Is overtaking a lost art?
Discussion
People that want to drive under the speed limit or slow right down for every piece of road that's not dead straight should understand that some people might want to overtake and shouldn't be taken personally and/or worth getting angry about
Flashing, hand gesturing, bibbing getting all out of sorts because someone dared to go round them.
Flashing, hand gesturing, bibbing getting all out of sorts because someone dared to go round them.
ATM said:
LukeBrown66 said:
so if you overtake people doing that you are rightly flashed for doing wrong
Whoah hang onWho decides if someone else is doing wrong or right?
Who decides who can tell someone else they are doing wrong or right?
Flashes are simply aggressive. They choose to flash other road users because they think they have the right or they know better. This is aggression and arrogance and just bad form if you ask Me.
It is impossible to know what someone else is thinking so we can only guess. I also have a simple rule which is to never try to guess what an idiot is thinking because by definition they are an idiot so we can never know or even really guess what they might be thinking.
Flashing is just a form of road rage. Flashers might argue it is not or it is something else but it is still road rage. Road rage is the act of trying to tell another road user something with actions so without language or words. If you flash someone who then tries to stop suddenly to discuss this flashing further with You then who is in the right and who is in the wrong.
ATM said:
I occasionally overtake but I do feel like other road users don't like it. Not sure why. I also worry about webcam heroes submitting footage to the boys in blue. So i do feel naughty or as if i am pushing my luck when I do it.
I overtake regularly... Some get irate, most don't have an issue with it.Oddly, perhaps, it seems to be the real ditherers that take exception the most...
Take your average NSL/60 road - someone doing 50 tends not to get too narked off at being overtaken by someone who clearly wants to go 60; OTOH someone dithering along at 35-40 will be far more likely to get irritated by a brisk overtake.
Perhaps it's that the ditherer is more likely to be in a world of their own and get a shock when someone blasts past?
In general...
If someone wants to go faster than I do on an open road, they're welcome to overtake when it's safe (and when they pull out I'll lift off to make it easier).
Brassblaster said:
Perhaps it's that the ditherer is more likely to be in a world of their own and get a shock when someone blasts past?
Perhaps not blasting past would change their perception. A "wafty" overtake may help, if it's safe. Depends on the circumstances of the overtake though.Brassblaster said:
In general...
If someone wants to go faster than I do on an open road, they're welcome to overtake when it's safe (and when they pull out I'll lift off to make it easier).
I wish that there were more people on the road like you for definite. The majority of people that I overtake...speed up rather than slowdown. If someone wants to go faster than I do on an open road, they're welcome to overtake when it's safe (and when they pull out I'll lift off to make it easier).
It's just courtesy around overtaking that has reduced IMHO. How DARE you overtake me. 
If I'm on an open road in my old Toledo, it's most comfortable at about 50 mph. It WILL do over 60 but it gets very noisy (and drafty
). So if someone comes up behind and there's an obvious empty stretch ahead, I'll indicate left and let off the throttle so they can get past. I get waves and flashes of hazards as thanks, probably because they're mostly astonished. 
When I'm in the TVR however, people coming the other way will often flash at me for overtaking despite the fact I've gone round the car and back in before they've had time to hit the flash lever.
If I'm on an open road in my old Toledo, it's most comfortable at about 50 mph. It WILL do over 60 but it gets very noisy (and drafty
). So if someone comes up behind and there's an obvious empty stretch ahead, I'll indicate left and let off the throttle so they can get past. I get waves and flashes of hazards as thanks, probably because they're mostly astonished. When I'm in the TVR however, people coming the other way will often flash at me for overtaking despite the fact I've gone round the car and back in before they've had time to hit the flash lever.
dvenman said:
Perhaps not blasting past would change their perception. A "wafty" overtake may help, if it's safe. Depends on the circumstances of the overtake though.
In fairness, it's relative - as a general rule I'd say it's always best to overtake as swiftly as reasonably possible and be back on your side of the road... There's obviously some difference in perceived aggression between, say, revving the fartcan exhaust off a modified Saxo and wafting past at exactly the same speed and acceleration in something bigger and more powerful on torque rather than revs - my cars would definitely come into the latter category.
As you say - it depends on the circumstances... For instance if there's other car/s behind that would also want to overtake then it'd be unreasonable to waft past at much slower speed even on a longer straight Vs being the only car stuck behind the ditherer.
