Starting, Manoeuvring, Positioning and Overtaking
Starting and positioning
Before starting, the driver must signal, check mirrors and blind spots, and yield to traffic already moving. Vehicles must keep to the right-hand lane unless overtaking, turning left, or when the right lane is obstructed. On a road with three or more lanes in one direction, the left lanes are for overtaking and left turns; a slow vehicle must keep right.
Overtaking
Overtaking is prohibited at pedestrian crossings, at railway crossings, at intersections without priority signs, on bridges and in tunnels, and wherever a solid line or 'no overtaking' sign applies. Before overtaking, the driver must confirm that the lane ahead is clear, that no vehicle is overtaking them, and that there is enough space to return. Overtaking on the right is prohibited except where the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Traps in questions
A frequent trap is the 'overtaking at an intersection' rule - it is allowed at an intersection with priority signs if the road is a main road. Another is the 'simultaneous overtaking' case: the driver being overtaken must not accelerate. Questions also test the safe lateral gap when passing a cyclist or pedestrian (at least 1 m in a settlement, 1.5 m outside). Remember that a lane change is not an overtake, but it still requires signalling and yielding.
Rule of thumb
Signal, mirror, blind spot, manoeuvre - in that order, every time. If you cannot complete the overtake before a solid line, do not begin it.
Worked example
A driver wishes to overtake a lorry on a road with a broken centre line, approaching a pedestrian crossing. The correct answer: overtaking is prohibited at the crossing, so the driver must wait until past it.