Circumstances where right side overtaking is allowed in Vietnam

Circumstances where right side overtaking is allowed in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet responded as follows:

1. Circumstances where right side overtaking is allowed in Vietnam

According to Article 14 of the Law on Road Traffic 2008, regulations on overtaking are as follows:

- Before overtaking a vehicle shall give a signal by means of light or horn; from 22.00 hrs to 05.00 hrs in urban centers and populous areas, only light signals can be used for this purpose.

- The overtaking vehicle may overtake only where there is no obstacle ahead, no oncoming vehicle in the road section intended for overtaking and the vehicle ahead has not given a signal to overtake another and has moved toward the right side.

- When there is a vehicle intending to overtake, if safety can be assured, the operator of the vehicle ahead shall slow down, move close to the right of the carriageway till the following vehicle has passed and may not cause obstructions to the overtaking vehicle.

- When overtaking, a vehicle shall do so on the left side, except for the following cases where it can overtake on the right side:

+ When the vehicle ahead has given a signal to turn left or is turning left;

+ When a tram is running in the middle of the road;

+ When a special-use vehicle is operating on the road, making overtaking on the left impossible.

- Overtaking is forbidden in the following cases:

+ The conditions prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 14 of the Law on Road Traffic 2008 are not met;

+ There is only a single line of vehicular traffic on a narrow bridge;

+ On a bend, at the crest of a slope and at a place with insufficient visibility;

+ At an intersection or a level crossing between a road and a railroad track;

+ When weather conditions or road conditions do not ensure safe overtaking;

+ A priority vehicle is emitting a priority signal.

2. Regulations on change of direction in Vietnam

Regulations on vehicle redirection according to Article 15 of the Law on Road Traffic 2008 are as follows:

- When wishing to change direction, the operator shall slow down and give a signal of the turning direction.

- While changing direction, the driver or operator of a special-use vehicle shall allow pedestrians and bicycle riders moving on the road sections reserved for them to pass, give way to oncoming vehicles and shall change direction only when seeing that his/her vehicle does not obstruct or endanger people and other vehicles.

- In residential areas, the driver may make U-turns only at intersections and places with a sign permitting U-turns.

- It is prohibited to make U-turns at road sections reserved for pedestrians to cross, on bridges, at bridge heads, under flyovers, at undergrounds, in road tunnels, on expressways, at level crossings between a road and a railroad track, on narrow roads, steep roads or on bends with insufficient visibility.

3. Regulations on passing of oncoming traffic in Vietnam

Regulations on avoiding vehicles traveling in the opposite direction according to Article 17 of the Law on Road Traffic 2008 are as follows:

- On a road which is not divided into two separate directions of traffic, when passing an oncoming vehicle, the operator shall slow down and move to the right along his/her direction of traffic.

- Cases of giving way when passing an oncoming vehicle:

+ At a narrow road section which permits only one vehicle to move and where a lay-by is available, the vehicle which is closer to the lay-by shall pull in to the lay-by, allowing the other vehicle to pass;

+ The vehicle moving downhill shall allow the vehicle moving uphill to pass;

+ The vehicle facing an obstruction ahead shall allow the other vehicle to pass.

- When passing each other, two motor vehicles moving in the opposite directions may not use the driving lamp.

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