Step 3 » GENERAL learning environment Category B (B, B1)

When overtaking bicycles or electric scooters there is a risk that those who drive these vehicles may lose balance or swerve suddenly to the left without making sure. Therefore the road traffic legislation imposes, starting from the end of 2021, the following rules for overtaking bicycles and electric scooters.

To ensure a proper lateral safety distance, the drivers of motor vehicles (except motor vehicles with two wheels), will perform the overtaking maneuver of bicycles or electric scooters respecting, besides the obligations regarding the overtaking maneuver, also the following obligations, depending on the speed at which they move (art. 118 paragraph 2 of the Regulation):

• when they move at a speed up to 50 km/h, they are obliged to perform the overtaking maneuver by crossing the longitudinal marking separating the directions of travel or the one separating the lanes on the same direction of travel;
• when they move at a speed greater than 50 km/h, they are obliged to perform the overtaking maneuver by crossing with at least half of the width of the motor vehicle over the longitudinal marking separating the directions of travel or the one separating the lanes on the same direction of travel.

In conclusion, if you move with up to 50 km/h you are obliged at least to cross the marking, and if you move with more than 50 km/h you are obliged at least to cross with half of the width of the motor vehicle over the marking. It must be remembered that these above are not just recommendations, these are obligations, and their non‑observance is sanctioned according to the law.

It must be remembered that in the case in which a road sector has this marking made with a continuous line overtaking bicycles or electric scooters can no longer be performed, because crossing or going over this continuous line marking is prohibited, and for overtaking these vehicles it is mandatory to cross or go over this marking. The only option, in compliance with the rules, is to drive behind these vehicles until the end of the continuous line marking and the beginning of the broken line marking that can be crossed and overtaking these vehicles can be performed lawfully.

These legislative provisions related to the overtaking of bicycles or electric scooters were added in 2021 in the road traffic legislation.

The correct answer is: A

Recommendations:

Rules regarding performing the overtaking maneuver - Audio‑Video Lesson --> Road Traffic Code - Overtaking

Defensive driving course --> Defensive driving course

Regulation** - Article 118

(1) The driver of a vehicle who performs the overtaking is obliged:
a) to make sure that the one who follows him or precedes him has not signalled the intention of starting a similar maneuver and that he can overtake without endangering or without hindering the traffic from the opposite direction;
b) to signal the intention of performing the overtaking;
c) to keep during the overtaking a sufficient lateral distance from the overtaken vehicle;
d) to re‑enter the lane or the initial line of traffic after he has signalled and has made sure that he can perform this maneuver in safety conditions for the overtaken vehicle and for the other traffic participants.

(2) For ensuring the lateral safety distance, when overtaking a bicycle or an electric scooter the drivers of motor vehicles, other than those that move on two wheels, perform this maneuver by crossing the longitudinal marking separating the directions of travel or separating the lanes on the same direction, with at least half of the width of the motor vehicle when its travel speed is greater than 50 km/h, or at least by crossing these markings when the travel speed is at most 50 km/h. (Paragraph (2) was modified and updated on www.scoalarutiera.ro on 06‑10‑2021)

** Regulation = REGULATION for the implementation of OUG 195/2002 updated (Road Traffic Code Regulation)