I trust this wasn't a PH member
Discussion
I woke up to a nice "driving feeling in the air" morning and made the excellent decision to take the Integrale to work.
On a clear derestricted country road I caught up a car travelling more slowly (an MR2) and chose to overtake. As I was drawing alongside, the MR2 dropped a gear and accelerated, thereby making my manoeuvre harder. A car then came into view coming in the opposite direction but the MR2 continued accelerating, dramatically increasing my TED. By now (3 seconds after beginning the pass) my bonnet was ahead of the MR2's, but I made the decision to abort and jumped on the middle pedal. I could have completed the overtake, but it would have been a close call and certainly worrying for the oncoming motorist.
I chose not to follow and give the driver a dressing down, as I was probably not in the right frame of mind at that point! Unfortunately I can't remember the full number of their registration, but the car has some very distinguishing features. Is it worth me reporting the MR2 to the local police? As there was no accident, would they still be culpable for an offence, such as dangerous driving or trying to race on the pulic road?
On a clear derestricted country road I caught up a car travelling more slowly (an MR2) and chose to overtake. As I was drawing alongside, the MR2 dropped a gear and accelerated, thereby making my manoeuvre harder. A car then came into view coming in the opposite direction but the MR2 continued accelerating, dramatically increasing my TED. By now (3 seconds after beginning the pass) my bonnet was ahead of the MR2's, but I made the decision to abort and jumped on the middle pedal. I could have completed the overtake, but it would have been a close call and certainly worrying for the oncoming motorist.
I chose not to follow and give the driver a dressing down, as I was probably not in the right frame of mind at that point! Unfortunately I can't remember the full number of their registration, but the car has some very distinguishing features. Is it worth me reporting the MR2 to the local police? As there was no accident, would they still be culpable for an offence, such as dangerous driving or trying to race on the pulic road?
I'm, afraid no one at the police station is going to take you very seriously.
Sounds like the driver in front of you wanted to play. Despite the pros and cons of this, your decision to overtake is not cast in stone. When you decide to overtake, the driver in front is not obliged to take it lying down, and despite his obvious lack of maturity, he is well within his rights to speed up.
If there had been an accident with the oncoming car, I'm afraid you would have been to blame.
A large number of accidents are caused by two drivers raising the anti and neither wanting to back down in this situation. In my opinion you did the sensible thing.
Sounds like the driver in front of you wanted to play. Despite the pros and cons of this, your decision to overtake is not cast in stone. When you decide to overtake, the driver in front is not obliged to take it lying down, and despite his obvious lack of maturity, he is well within his rights to speed up.
If there had been an accident with the oncoming car, I'm afraid you would have been to blame.
A large number of accidents are caused by two drivers raising the anti and neither wanting to back down in this situation. In my opinion you did the sensible thing.
I sympathise.
I had this happen to me soon after passing my driving test. I driving my mum’s Manta. I was following some slow car (heavily tinted windows), doing 25 in a 40 on a single carriageway, during the day, good conditions. I went for the take when oncoming traffic had cleared. I pulled out and nailed it, so did the other car. We were neck and neck at well over 50, with oncoming traffic looming fast, so I did the safe thing and braked, so did they; so I came to a complete stop, so did they – I was hung out to dry. Thankfully I braked early enough (as did the oncoming BMW) otherwise it would have been messy. Unfortunately, I was too young and inexperienced to fly into a rage, so I just drove off.
Now I got me a fast car. For some reason, people still try it on, but they always fail
Jacobyte, it’s probably not worth reporting your moron to the police as they’ll probably deduce that you must have been exceeding the speed limit (and racing?), resulting in your prosecution
I had this happen to me soon after passing my driving test. I driving my mum’s Manta. I was following some slow car (heavily tinted windows), doing 25 in a 40 on a single carriageway, during the day, good conditions. I went for the take when oncoming traffic had cleared. I pulled out and nailed it, so did the other car. We were neck and neck at well over 50, with oncoming traffic looming fast, so I did the safe thing and braked, so did they; so I came to a complete stop, so did they – I was hung out to dry. Thankfully I braked early enough (as did the oncoming BMW) otherwise it would have been messy. Unfortunately, I was too young and inexperienced to fly into a rage, so I just drove off.
