Overtaking a line of cars

[Zod]

Esceptico said:

Zod said:

I've had to brake and pull in several times when a driver further up the queue has pulled out without looking. You have to be aware that its' a possibility.

If I doubt I will use the horn, although many people don't like it as they think you are being aggressive rather than just letting them know you are there.

You used to be able to flash your headlights, but most people would probably take that as a signal to carry on these days.

[Crippo]

I hate overtaking. I hate sitting behind people even more. So I have decided that its best to take my Fun drives at 6am on a Sunday morning when I have to engage in neither of the afore mentioned.

[Reg Local]

Why hate overtaking? It's no more stressful or dangerous than any other maneuver if carried out properly.

[dvenman]

I'm with Reg on this one. There's something satisfying about a successfully completed single car overtake where you've been patient for ages but an opportunity opens up and you've been looking ahead and planning just in case. Or where you overtake multiple cars, all of whom are sat sheep-like behind the one in front and you've moved wide for a view and taken the overtake while they're still mentally eating their cornflakes.

One car or lots, you need space for the overtake, a landing spot in front of the current car ahead, and a little confidence.

[ORD]

A line of cars is only more dangerous than a single car for two reasons:-

(1) you spend more time in the oncoming lane; and

(2) one of the dawdler a in the queue might decide to overtake while you are passing.

Both of these issues are addressed in large part by using a low gear and a lot of noise. I also tend to make any overtake of more than 2 or 3 cars in stages - move past cars 4 and 5 in the queue, ease off a touch to make sure car 3 in the row isn't coming out to overtake cars 2 and 1, make sure the road remains clear for a good distance, then proceed past those 3.

If you do this, car 4 tends to drop back a bit to create a gap. I guess he is either thinking 'maniac' (the response of most people to overtaking) or 'careful driving - I'll give him a gap'.

[akirk]

Anyone spotted the irony that the faster driver is always at the back of a queue having caught up, while the slower driver has an empty road in front of them...

[shambolic]

akirk said:

Anyone spotted the irony that the faster driver is always at the back of a queue having caught up, while the slower driver has an empty road in front of them...

No.....

[Zod]

akirk said:

Anyone spotted the irony that the faster driver is always at the back of a queue having caught up, while the slower driver has an empty road in front of them...

Until the faster driver overtakes the queue, all at once or in stages and has open road in front until he catches the next queue.

It's not ironic. Is your surname Morrisette?

[Ken Figenus]

ATG said:

Overtaking queued cars like that in one go always worries me given the number of people who don't bother to indicate or look behind properly before starting their own overtake. I'll rarely do it unless I've at least got the option of doing it in a series of smaller hops so my options remain open after I've started the manoeuvre.

I face this scenario a lot on the dirt track from North to South Wales! Its a slow journey at the best of times where sightseers and trucks and road slugs abound in gangs!

I observe initially and see if there is any chance of others overtaking the lead vehicle travelling at the usual 30-40mph. This is however pretty uncommomon and they will just sit there for their whole journey (generally too close to the vehicle in front and dabbing the brakes far too often than makes sense). So pick them off you must - but always with the thought that one of them may wake up and go for a late overtake long after you have committed to yours. For that reason I may use dipped beams to help my visibility and tend to aim for the biggest gap left by the most sensible driver in the pack and tuck in there - even if I feel I could have passed more. This also reduces the peak speed of the manouver (which could so easily get higher than permitted) and usually allows a neat tuck back in, off the brake lights, with plenty of left indication beforehand and in a calm manouver so as not to cause them too much concern. Then when the next opportunity arises many in the pack are aware that a local whom has named every catseye on the A470 is trying to make safe swifter progress and the chance of someone pulling out may also be diminished.

I'll be totally honest that this approach hat I have been taking since I stopped driving super wieldy cars with big spoilers over a decade ago has drastically reduced any admonishments or flashing from pack members who feel they have seen something aggressive or that they didn't like (whatever the merits of that). It's just safer and less stressful all round IMHO. And if in any doubt just turn Trance Nation 3 up and chill out for a bit

Edited by Ken Figenus on Thursday 23 June 19:58

[Crippo]

Reg Local said:

Why hate overtaking? It's no more stressful or dangerous than any other maneuver if carried out properly.

Its because it represents an interuption of a fun drive. The maneuver itself is fine. I find myself quite often stopping before a Twisty section just so I can drive it at my pace, knowing that overtaking is usaully very difficult in the twisty section ( although when you're alert and have a quick car, overtaking nearly anywhere, like a motorbike is also possible). Howvever, other people get bothered by my actions which in turn bothers me. Its just easy to keep out of their way, hence going out first thing when I usually have to overtake absolutely nothing....bliss. Back in time for breakfast too.

