Is it irresponsible to overtake a truck and trailer a short distance before a crossroads?

It is considered irresponsible to overtake a truck and trailer shortly before a crossroads because these large vehicles can block your view of both important traffic signs and crossing traffic. When your view is limited, you might miss signals or signs that could change your behavior at the intersection, and you may not see other vehicles coming from the sides. Even if trucks generally drive slower, safety is the priority—clear visibility is essential to make informed decisions at crossroads. So, both reasons you selected are correct and explain why overtaking in this situation can be very dangerous.