Is it legal to overtake more than one car?

No, there is no specific legislation against overtaking more than one car at a time, but there are other rules of the road (not to mention common sense) that suggest this is a bad idea.

If you're in a hurry or just stuck behind a group of Sunday drivers, sometimes you want to Triple afterburnermaneuver and in one fell swoop rush past the queue of slow moving cars. But while there are no specific laws prohibiting traffic, overtaking more than one car at a time can be difficult without violating other traffic rules.

Check out some related overtaking laws and guidelines worth knowing about.

The ACT government's extensive traffic violation document states that you face a $279 fine and two demerit points if you overtake a vehicle when it is unsafe or overtake a vehicle too closely. Although this rule does not strictly apply to overtaking more than one car, it can certainly be applied to someone who overtakes several cars in one maneuver.

A similar rule applies in Queensland; According to the Queensland government demerit points schedule, you get two demerit points and a $182 fine for overtaking when it is not safe to do so. Once again in Western Australia, if you don't overtake at a safe distance, you can get a whopping $400 fine and a four demerit point fine.

While we were unable to find any information on overtaking more than one car in South Australia, there is a section on overtaking on the SA MyLicence website. This educational section highlights the importance of being able to see oncoming traffic when you are overtaking, which can definitely be difficult if you decide to overtake multiple vehicles at the same time.

In general, wherever you are in Australia - on the main road or in the countryside - you are advised to exercise caution when overtaking, especially if you are hoping to overtake more than one car at a time.

Perhaps most importantly, speeding is still speeding, no matter the circumstances. So if you find yourself over the limit by trying to overtake more than one car, you risk a hefty fine.

You should always refer to your insurance contract for specific advice, but as a general guide, a collision while attempting to overtake more than one vehicle may affect your insurance coverage if it is considered a risky or unsafe maneuver. Any sign that you were driving recklessly and that you were at fault for the accident could jeopardize your insurance coverage.

This article is not intended as legal advice. You should check with your local road authorities to check any regulations you are not sure about.