What should you always check for before performing an overtaking maneuver?

Before performing an overtaking maneuver, it is essential to check for clear visibility of the road ahead. This ensures that you can safely assess the situation, including whether there is enough distance to overtake the vehicle in front of you without encountering oncoming traffic or other hazards. Clear visibility allows you to anticipate any potential dangers, such as curves in the road, hills, or other vehicles, and helps you make an informed decision about whether it is safe to proceed with the overtaking.

While traffic lights, speed limits, and pedestrian crossings are important to consider in general driving, they are not specifically related to the safety and feasibility of an overtaking maneuver. Traffic lights may not be relevant if there are no lights affecting the section of the road where you intend to overtake, speed limits are essential for maintaining proper speeds but do not guide the decision-making process during overtaking, and pedestrian crossings are typically not encountered in the context of overtaking on larger roads or highways. Thus, prioritizing clear visibility is key for executing overtaking safely.