Overtaking is a dangerous maneuver, so it is determined by law exactly under what conditions it can be done. Drivers who break the rules risk receiving a substantial penalty and even losing their driver’s license. For example, can drivers overtake on the tram line without getting fined?
The rules for overtaking are established by the Highway Code. These are taught at the driving school, both by the instructor who actually teaches the students to drive a motor vehicle, and in the legislation classes.
In addition, at the end of the training, a theoretical and a practical exam are held, during which the acquired knowledge is tested. So, including regarding the rules for making an overtaking.
What are the overtaking rules?
The overtaking vehicle driver is obliged to:
- ensure that the one following or preceding him has not signaled the intention to start a similar maneuver and that he can overtake without endangering or embarrassing the traffic in the opposite direction;
- signal the intention to overtake;
- keep a sufficient lateral distance from the overtaken vehicle while overtaking;
- re-enters the lane or the original traffic lane after signaling and making sure that he can perform this maneuver safely for the overtaking vehicle and for the other traffic participants.
In what situations is overtaking prohibited?
It is forbidden to overtake vehicles:
- in intersections with undirected traffic;
- near ramp tops, when visibility is reduced below 50 m;
- in curves and in any other places where visibility is reduced below 50 m;
- on uneven passages, on bridges, under bridges and in tunnels;
- on pedestrian crossings signaled by signs and markings;
- on level crossings with the current railway and less than 50 m before them;
- next to the tram station, when it is stopped, and the station is not equipped with a pedestrian shelter;
- in the area of action of the “Overtaking prohibited” indicator;
- when, in order to perform the maneuver, the continuous marking, single or double, that separates the directions of travel is violated, and the vehicle travels, even partially, in the opposite direction, or the marking that delimits the prohibited space is violated;
- when another vehicle approaches from the opposite direction, and its driver is obliged to perform maneuvers to avoid the collision;
- on the road sector where a queue of waiting vehicles has formed, if through this you enter the opposite direction of traffic.
It is also forbidden to exceed the official column.
Is it legal to overtake on the tram line?
Many drivers use the tram line to bypass the line of cars standing at traffic lights.
And in some situations they knowingly exceed the continuous line that delimits the area of the tram tracks from the lanes intended for vehicles.
Overtaking the column at the traffic lights is sanctioned with 4 or 5 fine points and withholding of the license for 30 days. Which means a contravention fine between 660 and 825 lei.
Can drivers overtake on the tram line without getting fined?
Although the movement of vehicles on the tram line is prohibited, there are situations in which drivers can use the space intended for public transport.
„On the public road with at most two lanes per direction and with a third lane on which the tram line is near the axis of the road, vehicle drivers can use this lane, with the obligation to leave the tram’s path free when approaching it”, it is stated in Article 103 of the Highway Code.
Which means that, as long as there is no sign prohibiting access, drivers can drive on the tram tracks. And in case of an overtaking, he must respect all other road obligations.
They must also pay attention to road markings. Often, the tram track is delimited from the road by a continuous line.
And for not respecting the continuous line marking, according to the Highway Code 2024, the penalty is between 990 lei and 1,320 lei. In addition, the license will be suspended for a period of 60 days.
Source: www.promotor.ro
