Is Overtaking Allowed on Center Streets?
2 Answers
Overtaking is not allowed on center streets. Overtaking refers to the process where a following vehicle changes lanes to the rear side of the leading vehicle, passes it, and then returns to the original lane. The lane typically used for overtaking is the inner lane, which is closer to the center of the road and farther from the shoulder. Below are some driving precautions: Check the rearview mirror: When turning or changing lanes, you must use the turn signal, slow down, and always check the rearview mirror before turning. For left turns, primarily check the left rearview mirror; for right turns, primarily check the right rearview mirror; and for both left and right turns, check the interior rearview mirror. Do not fixate on the area directly in front of the car: When driving on a clear road, look straight ahead at a distance of 100 meters, avoiding staring at the immediate front of the car. Depress the clutch: Generally, when decelerating at speeds above 40 km/h, there is no need to depress the clutch first; wait until the speed drops to around 20 km/h before depressing the clutch. Steering: Turn the steering wheel slowly for high-speed turns and quickly for low-speed turns.
On central streets, I absolutely do not recommend overtaking. These areas are typically extremely crowded with both pedestrians and vehicles, making it easy to have an accident if you're not careful. Imagine suddenly having a pedestrian dart out while overtaking, or the car in front braking hard—the consequences could be severe. I once read a report where overtaking caused a chain-reaction collision, which is quite common. As an average driver, I choose to patiently follow the flow of traffic—safety comes first in the city. If you're really in a hurry, pick an open stretch of road or a highway to overtake. Get into the habit of checking traffic signs, like obeying no-overtaking signs when you see them. In short, slowing down is far more worthwhile than taking risks, and it helps avoid fines too. Spending a few extra minutes saves you a lot of hassle.