There's no intention to cause alarm in the ditherer by blasting through at unreasonable pace - equally, it's unreasonable to hold back from overtaking them on the basis that they're more likely to get irate.
cerb4.5lee said:
I wish that there were more people on the road like you for definite. The majority of people that I overtake...speed up rather than slowdown.
Likewise - it's just common sense really... What kind of idiot wants someone behind you that's keen to overtake and now (potentially - you don't have a clue who you're dealing with!!) aggravated and willing to chance a more aggressive overtake???
A woman driving an Orion Ghia hung me out to dry when I tried to overtake her in my 1.3 Maestro back in, ooh, 1992 I suppose. Sticks in the mind because it was really dangerous and the first time I experienced that behaviour.
Anyway, it’s nothing new, morons have always been with us.
Anyway, it’s nothing new, morons have always been with us.
RedAndy said:
I foregt how easy it is to overtake in a decently-powered car. The pickup was OK, but not fast so overtakes were very planned. But in my new (16yr old) passat TDi, I plan to overtake one and find myself jetting past 3 or 4. Just not used to the power yet, but I know the roads well.
How does knowing the roads well help safe overtaking?How long a stretch of road with uninterrupted view do you need to safely get past a posse of 4 vehicles travelling at a typical speed of 50 mph?
This is subject that has many anecdotes on behaviour that I have never seen.
People seeking to prevent an overtake, by speeding up! I have never experienced this in decades of driving. So why do some say it often happens?
Why should even be possible, if the overtake was done properly, where it was properly planned and the acceleration was done prior to passing the overtake?
People flashing in anger, having been overtaken. Again never seen. Perhaps someone might flash if the overtaker cut back in too early. That a habit people might want to avoid. About 30% of drivers do this when overtaking cyclists
Someone even suggested wafting past, which is insane behaviour, as you should seek to get past and back in quickly, reducing the risk time.
So how can these odd observations be explained. Are the observers imagining things, causing problems, making up stories, living a different world?
People seeking to prevent an overtake, by speeding up! I have never experienced this in decades of driving. So why do some say it often happens?
Why should even be possible, if the overtake was done properly, where it was properly planned and the acceleration was done prior to passing the overtake?
People flashing in anger, having been overtaken. Again never seen. Perhaps someone might flash if the overtaker cut back in too early. That a habit people might want to avoid. About 30% of drivers do this when overtaking cyclists
Someone even suggested wafting past, which is insane behaviour, as you should seek to get past and back in quickly, reducing the risk time.
So how can these odd observations be explained. Are the observers imagining things, causing problems, making up stories, living a different world?
911hope said:
This is subject that has many anecdotes on behaviour that I have never seen.
People seeking to prevent an overtake, by speeding up! I have never experienced this in decades of driving. So why do some say it often happens?
Why should even be possible, if the overtake was done properly, where it was properly planned and the acceleration was done prior to passing the overtake?
People flashing in anger, having been overtaken. Again never seen. Perhaps someone might flash if the overtaker cut back in too early. That a habit people might want to avoid. About 30% of drivers do this when overtaking cyclists
Someone even suggested wafting past, which is insane behaviour, as you should seek to get past and back in quickly, reducing the risk time.
So how can these odd observations be explained. Are the observers imagining things, causing problems, making up stories, living a different world?
These things do happen.People seeking to prevent an overtake, by speeding up! I have never experienced this in decades of driving. So why do some say it often happens?
Why should even be possible, if the overtake was done properly, where it was properly planned and the acceleration was done prior to passing the overtake?
People flashing in anger, having been overtaken. Again never seen. Perhaps someone might flash if the overtaker cut back in too early. That a habit people might want to avoid. About 30% of drivers do this when overtaking cyclists
Someone even suggested wafting past, which is insane behaviour, as you should seek to get past and back in quickly, reducing the risk time.
So how can these odd observations be explained. Are the observers imagining things, causing problems, making up stories, living a different world?
Where you drive probably has an impact on the frequency.
911hope said:
This is subject that has many anecdotes on behaviour that I have never seen.
People seeking to prevent an overtake, by speeding up! I have never experienced this in decades of driving. So why do some say it often happens?
Why should even be possible, if the overtake was done properly, where it was properly planned and the acceleration was done prior to passing the overtake?