Now I got me a fast car. For some reason, people still try it on, but they always fail
Jacobyte, it’s probably not worth reporting your moron to the police as they’ll probably deduce that you must have been exceeding the speed limit (and racing?), resulting in your prosecution
Julian64 said:
When you decide to overtake, the driver in front is not obliged to take it lying down, and despite his obvious lack of maturity, he is well within his rights to speed up.
Julian
although my test was over 40 years ago the highway code has NOT changed! The overtaken driver MUST, if necessary, slow down and even pull over to let the overtaking driver back in. Anything else can be construed as racing, no due care etc, or even dangerous driving.....
If in such a case the overtaken driver causes the accident he could well be losing his license, but it's all a case of whether or not it can be proven...and that's the rub!!!!
Well, here' what the highway code says:
www.highwaycode.gov.uk/15.shtml#144
"Being overtaken.
If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you."
But as you say - he could deny all knowledge of the incident. Perhaps a hedgewards "nerf" would have sorted him out
www.highwaycode.gov.uk/15.shtml#144
"Being overtaken.
If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you."
But as you say - he could deny all knowledge of the incident. Perhaps a hedgewards "nerf" would have sorted him out
supraman2954 said:
Unfortunately, I was too young and inexperienced to fly into a rage, so I just drove off
Driving off is the EXPERIENCED thing to do! The guy's a prat....so let him drive off, and get home safely. Your other options are fight in themiddle of the road, have your car punched in, have the police called, spend a night in the cells, have his 4 hard-ba$tard mates in the back kick the **** out of you etc. etc. etc.
By driving off, you get home as you intended....in 1 piece.
My dad once taught me when I first started driving "Do you want this guy to be a part of the rest of your life?" - and that has stayed with me ever since. The amount of times I drive away from "circumstances" where I would have loved to have gone into one at the driver.....but each time I got home with an intact car, and an intact nose
To get back on track.....sorry to say, there is absolutely nothing that would happen I'm sure. It's your word against his, and technically nothing happened....it could have done, but didn't.
You did the right thing, and unfortunately the only thing you could do. Well done dear boy!
A few years back I was driving on a country road and came up behind a little hatchback being driven by a middle-aged woman.
I was in the Chimaera.
I pulled out and started the overtake. She floored it. I'm afraid I did NOT to the sensible thing on this occasion as I had been help up by her for some period and I pushed the loud pedal all the way to the floor.
By I went. But I was too close to the corner by the time I made it. I looked in the mirror and its an aging bint shaking her first at me.
I got it wrong. You did it right. Some people are cnuts.
I was in the Chimaera.
I pulled out and started the overtake. She floored it. I'm afraid I did NOT to the sensible thing on this occasion as I had been help up by her for some period and I pushed the loud pedal all the way to the floor.
By I went. But I was too close to the corner by the time I made it. I looked in the mirror and its an aging bint shaking her first at me.
I got it wrong. You did it right. Some people are cnuts.
I was overtaking a fiesta when he decided to floor it. As i was only doing about 40 mph in 5th I wasn't really getting past him with my ususal speed.
Anyway, a Clio appeared some distance away, so i dropped into3rd and began to accelerate harder, although the fiesta was nearly keeping up with me.
I figured, given that I was alsmost past him that I could pull in, brake, (which he would probably have done anyway) or had a head on with the clio.
It was getting close to the time to make a decision, so I indictaed and tried to gently ease to the nearside.
Imagine my horror when I looked into my n'side door mirror to see the fiesta driver applying right lock to hit my car. He had full right lock on, and the only thing that was stopping him turning right was the back od my bumper.
In that instant, I finally passed him, and he shot right into the path of the clio, which then hit him.
The Police, when they arrived were not happy with me, as they spoke to the Fiesta driver first. The Clio driver was in an ambulance.
When I showed the traffic cop the black burnt rubber on my rear bumper, and pointed out that fiesta wheels and tyres, when driven in a straight line are kept tucked underneath their front wings his whole attitude changed.
Furthermore, there was no impact damage to his car at all on his bodywork.
I never heard another word from the Police, but why are people so mental when they get overtaken?
One thing I did resolve however, was never just cruise past people in case you 'upset' them. Best to blast past and
them!
