Being overtaken...
Discussion
SnailTrail said:
I was out a nice drive this afternoon on B roads. Came round a corner to find a queue of 4 cars stuck behind a Land Rover on L plates doing about 40 in a 60, on a mile long straight which I could see was clear the whole way down. Dropped into 3rd, indicated and blasted down the right past them all and nipped back in in front of the land rover, continuing on about 60mph (naturally)
I stopped at the next village for an ice cream (because sunshine) and got told by one of the (female) drivers who was stuck in the queue that my manoeuvre was absolutely atrocious and that inevitably I will kill a young family one day and that she had my reg no and was going to report me to the police.
The ice cream was good though.
Pictures?I stopped at the next village for an ice cream (because sunshine) and got told by one of the (female) drivers who was stuck in the queue that my manoeuvre was absolutely atrocious and that inevitably I will kill a young family one day and that she had my reg no and was going to report me to the police.
The ice cream was good though.
I also prefer the "get past as quickly as possible" method. If they're doing 30 I'll use second gear which takes me to around 60mph. Anything above 35 and I'll use third.
Once I hit 40mph in third on full throttle it starts accelerating at approximately 10mph every second, up to about 80mph. Then it slows down a tad until 90. A lot of cars won't manage that acceleration in a 0-60 sprint, so I stand a fair chance of getting past even if they do decide to be a plonker and speed up.
NB: I know my car isn't the fastest car on the road, or even on this thread
Once I hit 40mph in third on full throttle it starts accelerating at approximately 10mph every second, up to about 80mph. Then it slows down a tad until 90. A lot of cars won't manage that acceleration in a 0-60 sprint, so I stand a fair chance of getting past even if they do decide to be a plonker and speed up.
NB: I know my car isn't the fastest car on the road, or even on this thread
, by the time the idiots have found the flash stalk I have vanished and I know dam well they are flashing bewildered on coming traffic 
.
For work I drive a Ducato and you can guarantee that if you come out of a roundabout any cars behind you will try and overtake. They must have the ' it's a van it must be slow' mentality of about 20 years ago.
The temptation is always there to gun it and hang them out to dry but I normally resist...but then they slow down in front of me.
hman said:
... sideswiped into the scenery ...
I wouldn't hesitate to do it.
I came close to having to do this on the A9. Traveling at 38mph, move out then in stunned amazement watch the guy who had been on my rear bumper closes the gap behind me while Mr 38Mph just got his letter back from deed poll and now wishes to be known as Mr 68mph.I wouldn't hesitate to do it.
I'll admit a faster car does help, in my Boxster (2.5!) I'll often be able to complete the manoeuvre before they've got the chance to block and it's far from what I'd call a fast car. My girlfriends 1.2 Corsa, however, is so underpowered that it's very rare I'll even bother overtaking unless on a DC/Motorway where there's more options and less to go wrong, and if I do, it takes a considerable amount of thought and planning!
I always help people overtake me if they need to. Including motorbikes, I move in a bit to give them room, which also shows them I know they are there so am not going to suddenly I'll out on them.
Also if traffic coming the other way is overtaking some slow vehicle on a wider road, I'll move over so they have room.
To try and deliberately impede someone's manoeuvre is spiteful and dangerous and such people shouldn't be driving.
I have to say, as a young driver (22) I find it's mostly older, middle aged drivers with this attitude.
Also if traffic coming the other way is overtaking some slow vehicle on a wider road, I'll move over so they have room.
To try and deliberately impede someone's manoeuvre is spiteful and dangerous and such people shouldn't be driving.
I have to say, as a young driver (22) I find it's mostly older, middle aged drivers with this attitude.
LewG said:
I used to drive a K10 Micra so in the fantastically rare event of an overtake it was a pretty big deal, I was never sure if it was them accelerating preventing my getting past or more my 50 wild stallions under the bonnet dying off and becoming Tesco fodder
I remember mine, so many aborted overtakes because I forgot to take into account if I had a passenger/headwind/tiny gradient or many other factors! It was great fun and I discovered the world of momentum. I also got overtaken a lot in that car, it was like a new law had been passed that said all men in bigger cars (all of them) had to overtake the Micra.Now I use the 'take them by surprise' approach and don't give them a chance to block me.
g3org3y said:
Faster cars are safer.Fact.
When I passed my test and had your typical 1.2 Corsa, this used to be so dangerous. Following a car doing 30-35 in a 60, and go to overtake and they floor it. Just crazy. Across most of Europe, it's law to not accelerate when being overtaken because of this.
This is just as annoying as when myself and many others in the 50-56 mph restriction club come trundling up on a car doing circa 5 mph less on a dual carriageway or motorway.
You know how it goes. Slower car in front so wait for the gap, then pull out and pull up level with car, the old fart I mean car driver realizes they are being overtaken and speed up to just above your restricted speed, you are then forced to pull in and guess what they lift off and you catch them up again meanwhile all the drivers behind are getting frustrated at the apparent snail racing.
You know how it goes. Slower car in front so wait for the gap, then pull out and pull up level with car, the old fart I mean car driver realizes they are being overtaken and speed up to just above your restricted speed, you are then forced to pull in and guess what they lift off and you catch them up again meanwhile all the drivers behind are getting frustrated at the apparent snail racing.
martyuk said:
While not strictly to the highway code, don't indicate.Its like a warning to them and allows them to get ready to sprint. Found this a few times running to Knockhill on the only real straight bit from Powmill. Solution, just go for it and by the time you are past they have no time to reply.
Yep. I use my indicators more like a precision tool than a blanket broadcast.If I want to overtake someone and I think they'll be receptive to it, I just put on the right indicator while waiting behind them. It gives them an idea that I want to overtake and they will move over and let me do it.
