Under what circumstances is it not allowed to overtake when driving a motor vehicle?
4 Answers
Driving a motor vehicle is not allowed to overtake under the following circumstances: 1. When the vehicle in front is making a left turn, turning around, or overtaking; 2. When there is a possibility of meeting an oncoming vehicle; 3. When the vehicle in front is a police car, fire truck, ambulance, or engineering rescue vehicle performing emergency tasks; 4. When passing through areas such as railway crossings, intersections, narrow bridges, curves, steep slopes, tunnels, pedestrian crossings, or sections of urban roads with heavy traffic where overtaking conditions are not met. When overtaking, the motor vehicle should turn on the left turn signal in advance, switch between high and low beams, or sound the horn. On roads without a central dividing line or with only one motor vehicle lane in the same direction, when the vehicle in front receives an overtaking signal from the vehicle behind, it should reduce speed and move to the right to give way if conditions permit. The vehicle behind should overtake from the left side of the vehicle in front after confirming a sufficient safe distance, and after establishing the necessary safe distance from the overtaken vehicle, turn on the right turn signal and return to the original lane.
I just got my driver's license and always remind myself not to overtake recklessly while driving. The instructor repeatedly emphasized that overtaking is absolutely prohibited in certain situations, such as on roads with blind curves where visibility is too poor to see oncoming traffic, and overtaking could lead to a direct collision; or overtaking at the crest of a hill is also very dangerous due to obstructed sightlines; near intersections where pedestrians or vehicles are entering and exiting, overtaking can easily cause accidents; in tunnels where space is narrow, overtaking can lead to sideswipes or even rear-end collisions; and in rainy or foggy weather with low visibility, overtaking is not recommended. Once, I was in a hurry and attempted to overtake in the rain, only to enter a curve and nearly collide with an oncoming car. Since then, I've strictly adhered to the rules. Safe driving is no joke, and I always make sure the view is clear and the road conditions are safe before overtaking.
After driving for so many years, I've witnessed numerous accidents caused by reckless overtaking. I've summarized several situations where overtaking is absolutely not advisable: areas with limited visibility like sharp bends or steep slopes, where the risk is too high; sections with intersections, where traffic flow changes rapidly, making overtaking prone to collisions; tunnels and narrow bridges with limited space, where overtaking could lead to chain accidents; if the vehicle ahead is already overtaking, following suit (known as 'overtaking the overtaker') increases the likelihood of accidents; overtaking is even more dangerous when there's oncoming traffic, especially on narrow two-way roads. In rainy or snowy weather, slippery roads and poor visibility make overtaking risky. Driving isn't about racing; always assess the distance and speed before deciding. Be patient—you'll always reach your destination safely.
I drive to and from work every day and make it a habit to avoid risky situations, knowing there are conditions for overtaking. For example, you can't overtake on curves where visibility is blocked; the same goes for hilltops. In urban areas, overtaking is prohibited at intersections or school zones due to heavy traffic and chaotic roads, which can easily lead to accidents. Tunnels are cramped, making overtaking prone to scrapes and collisions. Attempting to overtake when there's oncoming traffic is reckless. Always obey traffic signs like double yellow lines or no-overtaking signals. Driving isn't about rushing to go faster—safety is more important than time.
