Responsibility not to scare oncoming traffic

[7mike]

davepoth said:

It is indeed. Those roads are specifically high traffic rural single carriageways, where they've put in passing lanes rather than upgrade them to DC, so it's quite a good idea to stop overtaking on the other sections. On the very rural roads they still allow passing, but of course there's much less to hit there given the population density. At least they've thought about it a little and upgraded their roads like that, unlike here. `

I'm sure there are plenty stretches of road that would benefit from this sort of thing. The A590 that runs along the South Lakes area springs to mind; mix of dual / single carriageway. Currently there are signs to inform drivers how far they are from the next DC, presumably to discourage overtaking. There aren't that many good overtaking points on the single stretches anyway but it doesn't stop the local barry boys giving it a go. The KSI figures for that road suggest they do tend to over estimate their abilities somewhat so maybe a central barrier might not be a bad thing. (wouldn't want too many though)

[davepoth]

7mike said:

davepoth said:

It is indeed. Those roads are specifically high traffic rural single carriageways, where they've put in passing lanes rather than upgrade them to DC, so it's quite a good idea to stop overtaking on the other sections. On the very rural roads they still allow passing, but of course there's much less to hit there given the population density. At least they've thought about it a little and upgraded their roads like that, unlike here. `

I'm sure there are plenty stretches of road that would benefit from this sort of thing. The A590 that runs along the South Lakes area springs to mind; mix of dual / single carriageway. Currently there are signs to inform drivers how far they are from the next DC, presumably to discourage overtaking. There aren't that many good overtaking points on the single stretches anyway but it doesn't stop the local barry boys giving it a go. The KSI figures for that road suggest they do tend to over estimate their abilities somewhat so maybe a central barrier might not be a bad thing. (wouldn't want too many though)

http://www.trafikverket.se/PageFiles/23725/road_de...

This is how the Swedes do it. The actual thing in Swedish will be much longer, but it gives you an idea as to how much thought goes in to their road network.

[F i F]

Glad to see recognition above for many years of thought that has gone on. Many roads which were locally considered killers, though it was poor overtaking decisions that were the problem, have had a zero fatal record since the 2+1 alternating design.

Of course, compare that with Stocksbridge by pass which had the same problems, similar potential but got less effective white paint and cameras. Wonder how many people died needlessly.

[BusaMK]

Are there many people on this thread with truely quick overtaking cars that are happy to accelerate at oncoming traffic - having 400 hp/ton sending you at an oncoming car is a poor situation to be in(!)

[waremark]

BusaMK said:

Are there many people on this thread with truely quick overtaking cars that are happy to accelerate at oncoming traffic - having 400 hp/ton sending you at an oncoming car is a poor situation to be in(!)

Surely it all depends how far away the oncoming traffic is - and whether you have had long enough to assess its speed. It may be fine to accelerate towards and oncomer even in a low powered car. Or have I misunderstood?

[MC Bodge]

Certainly on a 600cc bike, one can quite happily move out to the right lane, accelerate briskly past the overtakee towards oncoming traffic -at a safe distance away- and be slowing down when returning to the left lane.

[F i F]

Too many people don't consider:-
a) what if I meet myself coming the other way? and
b) what if I meet someone travelling the other way physically as fast as possible. Scenario b) means no compromise given to sight lines, stopping distance relative to clear road and so on, physically as fast as possible without binning it.

[MC Bodge]

F i F said:

Too many people don't consider:-
a) what if I meet myself coming the other way?

I do always have that in mind. If you can't see it, don't do it.

[0000]

F i F said:

b) what if I meet someone travelling the other way physically as fast as possible.

If I meet an F22 on a kamikaze run down a road it's not going to matter if I'm driving away from him on the correct side of the road.

[Somewhatfoolish]

F i F said:

Too many people don't consider:-
a) what if I meet myself coming the other way? and
b) what if I meet someone travelling the other way physically as fast as possible. Scenario b) means no compromise given to sight lines, stopping distance relative to clear road and so on, physically as fast as possible without binning it.

exactly - which is why I prefer to overtake towards traffic.

[fluffnik]

otolith said:

(prime offsiding argument, light fuse, run)

What argument? Surely there can't be any objection to using the right side of the road to improve sightlines and reduce lateral loading if it's clear...

[blearyeyedboy]

Nigel_O said:

On the subject of a reluctance to overtake, here's a quick story from my commute this morning.

Leaving my home town, there's a bypass and one stretch of it is dead straight for well over half a mile, perfectly sighted with no junctions and a 50mph limit - a perfect overtake spot.

On my way out, nearing the end of the straight, I was at the tail end of a line of cars doing about 40mph. Coming towards me was a heavily-laden tractor and trailer, with a queue of cars behind it, doing less than 30. I checked my mirrors - nothing behind me, so I moved left in my lane to allow the first car behind the tractor to pull out a fraction earlier.

As I passed the tractor, I glanced in the mirrors again - still nothing behind me, but the first car behind the tractor didn't bother to overtake, so the second one didn't bother and in the end, the entire queue of traffic stayed behind the tractor for the entire length of the straight.

Although the first car in the queue was a Pug107, I reckon it still has enough power to get past a tractor, especially when there is nothing coming for at least half a mile. The fact that the driver chose to stay behind the tractor is simply poor driving, or a desperate lack of confidence.

Back on topic, because I have a quick car, I would easily have overtaken the entire queue from the back, but I imagine out of the dozen or so cars in the queue, many would have branded me as a nutter, simply for not having the patience to sit in a sub-30mph line of traffic.

Sad state of affairs that driving is now of such a low standard...

I'm reluctant to overtake when facing a very slow road vehicle. There's far more likelihood of another vehicle wanting to overtake that tractor than there is behind, say, a Focus travelling at 50mph. Two cars trying a simultaneous overtake in opposite directions could get very messy and painful. You can also see around a Focus a bit more than a tractor if there is something lurking behind it.

I'm not going to say you never should- I wasn't there and I didn't see what you saw, so I'm in no place to judge- but I think I'd be less likely to attempt this move if facing a Tractor than a regular car.

Edited by blearyeyedboy on Tuesday 24th April 10:17

[Somewhatfoolish]

I would say in a line of a dozen cars behind a tractor, there will be at least ONE nutter who will take exception if you were to take the whole lot out in one go.

Must have been a perfect storm of a queue, each vehicle slightly less timid than the less, but not quite brave enough to get past what was in front. And lets face it, by the forth or fifth vehcile most drivers wouldn't even be planning the overtake yet.