Overtaking - wikipedia Overtaking Not to be confused with overtaking criterion. `` Overtake '' redirects here. For the video game, see Overtake ( video game ). For the 2017 film, see Overtake ( film ). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2014 ) Purple car overtakes grey car. A car passes a truck. Battle for position between Kuba Giermaziak, Norbert Siedler and Nicki Thiim during the 2012 Porsche Supercup race at Silverstone Overtaking or passing is the act of one vehicle going past another slower moving vehicle, travelling in the same direction, on a road. The lane used for overtaking another vehicle is almost always a passing lane further from the road shoulder which is to the left in places that drive on the right and to the right in places that drive on the left. Contents 1 Rules of overtaking 1.1 In English speaking countries 1.2 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 2 Overtaking on the inside 2.1 Legal status by country 3 Overtaking road signs 4 Overtaking in racing 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Rules of overtaking In english speaking countries This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( October 2017 ) On a single carriageway / undivided carriageway road, the lane used for overtaking is often the same lane that is used by oncoming traffic, and it is often only advisable to overtake on long straightaways with plenty of visibility. In some jurisdictions, the `` overtaking zone '' is indicated by a single broken centerline ( yellow or white in most countries ) if overtaking is allowed in either direction, or paired with a single solid line beside it to indicate there is no overtaking from the solid side. In the UK, the format of the centerline is not used to regulate overtaking, only to indicate whether crossing of the line is prohibited or permitted. In the Republic of Ireland, many national primary roads were upgraded in the 1990s and 2000s to wide two lane road ( two lane road with space for three lanes, in addition to hard shoulders ) to allow more space for overtaking ( a very common manoeuvre in a country that had little dual carriageway until the early 2000s ). However, due to the deceptive perception of safety given by such roads, future upgrade projects are likely to be 2 + 1 road where traffic volume suits ( a successful pilot installation was used on the N20 near Mallow, County Cork ). This form of road is of similar profile to wide two lane, but includes a central crash barrier, and has three lanes, with an overtaking lane on one side or the other, alternating every 2 km. It has been used in Denmark and Sweden since the 1990s. On a dual carriageway / divided carriageway highway / motorway or arterial road, any lane can be an overtaking lane though in many places ( including Germany ) undertaking ( overtaking on the side furthest from the road centre line ) is prohibited. Lanes are normally separated by broken lines ( usually white ) but may be a single solid white to indicate lane - changing is allowed but discouraged. Double lines indicate that lane - changing ( for example to overtake ) is prohibited, such as in tunnels or sometimes for HOV lanes and HOT lanes. Overtaking in an HOV or HOT lane is usually illegal for cars that do not meet the HOV / HOT criteria, except when directed by the police. A few places also use the one - broken / one - solid marking at slip roads / entrance ramps, to indicate to highway drivers that the new lane merges and does not continue, so they do not attempt to overtake in a lane that ends shortly. This is also used at other points where lanes merge. Vienna Convention on road traffic In countries bounded by Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, article 11 stand that : `` Drivers overtaking shall do so on the side opposite to that appropriate to the direction of traffic. '' Driver should check some points, including : no following driver overtake, no ahead driver warned his intention to overtake, lane clear far enough ahead, availability to resume. overtaking on two - way carriageways might be forbidden according to the nearness of the crest of a hill or the longitudinal road markings the wide distance should be good Overtaking is usually forbidden in crossing Overtaking is usually forbidden where a pedestrian crossing is marked on the carriageway The one who is overtaken should refrain from accelerating. In fact each nation might have introduced some variations to this bases. Overtaking on the inside Overtaking on the inside or undertaking refers to the practice of overtaking a slower vehicle on a road using the lane that is kerb side of the vehicle being passed ; that is to say, a lane to the left of the vehicle in countries where driving is on the left, or a lane to the right of the vehicle in countries where driving is on the right. The practice of passing on the inside, therefore, usually only occurs on a motorway or other road where there is more than one lane in the same direction or when the width of the roads makes this possible ( although there may be exceptions in the cases of contraflow bus lanes ). Many countries consider overtaking on the inside dangerous and therefore designate it a driving offence, however most countries make the distinction between involuntary undertaking ( passing centre side vehicles in heavy traffic ) as opposed to the deliberate attempt to pass a slower moving vehicle for one 's own benefit. Legal status by country Australia and New Zealand -- Undertaking is legal on multi-lane roads, or where a car is indicating to turn right. Canada -- Varies by province. Denmark -- Undertaking is specifically prohibited, unless passing a vehicle clearly turning left or riding a bicycle or small moped. However, drivers may pass other vehicles to the right in certain circumstances ; these include heavy traffic where the speed is determined by the next vehicle and vehicles in reserved lanes. Finland -- Undertaking is specifically prohibited, except for inner - city traffic and vehicle waiting to turn left or on the motorway if the vehicles in the lane to the left are queueing and slow moving. France -- Undertaking is specifically prohibited, except for vehicle waiting to turn left or if the vehicles in the lane to the left are queueing and slow moving. Germany -- Undertaking is specifically prohibited, exceptions exist for inner - city traffic and overtaking trams and vehicles waiting to turn left. Hungary -- Undertaking is prohibited outside built - up areas. Inside built - up areas, passing on the right is permitted, but only if there are road markings. The undertaking manoeuvre in built - up areas are referred as `` driving in parallel traffic '' instead of `` passing on the right '' as it is used outside built - up areas. Ireland -- Undertaking permitted in three prescribed cases : 1 ) You want to go straight ahead when the driver in front of you has moved out and signalled that they intend to turn right. 2 ) You have signalled that you intend to turn left, 3 ) Traffic in both lanes is moving slowly but traffic in the left - hand lane is moving more quickly than the right - hand lane -- for example, in slow moving stop / start traffic conditions. Netherlands -- Undertaking is specifically prohibited, exceptions include vehicles waiting to turn left, traffic congestion and on roundabouts. Poland -- Undertaking is legal on 4 - lane roads in built - up areas, 6 - lane roads outside built - up areas and on one - way roads with marked lanes ( this definition includes motorways ). ( article 24 of Law on Road Traffic ) However, similar to the UK it is considered a dangerous practice and is discouraged. Spain -- Undertaking is specifically prohibited, except for inner - city traffic, passing a vehicle clearly turning left or in congested conditions. United Kingdom -- The Highway Code discourages undertaking on motorways with some exceptions ( rule 268 ) : `` Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake ''. Undertaking is permitted in congested conditions when frequent lane changing is not recommended. On other roads, the Code advises drivers `` should only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right '' ( rule 163 ). Rule 163 uses advisory wording and `` will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted '', but may be used in evidence to establishing liability in any court proceedings. On all roads, undertaking is permitted if the vehicles in the lane to the right are queueing and slow moving. Undertaking in an aggressive or reckless manner could be considered Careless Driving or more seriously Dangerous Driving, both of which are legally enforceable offences. United States -- Undertaking is typically allowed on multi-lane roadways or to pass left - turning vehicles. State laws can vary as to the situations that permit undertaking. Overtaking road signs Andorra ( no overtaking ) Andorra ( no overtaking by trucks ) Argentina ( no overtaking ) Argentina ( end of overtaking prohibition ) Australia Belarus ( no overtaking and speed limit ) Canada ( no overtaking ) Canada ( overtaking permitted ) Chile ( no overtaking ) Chile ( end of overtaking prohibition ) China Colombia Finland ( no overtaking ) Finland ( no overtaking by trucks ) Finland ( end of overtaking prohibition ) Finland ( end of trucks ' overtaking prohibition ) Greece ( no overtaking ) Greece ( no overtaking by trucks ) Ireland Japan Nepal Peru Puerto Rico Singapore South Korea Sweden ( no overtaking ) Sweden ( no overtaking by trucks ) Taiwan United Kingdom United States United States Uruguay Overtaking in racing Nico Rosberg overtaking Nick Heidfeld in the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix -- a Formula One race In racing, the rules allow overtaking from either side. Generally, the sides are classified as inside and outside overtaking, depending on the position of the overtaking car at the next curve since start of overtaking. The defending car usually blocks inside overtaking, because outside overtaking is riskier than inside overtaking. See also Automotive head - up display Driving Lane splitting Manoeuvre Throttle response References Jump up ^ Vienna Convention on Road Traffic Jump up ^ Inside refers to the edge of the road closest to the kerb and outside closest to the centre. ^ Jump up to : Drive Safe Handbook page 75 Jump up ^ Never undertake a Heavy Goods Vehicle Jump up ^ Article 21, Færdselsloven, LBK No. 1386 of 12 November 2013 ( in Danish ) Jump up ^ Article 24, Færdselsloven, LBK No. 1386 of 12 November 2013 ( in Danish ) Jump up ^ The Highway Code - Motorways Jump up ^ The Highway Code - Overtaking Jump up ^ The Highway Code - Introduction Jump up ^ California Vehicle Code § 21754 Jump up ^ Code of Virginia § 46.2 - 841 Jump up ^ Utah Code § 41 - 6a - 705 Jump up ^ New York State Law Title VII Article 25 Section 1123 Jump up ^ South Dakota Code § 32 - 26 - 27 Ian Walker ( August 2006 ). `` Drivers over taking bicyclists '' ( PDF ). Accident Analysis & Prevention. University of Bath. 39 ( 2 ) : 417 -- 425. doi : 10.1016 / j. aap. 2006.08. 