Before overtaking

When driving in towns and cities, you may often find yourself in situations where you pass or overtake other vehicles. The urban environment makes overtaking especially demanding, as junctions, exits, pedestrian crossings, cycle passages and vulnerable road users can cause the situation to change quickly.

There are many rules that determine where and when you may overtake. However, the fact that an overtake is permitted does not automatically mean that it is safe. You must always make your own risk assessment and refrain from overtaking if it feels unsafe.

The basic rule is simple: "A driver may only overtake if it is safe to do so." –Trafikförordningen ch. 3, § 32

An overtake must always be both permitted and safe

Do you need to overtake?

In many cases, overtaking saves little or no time. If you are about to turn off or would only move a few places further ahead in a queue, overtaking is usually unnecessary. Sometimes, however, an overtake may still be justified. In that case, you need to know the rules and understand the risks you must watch out for.

A safe overtake requires planning and forethought. Before you start overtaking, you therefore need to quickly assess the following:

• Is overtaking allowed at this location?
• How far ahead can you see?
• Can you overtake without creating danger or obstruction?
• Is there oncoming traffic, and do you have time to complete the overtake before meeting it?
• Are there any junctions, exits, pedestrian crossings or cycle passages further ahead?
• Is there a risk that the vehicle in front will turn left or move sideways?
• Are there any obstacles at the side of the road that may force the vehicle in front to move out?
• Has a vehicle behind you already started overtaking?

If you have even the slightest doubt that the overtake can be carried out safely, you should wait for a better opportunity.

Always avoid impulsive, opportunistic overtakes – overtaking requires planning and forethought

Large vehicles

When overtaking a heavy truck, bus or other large vehicle, you need to allow for the fact that the overtake will take longer and require more distance than when overtaking a smaller vehicle.

Before you start overtaking a large vehicle, keep in mind that:

• Large vehicles can hide obstacles, road users and the road ahead.
• The driver may need to move out to the left because of an obstacle that you cannot see.
• The driver may not be able to keep far enough to the right to make your overtake easier.
• Heavy vehicles often increase their speed when going downhill.

Heavy trucks and heavy trailers have special reflective signs at the rear. These signs help you recognise that the vehicle or vehicle combination is large and long, which is important to take into account when overtaking.

Heavy trucks must have yellow rectangular reflective signs with diagonal red sections.

Trailers with a total weight of more than 3.5 tons must have yellow rectangular reflective signs with a red border.

Overtaking prohibitions

Certain places and situations involve particularly high risks when overtaking. Overtaking is therefore prohibited in several cases, even when it may at first seem possible to overtake.

The prohibitions mainly apply in situations with limited visibility, where you may meet or obstruct other traffic, or where vulnerable road users may appear unexpectedly.

It is prohibited to overtake:

• After the road sign No overtaking, until the prohibition ends. You may, however, overtake two-wheeled vehicles.
• Where visibility is obscured just before or in a curve or sharp turn – if overtaking would require you to use a lane for oncoming traffic.
• Where visibility is obscured just before or on a hilltop – if overtaking would require you to use a lane for oncoming traffic.
• When meeting oncoming traffic – if overtaking would require you to use a lane for oncoming traffic.
• If overtaking would require you to cross a solid line or drive into an obstruction marking.
• If the vehicle in front indicates that it intends to overtake or move to the left.
• If a vehicle behind has already started overtaking you.
• If there is an obstacle in the lane you intend to use during the overtake.
• If you cannot return to your lane safely after overtaking.
• Just before or at a level crossing without gates or traffic lights. You may, however, overtake two-wheeled vehicles.
• Just before or at a junction, if overtaking would mean passing on the left. You may, however, overtake two-wheeled vehicles.
• Just before or at an unsupervised pedestrian crossing, cycle passage or cycle crossing.

Even if none of the prohibitions above apply, this does not automatically mean that overtaking is allowed or safe. You must always make your own risk assessment and may only overtake when it is permitted and can be done without danger.

It is generally prohibited to overtake at an unsupervised pedestrian crossing, cycle passage or cycle crossing

Exceptions at pedestrian crossings, cycle passages and cycle crossings

The main rule is that you must not overtake just before or on an unsupervised pedestrian crossing, an unsupervised cycle passage or a cycle crossing.

