Why do some people pointlessly overtake

Roland_Sausage

I drive a van for work which is speed limited to 60mph. It's pretty easy to drive on the dual carriageway, I just put my foot down and the speed limiter holds it at a constant speed without me having to worry about the speed. Almost like a sort of cruise control

My pet hate is people who overtake me, then once they are in front they immediately slow down to a speed slower than mine meaning I catch up with them. I then either have to slow down and pull back a bit, or attempt to overtake them which usually causes them to notice they have slowed down and speed off again... for a bit until I catch them again.

I just wish people who overtake me would either zoom off into the distance and leave me alone, or at least match my speed.

banger9365

Roland_Sausage wrote: »

I drive a van for work which is speed limited to 60mph. It's pretty easy to drive on the dual carriageway, I just put my foot down and the speed limiter holds it at a constant speed without me having to worry about the speed. Almost like a sort of cruise control

My pet hate is people who overtake me, then once they are in front they immediately slow down to a speed slower than mine meaning I catch up with them. I then either have to slow down and pull back a bit, or attempt to overtake them which usually causes them to notice they have slowed down and speed off again... for a bit until I catch them again.

I just wish people who overtake me would either zoom off into the distance and leave me alone, or at least match my speed.

i hate this too

Rolandtheroadie

This happens a lot around here, although more with cars than lorries.
Front cars speed varies berween 40-50, two or 3 cars behind not leaving a safe gap, happy to increase and decrease speed as the guy at the front does.
Why do I pointlessly overtake them? So they're behind me to be honest.

Niowrtt

Roland_Sausage wrote: »

My pet hate is people who overtake me, then once they are in front they immediately slow down to a speed slower than mine meaning I catch up with them.

Yup.

Safe overtaking I'm okay with.
Aggressive dangerous overtaking, which I think the original poster was referring to, is what I wish speed cameras were actually able to catch.

But this behaviour just baffles me. The drivers can't be paying attention at all, yet their mind lifts out of their mental fog long enough to overtake?

At 60 or 70MPH there is will usually be one during a 50 mile drive that does this - just one, but of course I'll spend around an hour repeatedly encountering them! And I guarantee I'm holding a constant speed for similar reasons to the above.

Macca83_2

It's a regular occurrence up my way too. There's always some hero that wants to overtake 7 cars on the lead up to a blind corner, realises they can't do it and tries to force their way into a line of traffic causing everyone to brake.

facade

Macca83 wrote: »

It's a regular occurrence up my way too. There's always some hero that wants to overtake 7 cars on the lead up to a blind corner, realises they can't do it and tries to force their way into a line of traffic causing everyone to brake.

This is because the 7 cars are all too close to each other. If they left a gap then he could overtake 2, slot in, then 2 then 2 more until he is past, instead he is forced to try for all 7 at once.

(The blind corner bit I can't excuse )

One of those cases where everyone knows that they are the greatest driver ever to grace the roads, and wonders why they see so many near misses on their travels

Sooler

goonarmy wrote: »

Front of a que is always better than the back. Not pointless in the slightest.

But you're still in a queue.

Sooler

forgotmyname wrote: »

Because after overtaking the vehiche in front you have a clear open road. Until the next slow vehicle at least.

... and everyone you overtook catches up with you.

Sooler

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Well, point is, i may get to the traffic lights & through them on green but they hit red by the time you reach them.

or you may get to the traffic lights just as they turn red, while the person you overtook comes up behind just as they turn green.:rotfl:

goonarmy

Sooler wrote: »

But you're still in a queue.

But time wise ahead. Therefore not pointless.
I live on the M25:mad: and five car lengths ahead in a queue can be five minutes to fifty minutes ahead.