In the presented situation, should you increase the distance when passing these vehicles?
Show the correct answer
Correct answer
YES
Explanation
In the video you are driving on a two-way road with lanes separated by a broken line; at the right edge of the roadway there are parked cars, including a yellow minibus, and people are standing next to them. When passing (going around) these vehicles, you should increase the distance, because the people by the cars may step onto the roadway or open a door at any moment. The answer is: yes.
The Road Traffic Act requires the driver, when going around a stationary vehicle or obstacle, to keep a safe distance from the vehicle, road user or obstacle being passed, and to reduce speed if necessary; the principle of limited trust also applies - you may assume that others obey the rules, unless the circumstances show that they may behave differently. People busy talking or loading luggage do not look at the road, and an opening door sticks out a metre into the roadway. A safe distance in such a situation is more than usual - you move to the left as far as the oncoming traffic allows, slow down and keep your foot over the brake, and if a car coming from the opposite direction does not let you increase the distance, you wait behind the parked vehicles until it has passed.
Legal basis: Art. 23 para. 1 point 2 and Art. 4 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)