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Overtaking

Overtaking is one of the most dangerous maneuvers on the road. Section 17 of Act 361/2000 Coll. establishes the rules for when and how you can overtake. Poor overtaking often ends in a head-on collision.

Basic rule: You overtake ON THE LEFT. Overtaking on the right is prohibited (with exceptions).

Explanation

RULES for Overtaking (Section 17)

Before starting to overtake, you must verify: 1. You have sufficient visibility - you can see far enough ahead 2. There is enough space in front of you for a safe return 3. NOBODY IS DRIVING in the left lane/oncoming traffic 4. The driver in front of you HAS NOT STARTED to overtake 5. The driver in front of you is not signaling left

Procedure: 1. Check mirrors and blind spots 2. Turn on the LEFT turn signal 3. Smoothly move into the left lane/oncoming traffic 4. Overtake with sufficient distance 5. Turn on the RIGHT turn signal and check the right side 6. Merge back into the right lane only when you see the entire overtaken vehicle in the mirror

WHERE Overtaking is Prohibited (Section 17, paragraph 5):

• At a pedestrian crossing and immediately before it
• At a railway crossing and immediately before it
• At an intersection (if you are not on the main road)
• Before the top of a hill (without visibility)
• In an unclear curve
• When visibility is insufficient
• Where you would have to cross a solid line (except when overtaking a cyclist)

Exceptions - overtaking on the RIGHT is allowed:

• When the driver in front of you is turning left (signaling) and you overtake them on the right
• In a turning or merging lane
• A tram is overtaken on the right (normally), on the left only if it is not possible on the right

DISTANCE When Overtaking A CYCLIST (Section 17, paragraph 6)

When overtaking a cyclist, the driver must maintain a safe lateral distance:

• At least 1.5 meters in normal cases
• At least 1.0 meter in areas with a maximum speed of 30 km/h

This rule is one of the most frequently violated! Drivers often overtake cyclists too closely, which is extremely dangerous. If there is not enough space on the road for a safe lateral distance (e.g., a narrow road with oncoming traffic), you MUST NOT overtake – you follow the cyclist until it is safe to overtake.

Fine for not maintaining lateral distance: 4,000 - 10,000 CZK.

Common mistakes

Common Mistakes:

1. "On a single-lane road, I can overtake in a curve if I drive slowly" - NO! Overtaking is always prohibited in an unclear curve.

2. "I can overtake before a crossing if no one is there" - NO! Overtaking before a crossing is prohibited regardless of the presence of pedestrians.

3. "I can overtake a cyclist even with a small distance if I drive slowly" - NO! Min. 1.5 m (1 m in 30).

4. "After overtaking, I can merge immediately" - NO! Merge only when you have a safe distance from the vehicle (you see the entire overtaken vehicle in the mirror).

Explanation

Road Traffic Rules Drive -lanes, overtaking I. Rules for Driving in Lanes and for overtaking 1. Lane Use and Parallel Driving Outside municipality: • Drivers must normally use the right-hand lane. • Other lanes are used only for overtaking, turning, driving around an obstacle, or turning around. Inside municipality: • Drivers of motor vehicles may use any lane (parallel driving). • If vehicles in all lanes block a faster vehicle from behind, the driver in the leftmost lane must move aside as soon as possible. Vehicles over 3,500 kg, longer than 7 m, special vehicles (tractors) and vehicles with max speed 45 Km/h: • In municipality, they may use the left lane only when needed for: ◦ overtaking, ◦ driving around obstacles, ◦ turning, ◦ turning around. • On roads with three or more lanes in one direction, such vehicles may use only the two lanes closest to the right edge of the road. Zipper Merge • When changing lanes, a driver must not endanger or restrict drivers in the lane they are entering. • When a lane ends, drivers in the through lane must allow vehicles from the ending lane to merge alternately, one by one. 2. Overtaking I. Basic rules and direction of overtaking • Overtaking is normally done on the left. • Overtaking on the right is allowed only in two specific cases: You may overtake on the right if the vehicle ahead is clearly turning left. If you are driving in an joining (slip lane, onramp) or exit lane, you may overtake a vehicle driving in the through-lane. Overtaking is not: • situations of parallel driving vehicles inside municipality, when vehicle in one lane is travelling at a different speed than other vehicles in the same direction • situations of parallel driving, when a tram, bus or a vehicle using a reserved lane is travelling at a different speed than other vehicles moving in the same direction II. General prohibitions on overtaking A driver must not overtake when: • Safe re-entry is not guaranteed - If you cannot safely return to your lane in front of the overtaken vehicle(s). • You would endanger or restrict oncoming traffic - You must not force an oncoming driver to brake or evade. • At a pedestrian crossing , cycle crossing and railroad crossing (and immediately before them) - Strictly prohibited. • Vehicle ahead signals a left turn - If the vehicle in front indicates left and you cannot overtake on the right (according to section I.2), overtaking is forbidden.

• Vehicle turning left
• In an joining or exit lane

How to remember it

Practical Summary:

Overtaking – safety rules:

Before overtaking, ask yourself: 1. Do I have sufficient visibility? (Can I see at least 300 m ahead?) 2. Is the oncoming lane clear for the entire duration of the overtaking? 3. Is the car in front of me not starting to turn or overtake? 4. Do I have enough power to complete the overtaking?

Where NEVER to overtake:

• Before a pedestrian crossing
• In an unclear curve or at the top of a hill
• At a railway crossing and before it
• At an intersection (if you are not on the main road)

Practical estimate: At 90 km/h, overtaking takes about 10–15 seconds and you need approximately 300–500 m of clear road.

What the law says

Verbatim text of Act No. 361/2000 Coll., on road traffic, as in force on 1 January 2026. Quoted in Czech — the Czech wording is the binding one.

Check what you remember

Five questions from the official bank. The answer appears only after you choose — try to recall it first, that is what makes learning stick.

1. Question 1 of 5

   A driver whose vehicle has stopped or was parked and is now pulling away from the edge of the road or from the pavement:

   Must give a signal indicating a change of direction and must not endanger or impede other road users.Does not need to give a signal indicating a change of direction and may impede other road users.Must give a signal indicating a change of direction and must not endanger other road users.

2. Question 2 of 5

   A motor vehicle driver may give a light warning signal by briefly flashing the full beam headlights or by switching between dipped and full beam headlights:

   Only outside built-up areas when overtaking to alert the driver of the vehicle being overtaken.Only to avert imminent danger or to alert the driver of the vehicle being overtaken.If they want to warn other drivers about a police check.

3. Question 3 of 5

   When exiting a roundabout, the driver:

   Must give a signal indicating a change of direction to the right.Is not required to give a signal indicating a change of direction.Must alert other road users of their intention by using hazard warning lights.

4. Question 4 of 5

   A driver entering from a private road onto another road:

   Does not have to give way to vehicles, horse riders, organised groups of pedestrians, or drovers with animals travelling on the road.Must give way to vehicles, horse riders, organised groups of pedestrians, or drovers with animals travelling on the road.Does not have to give way to horse riders or organised groups of pedestrians travelling on the road, but must give way only to vehicles travelling on the road.

5. Question 5 of 5

   Who is responsible for the correct installation and securing of a child car seat in accordance with the instructions for use?

   Always the driver of the vehicle.The legal guardian of the child or a person authorised by them.The person accompanying the child, and for an unaccompanied child, the driver.