Overtaking a line of cars

[Esceptico]

Scenario that must be familiar to many, especially if you make progress on NSL single carriageways: slow moving vehicle (lorry, van, Sunday driver) at the head of a queue or cars, following in procession. Ideally there would be a long, clear section of road with no on-coming traffic nor any hazards (junctions, etc) so you could overtake the line of cars and the slow moving vehicle in one go. In practice you could be waiting for a long time for such an opportunity. Alternatives would be to join the queue and hope the slow moving vehicle turns off or there is a section of DC. Whilst driving I generally take those options. However, when out on the bike more likely to overtake the line in stages. That means putting myself into the space drivers have left themselves before the next car in the queue. Clearly, if I take that space then the driver now following me is forced to drop back a bit to give themselves some extra braking room. Normally that would only be for a short period before I make my next overtake. However, I will have forced them to adjust position. Is that justified?

[Esceptico]

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.