Is overtaking a lost art?

[2gins]

911hope said:

otolith said:

I'd rather overtake 3x2 than 6x1. I need the other lane either way.

That's the way to do it. Sadly very few people do.

Often people proudly say they leave 1.5m. that is the bare minimum and frankly not enough. When a 2m person falls sideways into a 1.5m gap, what happens to their head?

Your approach of 1 lane gap is excellent.

Cyclists don't just topple over sideways in a split second like a baddie spawning in Doom. Even if they did you'd be unlucky for it to happen at the exact moment you're alongside.

I see what you're saying but by that logic it'd be best to pass as close as possible so there's no gap to fall into

As a cyclist commuting 100 miles a week, I'm happy with 1.5m at 40mph and just get on with it please.

[911hope]

2gins said:

Cyclists don't just topple over sideways in a split second like a baddie spawning in Doom. Even if they did you'd be unlucky for it to happen at the exact moment you're alongside.

I see what you're saying but by that logic it'd be best to pass as close as possible so there's no gap to fall into

As a cyclist commuting 100 miles a week, I'm happy with 1.5m at 40mph and just get on with it please.

So you think it is best to be as close as possible, in case something happens. Really?

I know you used the word "logic", but that doesn't really follow.

[Glenn63]

Heading down the A75 Tuesday evening, sunny, super quiet road literally no one about, very long well sighted straights and I catch 2 cars plodding along behind a hgv unit no trailer who’s doing the (ridiculous) 40mph Scottish limit. Both happy doing 40 in a 60. I was on cruise caught them straight past all 3 and back in without adjusting speed.

[cerb4.5lee]

Glenn63 said:

Heading down the A75 Tuesday evening, sunny, super quiet road literally no one about, very long well sighted straights and I catch 2 cars plodding along behind a hgv unit no trailer who’s doing the (ridiculous) 40mph Scottish limit. Both happy doing 40 in a 60. I was on cruise caught them straight past all 3 and back in without adjusting speed.

That was a bit similar to me the other day too. A row of 3 cars doing around 40 in a 60 and the road is clear but they all just sat there, so I overtook the 3 of them in one go. I couldn't believe that at least 1 of them didn't want to make a move.

I guess that it is because they either lacked confidence in overtaking, or they didn't think that they had the power to get past.

I'm always very wary of overtaking 3 cars in 1 go though, because years ago a car in the middle of the 3 pulled into the side of me in the XR4x4 while I was overtaking them, he didn't look in his mirrors and he wasn't expecting me to overtake from behind the car that was behind him.

It was classed as a none fault accident for me because he pulled into my path, but it definitely makes you think though. I presume that if you've only ever driven slower cars...then you don't consider the cars that are quicker than you perhaps?

[waremark]

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm always very wary of overtaking 3 cars in 1 go though, because years ago a car in the middle of the 3 pulled into the side of me in the XR4x4 while I was overtaking them, he didn't look in his mirrors and he wasn't expecting me to overtake from behind the car that was behind him.

It was classed as a none fault accident for me because he pulled into my path, but it definitely makes you think though. I presume that if you've only ever driven slower cars...then you don't consider the cars that are quicker than you perhaps?

If you were faced with that situation again, do you think it would help to use main beams from the offside position before committing (too far back for the horn to help, mains may attract the driver of the middle vehicle to their door mirror).

[cerb4.5lee]

waremark said:

If you were faced with that situation again, do you think it would help to use main beams from the offside position before committing (too far back for the horn to help, mains may attract the driver of the middle vehicle to their door mirror).

That is a great shout to be honest, and it isn't something that I've ever thought about doing. That is a really good idea.

[driverrob]

I was gifted a nice overtake at lunchtime today. Coming away from town, 2 large vans being driven briskly followed by two cars, the first of which instantly gave the impression of being driven gently. As expected the vans began to pull ahead as we moved from 30 to 40 limit. The change to NSL ahead, was a long, empty stretch of 2-lane road and the gap was increasing. Mirror, change down, indicate, pull out, accelerate to 60, pass, pull safely into large gap.
Result: much flashing of headlamps from small car.
Why?

[2gins]

911hope said:

2gins said:

Cyclists don't just topple over sideways in a split second like a baddie spawning in Doom. Even if they did you'd be unlucky for it to happen at the exact moment you're alongside.

I see what you're saying but by that logic it'd be best to pass as close as possible so there's no gap to fall into

As a cyclist commuting 100 miles a week, I'm happy with 1.5m at 40mph and just get on with it please.

