Overtaking Safely on
Your UK Driving Test

The Bin Lorry Hazard — Why It Is Different to a Stationary Vehicle

A stationary vehicle is a predictable hazard. A bin lorry — or any vehicle that moves forward in small increments while carrying out a task — is more complex. It may move while you are alongside it, it may pull away sooner than expected, and the operatives on foot around it create additional hazards that must be accounted for before and during the overtake.

The MSM Sequence for This Situation

• Mirrors: check centre mirror and right mirror before any change of position or speed adjustment. A vehicle behind you must be factored into your decision — can you complete the overtake before they arrive?
• Signal: signal right to indicate your intention to move out. This warns following traffic and approaching drivers of your move
• Position: move smoothly to the right to gain a clear view of the road ahead before committing to the overtake
• Speed: you may need to accelerate to complete the overtake in a reasonable time. Do not travel alongside the hazard at the same speed for an extended period
• Return: once past, signal left and return to the left lane smoothly — not sharply cutting in

What to Check Before Committing

Before pulling out to overtake, you must be satisfied on all of these:

• The road ahead is clear for long enough to complete the entire manoeuvre
• No pedestrians or operatives are in the path you will take
• The bin lorry (or hazard vehicle) is not about to move into your path
• Traffic behind you has enough space and is aware of your intention
• There are no junctions, crossings, or hazards on the right side of the road that you would be overtaking into

When Patience Is the Right Answer

If any of the above conditions are not met, the correct decision is to wait. Examiners understand that road situations require patience — they do not expect you to overtake every slow vehicle immediately. What they assess is whether your decision to wait or go is based on genuine safety assessment, not hesitation without reason.

A learner who waits 30 seconds behind a bin lorry because the oncoming traffic is continuous is demonstrating good judgement. A learner who waits and then pulls out without checking mirrors or signalling is demonstrating poor process regardless of whether the road is clear.

This Situation on a Driving Test

If you encounter a slow-moving vehicle on your driving test, the examiner is not testing whether you can overtake quickly. They are testing whether your decision-making process is safe, methodical, and appropriate to the specific conditions. Taking an extra few seconds to be certain is always preferable to an unsafe overtake that results in a serious fault.