Overtaking on rural roads | When it is legal and when it is forbidden

Overtaking on rural roads is one of the riskiest manoeuvres a car driver performs. You move from your own lane into the oncoming lane, often at 80 or 90 km/h, and you must judge visibility, speed and opposing traffic within a few seconds. The rules are strict, and violations can lead to both penalty points and a fine.

The main rule

Overtaking is only legal when you:

Have clear visibility for longer than the full overtaking distance
Can return to your own lane without forcing the overtaken vehicle
Do not create danger or obstruct oncoming traffic
Follow signs and road markings

The main rule is set out in Traffic Rules section 12. It is also supported by The basic rule of traffic , which always applies.

When overtaking is forbidden

Situation	Rule
Solid yellow line in your lane	Forbidden to cross
Sign “No overtaking” (332)	Forbidden for passenger cars
Sign “No overtaking for trucks” (333)	Applies only to trucks
Before a pedestrian crossing	Forbidden
On or before a level crossing	Forbidden
In or before a hill crest or bend without visibility	Forbidden
Within 50 metres before an intersection	Forbidden
When oncoming traffic is using the left lane	Forbidden

The signs belong to the prohibition signs group. See the full overview in Prohibition signs .

How much distance do you need?

The table shows a rule of thumb for the clear visibility needed to overtake a car travelling at 70 km/h while you are travelling at 90 km/h:

Your speed	Speed difference	Time to pass	Required clear visibility
80 km/h	10 km/h	12-15 sec	600 m
90 km/h	20 km/h	7-9 sec	450 m
90 km/h	30 km/h (queue)	5-7 sec	350 m

Remember that an oncoming car is moving toward you as well, so the effective visibility requirement increases quickly.

Step by step

Assess the need: is overtaking necessary, or are you about to enter a built-up area?
Check visibility: ideally 400-600 metres of clear view
Check mirrors and blind spot: is something approaching from behind?
Signal early: indicate 3-5 seconds before moving out
Accelerate and move over - do not creep past
Keep a safe margin before returning, normally when you can see the whole car in the mirror
Cancel the indicator after the manoeuvre

For more practical technique, see Overtaking and lane changes .

Special cases

Overtaking a queue of several vehicles

It is legal to pass several vehicles in one manoeuvre, but safety must still be fully maintained. Consider doing them one at a time if the overtakes become long.

Overtaking a cyclist

Keep at least 1.5 metres of lateral clearance from a cyclist. See Overtaking cyclists . On a narrow road, you may need to cross the centre line to do this properly.

Suspected impaired or inattentive driver

Consider not overtaking if you suspect the driver ahead is impaired or inattentive. Keep your distance and contact the police if necessary.

Common mistakes

Overtaking shortly before an intersection or side road
Crossing a solid line during the manoeuvre
Braking sharply in front of the overtaken vehicle when returning
Expecting the overtaken driver to accelerate and help you
Misunderstanding yellow lines as if they were the same as permanent ordinary markings

See Yellow lines and temporary road markings .

Fines and penalty points

Violation	Fine	Points
Overtaking before an intersection	NOK 9,250	3
Crossing a solid line	NOK 7,100	3
Overtaking without visibility and creating danger	NOK 13,000	3
Illegal overtaking on the right	NOK 5,850	2

Better judgement - a mental checklist

Do I have enough time and visibility?
Is the carriageway safe to move into?
Will others lose speed because of me?
Am I gaining more than 30 seconds of travel time?

If the last answer is no, it is often wiser to wait. Overtaking usually gives very little time benefit on short stretches, but a large increase in risk.