Meeting and overtaking on Danish roads

Traffic rules for drivers

Safe traffic for everyone

Correct meeting and overtaking is essential for road safety and a smooth flow of traffic.

Meeting

Basic rules for meeting

When two vehicles meet, they must keep to the right. There must be sufficient distance between the vehicles, and special attention must be paid to road users travelling in the right-hand part of the carriageway.

Blocked road

If the road is partially blocked, the vehicle closer to the obstruction must, if necessary, stop and let the oncoming vehicle pass.

Special situationsRoad works: When meeting vehicles used for road works, you may drive in the most appropriate manner with the necessary care.

Overtaking

Basic rules

Main rule: As a general rule, overtaking must take place on the left.

Overtaking on the right

However, you must overtake on the right if:

A vehicle is about to turn left or is clearly preparing for a left turn
Bicycles and small mopeds may overtake other vehicles on the right

Light rail vehicles

Overtaking on the right of light rail vehicles may also take place, provided that this can be done without danger or inconvenience to other road users, and that the light rail vehicle does not block the view in such a way that the overtaking cannot be completed safely.

Safety requirements before overtaking

Before overtaking, you must make sure it can be done without danger, including:

That the lane in which the overtaking is to take place is free of oncoming traffic and without obstructions
That the vehicle ahead is not trying to overtake another vehicle
That there is no vehicle coming from behind that is already overtaking
That the overtaking can be completed without creating problems for the traffic afterwards, unless the overtaking takes place in a lane where oncoming traffic is not permitted

Important: Vehicles used for road works may be overtaken with the necessary care in the most appropriate manner.

During and after overtaking

For the overtaking driver

The overtaking driver must keep a sufficient distance from the vehicle being overtaken
When overtaking on the left, you must return to the right as soon as it can be done without danger or inconvenience
However, it is not necessary to change lane to the right if you intend to overtake another vehicle immediately afterwards and the conditions for this are met

For the overtaken driver

When a driver notices that a vehicle coming from behind intends to overtake on the left, that driver must:

Keep as far to the right as possible
Avoid increasing speed

If a vehicle is driving slowly or takes up a lot of space, and the road is narrow, winding, or there is oncoming traffic, the driver must pay extra attention to traffic coming from behind. If it makes overtaking easier, the driver must reduce speed and, if necessary, pull over to the side as soon as possible and, if needed, stop completely.

Overtaking prohibited

Important: Overtaking must not take place in the following situations

Prohibited zones

Immediately before or at a road junction, unless:
- The vehicles are positioned in lanes reserved for traffic in the same direction, cf. § 16(1)
- Overtaking takes place on the right because of a vehicle turning left
- Traffic at the junction is regulated by police or signals
- Traffic on the crossing road has an unconditional duty to give way, cf. § 26
Immediately before or at a railway crossing
When visibility ahead, on a blind hill, or in a bend is limited, unless the carriageway in the direction of travel has at least two lanes where oncoming traffic must not occur

Exception: These prohibitions do not, however, apply when overtaking a two-wheeled bicycle or a two-wheeled small moped.

Overtaking prohibited

Meaning of the sign

The prohibition on overtaking does not apply to overtaking a two-wheeled bicycle or a two-wheeled small moped. Nor does it apply to overtaking vehicles that are turning off the road.

End of prohibition: The prohibition applies regardless of the provisions of § 16(2) until it is lifted by an end sign or by a distance indication on a supplementary panel. The supplementary panel may also specify the time period for which the prohibition applies.