Under What Circumstances Is Overtaking Prohibited?
3 Answers
The following four situations prohibit the rear vehicle from overtaking the front vehicle: 1. When the front vehicle is an ambulance, police car, engineering rescue vehicle, or fire truck performing emergency tasks. 2. When there is a possibility of encountering oncoming traffic. 3. When the front vehicle is making a U-turn, overtaking, or turning left. 4. When the vehicle is passing through areas where overtaking is unsafe, such as steep slopes, narrow bridges, railway crossings, tunnels, intersections, pedestrian crossings, curves, or sections with heavy urban traffic. Below is the legal basis: According to Article 47 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law," the rear vehicle should overtake from the left side of the front vehicle only after confirming a sufficient safe distance. After maintaining a necessary safe distance from the overtaken vehicle, the rear vehicle should turn on the right turn signal and return to the original lane.
Never overtake on curves while driving, as your view is obstructed, making it difficult to see oncoming vehicles and increasing the risk of a head-on collision. Avoid overtaking at the crest of a hill or the bottom of a downhill slope, as a sudden appearance of a car can catch you off guard. Intersections or railway crossings with vehicles entering or exiting pose even greater risks. Overtaking in poor visibility conditions, such as foggy weather, nighttime, or rainy days with low visibility, is like gambling and often leads to major accidents. When the vehicle ahead is overtaking, if you follow suit, it becomes a double overtake, drastically increasing the risk of a rear-end collision. Narrow roads or areas with many pedestrians should also be avoided for overtaking. Wait patiently for the right opportunity—safety is always more important than saving a few minutes. Remembering these situations can reduce accident rates and make every drive more reassuring.
I often remind beginners that overtaking is strictly prohibited on certain road sections. On curves and slopes, where visibility is limited, the law prohibits overtaking to prevent accidents. Near intersections, where vehicles frequently change direction, overtaking increases the risk of collisions. When there are no-overtaking signs or markings on the road, forcing an overtake can result in a ticket. In poor visibility conditions such as heavy fog or darkness, traffic rules require slowing down and yielding. Another point is that when the vehicle ahead is in the process of overtaking, you should not follow closely to overtake, as this significantly increases the chance of a chain-reaction rear-end collision. In these situations, maintaining a safe distance and driving at a reduced speed is the wisest choice. Violating these rules not only leads to fines but also endangers your life and the lives of others. Following traffic regulations is a sign of responsibility and a fundamental aspect of good driving etiquette.
