Passing oncoming traffic: keep right, without getting squeezed
⏱️ 3 min read
Passing oncoming traffic means meeting a road user coming from the opposite direction. On a moped, you're on both sides of the rule: you must keep right like any driver, and cars must leave you a proper gap. Here are the two sides of the coin.
✨ Key takeaways
- You pass oncoming traffic on the right, you overtake on the left.
- Narrow carriageway: keep right, slow down, stop if you have to.
- Obstacle on your side = you give way; B19 = you give way, B21 = you go.
- Others must leave you 1 m (built-up area) or 1.50 m (outside built-up areas) when passing or overtaking you.
- Steep slope: the one going downhill reverses in principle.
Passing oncoming traffic is not overtaking
Two road users travelling in opposite directions who meet: that's passing oncoming traffic, and it's done on the right. Two road users going in the same direction where one passes the other: that's overtaking, and it's done on the left. The exam loves to mix the two up — keep this anchor: pass oncoming traffic on the right, overtake on the left.
The basic rule
When a vehicle approaches from the opposite direction, you keep right to leave it enough room. If the carriageway is too narrow, you slow down and, if necessary, stop. On a moped, don't hug the edge for all that: manhole covers, gravel and kerbs are exactly there. Keep a safety margin between you and the edge of the carriageway.
Good news: the law requires drivers who pass or overtake you to keep a minimum lateral clearance from vulnerable road users — including moped riders: at least 1 metre in built-up areas and 1.50 metres outside built-up areas. And you, apply the same logic when you pass a pedestrian or a cyclist coming the other way: slow down and give them a wide berth.
An obstacle on your side? You give way
A parked van, roadworks, a skip: if the obstacle is on your half of the carriageway and you have to encroach on the opposite lane to get round it, you give way to oncoming traffic. You wait until it's clear, then go round.
At certain narrowings, a sign settles it: B19 (round, red border) = you give way to oncoming traffic; B21 (blue square) = you have priority of passage. Without a sign, the obstacle rule applies.
Special cases to know
- Steep slope, passing impossible: in principle it's the vehicle going downhill that reverses, unless it's clearly easier for the one going uphill.
- Trams: you pass (and overtake) them on the right in principle — a tram can't move away from its rails, so it's up to you to adapt.
- Long vehicles in bends: the rear of a lorry "cuts" the curve. Slow down and let it through rather than committing to a shrinking gap.
A car is parked in your lane. A vehicle is coming the other way. Who goes first?