Overtaking

Apples2

janninew wrote: »

The Volvo in front of me was the only other car on the road, (it was 5.30am -

Maybe he was on his way home after an all night binge drinking session!

It wasn't clear from your original post if the road in front of him was clear

justcat

I had some interesting overtaking issues on both sides!

One, me and my OH went to Tesco passing a mobile camera van. On the way back, this guy was right up our a**e and kept pulling out to try and overtake us. We were doing about 31 in a 30mph zone so really nothing to overtake about unfortunately, when the road got wide so he could have overtaken us and gotten caught by the van, there were cars on the other side! We were so disappointed as that would have been hilarious!

Another was when I was working in Swindon so going up the M4 Eastbound and came to the Stroud turn off where it split into four lanes. I was originally in the slow lane but moved into the second lane because I was approaching the car ahead rather quickly. Once I was almost in the position to move back across, the driver decided that he didn't like it so would speed up. Then he was pretty much next to me and wanted to move into my lane. He was indicating but as there was a car next to me on the other side I couldn't do anything and I wasn't about to speed up just to get out of his way (I was consistantly do about 75mph), and anyway, there was absolutely no reason for him to have to move across as he wasn't overtaking anything and there was nothing in front of him as far as the eye could see!. As soon as there was "space" behind me, he slid in (about 4 feet from my bumper) and started putting his fingers up at me like a freak. He then followed me really close for a couple of minutes and then lost interest.
The thing that shocked me with this (and I'm not being ageist) but this guy was AT LEAST 65 and he had a slightly older looking woman in the car with him. Not saying that they are not as mad as everyone else but I was expecting it to be a you man or someone in their 30s.

mustrum_ridcully

justcat - I've noticed it's older men who are a problem with doing daft and dangerous stuff and I really don't know why.

Driving on country roads I see them all too often, driving at 10mph below the speed limit (perfectly acceptable) but as soon as you try and overtake they'll happily go up to 80+ to stop you (not acceptable). Then through villages they'd do 40mph when it's a 30 zone or if they're behind you they'd tailgate you, but as soon as the speed limit goes up to 50 or 60 they can be seen in the rear view mirror holding-up the traffic.



I find with boy racers either you'll never be in the position to need to overtake them or they won't hesitate in over taking you.

evilgoose

I have a sporty looking wee ford, and was doing a steady 70 on the motorway inside lane, from what I remember it was 6ish on a summer Saturday morning, approaching a megane (or similar people carrier) which had been driving in the middle lane of the otherwise empty motorway for some time.
Rather than undertaking him, I indicated, pulled into the middle lane, a safe distance behind then indicated again, pulled into the outside lane overtaking the people carrier. Then indicated, pulled into middle then inside lane a safe distance infront of him. This seemed to really annoy him (yes it was a fairly mature driver), who started flashing me, sounding his horn and then driving along side me and gesticulating - really quite abusively! He then pulled in close behind me with lights on full.
I know it was wrong of me (but my car was only a few weeks old, so I had like for like replacement) so I slammed on the anchors then put my foot down. It did the trick as he left me alone after that. It's a shame that the police car that was there on the way home wasn't there on the way there.

I sure that I've done the more than occasional stupid thing behind the wheel, but, the 'waking up' driver when they are been overtaken, especially on country roads are very dangerous.

Karma will get us all in the end!

phunkeymonkey

I'm all for people overtaking me, I'd rather that than have someone tailgating. However, I wish people would do it quickly and safely instead of going 1/2 mph faster than me, expecting me to brake sharply to allow them in when oncoming traffic appears.

As for the OP's incident, the other driver was either bored or being a plonker.

wobbley

I think the key point in the OP's post was the 'V' word - ask any motorcyclist!

