Should You Overtake from the Left or Right Side?

[FelixFitz]

Overtaking should be done from the left side. Traffic safety laws and regulations stipulate that overtaking is only permitted from the left, and penalties are prescribed for overtaking from the right. Traffic police can impose fines on drivers. For safety reasons, it is advisable to overtake from the left side of the vehicle in front whenever possible. Basic Steps for Overtaking: The technique for overtaking can be summarized as follows: accelerate and merge into the adjacent lane, accelerate straight to pass the vehicle being overtaken, and then merge back into the original lane once a safe distance is achieved. The purpose of overtaking is to achieve faster passage. When to Overtake: Overtaking is appropriate when the vehicle in front is significantly slowing down the flow of traffic due to its own reasons, and there is a safe adjacent lane available. Generally, vehicles that are commonly overtaken exhibit the following characteristics: novice drivers hesitant to accelerate, slow-moving buses or trucks, drivers unfamiliar with the route, or those talking on the phone while driving. Overtaking should be completed safely and swiftly, requiring smooth acceleration and lane merging, all while ensuring safety conditions are met.

[DanielDella]

Having driven trucks for 15 years, I know the ins and outs of overtaking. In countries where traffic keeps to the right by law, overtaking must be done on the left, and China is one such country. Overtaking on the right is very dangerous because drivers have a larger blind spot on that side, making collisions more likely. When I overtake, I always check the rearview mirror in advance, signal with the turn indicator, and only change lanes when it's safe. After overtaking, it's important to return to the original lane promptly and not occupy the overtaking lane for too long. Actually, overtaking on the right is against the rules and can result in penalty points and fines if caught, not to mention full liability in case of an accident. Those who overtake from the emergency lane on highways are simply reckless.

[McAriana]

As someone who commutes long distances daily, I have deep experience with overtaking. Overtaking from the left is the safest because the driver's position is on the left, providing better visibility. Overtaking from the right is particularly dangerous due to the larger blind spot in the right-side mirror—if the neighboring car suddenly changes lanes, it could be disastrous. Once, I overtook from the right on a rainy day and almost sideswiped a truck; it still gives me chills thinking about it. Before overtaking, observe the movement of the car ahead, flash your headlights twice as a warning, and be decisive during the overtaking process. Remember, never overtake on a curve or at the crest of a hill—it’s far too risky.

[VonCorey]

The driving instructor repeatedly emphasized that overtaking must be done on the left side, as clearly stipulated by traffic regulations. In our country, vehicles drive on the right side of the road, and the left lane is designated for overtaking. Overtaking on the right is both illegal and dangerous due to the large blind spot on the driver's right rear side. When overtaking, you should turn on the left turn signal, ensure safety from the left rear, accelerate to pass, and then return to the original lane. At night, you should also switch between high and low beams to alert the vehicle in front. During my probationary period on the highway, seeing someone overtake on the right scared me so much that I could hardly keep a steady grip on the steering wheel.

[VonGemma]

I still remember an incident from my last road trip. I was driving in heavy rain, and the truck in front was moving too slowly. In a hurry, I tried to overtake from the right. As soon as I edged out, I noticed the right shoulder was completely flooded. The truck driver suddenly swerved right to avoid a pothole, nearly pushing me into the guardrail. If only I had overtaken from the left as per the rules. One of the most common mistakes new drivers make is overtaking from the right, completely unaware of how dangerous it is.