010. PMID 17064655. -- a paper funded by the EPSRC to investigate how drivers overtake bicyclists `` 138 -- 145 : Overtaking ''. The Highway Code. Department for Transport. The National Safety Council ( NSC Ireland ). `` Tutorial : Overtaking : How to Overtake Safely ''. John Ryan -- Driving School Ireland. Brown ID, Tickner AH, Simmonds DC ( March 1970 ). `` Effect of prolonged driving on overtaking criteria ''. Ergonomics. 13 ( 2 ) : 239 -- 242. doi : 10.1080 / 00140137008931137. PMID 5432365. Wilson, T ; Best, W ( 1982 ). `` Driving strategies in overtaking ''. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 14 ( 3 ) : 179 -- 185. doi : 10.1016 / 0001 - 4575 ( 82 ) 90026 - 4. Tay Wilson ( 1998 - 03 - 30 ). `` Seniors ' driving style and overtaking : Is there a `` comfortable traffic hole '' ? ``. Contemporary Ergonomics 1998. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0 - 7484 - 0811 - 8. Hauer, E. ( 1971 ). `` Accidents, Overtaking, and Speed control ''. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 3 : 1 -- 13. doi : 10.1016 / 0001 - 4575 ( 71 ) 90016 - 9. Summala H. & Naatanen, R. ( 1988 ). `` The zero - risk theory and overtaking decisions ''. In T. Rothengatter & R. de Bruin. Road user behaviour : Theory and research. Assen Maastrich : Van Gorcum. pp. 82 -- 92. Driving Standards Agency ( 2005 - 03 - 15 ). Driving. The Stationery Office. pp. 119 -- 122. ISBN 0 - 11 - 552641 - 2. `` M - way overtaking ban for lorries ''. BBC News. 2004 - 12 - 03. Retrieved 12 October 2006. `` Lorry Operators Challenge M42 Overtaking Ban ''. Transport News Network. 2005 - 11 - 04. Retrieved 12 October 2006. Ewan Tytler ( 1999 ). `` The Responsibility of Overtaking ''. autosport.com. Retrieved 12 October 2006. `` US State Laws ''. External links Look up overtaking in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Overtaking. Advanced Driving UK - Advanced and Safe Overtaking Bob Kenyon ( 1996 - 12 - 19 ). `` Spanish no - overtaking road signs ''. -- a gallery of `` no overtaking '' road signs used in Spain Traffic law and safety Rules of the road All - way stop Assured clear distance ahead Australian Road Rules Boulevard rule Green Cross Code Move over law New Zealand Road Code Overtaking Left - and right - hand traffic Right - of - way School bus traffic stop laws Traffic code Turn on red Vienna Convention on Road Traffic Road user guides Driver 's manual The Highway Code The Highway Code ( Malta ) Road Users ' Code Rules of the Road ( Ireland ) Enforcement Impaired driving Breathalyzer Field sobriety testing Camera Enforcement Red light Highway patrol / State police Parking enforcement Road traffic control Textalyzer Traffic court Traffic guard Traffic stop Traffic ticket Warning Speed limit Advisory speed limit Assured clear distance ahead National Maximum Speed Law School zone Speed limit enforcement Speed limits by country Category : Speed limits by country Moving violations Impaired driving Canada United States Distracted driving Mobile phones and driving Texting while driving Reckless driving Street racing Tailgating Vehicular homicide Wrong - way driving Driver licensing Commercial driver 's license European driving licence Graduated driver licensing Inter-American Driving Permit International Driving Permit Learner 's permit Point system Driving licences by country List of countries by minimum driving age Traffic violations reciprocity Commercial Driver 's License Information System Driver License Agreement Driver License Compact Non-Resident Violator Compact Parking Alternate - side parking Decriminalised parking enforcement Disabled parking permit Double parking Parking chair Parking violation Wheel clamp Car safety Seat belt laws Click It or Ticket Clunk Click Every Trip Road safety Tachograph Digital tachograph Drivers ' working hours ( Europe ) Epilepsy and driving Hours of service ( US ) `` How 's my driving ? '' sign Old age and driving Sleep deprived driving Slow moving vehicle Vision Zero Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Overtaking&oldid=847795253 '' Categories : Road infrastructure Driving techniques Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from September 2014 All articles needing additional references Articles needing additional references from October 2017 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2014 All accuracy disputes Articles with disputed statements from February 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia বাংলা Čeština Deutsch Français Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Svenska Українська 中文 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 27 June 2018, at 20 : 39 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: which is the inside lane on a road
Answer: a lane to the left of the vehicle in countries where driving is on the left