In some situations, however, it is not considered overtaking when vehicles in different lanes pass each other. This is because the drivers are following their own lanes, rather than one driver actively moving out to overtake. This applies if any of the following is true:

• There is heavy queuing in all lanes.
• The lanes lead to different signposted destinations.
• The vehicles are in separate lanes in connection with a road junction.

If you pass another vehicle just before or on a pedestrian crossing, cycle passage or cycle crossing in one of these situations, you must drive slowly enough to be able to stop immediately for pedestrians, cyclists or riders of class 2 mopeds.

This means that you must not carry out an ordinary overtake at an unsupervised pedestrian crossing, an unsupervised cycle passage or a cycle crossing. The exceptions only apply in specific situations with several lanes, where vehicles pass each other at low speed.

Passing on the right side

Overtaking should normally be done on the left. When passing another vehicle, you must also keep sufficient side clearance.

In certain situations, however, you may pass vehicles on the right. On roads with at least two marked lanes in the same direction, where the speed limit is no more than 70 km/h, you may use the lane that is most suitable for your continued journey. This means that you can often pass vehicles on the right.

In built-up areas, you can therefore often choose the lane that best suits where you are going, and may pass other vehicles on either the left or the right. These rules are designed to reduce unnecessary lane changes, as lane changes in heavy traffic increase the risk of accidents.

It is also allowed to pass vehicles on the right side:

• When there are at least two marked lanes in the same direction with lane assignment signs indicating different destinations, and you are driving in a lane that leads to a different destination than the vehicle on your left.
• When there are at least two marked lanes in the same direction and there is dense queuing in all lanes.
• If the vehicle in front turns left or if the driver is clearly preparing for a left turn.
• If the vehicle in front is used for road maintenance (for example, asphalt paving or snow ploughing).

If a vehicle in front of you turns left, or if the driver is clearly preparing for a left turn, you may pass the vehicle on the right side

Aborting an overtake

If you have started overtaking but realise that it cannot be completed safely or within the rules, you must abort the overtake in time. Move back behind the vehicle you intended to overtake as soon as it is safe to do so.

You must always be prepared for the situation ahead to change. For example, a pedestrian may step out between parked cars, or a cyclist may appear where visibility is restricted. The vehicle you are overtaking may also need to move sideways or change position because of something you cannot see. You must therefore be prepared to abort the overtake if something unexpected happens.

Overtaking cyclists

When overtaking cyclists, you must adapt your speed and leave plenty of sideways clearance. If there is not enough space, you should wait before overtaking.

Cyclists may wobble or need to avoid uneven surfaces, drain covers, gravel, puddles or car doors opening. Be especially careful when passing children and older cyclists, as they may sometimes ride more unpredictably.

In strong winds, you must take extra care when passing cyclists, moped riders and motorcyclists, as the wind may cause them to wobble.

Read more about cyclists and moped riders.

Leave plenty of sideways clearance when overtaking cyclists

Passing road maintenance vehicles

You should pass road maintenance vehicles in operation on the side that is most appropriate for the situation. This means that it may be permitted to pass on either the right or the left, but only if it can be done safely.

When passing a road maintenance vehicle, you need to adapt your speed, leave plenty of sideways clearance and be prepared for the vehicle to stop, turn or move sideways unexpectedly. You must also follow road signs, signals and any directions given by road workers.

Keep in mind that people working on or near the road are particularly vulnerable. They may be close to traffic and cannot always keep full watch on passing vehicles. You must therefore pass with great care.

Trams

Usually, you should overtake trams on the right. However, on one-way streets, or where the position of the tracks makes it necessary, you may overtake on the left, provided you do so with great care. You must not overtake a tram just before or on an unsupervised pedestrian crossing, an unsupervised cycle passage or a cycle crossing.

When a tram or bus has stopped at a stop without a traffic island, passengers often have to cross the roadway to get to or from the vehicle. You must then stop and give them free passage.

Usually, you should overtake trams on the right side

When you are being overtaken

When someone overtakes you, you must make it easier for them to pass. Keep as far to the right as possible without creating danger or obstruction, and do not increase your speed. You must not make the overtake more difficult in any other way either.