Which side to overtake and which turn signal to use?
2 Answers
Turn on the left turn signal. Here is the relevant information: Regulations: The Implementation Rules of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China clearly stipulate: When overtaking, turn on the left turn signal; when returning to the original lane, turn on the right turn signal. This completes the entire overtaking process. Because overtaking is only allowed from the left side, driving from the left to the right lane in urban or highway multi-lane situations falls under the category of changing lanes and cannot be considered overtaking. Overtaking: First, determine your own speed. If the car in front is not speeding and can be easily overtaken, check your mirrors to ensure no vehicle is overtaking you. Then, turn on the left turn signal, move to the left lane, accelerate to quickly approach the car in front, and create a safe distance. Generally, maintain an appropriate distance from the car in front. After safely passing, turn on the right turn signal, check the right mirror to confirm safety, and then return to the original lane. Remember to turn off the signal light.
I remember when I first started driving on the road, overtaking always made my heart race. The instructor repeatedly emphasized that on Chinese roads, since cars drive on the right side, overtaking must be done from the left, which provides better visibility and is safer. So, when signaling to change lanes, you must use the left turn signal—the left indicator light turning on means I'm changing lanes to overtake. Before changing lanes, you need to check the rearview mirror and the blind spot to ensure no car is following too closely, then turn on the left signal a few seconds in advance and slowly move into the left lane. After overtaking, you should quickly turn off the signal to avoid annoying others by leaving it on. Honestly, once you get used to this habit, driving becomes much steadier; otherwise, reckless overtaking can easily lead to scratches or rear-end collisions. During the beginner stage, practicing more on open roads helps build confidence.
