Overtaking at a junction, on a bend and at a zebra crossing

When are you not allowed to overtake?

You may not overtake in these six situations:

1. Just before or on a zebra crossing. The car in front of you can hide a pedestrian who is crossing.

2. If you have to cross a solid line to do it. See road markings when overtaking.

3. At sign F1 (no overtaking) if there is a motor vehicle in front of you. That is the round sign with a red car and a black car. See overtaking signs.

4. If someone behind you is already overtaking. Wait until they have passed, even if your indicator is already on.

5. On the left of a vehicle ahead that has moved left and signals to turn left. You may pass it on the right, if there is enough room.

6. On the right, except in the five exceptions for overtaking on the right. You do not overtake a slow driver in the left lane on the right either.

You also do not overtake when you cannot see far enough: at a bend, a junction or in fog. See someone merging? Give them room. How to do that is explained under merging and exiting.

When someone else is overtaking

Do you want to move left, but someone behind you is already overtaking? Stay where you are and let them go first. Check your mirrors and over your shoulder, even if your indicator is already on.

Are you being overtaken? Do not speed up. Keep your line and give room. If the other driver is not going to make it, slow down calmly so they can get back in front of you. Is an oncoming driver overtaking dangerously? Brake and move right if it is safe. Do not just steer onto the verge.

Passing a stationary vehicle

Pass a broken-down car or a lorry that is loading slowly. Watch for doors, people and pedestrians stepping out from behind it. Do you need to use the other half of the road? Let oncoming traffic go first. A solid centre line still applies, even with an obstacle.

May you overtake at a junction?

There is no separate ban on overtaking at a junction. But it is often not safe. The car in front blocks your view of side roads, cyclists and pedestrians. And traffic from the side cannot see you behind it. The same applies just before a junction.

Can you not see the whole junction? Then wait. You also only overtake a cyclist at a junction if you can see everything and do not cut them off. Keep to the priority rules, the lines and the signs.

May you overtake on a bend?

Only if you can clearly see all the road you need. An oncoming car can appear from behind a blind bend. Then do not overtake. A bend is not a separate ban. It is about your view, space and lines. You must always be able to stop within the distance you can see (Article 19 RVV).

The same applies in fog or other poor visibility. Can you not see far enough? Then do not overtake.

May you overtake at a zebra crossing?

No. You may not overtake a vehicle just before or on a zebra crossing (Article 12 RVV). This applies even if you see no pedestrian: the car in front can hide someone. Is a car standing still before the crossing? Do not drive past it.

The law gives no fixed distance, such as 30 metres. Look at the situation. Always let pedestrians go first when they are crossing or clearly about to cross.

How do you overtake a cyclist or horse rider?

Slowly and with plenty of space to the side. A cyclist can wobble or swerve. A horse can get scared. Is the road too narrow? Then wait behind them. Do not honk to make them move over. Only use the horn to avoid danger. A horse rider, or someone leading a horse, is also a road user with the rights of a driver.

Is a scooter overtaking a cyclist on a narrow road? Do not squeeze in as a third vehicle. Wait until there is room.

May you overtake with a trailer?

Yes, the same overtaking rules apply with a trailer. But your combination is longer and accelerates more slowly. So you need more time and space. While overtaking you do not go faster than your speed limit with a trailer. You can find it under speed limits with a trailer.

Want to overtake a lorry and the speed difference is small? Then it takes a long time. Only start if you have enough space. Are your car and trailer together longer than 7 metres? Then on a motorway with three or more lanes you only use the two right-hand lanes. You may not use the left lane, not even to overtake. Is there a lorry in front of you and another one in the right lane? Then stay behind the lorry. More rules are under overtaking on the motorway. More about driving with a trailer is under driving with a trailer.

Overtaking signs · Overtaking on the left and right · Overtaking by situation · Road markings when overtaking · Getting in lane