When you're finished, you'll know how to:

• Decide when to overtake
• Determine how much clear space you need to overtake safely
• Use a routine for overtaking another vehicle

Deciding when to overtake

The most important part of passing another vehicle is deciding when it's safe, and when it isn't safe, to overtake.

There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding whether to overtake another vehicle:

• Check your speed. If you're already travelling at or above the speed limit then trying to overtake is not only unnecessary, it's probably illegal. Passing another car is no excuse for breaking the speed limit.
• Scan ahead at least 12 seconds to make sure there is enough clear road for you to pass. As well as looking for any oncoming vehicles, you’ll also need to look for any side streets ahead that vehicles may pull out from. And make sure there’s enough space for you to pull in front of the vehicle you want to pass.
• Check the road markings:
• A single dashed white line means you can overtake here if the road is clear and you can see far enough ahead.
• A dashed white line on your side and a yellow line on the other side of the centreline means you can overtake here but vehicles on the other side of the road can't overtake here. 
• A single yellow line on your side of the centreline or two yellow lines means you can't overtake here.
• Look ahead, do you have enough space to pass the vehicle? Remember, the faster the vehicle in front is going, or the longer the vehicle, the more space you’ll need to pass.
• Only when you've considered all these things should you look to overtake.

Remember – you don’t have to overtake. Overtaking generally involves crossing to the other side of the road, which can be dangerous and is a major cause of serious road crashes. If you’re not sure, don’t pass – it’s not worth the risk.

If you’re stuck behind a big truck on the open road, but you can’t safely see past it to overtake or you’re just not confident about it, just take a breath and enjoy the drive. There may even be a passing lane just around the corner. Just make sure you're leaving enough space in front of you for vehicles that do want to overtake.

Overtaking another vehicle

If you're stuck behind another vehicle and you've decided it's safe to overtake, the next step is to overtake safely and smoothly.

Here are the steps to follow when overtaking another vehicle:

1. Before you overtake, stay at least two seconds behind the car in front of you, in case they brake suddenly. If it’s a big vehicle, you may need to stay further back so you can clearly see in front of it.
2. If you're driving a manual, make sure you’re in the right gear to accelerate quickly up to the speed needed to pass.
3. All clear? If it is, use your three step routine to get ready to pass:

a. Mirror and shoulder: Look in your mirrors and over your shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle coming up to pass you.

b. Signal: Indicate right for three seconds before you speed up to pass.

c. Course: Check again that there’s enough space for you to comfortably pass and double check your mirrors and over your shoulder.

4. If it’s safe to go:

a. Accelerate and move quickly onto the right side and pass the vehicle.

b. As you pass, start signalling left and prepare to pull in in front of the passed vehicle when you can see them in your rear view mirror.

c. Check over your shoulder and pull back into the left lane.

d. Turn your indicator off and check your speed and following distance.

Be prepared to stop overtaking if you decide you’re not comfortable with the gap.

If you need to stop overtaking, press down on the brake pedal and pull back in behind the vehicle you were attempting to pass – you can try passing again later when the space is right.

Practising your passing

Safely overtaking other vehicles, like all good driving habits, takes practice. It's worth setting aside some dedicated practice time with your coach to master this technique.

Practise changing lanes on multi-lane roads before you try overtaking on a single-lane road. This way, you'll get used to the routine of overtaking without having to cross to the other side of the road.

When you're ready to start practising on the open road, make sure you take it slow. Take plenty of time to judge whether it's safe to overtake.

Remember that legally you need to be able to still see at least 100 metres of clear road ahead of you once you’re finished overtaking. This can be difficult to judge and sometimes cars on the other side of the road can approach more quickly than you thought, so it’s best to aim to leave at least this much space, if not more.

Don't hesitate to ask your coach if you're unsure.

You could even put a second driving coach in the backseat to help you judge the gap before you overtake, while your passenger coach keeps an eye on your passing routine.