In what cases is it not allowed to overtake?
Ms. Hoang Thi Hoai, residing in Quynh Luu district, asked: What rules must be followed when wanting to overtake a vehicle? In what cases is overtaking not allowed?
Reply:
According to the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024:
“Overtaking is a traffic situation on the road where each direction of traffic has only one lane for motor vehicles, the vehicle behind moves to the left to move in front of the vehicle in front.
On roads with two or more lanes for motor vehicles in the same direction, separated by road markings, the vehicle behind moving ahead of the vehicle in front shall apply the lane use rules prescribed in Article 13 of this Law.
Article 14The Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024 also specifically stipulatesovertake and give way to vehicles asking to overtakeas follows:
- When overtaking, vehicles must overtake on the left; in cases where the vehicle in front has a left turn signal or is turning left or when a special-purpose vehicle is working on the road and cannot overtake on the left, it may overtake on the right.
- The vehicle requesting to overtake is only allowed to overtake when there are no obstacles ahead, no oncoming vehicles on the road section intended for overtaking, the vehicle in front has not signaled to overtake another vehicle, has signaled to turn right and is avoiding to the right.
- When a vehicle requests to overtake, the driver of the vehicle participating in road traffic in front must observe the road ahead, if safe, must reduce speed, signal right turn to let the driver of the vehicle participating in road traffic behind know to overtake and stay close to the right side of the road until the vehicle behind has passed, must not obstruct the vehicle requesting to overtake.
In case of obstacles or insufficient safety conditions, the driver of the vehicle participating in road traffic in front must signal a left turn to let the driver of the vehicle participating in road traffic behind know that overtaking is not allowed.
- Vehicles requesting to overtake must signal with flashing headlights or horns, except for rudimentary vehicles without headlights and horns. When overtaking, vehicles must signal with changing direction. Turning direction signals are used, ensuring a safe distance from the vehicles in front and behind during the overtaking process; in urban areas and densely populated areas, from 10:00 p.m. the previous day to 5:00 a.m. the following day, only signals requesting to overtake may be given with lights.
- According to Clause 6, Article 14,The 2024 Road Traffic Safety and Order Law does not allow overtaking in the following cases:
a) When the conditions specified in Clause 3 of this Article are not ensured;
b) On a narrow bridge there is one lane;
c) Curves with limited visibility;
d) On two-way roads at the top of slopes with limited visibility;
d) At intersections, roads intersect at the same level as railways;
e) When weather or road conditions do not ensure safe overtaking;
g) When encountering a priority vehicle;
h) At the pedestrian crossing;
i) When there are pedestrians or wheelchairs of disabled people crossing the road;
k) In road tunnels.
