UK Overtaking Laws

Last updated on February 26th, 2021What does this mean?

Next up in our UK Driving Laws series, we’re taking a closer look at UK overtaking laws, and how to overtake safely on UK roads.

The dangers and statistics

Road safety charity Brake reported that in 2015, 1 in 7 drivers surveyed had been forced to swerve, pull over or brake to avoid a collision because of another motorist’s risky or aggressive attempt to overtake. They went on to report that 80% of surveyed drivers have felt endangered by their own or another motorist’s attempt to overtake. Shockingly, 94% of people surveyed had witnessed a dangerous overtaking maneuver.

In a separate survey, a risky attempt at overtaking placed fourth on a list of UK drivers’ safety concerns, with 66% of respondents citing it.

Overtaking is always problematic, but it is a particular problem on single carriageway country roads. Drivers attempt the maneuver too fast around blind bends, leading to many accidents and head-on collisions. Because of this, country roads are the most dangerous for all road users per mile travelled, and account for a staggering 52% of all fatal car crashes in the UK.

Risky overtaking can be fatal, and is as one of the leading causes of death when driving. A9 Road Info stated that up to 40% of deaths on single carriageway sections of the A9 in the last five years were caused by overtaking, with overtaking a vehicle in the offside one of the most dangerous offences. 80% of car occupants and 86% of motorcyclists who died while overtaking were attempting this maneuver.

When is it illegal to overtake?

There are very UK overtaking laws, with the main focus being on making the maneuver easier to predict for other drivers. The laws are as follows:

• Only overtake on the right.
• Do not overtake on the left, or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, you are permitted to move into the left-hand lane, even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right, however you should not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.
• You must not use a hard shoulder for overtaking.

If everyone abided by these simple rules, drivers would be much less likely to be surprised by another motorist’s sudden attempt to overtake, reducing the likelihood of accidents.

There are also situations when overtaking is in no way permitted. No overtaking signs, a solid white line, and a double white line on your side of the road all indicate that you can not overtake there (the exception being when you are straddling the double white lines to pass a cyclist on your side of the road).

It is expected that you carry out your overtaking maneuver in a safe, controlled way, and failure to do so will be deemed illegal and charged under careless driving.

How to overtake safely

In order to overtake a vehicle safely you should check:

• There is enough space ahead of you
• Road users aren’t beginning to overtake you
• There is a suitable gap ahead of the car you are attempting to overtake

When carrying out the maneuver ensure you:

• Don’t get too close to the vehicle you are attempting to overtake
• Use your mirrors
• Signal
• Check your blindspot
• Don’t assume you can follow an overtaking vehicle in front of you and there be enough space
• Move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking
• Take extra care at night or in times of poor visibility
• Give way to oncoming vehicles if you’re overtaking parked cars
• Only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is turning right
• Give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders the same amount of space you would give to a vehicle

UK Overtaking Laws – The penalties

The penalties for risky overtaking come under the charges of careless or inconsiderate driving and hold the following penalties:

For fixed penalties: A £100 fine and 3 penalty points.

For offences that are taken to court: Up to a £5,000 fine, 3-9 penalty points and the possibility of a driving ban, depending on the seriousness of the offence.

For causing death by careless overtaking: Up to 5 years in prison and a driving disqualification of at least one year

The Windscreen Company

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All statistics and figures were taken from independent research not carried out by The Windscreen Company and were correct on the date of publishing.

The Windscreen Company

The Windscreen Company

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The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.

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