Overtaking on the left, is it illegal or not?

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Of course, there are always slow cars on the right lane on the road, which makes us decide to overtake on the left.

But did you know that overtaking on the left is illegal? Why shouldn't you overtake on the left? Is it illegal? In which cases can you overtake on the left? Motorist will tell you in this article!

Overtaking on the left, is it illegal?

Many people may do it until it becomes a habit, so they think that overtaking on the left is not considered illegal. But do you know that overtaking on the left is definitely illegal because the Land Traffic Act of 1979, Chapter 2, Article 45, clearly states that "Drivers are prohibited from overtaking other cars on the left." If caught by the police, they will be fined 400 to 1,000 baht.

Why shouldn't you overtake on the left?

Overtaking on the left increases the risk of repeated accidents if there is an emergency vehicle parked on the side of the road or a car overtaking on the shoulder at high speed. As a result, we who are about to overtake on the left may not be able to stop in time and crash into a car parked on the side of the road or a car driving on the shoulder at high speed.

When should you not overtake on the left?

• When driving up a bridge, up a steep road, or on a curve
• When it rains, there is fog or dust because these things will make it difficult to see the road clearly
• You should not overtake within 30 meters of a crosswalk, intersection, roundabout or railway track
• Never overtake in the bus lane

As we all know, the condition of the left lane of the road in Thailand is usually not very good. Some areas of the road have potholes, scrap metal, manhole covers or debris from accidents, which can cause a flat tire, cause the car to lose control and overturn or lose control of the car, causing a breakdown.

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