Anyway, a Clio appeared some distance away, so i dropped into3rd and began to accelerate harder, although the fiesta was nearly keeping up with me.
I figured, given that I was alsmost past him that I could pull in, brake, (which he would probably have done anyway) or had a head on with the clio.
It was getting close to the time to make a decision, so I indictaed and tried to gently ease to the nearside.
Imagine my horror when I looked into my n'side door mirror to see the fiesta driver applying right lock to hit my car. He had full right lock on, and the only thing that was stopping him turning right was the back od my bumper.
In that instant, I finally passed him, and he shot right into the path of the clio, which then hit him.
The Police, when they arrived were not happy with me, as they spoke to the Fiesta driver first. The Clio driver was in an ambulance.
When I showed the traffic cop the black burnt rubber on my rear bumper, and pointed out that fiesta wheels and tyres, when driven in a straight line are kept tucked underneath their front wings his whole attitude changed.
Furthermore, there was no impact damage to his car at all on his bodywork.
I never heard another word from the Police, but why are people so mental when they get overtaken?
One thing I did resolve however, was never just cruise past people in case you 'upset' them. Best to blast past and
them!JMGS4 said:
When you decide to overtake, the driver in front is not obliged to take it lying down, and despite his obvious lack of maturity, he is well within his rights to speed up.
Julian
although my test was over 40 years ago the highway code has NOT changed! The overtaken driver MUST, if necessary, slow down and even pull over to let the overtaking driver back in. Anything else can be construed as racing, no due care etc, or even dangerous driving.....
If in such a case the overtaken driver causes the accident he could well be losing his license, but it's all a case of whether or not it can be proven...and that's the rub!!!!
And thereby hangs the rub. Never read the highway code, not even for my test, but I bet theres a whole paragraph there about when you can't overtake. In fact I bet if you scour the country there will only be a handful of places left that do fit all the criteria for overtaking. I believe nowadays 99% of overtaking manouvers are illegal before they start.
So instead of the highway code we're back to reality. BIB comes upon a scene of mass carnage involving an oncoming car, an overtaker and the dipstick. I guarantee the overtaker will be in custody if he's not in the back of an ambulance protesting (The dipstick wouldn't let me overtake him). The oncoming driver will just say that stupid c**t came down my side of the road and tried to kill me. The dipstick will just say he didn't see it coming from behind.
BIB will immediately take the opinion that the aggressor in this was the guy who initiated the overtaking manouver.
I take your point about the dipstick here and certainly don't agree with the way he behaves. If someone comes up behind me I try to make it as easy for them to overtake as possible. But I don't think the overtaker will ever be able to quote the highway code here and sucessfully win his way out of the impending points.
If there are any BIB's here maybe they'd like to challenge that view?
This is one of the reasons for 400bhp.
Julian - read the Highway Code, please. I am sure you are jesting in that you haven't read it but in case you are not...please.
But I agree with you in many ways. It is the responsibility of the overtaker to pass the overtakee safely. If the overtakee drives like a loon the best thing is not to pass - however frustrating.
Julian - read the Highway Code, please. I am sure you are jesting in that you haven't read it but in case you are not...please.
But I agree with you in many ways. It is the responsibility of the overtaker to pass the overtakee safely. If the overtakee drives like a loon the best thing is not to pass - however frustrating.
Don said:
If the overtakee drives like a loon the best thing is not to pass - however frustrating.
Don, I couldn't agree more.
Andy (ref your post above). While I am not suggesting blame, and indeed think that the guy you overtook is a complete and utter loon, perhaps those words Don mentioned, and also my words of earlier (see below) would be well remembered for everyone's future driving...it could have ended so much worse than it did.
My quote from earlier:
tonyhetherington said:
Do you want this guy to be a part of the rest of your life?
Stories of morons like this do make me wonder whether there are any people out there (present company excepted PH) who slow down (where its safe) or let up on the throttle when being overtaken.
Normally I'm being overtaken by some idiot just as a dual carriageway heads into one lane, who then anchors up and pulls into my brakeing zone... But I'm used to that by now...
Normally I'm being overtaken by some idiot just as a dual carriageway heads into one lane, who then anchors up and pulls into my brakeing zone... But I'm used to that by now...