People flashing in anger, having been overtaken. Again never seen. Perhaps someone might flash if the overtaker cut back in too early. That a habit people might want to avoid. About 30% of drivers do this when overtaking cyclists
Someone even suggested wafting past, which is insane behaviour, as you should seek to get past and back in quickly, reducing the risk time.
So how can these odd observations be explained. Are the observers imagining things, causing problems, making up stories, living a different world?
Its funny how most people seem to report these behaviors on here, yet because you have never seen them its all fake and it their own poor overtaking or made up or living in another world. People seeking to prevent an overtake, by speeding up! I have never experienced this in decades of driving. So why do some say it often happens?
Why should even be possible, if the overtake was done properly, where it was properly planned and the acceleration was done prior to passing the overtake?
People flashing in anger, having been overtaken. Again never seen. Perhaps someone might flash if the overtaker cut back in too early. That a habit people might want to avoid. About 30% of drivers do this when overtaking cyclists
Someone even suggested wafting past, which is insane behaviour, as you should seek to get past and back in quickly, reducing the risk time.
So how can these odd observations be explained. Are the observers imagining things, causing problems, making up stories, living a different world?
Ive never seen a crash happen thank god, means they can't exist, must be all made up, the aftermaths i have seen are all fake and placed there as i've never actually witnessed it happen...it can't be true.
Everything infers in the numerous threads like this that i have seen you in that you are one of those who partakes in those reactions to being overtaken without realising it perhaps, although given you constantly say lane changing and overtaking are dangerous and highly risky, it really questions your driving ability as they are only risky if you make them risky, they are and should be all perfectly safe road maneuvers, and probably evidences you are one of these who cant, wont, overtake, stay left, and have massive issues with others who do for some unfathomable reason.
30% of drivers pull in too soon in-front of cyclist? what reliable source i have you plucked that made up % from - incidentally as both a commuter and roadie, who i would wager cycles much further than you annually, i rarely experience drivers 'cutting back too early', not enough room when passing, yes but pulling in too early, hardly ever, especially given the speed differential they pull in and are gone from my space.
How many of these threads have you been called out in before you stop. Do you not find it odd that in most threads you partake in at some point various posters pull you up and feel the need to make comment on your contribution and intention with said contribution, and what your purpose is? You may be incredibly lacking in self awareness but most people realise its somewhat more mischievous what your aim is.
sorry folks. i bit. my bad.
911hope said:
This is subject that has many anecdotes on behaviour that I have never seen.
People seeking to prevent an overtake, by speeding up! I have never experienced this in decades of driving. So why do some say it often happens?
Why should even be possible, if the overtake was done properly, where it was properly planned and the acceleration was done prior to passing the overtake?
People flashing in anger, having been overtaken. Again never seen. Perhaps someone might flash if the overtaker cut back in too early. That a habit people might want to avoid. About 30% of drivers do this when overtaking cyclists
Someone even suggested wafting past, which is insane behaviour, as you should seek to get past and back in quickly, reducing the risk time.
So how can these odd observations be explained. Are the observers imagining things, causing problems, making up stories, living a different world?
They are living in the same world as me.People seeking to prevent an overtake, by speeding up! I have never experienced this in decades of driving. So why do some say it often happens?
Why should even be possible, if the overtake was done properly, where it was properly planned and the acceleration was done prior to passing the overtake?
People flashing in anger, having been overtaken. Again never seen. Perhaps someone might flash if the overtaker cut back in too early. That a habit people might want to avoid. About 30% of drivers do this when overtaking cyclists
Someone even suggested wafting past, which is insane behaviour, as you should seek to get past and back in quickly, reducing the risk time.
So how can these odd observations be explained. Are the observers imagining things, causing problems, making up stories, living a different world?
What do you mean by 'the acceleration was done prior to passing the overtake'? If you are in reasonably close contact with the overtakee, you will be accelerating alongside. If you accelerate from a long way back you will need an uninterrupted view for a much longer distance from where you accelerate, and be aware that you will be committed to completing the overtake before you catch the overtakee (you are committed once you are going too fast to stop behind the overtakee if they brake).
On the wafting thing, there is a balance to be struck between spending too long alongside, and not frightening the overtakee by blowing their doors off, and not having such a large speed differential that you are committed before you reach them.
What do you mean by the risk time? I hope not to overtake with a material risk, and there is nothing risky about being on the other side of the road providing there is sufficient view of clear road ahead and there is safe separation from the overtakee.
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