In this situation, when driving a lorry with a maximum gross weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes on an expressway, are you prohibited from overtaking another motor vehicle travelling at a speed of 75 km/h?
Show the correct answer
Correct answer
YES
Explanation
In the photo you see, from the cab of a lorry, a two-lane roadway of an expressway, and ahead of you in the right lane there is a dump truck. The ban on overtaking a motor vehicle travelling at 75 km/h applies to you - the answer is YES.
The Road Traffic Act prohibits the driver of a vehicle of category N2 or N3, that is a lorry with a maximum permissible mass over 3.5 t, from overtaking a motor vehicle on a motorway or an expressway with only two lanes in a given direction, unless the vehicle being overtaken is travelling at a speed much lower than the speed permitted for such lorries on that road. On an expressway the limit for a lorry is 80 km/h, and 75 km/h is only 5 km/h less - this is not a much lower speed. The ban also does not apply to the overtaking of vehicles carrying out cleaning or repair work with flashing yellow lights, but there is no such vehicle here. The rule is meant to end "elephant races", in which a lorry blocks the left lane for a long time. You may overtake only a vehicle travelling clearly slower.
Legal basis: Art. 24 para. 13 and 14 and Art. 20 para. 3 point 2 letter a of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)