1. Maintaining Passing Clearance
① When passing an oncoming vehicle, maintain a safe distance between the vehicle and the oncoming vehicle.
② If any pedestrians or bicycles are near, a driver must also maintain a safe distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian or bicycle.
Passing oncoming vehicles when a safe distance is not available
① When a safe distance between the vehicle and an oncoming vehicle cannot be secured because the road is narrow or pedestrians or bicycles are proceeding, give way to the oncoming vehicle by bringing the vehicle to a stop, reducing speed, etc.
② Passing an oncoming vehicle while overtaking a bicycle, for example, requires attention to both, and is dangerous. First overtake the bicycle, then pass the oncoming vehicle, or first pass the oncoming vehicle, then overtake the bicycle.
2. Yielding Way When an Obstacle Is Present
When an obstacle is present in the course ahead, come to a stop or reduce speed beforehand and yield the road to vehicles coming in the opposite direction.
⚠️ Avoid speeding up in an attempt to pass beside the obstacle before the oncoming vehicle. It could cause a traffic accident with the oncoming vehicle.
The vehicle on the side of the obstacle yields the road.
Driving procedure for passing oncoming vehicles when an obstacle is present
When an obstacle is present in the course ahead, a driver needs to anticipate where the passing with the oncoming vehicle will occur and respond safely.
① Anticipate where the passing will occur based on the distance and speed of the oncoming vehicle, and judge whether there is enough room to pass safely.
② If there is not enough room to pass the oncoming vehicle safely, come to a stop or reduce speed and yield the road to the oncoming vehicle.
Special Situations for Passing Oncoming Vehicles
① Passing oncoming vehicles on a slope
When passing an oncoming vehicle on a slope, the vehicle going down should yield the road to the vehicle going up.
If there is a turnout near, even a vehicle going up should yield the road to oncoming vehicles.
The vehicle going down yields the road.
If there is a turnout, even a vehicle going up should yield the road to oncoming vehicles.
② Passing oncoming vehicles on a road with a drop (cliff) on one side
On narrow roads with a cliff on one side where there is a risk of falling and oncoming vehicles cannot pass each other safely, the vehicle on the cliff side should stop in a safe place and yield the road to the oncoming vehicle.
The vehicle on the cliff side yields the road.
③ When traveling upward slope at low speed with a heavy load
A vehicle with heavy cargo should move to the left side and yield the road to following vehicles because its speed decreases on an upward slope.
The vehicle loaded with heavy cargo yields the road.
④ Passing oncoming vehicles on a mountain road in rain or snow
Be careful not to move too close to the shoulder when passing oncoming vehicles, because the shoulder may have become more prone to collapse.
The vehicle on the mountain side yields the road. / The vehicle on the cliff side yields the road.
Summary: Who Yields the Road
| Situation | Who Should Yield |
|---|---|
| Obstacle present on one side | Vehicle on the side with the obstacle |
| On a slope | Vehicle going downhill (usually) |
| Turnout is available | Vehicle closer to the turnout |
| Cliff on one side | Vehicle on the cliff side |
| Heavy load going uphill slowly | Vehicle with heavy cargo |
Let's Try - Course Content 12
Check your understanding with right / wrong questions.
- ✓ RIGHT: While proceeding on a narrow road, there was a parked vehicle in the course ahead, so the driver came to a stop and allowed a bicycle proceeding in the opposite direction to proceed first.
→ The vehicle on the side of the obstacle should yield. - ✗ WRONG: When passing an oncoming vehicle in a place with an obstacle present, the vehicle proceeding on the side the obstacle has the right of way.
→ The vehicle on the side of the obstacle should yield, not the other way around. - ✓ RIGHT: On a slope, the reason that a vehicle going down yields the road to a vehicle going up is that it is difficult for a vehicle to start moving on an upward slope.
- ✗ WRONG: On a slope, a vehicle must give way to vehicles going up, the direction which is difficult to start moving, so even if there is a turnout close to the vehicle going up, the vehicle going down must yield the road to the vehicle going up.
→ If there is a turnout nearby, even the vehicle going up should yield. - ✓ RIGHT: On a road where one side is a cliff with a risk of falling and oncoming vehicles cannot pass each other safely, the vehicle on the cliff side must come to a stop and give way.