Overtaking

Tiddlywinks

janninew wrote: »

I had a scary experience this morning when overtaking. I was stuck behind a car doing 35mph on a National Speed Limit road so I waited for a clear view ahead, stuck my indicator on and stared to overtake.

janninew wrote: »

And in my defence I was driving OH's car so was unsure what to do as I'm not that familar with it! Whe I told my partner he said if i put my foot down it would have been fine (its a Mazda with the funny back doors!!) Being heavily pregnant and quite bad conditions on the road I decided it wasn't worth the risk though!!

There are pages and pages of really good comments about how to overtake safely so I don't really need to add to them but no one seems to have picked up on these points.....

The OP was in an unfamiliar car and and lacked confidence in / was unsure about its ability to accellerate etc and she has described the road conditions as "quite bad" (remember the recent "cold snap"?) ans it was still dark - even though there is no defence for the Volvo driver in speeding up to prevent the OP overtaking perhaps, given the conditions and unfamiliarity with the car, it would have been wiser to sit it out behind him?

Just a thought.....

Wig

Pete*G wrote: »

and yet option 1 isn't the correct thing to do either. Unless you're turning off, you should never put on your left indicator - it is to signal an intention to begin a left hand turn, not to indicate a willingness to be overtaken :rolleyes:

Number 2 is the correct option.

Number 2 is correct and can be correctly combined with a slowing of your vehicle to aid the person passing.

I think, left indicator use, like flashing your headlamps to give way to car wishing to cross your path, is something which does not have the meaning in the highway code but nevertheless it is understood by most road users as a willingness to facilitate somone to pass if they want to, usually because they have started to drive too close for comfort.

hothothot_3

Wig wrote: »

Number 2 is correct and can be correctly combined with a slowing of your vehicle to aid the person passing.

I think, left indicator use, like flashing your headlamps to give way to car wishing to cross your path, is something which does not have the meaning in the highway code but nevertheless it is understood by most road users as a willingness to facilitate somone to pass if they want to, usually because they have started to drive too close for comfort.

I do this intentionally, to make them realise im not happy doing 40 in a 60, even though they are happy sitting behind a tractor for the next 20miles. It is simply a friendly nudge to let them know my intent to get past them.

by giving a left hand indication they make me more relieved that they are encouraging to let me pass.

If they continued to drive normally I have no idea how they will react when I try to overtake.

DaveMacD

Not really a good idea. If you're hanging on someones bumper, you can't see the road ahead properly. And if something goes wrong with the vehicle in front, you are joining them in their accident.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

DaveMacD wrote: »

Not really a good idea. If you're hanging on someones bumper, you can't see the road ahead properly. And if something goes wrong with the vehicle in front, you are joining them in their accident.

Driving close behind the vehicle ahead is part of the overtaking procedure described in Roadcraft, and is known as the contact position.

It should only be done just before the manoeuvre though.

hothothot_3

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Driving close behind the vehicle ahead is part of the overtaking procedure described in Roadcraft, and is known as the contact position.

It should only be done just before the manoeuvre though.

Im glad someone has read the manual and appreciates the high level of skill which to the lay driver appears 'dangerous'.

DaveMacD

hothothot wrote: »

Im glad someone has read the manual and appreciates the high level of skill which to the lay driver appears 'dangerous'.

Have read the manual, and standby my statement as posted, "If you're hanging on someones bumper, you can't see the road ahead properly". World of difference between moving up to the car in front to execute the overtake, and following 6" from the back of the car in front for a few miles, then pulling out into oncoming traffic.

As you posted previously "I do this intentionally, to make them realise im not happy doing 40 in a 60, even though they are happy sitting behind a tractor for the next 20miles. It is simply a friendly nudge to let them know my intent to get past them." Can't have it both ways. You're either following Roadcraft, or you're bullying other cars to speed up.

hothothot_3

I didnt say I stay right behind their bumper - thats what you said.

I position my car like this - getting in their side mirrors; (im blue car, they are red car)

DaveMacD

But if you aren't then making the overtake, then you aren't doing any more than bullying them, which may then force them into making a mistake, which could then result in an accident which you have no means of avoiding getting caught up in, because you are too close. If you are following roadcraft, then the only time you should be getting so close is immediately before pulling out to pass. But you have stated that you do it as a nudge to let them know YOU want to go faster.

hothothot_3

DaveMacD wrote: »

But if you aren't then making the overtake, then you aren't doing any more than bullying them, which may then force them into making a mistake, which could then result in an accident which you have no means of avoiding getting caught up in, because you are too close. If you are following roadcraft, then the only time you should be getting so close is immediately before pulling out to pass. But you have stated that you do it as a nudge to let them know YOU want to go faster.

I have read Roadcraft, but that is also not the be-and-end all of driver education, its just for police who must follow a road ettiquete to represent their organisation, therefore not all the rules are cross directed to mainstream member of public.