|
waremark
1,616 posts
82 months
|
I cannot really say whether I overtake for the sake of overtaking, for the sake of progress, or for better enjoyment of the next section of the drive. Since I would overtake on a drive which I am driving for the sake of the drive alone rather than to arrive at a destination some would say that it cannot be for the sake of progress. I certainly regard taking safe overtakes as an enjoyable aspect of good driving.
For me there is a trade-off between the amount of benefit in terms of progress, and the ease or difficulty of the overtake. If I anticipate a significant benefit in terms of progress - either there is the opportunity to go much quicker, or I may be stuck behind this vehicle for a long way - then I will work for an overtake, making sure that I am ready for any potential opportunity. If there is likely to be less benefit in terms of progress, I will probably not make as much effort to be ready for any overtake, but will still overtake if there is a very obvious and easy opportunity.
|
|
|
MC Bodge
3,752 posts
44 months
|
kaf said: Without there being a recognisable benefit, I would not overtake for one reason, no overtake is ever without risk.
For all the planning and anticipation, accounting for safety etc, there is one thing it is impossible to be fully certain of - the driver you are overtaking!
IMHO Nearly every driving decision is based upon risk/reward. With no reward there is no point in accepting the (even slightly) increased risk. If you are that worried about the driver in front, I think I'd probably be overtaking both of you 
|
|
|
S. Gonzales Esq.
1,663 posts
81 months
|
My recent attempts to get a grip on the subject have convinced me that successful overtaking is more a state of mind than anything else. The practical implication of this is that I can't do it properly if I'm not concentrating and fully engaged, so whether I'll overtake something or not depends largely on the mood I'm in.
If I am in the mood, then yes - anything that gets caught gets dispatched at the first sensible opportunity. Missed opportunities get noted and I try to judge better next time. Longer queues of traffic can present a problem, but just have to be tackled one (or two) at a time.
If I'm not in the mood, I try to not to get involved.
I'm inclined to try to minimise risk by overtaking in as safe and accurate a way as possible, and regular practice helps with that.
|
|
|
Pontoneer
2,550 posts
55 months
|
VR46 said: If it's safe to do so, yes. Slower cars/drivers are a menace and the sooner you pass them the better. While it may be true that some drivers who happen to drive slowly ( or in some cases fast ) are a menace to others around them , it does not follow that all vehicles being driven slowly are a menace . The driver of a slow moving vehicle such as a tractor , or a classic car with a new engine being run in , or a car which was simply built in an era when speeds were lower , may have good reason to be driving at whatever speed , and may be driving perfectly competently without harming or endangering anyone .
|
|
|
doogz
18,667 posts
56 months
|
Depends which car I'm in.
Although if I know there's a stretch of DC up ahead, I'll probably wait, unless there are a few cars in front of me I'd like to get past, in which case I'll take any sensible opportunity I can.
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
JM
1,788 posts
75 months
|
If I wanted to overtake (and it was clear and safe to do so) I would do it, even if I was turning off before the dual carriageway section.
My overtake should not affect anyone else so should make no difference to them whether I am behind or ahead of them.
|
|
|
Crippo
448 posts
89 months
|
I prefer to drive at my own pace. So if I am behind someone its because I have caught them up and so am no longer able to drive smoothly and at my own pace. I overtake at the first opportunity. The fact that those opportunities are quite common and most people can't spot them means that I overtake regularly and its very rare that I am switched off enough on my drive that I just follow the car in front. Usually I am on the phone when my driving is at its worse and I'm just following the car in front.
|
|
|
four20
10 posts
20 months
|
on the phone? - very naughty and definitely unsafe.
|
|
|
GadgeS3C
1,951 posts
33 months
|
If a safe opportunity is available - yes. But as always, it depends; if I'm following a single slower vehicle I may wait. If it's a truck with a follower sat right behind it I'll go if possible. Had too many occasions where the numpty No. 2 will use the entire stretch of dual carrigeway to overtake leaving me still stuck behind the slow vehicle.
|
|
|
FastNReliable
161 posts
48 months
|
S. Gonzales Esq. said: The practical implication of this is that I can't do it properly if I'm not concentrating and fully engaged, so whether I'll overtake something or not depends largely on the mood I'm in.
Imho drivers should all be fully concentrated and fully engaged with their driving at all times.
|
|
|
S. Gonzales Esq.
1,663 posts
81 months
|
FastNReliable said: Imho drivers should all be fully concentrated and fully engaged with their driving at all times. ...and back in the real world, where cars are driven by actual people, that might not be a realistic ambition. It's probably a useful skill to be aware of your own mental and physical state, and tailor your driving accordingly.
|
|
|
ian_uk1975
925 posts
71 months
|
Benbay001 said: Do you do them?
