DGT explains if and when you can overtake a police vehicle | Photo: Guardia Civil
The General Traffic Directorate (DGT) governs everything related to what you do in and with your vehicles, including if and when you can overtake a Guardia Civil, Policia Nacional or military vehicles.
So, sit tight, put on your seatbelt and let’s take you on a ride on the DGT rules for overtaking vehicles with armed corporations’ logos before you make a mistake and get slapped with a fine.
A few days ago, we found out the DGT now holds passengers accountable for many things they do while riding in vehicles, including flicking cigarette butts onto the road, putting arms, head and body out the window and even sitting in postures considered dangerous. So, now it’s time to find out if and when you can overtake official vehicles driven by police or military forces.
Best not to panic unless you’re not following the rules
Many of us panic when we see a Guardia Civil or Policia Nacional vehicle cruising on the road under the permitted speed limit, so our first reaction is to slow down.
Well, it is best always to obey the security norms, including speed limits. That simple. So, if you are overtaking an official police or military vehicle on the left-hand lane, without exceeding the speed limit or doing so when the white road markings are continuous, you are good to go ahead and even wave goodbye.
Again, there is little information out there in this regard, but as long as you are sticking to the basic road rules, you can overtake any vehicle, not just official police ones. So, ensure there’s no intersection, traffic lights or continuous white lines separating the road, and you will be okay to overtake.
Make sure you have all your required vehicle, insurance and ID documentation with you before you leave your home, because police still may want to stop you when they see you are audacious enough to overtake them.
As long as you follow the rules, all should be fine
They might perceive a bit of nervousness in us, or because we are a bit shaky, we zig-zag too much, and that is definitely probable cause for them to halt us and check us for everything else.
According to Manual B of the DGT, overtaking means passing another vehicle that is cruising below the speed limit, which makes it legal to pass them on the left-hand side, and only on that side. Never attempt to do so on the right-hand side, even if you are on a three-lane road and the slowpoke is in the middle lane.
On highways and roadways, we should always use the right lane and only use the left lane to overtake other slower-moving vehicles. Once overtaking is completed, we must return to the right lane.
