Expected outcome / competence

Overtaking should only be carried out when it is safe to do so.

A sufficient safety margin should be left when other vehicles are being overtaken. Cyclists and motorcyclists need as much space as other vehicles; they can wobble or swerve suddenly.

Motorcyclist in traffic

Do not cut in too quickly after overtaking.

Care should be taken when the width of the road is restricted or when the road narrows. If there is an obstruction on your side or not enough room for two vehicles to pass safely, the vehicle should be prepared to wait and let the approaching vehicles through.

When turning right, other vehicles should not have to stop, slow down or swerve to allow the vehicle to complete its turn.

Assessment criteria (example = meeting)

Driving fault:

  • Late reaction when meeting approaching vehicles.

Serious fault:

  • Placing other drivers at risk by driving forward when they should have clearly given way

Dangerous fault:

  • Any situation brought about by the inability to meet approaching traffic that resulted in actual danger to the examiner, candidate, and the general public or property

Other faults:

Judgement when overtaking:

  • cutting in after overtaking
  • attempting to overtake in a hazardous place
  • unsafe overtaking

Meeting traffic:

  • failure to show proper judgement when meeting approaching traffic

Crossing traffic:

  • turning right across the path of oncoming road users

 

The above is taken from The Driving Examiners Manual.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-driving-examiners-carrying-out-driving-tests-dt1

Where appropriate it has been reformatted and edited so it only refers to the driving of ordinary cars (class b).