When passing a stationary obstacle are you obliged to keep a safe distance from the obstacle?

Yes, this is a fundamental duty of a driver. According to Art. 23 para. 1 pt. 2 of the Road Traffic Act, when passing an obstacle, such as the viaduct pillar visible in the picture, you must maintain a safe distance. This distance must be large enough to eliminate the risk of colliding with the object being passed, taking into account factors like speed and road conditions.