If I want to overtake someone who appears to be "less receptive" - I'll take them by surprise and only indicate once alongside for the benefit of anyone else who may be around.
If I am turning left and there are cars on the opposite side of the road waiting to turn right, I will not indicate. This avoids putting other traffic in the unfortunate position of holding me up (due to assuming that I will be braking for the junction and turning in in front of me).
The look of pure outrage and disbelief is one I have become accustomed to when overtaking people in a perfectly safe & legal manner.
I don't know why it is quite so shocking, but to these people it clearly is the very pinnacle of the degeneration and lack of respect for British values rife in our crumbling society.
I don't know why it is quite so shocking, but to these people it clearly is the very pinnacle of the degeneration and lack of respect for British values rife in our crumbling society.
Ended up in crown court (via magistrates) for this very reason.
Travelling to the train station in Winchester on a very early weekday summers morning on the A556 between Romsey and Winchester, Hampshire. Running a little late and it was eating into my "safe time buffer" to catch my train whereby i came across three cars pootling along at a very slow rate of knots with several gaps in between enjoying the early morning and the sun - normally not an issue but i was running late. Went to overtake on a small stretch of straight road, which albeit was not illegal, it was unwise - as agreed by both police, magistrate, and judge. Upon pulling out and initiating the overtake and coming along side him the first driver sped up and closed the gap - it was never confirmed whether he saw me or not, something i will never know.
Upon finding that the gap was closing i was left with a decision to either floor it or pull back. I decided to brake and pull back in admitting defeat. Proceeded to slow, and so did my new mate - either he had decided that he was being a prat, or was catching the car in front, or had seen the approaching car coming around the bend...
Incidentally the car came around the bend ahead leaving me exposed on the wrong side of the road, the approaching car slowed as much as he could, matey next to me slammed on his brakes leaving me with now having to out brake him and the approaching car and with no where to go.
Long story short, we collided head on at circa 50mph his side, and about 30-40mph on my side, this catapulted him into a ditch onto his side.
Police tried to prosecute me for dangerous driving, and secondary charge of driving without due care. Took it to magistrates and opted for crown and jury. Two years later arrived at crown, one of the witnesses didn't turn up, judge turned it out without a jury, i got turfed out on a driving without due care. I was thankful that i was able to get legal aid, but still had to pay a large chunk of cash out of my savings.
Policeman outside court after i was charged admitted said it should of been no charge.. Could of punched him.
Two main disappointments really 1) never had my time in court to understand why matey accelerated and then out braked me 2) that it even made it to court.
Travelling to the train station in Winchester on a very early weekday summers morning on the A556 between Romsey and Winchester, Hampshire. Running a little late and it was eating into my "safe time buffer" to catch my train whereby i came across three cars pootling along at a very slow rate of knots with several gaps in between enjoying the early morning and the sun - normally not an issue but i was running late. Went to overtake on a small stretch of straight road, which albeit was not illegal, it was unwise - as agreed by both police, magistrate, and judge. Upon pulling out and initiating the overtake and coming along side him the first driver sped up and closed the gap - it was never confirmed whether he saw me or not, something i will never know.
Upon finding that the gap was closing i was left with a decision to either floor it or pull back. I decided to brake and pull back in admitting defeat. Proceeded to slow, and so did my new mate - either he had decided that he was being a prat, or was catching the car in front, or had seen the approaching car coming around the bend...
Incidentally the car came around the bend ahead leaving me exposed on the wrong side of the road, the approaching car slowed as much as he could, matey next to me slammed on his brakes leaving me with now having to out brake him and the approaching car and with no where to go.
Long story short, we collided head on at circa 50mph his side, and about 30-40mph on my side, this catapulted him into a ditch onto his side.
Police tried to prosecute me for dangerous driving, and secondary charge of driving without due care. Took it to magistrates and opted for crown and jury. Two years later arrived at crown, one of the witnesses didn't turn up, judge turned it out without a jury, i got turfed out on a driving without due care. I was thankful that i was able to get legal aid, but still had to pay a large chunk of cash out of my savings.
Policeman outside court after i was charged admitted said it should of been no charge.. Could of punched him.
Two main disappointments really 1) never had my time in court to understand why matey accelerated and then out braked me 2) that it even made it to court.
Raize said:
Yep. I use my indicators more like a precision tool than a blanket broadcast.
If I want to overtake someone and I think they'll be receptive to it, I just put on the right indicator while waiting behind them. It gives them an idea that I want to overtake and they will move over and let me do it.
If I want to overtake someone who appears to be "less receptive" - I'll take them by surprise and only indicate once alongside for the benefit of anyone else who may be around.
If I am turning left and there are cars on the opposite side of the road waiting to turn right, I will not indicate. This avoids putting other traffic in the unfortunate position of holding me up (due to assuming that I will be braking for the junction and turning in in front of me).
I just don't get this. Your post makes complete sense up until the last paragraph whereupon you suddenly become "one of those people" who does not indicate for a turn. God forbid anyone should want to turn right and ends up in front of you? How can you say you use your indicators like a precision tool and then in the next breath say you don't indicate for other road users?If I want to overtake someone and I think they'll be receptive to it, I just put on the right indicator while waiting behind them. It gives them an idea that I want to overtake and they will move over and let me do it.
If I want to overtake someone who appears to be "less receptive" - I'll take them by surprise and only indicate once alongside for the benefit of anyone else who may be around.
If I am turning left and there are cars on the opposite side of the road waiting to turn right, I will not indicate. This avoids putting other traffic in the unfortunate position of holding me up (due to assuming that I will be braking for the junction and turning in in front of me).
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