Which side should you overtake from?
3 Answers
Overtaking should be done from the left side. In regions where driving is on the right, the overtaking lane is the leftmost lane. Below are some related points about overtaking: 1. In regions where driving is on the left, the overtaking lane is the rightmost lane. According to regulations: "Overtaking from the right" while driving a motor vehicle results in 3 penalty points and a fine of up to 200 yuan. 2. The right side is the blind spot for left-hand drive vehicles, with severely limited visibility. The vehicle being overtaken may not notice a vehicle illegally overtaking from the right, increasing the risk of collision when changing lanes to the right. 3. Overtaking refers to the process where the 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.
After driving for so many years, what annoys me the most are those reckless drivers who overtake blindly! In our right-hand traffic country, overtaking must always be done from the left front. Why? Because the driver sits on the left, and the left side offers the clearest view to observe the actions of the vehicle being overtaken. If you squeeze in from the right, the blind spot can really screw you over. Especially on highways when encountering large trucks, if you overtake from the right, you can't see the broken-down vehicle ahead of it, and by the time you notice, it's too late to brake. Flashing the left turn signal three times in advance is an ironclad rule—don’t be afraid of wasting those few seconds; your life is far more important.
Simply identifying the left side is far from enough when it comes to overtaking. I always do two things before each maneuver: checking the rearview mirror to confirm a safe distance and observing the road conditions ahead of the vehicle being overtaken. Once during a road trip with a friend, he only noticed the empty space on the left and immediately stepped on the gas to overtake a truck, only for a broken-down car to suddenly appear in front of it. If I hadn't frantically honked the horn, an accident would have been inevitable. For highway overtaking, it's recommended to accelerate to 20km/h faster than the vehicle ahead to complete the maneuver quickly and safely. When overtaking a semi-trailer at the speed limit, it's best to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel to guard against crosswinds.