In short: At "Overtaking a cyclist" the examiner mainly wants to see: Outside town at least 2 m side distance (1.5 m in town); Only overtake when oncoming traffic allows it and the view is clear; Otherwise stay behind the cyclist and wait; Keep enough distance behind him and expect swerving. A severe mistake that can end the test: pass within your own lane with one metre of distance.
Country road, 100 km/h limit. A cyclist is riding at about 20 km/h on the right edge ahead of you. The road is narrow, and a car is coming towards you in the distance.
The examiner says„Fahren Sie bitte weiter geradeaus. Wenn es die Verkehrslage zulässt, dürfen Sie überholen.“
"Please continue straight ahead. If the traffic situation allows it, you may overtake."
What you have to show
- Outside town at least 2 m side distance (1.5 m in town)
- Only overtake when oncoming traffic allows it and the view is clear
- Otherwise stay behind the cyclist and wait
- Keep enough distance behind him and expect swerving
- Mirrors, indicate left, shoulder check
- Overtake briskly, but at most 100 km/h
- Only move back in once the cyclist is fully visible in the interior mirror
The right order
- Stay behind the cyclist, keep your distance
- Check: clear view, oncoming traffic allows it, no overtaking ban
- Interior mirror, side mirror, indicate left, shoulder check
- Pass briskly with at least 2 m of side distance
- See the whole cyclist in the interior mirror, indicate right, move back in
Typical mistakes
What the examiner records in the protocol
The examiner files every situation under five competence areas in the electronic test protocol. This is how the points of this situation are spread:
- Only overtake when oncoming traffic allows it and the view is clear severe mistake
- Mirrors, indicate left, shoulder check
- Outside town at least 2 m side distance (1.5 m in town) severe mistake
- Keep enough distance behind him and expect swerving
- Only move back in once the cyclist is fully visible in the interior mirror
- Otherwise stay behind the cyclist and wait
- Overtake briskly, but at most 100 km/h
How the examiner grades: the electronic test protocol explained →
A strong answer
First I stay behind the cyclist with enough distance and wait, because he may swerve. Outside town I need at least two metres of side distance, and on this narrow road that means using the oncoming lane. I only overtake when there is a clear view and the oncoming car has passed. Then I check the interior mirror and the side mirror, indicate left, do a shoulder check and overtake briskly, without going faster than 100 km/h. Only when I can see the whole cyclist in the interior mirror do I indicate right and move back in, without cutting in.
What the law says
§ 5 (4) StVO: when overtaking cyclists, pedestrians and e-scooters, keep at least 1.5 m of side distance in town and at least 2 m outside town. § 5 (2) StVO: overtake only when any hindrance to oncoming traffic is ruled out and the view is sufficient.
Legal text: § 5 StVO (gesetze-im-internet.de)
Quick check
In town you overtake a cyclist. What is the minimum side distance required?
- 1 metre
- 1.5 metres
- 2 metres
Show the answer
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