When you know there is a dual carriageway a mile in front (for example)? Depends. If it's in an NSL zone and the car in front is being driven at a speed well below NSL (eg. <50mph) then I'd probably overtake if the road was quiet and visibility good. If I perceived there to be any tangible risk in executing the overtake, then I'd just bide my time until the DC. If, on the other hand, we're in a 40 or 50 zone in the lead-up to the DC, I'd just wait until the DC, since overtaking safely would probably involve exceeding the limit by quite some margin.
|
|
|
MC Bodge
3,752 posts
44 months
|
If a safe, clear opportunity presents itself, why not overtake?
|
|
|
Pugsey
5,665 posts
83 months
|
kaf said: If it will aid my progress by a useful margin then yes, otherwise what is the point? Doesn't need to "aid my progress". I'll often overtake for the pure enjoyment of it (providing it's safe etc., etc., etc.) Couldn't care less if the guy I overtake can say "he didn't get very far". It's called driving for the fun of it. That's the point.
|
|
|
MC Bodge
3,752 posts
44 months
|
Pugsey said: Doesn't need to "aid my progress". I'll often overtake for the pure enjoyment of it (providing it's safe etc., etc., etc.) Couldn't care less if the guy I overtake can say "he didn't get very far". It's called driving for the fun of it. That's the point. there does appear to be a group of people who are interested in, and enjoy debating the rules and minutiae of the "advanced" driving process, but don't seem to enjoy driving in the way that others (such as myself) do. Or maybe they're just trying to justify their enjoyment by emphasising its safety and time benefits? Each to their own, though. The first part of this book(before it goes off into philosophical whimsy) is worth a read: 
|
|
|
Pugsey
5,665 posts
83 months
|
MC Bodge said: Pugsey said: Doesn't need to "aid my progress". I'll often overtake for the pure enjoyment of it (providing it's safe etc., etc., etc.) Couldn't care less if the guy I overtake can say "he didn't get very far". It's called driving for the fun of it. That's the point. there does appear to be a group of people who are interested in, and enjoy debating the rules and minutiae of the "advanced" driving process, but don't seem to enjoy driving in the way that others (such as myself) do. Or maybe they're just trying to justify their enjoyment by emphasising its safety and time benefits? Each to their own, though. The first part of this book(before it goes off into philosophical whimsy) is worth a read: Yep agree re that book. Re overtaking. OK, carving the right lines down your fave road on a bike is great, but, sometimes, picking off cars one by one (or ten by ten!) in smooth, flowing overtakes is even better. Too much about theory and not enough about just doing it for pure enjoyment (PHers ethos surely) on here sometimes. 'Advanced' (if you must use that term) driving and fun CAN mix you know chaps! Kaf. If we were all bothered about overtaking purely to "aid my progress by a useful margin" all the time we wouldn't go out for Sunday morning blasts. After all, what's "the point" of going out for an hour just to arrive back where you started eh?
|
|
|
ian_uk1975
925 posts
71 months
|
Pugsey said: Yep agree re that book.
Re overtaking. OK, carving the right lines down your fave road on a bike is great, but, sometimes, picking off cars one by one (or ten by ten!) in smooth, flowing overtakes is even better. Too much about theory and not enough about just doing it for pure enjoyment (PHers ethos surely) on here sometimes. 'Advanced' (if you must use that term) driving and fun CAN mix you know chaps!
Kaf.
If we were all bothered about overtaking purely to "aid my progress by a useful margin" all the time we wouldn't go out for Sunday morning blasts. After all, what's "the point" of going out for an hour just to arrive back where you started eh?
This is a good point and I'll qualify my previous post (a few posts up the page) by saying it depends what car I'm in and what the purpose of the drive is. If I'm on my way somewhere in my daily hack (old Volvo V40) and not out simply for a drive, I'll default to driving with my mind firmly on safe and steady progress... the enjoyment of driving, per se, doesn't often come into the equation. If, however, I'm out in one of my other cars for a bit of a blast, then I'll overtake (still only when safe) purely for the enjoyment 
|
|
|
MC Bodge
3,752 posts
44 months
|
Pugsey said: sometimes, picking off cars one by one (or ten by ten!) in smooth, flowing overtakes is even better. Too much about theory and not enough about just doing it for pure enjoyment (PHers ethos surely) on here sometimes. 'Advanced' (if you must use that term) driving and fun CAN mix you know chaps! Indeed. I also enjoy passing vehicles on winding, undulating roads by use of good observation, smooth lines and maintaining momentum (rather than pedal to the metal) without upsetting the family in our well-laden diesel estate car. "Advanced Dad driving"
|
|
|
Pugsey
5,665 posts
83 months
|
MC Bodge said: Pugsey said: sometimes, picking off cars one by one (or ten by ten!) in smooth, flowing overtakes is even better. Too much about theory and not enough about just doing it for pure enjoyment (PHers ethos surely) on here sometimes. 'Advanced' (if you must use that term) driving and fun CAN mix you know chaps! Indeed. I also enjoy passing vehicles on winding, undulating roads by use of good observation, smooth lines and maintaining momentum (rather than pedal to the metal) without upsetting the family in our well-laden diesel estate car. "Advanced Dad driving" That's true 'advanced' driving. Getting from a to b without your passengers being aware of the fast progress you're making and with no-one in the car (including you) talking about either other people's driving or your own.
|
|
|
MC Bodge
3,752 posts
44 months
|
Pugsey said: That's true 'advanced' driving. Getting from a to b without your passengers being aware of the fast progress you're making and with no-one in the car (including you) talking about either other people's driving or your own. Good God, man! What about brake-gear separation, and Lord Cottenham? Some people....
|
|
