You could be fined £2,500 and hit with a driving ban for speeding when overtaking another car
SPEEDING while overtaking another vehicle can land you with a hefty fine and points on your licence. And you could even be hit with a lengthy driving ban if you break the speed limit when passing another motor. It’s a widely-held belief with many Brits that it’s legal to break the speed limit in order […]
SPEEDING while overtaking another vehicle can land you with a hefty fine and points on your licence.
And you could even be hit with a lengthy driving ban if you break the speed limit when passing another motor.
It’s a widely-held belief with many Brits that it’s legal to break the speed limit in order to safely overtake another vehicle.
But the common misconception is against the law and could find you in hot water with the police.
Under Rule 163 of the Highway Code, drivers should only overtake when it’s safe and legal to do so.
Although it advises motorists to move quickly past the vehicle in front when overtaking, the Highway Code also states the speed limit is the “absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at the speed irrespective of conditions”.
When drivers SHOULD NOT overtake
- If you would have to cross or straddle double white lines with a solid line nearest to you
- If you would have to enter an area designed to divide traffic, if it’s surrounded by a solid white line
- If you would have to enter a lane reserved for buses, trams or cycles during its hours of operation
- You should never overtake the nearest vehicle to a pedestrian crossing, especially when it has stopped to let pedestrians cross
- You must not attempt to overtake after a ‘No Overtaking’ sign, until you pass a sign cancelling the restriction
If caught speeding while overtaking, police can hit you with a minimum £100 fine and three points on your licence.
But depending on your speed, you could face a £1,000 fine on normal roads and a £2,500 fine on motorways, six penalty points and even a lengthy driving ban.
Recent Government figures reveal almost 8,000 vehicles were involved in an accident caused by overtaking n 2017.
Francis Noakes, driving instructor at Get Licenced, said: “From my own experience, I know many drivers incorrectly believe they are allowed to break the speed limit just to get past another motorist.
“But let’s set the record straight – this is nonsense. The speed limit is the speed limit, full stop.
“It’s the maximum you’re legally allowed to travel on that road, no matter what you happen to be doing.
“Overtaking is no excuse for speeding. And if you have to break the speed limit to perform an overtaking move, then you should think twice about doing it.”
the road laws you need to know
A spokeswoman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: “The basic, common sense message, is do not overtake unless you are sure you can complete the manoeuvre safely and without causing risk or inconvenience to another road user.
“Although you should complete an overtaking manoeuvre quickly, never exceed the speed limit for the road.”
You can also be hit with a £5,000 fine, nine penalty points and a driving ban if you drive in flip flops.