How to Overtake in Subject Three?
3 Answers
After hearing the voice prompt to overtake, turn on the left turn signal, maintain it for three seconds, slow down, and confirm safety. You may honk to signal the overtaking intention to the vehicle being overtaken, and observe the traffic conditions behind and to the left through the rearview mirror. After the vehicle ahead yields, maintain a safe distance from the vehicle being overtaken, downshift, and then accelerate to overtake from the left. After completing the overtaking, turn on the right turn signal, return to the original lane without affecting the vehicle being overtaken, and turn off the turn signal. Pay attention to whether the vehicle being overtaken consciously gives way, accurately grasp the timing of overtaking, and also pay attention to the road conditions ahead of the vehicle being overtaken to ensure safe overtaking.
Overtaking during the test must be done safely and according to regulations. We’ve taken the Subject 3 test many times, and before overtaking, you must carefully observe the rearview mirror to confirm there are no vehicles behind or that the distance is safe—never act blindly. Then, turn on the left turn signal and wait for at least 3 seconds after the light is on, ensuring the following vehicles understand your intention. Next, accelerate smoothly, controlling the speed without exceeding the limit, and maintain a safe lateral distance when passing the vehicle ahead to avoid any contact. After completing the maneuver, immediately check the rearview mirror again, and when safe, return to the original lane and turn off the turn signal. The entire process should be fluid—avoid sharp turns or sudden braking. The most common points deducted during the test are forgetting to signal or not waiting long enough, so practice simulating this multiple times to become proficient.
I just passed the driving test (Subject 3), and my key takeaway for overtaking is to stay relaxed. During the exam, first quickly glance at the rearview mirror to ensure no car is approaching from behind—this point was repeatedly emphasized by the instructor. Then, activate the left turn signal without hesitation, wait a few seconds before steering to give yourself buffer time. When accelerating to overtake, hold the steering wheel steadily without swerving, and maintain a moderate speed—no need to exceed. After passing, don’t rush to return; confirm safety again before gradually merging back to the original lane and turning off the signal. I lost points during my test due to nervousness and forgetting to wait for the signal duration, so memorize this process thoroughly. The actual maneuver isn’t hard, but details make or break it.
