A bus more than 10 metres long travels outside a built-up area on a road with one lane in its direction, where overtaking is permitted and traffic is not congested. Without signalling an intention to overtake, what minimum gap must it leave to facilitate overtaking by following traffic?

Correct answer

At least 50 metres, without reducing the necessary safe stopping distance.

At least 50 metres, in addition to enough distance to stop without collision if the preceding vehicle brakes sharply. Article 54.2 applies the minimum to vehicles over 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass or vehicles and combinations longer than 10 metres; both conditions need not be met. Paragraph 3 excepts this minimum in built-up areas, where overtaking is prohibited, with multiple same-direction lanes, or in congestion preventing overtaking. Those exceptions do not remove paragraph 1’s safe stopping-distance duty.