K53 Rules for Passing on the Left: When Is It Legal in South Africa?
The foundational rule of South African motoring states that drivers must pass slower traffic on the right-hand side. However, the computerised DLTC learner's licence exam routinely tests candidates on the four strict legal exceptions outlined in the National Road Traffic Act (Act 93 of 1996), Regulation 298. Knowing precisely when you can—and cannot—undertake a vehicle on the left is crucial for scoring 100% in the K53 Rules of the Road module.
The Baseline Rule: Regulation 297 (Passing on the Right)
Under National Road Traffic Act Regulation 297, any driver overtaking another vehicle travelling in the same direction on a public road must pass to the right at a safe distance, only pulling back into the left lane once clear. Deviating from this without statutory authority constitutes an immediate traffic infringement and an automatic failure on official DLTC computerised exams.
Before exploring the exceptions, verify your baseline road knowledge using our Free 64-Question Computerised DLTC Practice Simulator, which replicates the Department of Transport's exact touchscreen testing environment.
The 4 Legal Exceptions Under Regulation 298: When Passing on the Left Is Permitted
Regulation 298 stipulates that no driver shall overtake to the left of another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, except under four narrowly defined scenarios. Every learner driver must memorise these exact conditions:
1. When the Vehicle Ahead Is Indicating and Turning Right
You may pass a vehicle on the left if the driver ahead has brought their vehicle to a stop or slowed down, is clearly signalling their intention to turn right (or enter a private driveway/property on the right), and has positioned their vehicle towards the centre line or median. Crucial condition: You must have sufficient room on the roadway (tarred surface) to pass without your wheels encroaching onto the road verge, sidewalk, or crossing a continuous yellow shoulder line (RM1).
2. Multi-Lane Carriageways with Demarcated Traffic Lanes
On dual-carriageway roads, urban arterials, or freeways where the road surface is divided into two or more distinct traffic lanes heading in the same direction (marked by broken white lane dividers, RM3), you may pass on the left. In heavy or slow-moving multi-lane traffic, vehicles in left-hand lanes may move faster than those in right-hand lanes without infringing Regulation 298. However, aggressive weaving across lanes remains an offence under reckless and negligent driving provisions.
3. One-Way Roadways of Sufficient Width
If you are travelling along a designated one-way street (indicated by regulatory sign R112 or R113) that is wide enough to safely accommodate two or more streams of traffic simultaneously, passing on the left is entirely lawful, even if lane markings are faded or absent.
4. When Directly Instructed by a Traffic Officer
If a uniformed South African Police Service (SAPS) member, municipal metro police officer (e.g., JMPD, TMPD, EMPD), or provincial traffic inspector explicitly directs you by hand signals or whistle to pass an obstruction or vehicle on the left-hand side, their operational directive overrides all default road markings and statutory rules.
Statutory Reference Table: Legal vs Illegal Left-Hand Overtaking
| Scenario | Is Passing on Left Legal? | Governing Statutory Law | Common DLTC Exam Trap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead bakkie signals right at a robot; road is wide | YES | NRTA Reg 298(1)(a) | Candidate assumes all left passing is forbidden. |
| Cruising along an N1 freeway lane demarcated with RM3 markings | YES | NRTA Reg 298(1)(b) | Exam tests whether 'keep left, pass right' makes this an offence. |
| Passing a stationary bus by driving onto the gravel shoulder | NO | NRTA Reg 298 & Reg 298A | Tempting option: candidates select 'yes if safe'. |
| One-way street with room for two parallel passenger cars | YES | NRTA Reg 298(1)(c) | Candidates wrongly look for a painted white line. |
| Traffic officer waves you forward past a stationary broken-down truck on its left | YES | NRTA Reg 298(1)(d) | Believing painted yellow lines override police instructions. |
Top 3 DLTC Computerised Exam Questions on This Topic
Question 1: In which of the following circumstances are you permitted to pass a vehicle on its left?
Correct Answer: B. Under NRTA Regulation 298(1)(a), passing on the left is lawful when the leading vehicle is indicating a right turn and you do not leave the roadway.
Question 2: You are travelling on a two-lane freeway. A vehicle in the right lane is travelling at 100 km/h in a 120 km/h zone. Are you permitted to pass it on the left?
Correct Answer: B. Regulation 298(1)(b) expressly permits passing on the left on multi-lane carriageways carrying traffic in the same direction.
Question 3: When an authorised traffic officer instructs you to pass on the left of an obstruction by crossing an RM1 solid line, you must:
Correct Answer: C. Regulation 298(1)(d) establishes that the direct instructions of an authorised traffic officer supersede road traffic signs and standard rules of the road.
Accelerate Your Preparation with MyLearners K53
Mastering tricky statutory regulations like Regulation 298 is the difference between passing your computerized test with 100% or booking a costly re-test. Get the complete toolkit to secure your licence on your very first attempt:
- Follow our step-by-step revision timetable via The 100% Free 1st-Time Pass Plan featuring 420 common examiner traps.
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