Home SECTION II ABOUT THE MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES CHAPTER VII OVERTAKING SECTION 5 OVERTAKING MANOEUVRES THAT IMPINGE ROAD SAFETY Article 87 Prohibitions

Article 87 Prohibitions

by Mark Nolan

1. It is forbidden to overtake:

 

A) On curves and changes of gradient of reduced visibility and, in general, in any place or circumstance in which the visibility is not good enough to carry out the manoeuvre or stop it once initiated, unless the two directions of movement are clearly delimited and the manoeuvre can be carried out without invading the area reserved for the opposite direction (article 36.1 of the articulated text).

You cannot overtake by driving behind another vehicle that in turn is overtaking, if this prevents you from seeing oncoming traffic. This happens with large vehicles; vans, trucks, buses … which, due to their size, prevent us from seeing what is in front of us, so we must let them pass in order to start the manoeuvre.

 

In accordance with the conditions of the previous paragraph, it is specifically prohibited to overtake from behind a vehicle that is performing the same manoeuvre, when the dimensions of the vehicle that carries it out first prevents visibility of the front part of the road to the driver of the vehicle that follows it.

B) In pedestrian crossings marked as such, at intersections with bicycle lanes, at level crossings and in their vicinity (article 36.2 of the articulated text).

However, this prohibition will not be applicable when the overtaking is carried out on two-wheeled vehicles which, due to their small dimensions, do not impede lateral visibility, at a level crossing or its vicinity, prior to the appropriate acoustic or optical signals. Neither will this prohibition be applicable in a marked pedestrian crossing when the overtaking of any vehicle is carried out at such a sufficiently low speed that they may stop in time if there is a danger of a pedestrian being run over.

 

C) At intersections and in their vicinity, except when:

 

At rotating circulation squares or traffic roundabouts

 

The overtaking must be made on the right, as provided in article 82.2.

 

The roadway on which it takes place has priority at the intersection and there is a specific sign that indicates so.

 

The overtaking is carried out on two-wheeled vehicles (article 36.3 of the articulated text).

 

D) In tunnels, underpasses and track sections affected by the signal “Tunnel” (S-5) in which only one lane is available for the direction of movement of the vehicle it intends to overtake.

 

2. Infringements of the rules of these requirements will be considered a serious matter, as provided in article 65.4.c) of the articulated text. Note that the reference to article 65.4.c) should be understood as referring to article 65.4.a), as established in the third final provision of this Regulation, introduced by section ten of the single article of the R.D. 965/2006, of September 1,by which the General Regulation of Circulation is modified, approved by R.D. 1428/2003, of November 21 (“B.O.E.” September 5).

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