There is a secret department at the DVLA in Swansea. As soon as someone applies to be registered keeper of a Volvo a 'snatch' team is alerted and the driver is swiftly abducted and sent for a few days brainwashing. After this, the said driver will think it acceptable to perform all manner of dangerous acts on the Queen's highway. These include, - indicating, when having no intention of turning. and thinking their 'right' to enter a motorway from a slip road should not mean 'looking' and merging safely. I'm sure thy're given some kind of eye surgery too, so that they can not distinguish between red, amber and green.
A few years back you could spot one even out of their cage, by the tweed jacket and trilby. But they're far more cunning these days.

denvore

wobbley wrote: »

I think the key point in the OP's post was the 'V' word - ask any motorcyclist!

There is a secret department at the DVLA in Swansea. As soon as someone applies to be registered keeper of a Volvo a 'snatch' team is alerted and the driver is swiftly abducted and sent for a few days brainwashing. After this, the said driver will think it acceptable to perform all manner of dangerous acts on the Queen's highway. These include, - indicating, when having no intention of turning. and thinking their 'right' to enter a motorway from a slip road should not mean 'looking' and merging safely. I'm sure thy're given some kind of eye surgery too, so that they can not distinguish between red, amber and green.
A few years back you could spot one even out of their cage, by the tweed jacket and trilby. But they're far more cunning these days.

I thought Volvos didn't have working indicators - or is just on roundabouts where they don't work?

Idiophreak

justcat wrote: »

Another was when I was working in Swindon so going up the M4 Eastbound and came to the Stroud turn off where it split into four lanes. I was originally in the slow lane but moved into the second lane because I was approaching the car ahead rather quickly. Once I was almost in the position to move back across, the driver decided that he didn't like it so would speed up.

This happens to me quite a lot, too...I do a constant 70 on the motorway these days (just to save fuel), I'll coast up to the back of someone, move into the middle lane, get along side them, then they suddenly wake up, put the phone down, or whatever, and decide to match my pace perfectly for miles...it's just really annoying - and even worse when they're in the middle lane, so I have the rest of the outside lane behind me, all waiting to get past - and I look like the numpty for not putting my foot down more...so I either have to speed up, slow down, or wait for them to have to drift off to sleep again...really winds me up.

Jem8472

mustrum_ridcully wrote: »

justcat - I've noticed it's older men who are a problem with doing daft and dangerous stuff and I really don't know why.

Driving on country roads I see them all too often, driving at 10mph below the speed limit (perfectly acceptable) but as soon as you try and overtake they'll happily go up to 80+ to stop you (not acceptable). Then through villages they'd do 40mph when it's a 30 zone or if they're behind you they'd tailgate you, but as soon as the speed limit goes up to 50 or 60 they can be seen in the rear view mirror holding-up the traffic.

Thats one that really annoys me, the stupide old g!ts that do this!

Do they believe that their cars only have two speeds: stop and 50MPH

Wig

Idiophreak wrote: »

Have this all the time - some people have a huge problem with people overtaking them - I've even had some move over onto the other side of the road in an attempt to try and run me off the road.

It's just so weird the range of reactions - a rough index of severity.

1) Slow down, indicate left, help people pass - that's me (although it's quite rare)
2) Carry on as normal
3) Drive 3ft from the car infront so overtaking's impossible
4) Flash lights, shake fist, sound horn (no idea what that's about)
5) Tailgate for a few miles
6) Speed up ONLY while they're trying to overtake
7) Swerve around the road to stop them overtaking

If I was cynical, I'd say that this index is inversely proportional to penis size

I'm a No.1 aswell :T although I do my fair share of overtaking, but when I am content to tootle along, I will accomodate the other road user, as long as they have not driven up my !!! (in which case I will slow down gently to a safe speed considering the stopping distance for the !!!-hole behind me about 10mph) and I do mean right up my !!! before I do this say 5 feet or less, between 5 - 10 feet I just get annoyed with the idiot behind but I won't slow down much, (slowing a little will actually help the idiot to overtake me, then he will be out of my life. Anyone else behind me who stays at a suitable distance behind me who then decides to overtake will be met with me lifting my foot off as s/he overtakes, it costs me nothing as makes it easier for them.