[wst]

dvenman said:

I'm with Reg on this one. There's something satisfying about a successfully completed single car overtake where you've been patient for ages but an opportunity opens up and you've been looking ahead and planning just in case. Or where you overtake multiple cars, all of whom are sat sheep-like behind the one in front and you've moved wide for a view and taken the overtake while they're still mentally eating their cornflakes.

One car or lots, you need space for the overtake, a landing spot in front of the current car ahead, and a little confidence.

Especially when you've got something quick behind you and you're in something dreadfully slow, and you've spotted the opportunity and passed the queue of 3 ahead before they've even realised there was an overtake on the cards.

That was beyond satisfying.

[Gazmiller]

I don't mind it at all. Maybe because I'm a biker as well. It's perfectly legal, and I don't slam my anchors on when they dip in in front of me. Just letting off the gas a little will quickly give that extra room. Besides I'll get where I was going in the same time anyway.

[WD39]

Let's all S.dab

[cmaguire]

WD39 said:

Let's all S.dab

Is that your rapper's name or am I missing something S.dab?

[WD39]

cmaguire said:

WD39 said:

Let's all S.dab

Is that your rapper's name or am I missing something S.dab?

My rapping days are sadly behind me.

S.dab (Let's all) Slow down a bit.

Just a general appeal for moderate locomotion.

[wst]

You are aware that we are on Pistonheads, and this is the Advanced Driving forum?

Not the "driving for the advanced of years" forum.

While there are people around who are willing to drive ridiculously slowly it is in our interest to discuss overtaking safely.

Getting stuck behind someone who refuses to do more than 40 will add about half an hour onto your journey time per hour of original journey time (60 miles takes 90 mins at 40 mph)...

That's significant enough to make an effort to get past worth it and entirely reasonable.

[mph1977]

TartanPaint said:

"Number two forms the queue."

It's not the slow driver up the front who is holding everyone up, it's the guy following behind too closely.

basically

[WD39]

wst said:

You are aware that we are on Pistonheads, and this is the Advanced Driving forum?

Not the "driving for the advanced of years" forum.

While there are people around who are willing to drive ridiculously slowly it is in our interest to discuss overtaking safely.

Getting stuck behind someone who refuses to do more than 40 will add about half an hour onto your journey time per hour of original journey time (60 miles takes 90 mins at 40 mph)...

That's significant enough to make an effort to get past worth it and entirely reasonable.

Just because we are on PH, an appeal for a little moderation has as much relevance as those who advocate speeding as a default driving mode.

The many hundreds of posts on this site, over many topics, advocating driving with restraint makes it manifestly clear that although primarily a site for hard core drivers, many also wish to enjoy their motoring at a more leisurely pace.

[coppice]

I never quite understand the fragility of egoes that cannot contemplate the shame of being overtaken, especially when the driver himself is following another car without any intention of overtaking himself. If somebody wants to overtake me that's just fine (in 99% of cases)and I will make it easy for them . Far better to have a man in a hurry in front of me than behind . But God I so hate the tendency blindly to follow a 38mph truck with no intention of getting by, but following the truck with zero space for anybody to nip in (and yes, many commercial drovers are guilty of doing exactly this ) .

I recall driving on single carriageway A1 up near Berwick, seeing at least a mile of empty road ahead and overtaking 20 plus vehicles in one fell swoop - started at about 40 mph in my Seven and ended up briefly doing rather more after vehicle 15 !

[NuddyRap]

coppice said:

I never quite understand the fragility of egoes that cannot contemplate the shame of being overtaken, especially when the driver himself is following another car without any intention of overtaking himself. If somebody wants to overtake me that's just fine (in 99% of cases)and I will make it easy for them . Far better to have a man in a hurry in front of me than behind . But God I so hate the tendency blindly to follow a 38mph truck with no intention of getting by, but following the truck with zero space for anybody to nip in (and yes, many commercial drovers are guilty of doing exactly this ) .

I recall driving on single carriageway A1 up near Berwick, seeing at least a mile of empty road ahead and overtaking 20 plus vehicles in one fell swoop - started at about 40 mph in my Seven and ended up briefly doing rather more after vehicle 15 !

Well said.

Worse still are those who move out deliberately to make sure you haven't got a full lane in which to overtake. Usually vans, but occasionally passenger cars. I've had it happen a few times, for no reason other than to impede my progress because they're a bit embarrassed .

Ditto for those who accelerate as soon as you start to overtake after happily driving at 20mph below the speed limit for miles on end. This is why powerful cars are safer. I have a very safe car.

I find that a lot of noise is an excellent way of making sure cars further down the queue don't move out whilst you're trying to overtake them. A little mid manoeuvre lift providing a cacophony of bangs is also completely unable to be misconstrued as 'rude' unlike a horn. Unless you're passing a convertible, and what kind of monster would wish to generate such noises at that moment?

I have a very, very safe car .