Overtaking

Overview

There will come a time when you need to overtake another car. There are several rules that allow or prohibit you from overtaking. This can be either road signs (No overtaking), road markings (Solid line), Or the traffic situation is unsafe. The following is a good guideline when you consider to overtake

Always overtake from the left (See exception for overtaking on the right)
Keep sufficient distances between you and the car you're overtaking
Ensure you have good visibility, in front of you and the whole distance that you will overtake (This means you need to be able to see far ahead and assess that there is no car that can drive into you as you overtake)

Correct way to overtake another car

Consider the following steps when you are about to overtake another car. Depending on the situation you may need to change the order activities

Drive closer to the center line and assess if the road is clear to over take
Check your mirrors
- Rear-view mirror
- Left side mirror
- Blind spot
Turn on your left indicator
Increase your speed. (Keep below the road speed limit)
- Change to higher gears if necessary to increase speed
- Flying overtake: If you are already driving at a high speed approaching another vehicle, its good just to overtake with the speed that you have without slowing down behind the car. This will safe fuel and be more environmentally friendly
Overtake the car. Check far ahead of you to ensure any car in front of you does not pose a risk or that you have not misjudged their initial speed
As you pass the car, check your right rear view mirror. Turn on indicator and turn into the lane. Ensure to give enough room for the car behind you

Overtake another car

How to act if another car overtakes you?

There will come a time that another car wants to overtake you. To make it safer for you and them its beneficial that you help facilitate the overtaking as much as possible.

If you see a car in your rear-view mirror wanting to overtake you. See if the hard shoulder is clear for a long stretch of road. (You are permitted to use the hard shoulder to facilitate an overtaking)
Keep your speed constant as the car behind you might drive into you if you slow down immediately. Only once the car behind you is busy overtaking you can you slow down your speed if necessary to help with the overtaking
You have to facilitate and assist an overtaking even if its illegal or dangerous to do so for the other vehicle

Overtake with hardshoulder

No overtaking (When arent you allowed to overtake)

When you see the no overtaking road sign
When its not safe to do so
When someone behind you is already overtaking you
In traffic queues where you it will be difficult to gain entry access again and you only gained a small amount of distance
When there is oncoming traffic
When there is limited visibility
At unguarded pedestrian crossings, bicycle passages & bicycle crossings. (There are exception to this, you are allowed to overtake at low speed)
- Exception 1: You can overtake if there is multiple lanes. The lanes must have different destinations
- Exception 2: You can overtake if there is multiples lanes and heavy traffic queueing in all the lanes
- Exception 3: You can overtake if there is multiples lanes and it is at a junction
On the right side
- Exception 1: You can overtake on the right if there are multiple lanes that have different directions
- Exception 2: You can overtake on the right if there is multiples lanes and heavy traffic queueing in all the lanes
- Exception 3: You can overtake on the right if there is multiples lanes and it is at a junction
- Exception 4: You can overtake on the right if there are two lanes going in the same direction and the speed limit is below 70km/h
- Exception 5: You can pass on the right if you pass a vehicle that is about to turn left
You are not permitted to overtake where the right-hand rule is applied. (Exception: You are permitted to overtake a two-wheeled vehicle)
You are not permitted to overtake at an unguarded railway crossing (Level crossing) (No gates or lights) (Exception: You are permitted to overtake a two-wheeled vehicle)

No overtaking

Common overtaking problems

Judging distances and speed can be difficult
Trams are overtaken from the right. (But not always)
Overtake road maintenance vehicles from anyside that is indicated or safest
Keeping the speed limit whilst overtaking

Calculate overtaking time gained

Example 1:

How much time do you gain per 10 km? If you are driving at 80 km/h and increase your speed to 100 km/h?

Current speed = 80km/h
New speed = 100km/h
minutes/hour = 60 min
Distance = 10km

60min / 80km/h = 0,75 min to travel 1 km ~ 45sec
60min / 100km/h = 0,60 min to travel 1 km ~ 36sec

45-36 = 9 sec gained per 1 km

Question asks how much time you gained in 10km
9secs x 10km = 90secs ~ 1,5min / 10km

Conclusion. You don't get that much time back. Also including the average flow of traffic waiting at traffic lights your time gained will reduce into an average time gained

Example 2:

How much time do you gain per 10 km? If you are driving at 110 km/h and increase your speed to 120 km/h?

Current speed = 110km/h
New speed = 120km/h
minutes/hour = 60 min
Distance = 10km

60min / 110km/h = 0,54 min to travel 1 km ~ 32sec
60min / 120km/h = 0,50 min to travel 1 km ~ 30sec

32-30= 2 sec gained per 1 km

Question asks how much time you gained in 10km
2secs x 10km = 20secs ~ 0,3min / 10km