Abandoning an overtake
Discussion
RP64 said:
Is there any issue with abandoning an overtake as in pulling out and then deciding not to proceed so pulling back in?
You have to be ever so careful what you do with all this mindless dash cam dobbing going on!
That doesn't sound like abandoning (starting the actual overtake & deciding to pull out of it part way through), it sounds like preparation by the gaining of information prior to you either commencing or not based on that information gained.You have to be ever so careful what you do with all this mindless dash cam dobbing going on!
Not at all.
What’s the alternative, if you feel unsure, just crack on regardless?
When I am preparing to overtake I often adopt a wide position in the road for enhanced forward visibility, then either move back in-lane or proceed to overtake if it’s safe to do so.
I don’t really care what any dashcam warrior thinks of this approach.
What’s the alternative, if you feel unsure, just crack on regardless?
When I am preparing to overtake I often adopt a wide position in the road for enhanced forward visibility, then either move back in-lane or proceed to overtake if it’s safe to do so.
I don’t really care what any dashcam warrior thinks of this approach.
is 100% the right thing to do rather then have a crash.
With planning and sensible driving (roadcraft) overtakes should be safe and suitable fast but always to have in the back of your mind if to pull back in if things have changed.
Pulling out to have a good look but not accelerating is part of roadcraft - once you confirm its safe then accelerate. Its a very pleasant, considered and stressless way to overtake but it does take good planning. Part of that planning will be considering if another car will close off your gap or pulling back gap if you don't decide the overtake is on after pulling out. So its not always full pull out to look enough to get a proper view.
but a good question OP - that's my take on it as above and when I used to teach with Rospa
With planning and sensible driving (roadcraft) overtakes should be safe and suitable fast but always to have in the back of your mind if to pull back in if things have changed.
Pulling out to have a good look but not accelerating is part of roadcraft - once you confirm its safe then accelerate. Its a very pleasant, considered and stressless way to overtake but it does take good planning. Part of that planning will be considering if another car will close off your gap or pulling back gap if you don't decide the overtake is on after pulling out. So its not always full pull out to look enough to get a proper view.
but a good question OP - that's my take on it as above and when I used to teach with Rospa
So you move to the right to get a better view in preparation and decide not to go - move back, what is the issue?
So you move to the right, decide "all good", final checks, indicate and start to accelerate, person in front "boots it". Move back and follow. What is the issue (other than ego).
So you have moved out, checked good to go and committed, not yet level with the car in front, but now something has changed, do you continue versus drop back in behind - again do not see the issue. Naturally, the overtakee may have eased to help you. Only you can decide the best course of action in such a scenario,
In the above, making the assumption that you have no one behind who has been silly enough to "take your roadspace" before you have completed your manoeuvre.
So you move to the right, decide "all good", final checks, indicate and start to accelerate, person in front "boots it". Move back and follow. What is the issue (other than ego).
So you have moved out, checked good to go and committed, not yet level with the car in front, but now something has changed, do you continue versus drop back in behind - again do not see the issue. Naturally, the overtakee may have eased to help you. Only you can decide the best course of action in such a scenario,
In the above, making the assumption that you have no one behind who has been silly enough to "take your roadspace" before you have completed your manoeuvre.
Bigends said:
Exactly how I was trained - get out to the offside - take a look - no overtake on? - slip back in again.
Me too. Nip out, have a look, hoof it or nip back in. Problem is that the perception of the great unwashed when you do this means much outraged flashing of headlights etc. Bigends said:
Exactly how I was trained - get out to the offside - take a look - no overtake on? - slip back in again.
I do this. Though in a 75 brake long wheelbase Transit Connect, overtaking is a real planned operation on country roads 
I would hope the driver behind me hasn't deliberately sped up so there's no space for me to slip back in again 
Better safe than sorry
Surely this is how most people overtake?
I will never forget (I hope) a time i misjudged it and needed to abandon mid overtake and slip back in behind the car that was now on my left.
He could see that i didnt have enough time to complete the overtake so he slowed to let me pass at exactly the same time I slowed down to slip back in behind him and we just ended up side by side , both nearly coming to a stop as did the car heading towards me.
It was a good lesson, that was the day i learned to make sure before i went for it!
I will never forget (I hope) a time i misjudged it and needed to abandon mid overtake and slip back in behind the car that was now on my left.
He could see that i didnt have enough time to complete the overtake so he slowed to let me pass at exactly the same time I slowed down to slip back in behind him and we just ended up side by side , both nearly coming to a stop as did the car heading towards me.
It was a good lesson, that was the day i learned to make sure before i went for it!
This happens to me quite often riding my underpowered 125cc motorbike - if someone accelerates mid overtake (which seems to happen a lot, maybe seeing someone start overtaking them prompts them to look at the speedo and see they are driving slowly...) then I’m basically hung out to dry and tend to find I won’t be able to complete the overtake in the space I see is safe and clear.
The trouble is in my experience, there a number of drivers that you inadvertently wake up when you pull back in.
All of a sudden they have the fastest Honda Jazz known to man, who's main aim in life becomes to make their car impossible to get past! and when you do get past, its headlights etc.
All of a sudden they have the fastest Honda Jazz known to man, who's main aim in life becomes to make their car impossible to get past! and when you do get past, its headlights etc.
andygo said:
and when you do get past, its headlights etc.
Ignore them. if I carry out a safe overtake and someone takes offence to it, it totally ignore them. Just tell yourself that they must think that flashing highbeams is highway code for 'Nice overtake, not only are you a talented driver, you are a handsome man."Works for me.
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