Avoid Fines – Little Known Traffic Rules Nº 3

This week´s episode is on OVERTAKING AND SIGNALLING. Maybe not so much little-known traffic rules, but hopefully it will serve to refresh your memory which is not a bad thing as for many of us the days of studying for our traffic exams are far in the past and road safety is not something to take lightly.

According to the Ley de Trafico, art. 19.4  and according to the Reglamento de Trafico, art. 51.1 when on a road outside city limits and overtaking with a motorcycle or car, you can go up to 20 km/h over the maximum speed limit, valid for the stretch of road you are on, if the vehicle you intend to overtake circulates with a lower speed than your own.  Only allowed on secondary roads and if the max. speed has not been altered (either restricted or increased) on a particular stretch of the road, as then the absolute maximum speed is that as indicated on the signs.

Overtaking, on all roads, by all vehicles, must take place on the left of the vehicle you want to overtake.
Only exception, and taking utmost care and if sufficient room to do so safely, on the right of the vehicle, only if said vehicle clearly indicates its intention to move to a lane on the left, or is indicating to stop on left hand side of the road.
Within city limits, if the road consists of 2 or more lanes for the same direction, and the lanes are clearly indicated by the white lines on the road, you can also overtake from the right, if it is safe to do so, for example to get into a seperate lane for turning right.

Signals to use when overtaking: indicator lights or when they are not present in the vehicle, hand movements, when moving laterally. We will stick to the indicator lights 😉 . Should remain on until you have positioned your vehicle in the overtaking lane. Off while overtaking, on again, but now indicating lateral movement back to your original lane, until you have returned to that lane.

Outside city limits, you can also use your claxon to alert the conductor of the vehicle in front of you, of your intent to overtake his vehicle. But do not exaggerate when a Trafico officer is nearby, as this can be cause for a fine.

If the road you are on consists of two or more lanes going in the same direction, you are allowed to continue driving in the overtaking lane as long as you are not hindering traffic behind you.

If traffic is very dense and vehicles in one lane drive along at a larger speed than those in the other lane, this is not considered overtaking. In this situation you are not allowed to change lanes unnecessarily, unless to exit the highway or to turn left or right when on regular road. Friends of mine were fined for staying in overtaking lane too long in just this kind of situation. Should not have happened!

If you are getting on or off a highway by the acceleration lane or exitlane respectively you are allowed to drive at a higher speed than the vehicles on the actual road, this is not considered overtaking.

When overtaking bicycles or scooters, you must leave at least 1,5 m safety distance between those vehicles and yours, using the contrary lane if necessary, but never hindering or endangering other cyclists or scooters making use of that contrary lane, not even if they are on the margens of the road.

When conducting a vehicle that is being overtook, you must move as far to the right of the road or lane as safely possible and are not allowed to increase speed or hinder the overtaking vehicle in any way.

When driving a car you are NOT allowed to overtake another similar or larger vehicle:
– in curves or in situations with bad visibity
– at same time as vehicle before you, when that vehicle is of a size that it limits your visibility of the stretch of road ahead
– when in tunnels or underpasses with only one lane for each direction
– on zebra crossings
– on or nearing intersections with railroads
– on or nearing intersections with cycle lanes
– nearing and on intersections in general except when they have a roundabout, or when you have to overtake from the right to get into the right lane for the direction you want, or when your lane has right of way that is indicated with signs

Overtaking in above mentioned situations is allowed when overtaking two-wheeled vehicles that do not limit your visibility.

The next episode will be about pedestrians.

Please note: The information provided is based upon our understanding of current legislation. It is not legal advice but is provided freely to enable you to be properly informed. We recommend that if you are considering taking action, you should seek professional advice.