Is it illegal to speed up when someone is overtaking you?

Yes. A driver being overtaken must not increase speed.

What should you do if an overtaking car cuts back in close?

Ease off so the gap opens and it can return to the lane safely.

Road scene · Lane and overtaking scenes

A car that has passed you moves back in ahead

While you are being overtaken, keep left, hold or lower your speed, and give the passing car room to return.

Road Rules 2014 (NSW) rule 145Asked in road safetyShown in 2 practice questions

What it means

A car that has passed you moves back in ahead: what is the rule?

On a two-lane road a white car has pulled out, passed the yellow car and is now swinging back into the lane ahead with its left indicator on, closer than you might like. The yellow car only has a short yellow arrow, and a yellow bracket in front of it shows the space it opens by easing off. An oncoming car at the top is why the other driver needs to get back in.

What to do

1
Keep to the left of your lane as the car goes by.
2
Do not increase your speed at any point during the pass.
3
Ease off if it moves back in early so it has a safe gap.

Practice questions with this scene

A car behind you on a two-lane highway pulls out to overtake. What should you do while it passes?

Right.Not quite. The answer is A.

A driver being overtaken must not increase speed and should keep left. Holding a steady speed lets the other driver finish the pass safely.

Source: Road Rules 2014 (NSW) rule 145

A car passing you signals left to move back in ahead of you sooner than you expected. What should you do?

Right.Not quite. The answer is B.

Let an overtaking vehicle back in safely. Easing off opens the gap it needs.

Source: Road Rules 2014 (NSW) rule 145

Common questions

Is it illegal to speed up when someone is overtaking you?: Yes. A driver being overtaken must not increase speed.
What should you do if an overtaking car cuts back in close?: Ease off so the gap opens and it can return to the lane safely.

More in lane and overtaking scenes

NSW Learner mock exam screen: 45 questions, no time limit, two sections with their pass marks

A practice question in NSW Learner answered correctly, with the explanation card

Your L plate turns green when you would pass

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