Don said:
This is one of the reasons for 400bhp.
Julian - read the Highway Code, please. I am sure you are jesting in that you haven't read it but in case you are not...please.
But I agree with you in many ways. It is the responsibility of the overtaker to pass the overtakee safely. If the overtakee drives like a loon the best thing is not to pass - however frustrating.
Strange that you should urge me to read the highway code, when you and I seem to be in complete agreement and yet you seem by your comments to disagree with the chap quoting the highway code?
Julian64, I find it stranger that you make categoric statements such as, "he is well within his rights to speed up" and then follow it up with an admission that you've never read the Highway Code. That fact alone surely excludes you from making informed comments on a thread such as this and undermines and good points you may make?
Julian64 said:
Julian64 said:
When you decide to overtake, the driver in front is not obliged to take it lying down, and despite his obvious lack of maturity, he is well within his rights to speed up.
Julian
although my test was over 40 years ago the highway code has NOT changed! The overtaken driver MUST, if necessary, slow down and even pull over to let the overtaking driver back in. Anything else can be construed as racing, no due care etc, or even dangerous driving.....
If in such a case the overtaken driver causes the accident he could well be losing his license, but it's all a case of whether or not it can be proven...and that's the rub!!!!
And thereby hangs the rub. Never read the highway code, not even for my test, but I bet theres a whole paragraph there about when you can't overtake. In fact I bet if you scour the country there will only be a handful of places left that do fit all the criteria for overtaking. I believe nowadays 99% of overtaking manouvers are illegal before they start.
So instead of the highway code we're back to reality. BIB comes upon a scene of mass carnage involving an oncoming car, an overtaker and the dipstick. I guarantee the overtaker will be in custody if he's not in the back of an ambulance protesting (The dipstick wouldn't let me overtake him). The oncoming driver will just say that stupid c**t came down my side of the road and tried to kill me. The dipstick will just say he didn't see it coming from behind.
BIB will immediately take the opinion that the aggressor in this was the guy who initiated the overtaking manouver.
I take your point about the dipstick here and certainly don't agree with the way he behaves. If someone comes up behind me I try to make it as easy for them to overtake as possible. But I don't think the overtaker will ever be able to quote the highway code here and sucessfully win his way out of the impending points.
If there are any BIB's here maybe they'd like to challenge that view?
Julian is right.
I have a careless driving conviction to prove it.
Nick.
roadsweeper said:
Julian64, I find it stranger that you make categoric statements such as, "he is well within his rights to speed up" and then follow it up with an admission that you've never read the Highway Code. That fact alone surely excludes you from making informed comments on a thread such as this and undermines and good points you may make?
True, but my comment that he was well within his rights to speed up are from my experience of motoring, I made no claim to stand behind the highway code just the rules that everyone seems to follow on the road. I would prefer not to crash, than to crash knowing I was in the right.
Being a believer in experience over theory, 25 years driving some fairly varied and high performance vehicles, with no points, and no fault accidents to my name must count for something?
And if not reading the highway code excludes me from this thread, would you like to point out where the undermined post is/are no longer are true in the light of this?
Julian64 said:
Strange that you should urge me to read the highway code, when you and I seem to be in complete agreement and yet you seem by your comments to disagree with the chap quoting the highway code?
Well - it was your comment that you'd never read it! There's a whole lot of stuff in there and although not everyone sticks to it I guarantee its important information you should not be without!
Having said that on the overtaking subject:
The Highway Code states categorically that if you are being overtaken you should maintain a steady speed or slow down to allow an overtake. However, the Highway Code also states that you should only overtake when it is safe to do so.
If by the action of the driver you are passing it is no longer safe to overtake it would appear to follow that the proper course of action is to abandon the manouvre and pull back in. To continue the pass with no hope of success could be viewed as either "careless" or even "dangerous" with all that those words imply.
In short: The MR2 driver who sped up was NOT following the Highway Code - and was NOT within his rights - and was NOT acting properly and should be punished for it. However had our original poster continued the manouvre once it was clear it was not safe to proceed this would also have been contrary to the Highway Code. (IMO). Our original poster behaved properly by abandoning the pass.
I still think the MR2 driver was a cnut.
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