedestrians suddenly crossing the road from behind the parked vehicle. Situations where emergency braking is not needed: If you find obstacles on the left side of the road or the lateral distance is too small, making a side collision possible, try to avoid emergency braking to prevent side-slip collisions due to road camber. Instead, hold the steering wheel steady without turning it left or right, increase the distance appropriately in the shortest time, and then look for another opportunity to overtake. Never take the risk of forcing an overtake.
After driving for so many years, I do overtake by crossing the dashed yellow line, but only when it's absolutely safe. For instance, only when the road is straight, visibility is good, and there are no oncoming vehicles—otherwise, it's too risky. I remember once overtaking a slow truck and suddenly a car came speeding from the opposite direction; I had to brake hard. Since then, I only overtake when I'm 100% sure. On rainy days when the road is slippery or at night with poor lighting, I never attempt it—I'd rather wait a bit than rush those few seconds. Also, always check the rearview mirror to ensure no car is tailgating, use turn signals when overtaking, and make the move quick and decisive to minimize risk exposure. At the end of the day, just because the rules allow it doesn’t mean it’s risk-free—stay sharp and don’t act recklessly.