So you think it is best to be as close as possible, in case something happens. Really?

I know you used the word "logic", but that doesn't really follow.

Don't be a plonker. It's obvious that's not what I meant.

[Solocle]

driverrob said:

I was gifted a nice overtake at lunchtime today. Coming away from town, 2 large vans being driven briskly followed by two cars, the first of which instantly gave the impression of being driven gently. As expected the vans began to pull ahead as we moved from 30 to 40 limit. The change to NSL ahead, was a long, empty stretch of 2-lane road and the gap was increasing. Mirror, change down, indicate, pull out, accelerate to 60, pass, pull safely into large gap.
Result: much flashing of headlamps from small car.
Why?

This was a rather nice triple overtake. I was on the bicycle.

[shambolic]

Try it in a vivaro van limited to 67mph.
I drive single carriageway all the time all over Scotland. I know most roads very well and the overtaking opportunity. The issue is me overtaking the dawdler doing 40mph on straights 25-40 in corners or if a car comes towards them, who comes out of their daydream and speeds up. I’m only allowed to do 50 officially but I then hit my limit of 66 and get stuck on wrong side for too long.
Normally now heading to Oban or Campbeltown I’ll leave at 530-6am and can sit at 66 the whole way.
Coming home I resign myself to the misery of dealing with them.

[911hope]

2gins said:

911hope said:

2gins said:

Cyclists don't just topple over sideways in a split second like a baddie spawning in Doom. Even if they did you'd be unlucky for it to happen at the exact moment you're alongside.

I see what you're saying but by that logic it'd be best to pass as close as possible so there's no gap to fall into

As a cyclist commuting 100 miles a week, I'm happy with 1.5m at 40mph and just get on with it please.

So you think it is best to be as close as possible, in case something happens. Really?

I know you used the word "logic", but that doesn't really follow.

Don't be a plonker. It's obvious that's not what I meant.

Just check what you write then.

And a bit more politeness.

[Johnnytheboy]

911hope said:

Just check what you write then.

And a bit more politeness.

Which previously banned poster are you then?

I keep seeing your name being the thread's edgelord all of a sudden.

[2gins]

911hope said:

2gins said:

911hope said:

2gins said:

Cyclists don't just topple over sideways in a split second like a baddie spawning in Doom. Even if they did you'd be unlucky for it to happen at the exact moment you're alongside.

I see what you're saying but by that logic it'd be best to pass as close as possible so there's no gap to fall into

As a cyclist commuting 100 miles a week, I'm happy with 1.5m at 40mph and just get on with it please.

So you think it is best to be as close as possible, in case something happens. Really?

I know you used the word "logic", but that doesn't really follow.

Nothing wrong or confusing about what I wrote. Trying to turn people's posts on their heads to score forum points? It's the worst posting style and I'll call it out when I see it, thanks all the same.

Don't be a plonker. It's obvious that's not what I meant.

Just check what you write then.

And a bit more politeness.

[Triumph Man]

cerb4.5lee said:

waremark said:

If you were faced with that situation again, do you think it would help to use main beams from the offside position before committing (too far back for the horn to help, mains may attract the driver of the middle vehicle to their door mirror).

That is a great shout to be honest, and it isn't something that I've ever thought about doing. That is a really good idea.

Whilst I see the logic in using main beams, I wonder if it’s use would be seen as a sign of aggression that would invoke somebody to attempt to block/speed up?

[cerb4.5lee]

Triumph Man said:

cerb4.5lee said:

waremark said:

If you were faced with that situation again, do you think it would help to use main beams from the offside position before committing (too far back for the horn to help, mains may attract the driver of the middle vehicle to their door mirror).

That is a great shout to be honest, and it isn't something that I've ever thought about doing. That is a really good idea.

Whilst I see the logic in using main beams, I wonder if it’s use would be seen as a sign of aggression that would invoke somebody to attempt to block/speed up?

That is a good point, and it certainly doesn't take much nowadays to wind people up out on the roads. It is similar when you overtake someone and they flash you for doing it for some daft reason.

[911hope]

cerb4.5lee said:

That is a good point, and it certainly doesn't take much nowadays to wind people up out on the roads. It is similar when you overtake someone and they flash you for doing it for some daft reason.

You never know what people are attempting to convey with headlight flashing, in some circumstances. The tailgating flash is obvious, but is that person flashing you out in front of you really telling you that?

Saw a person beep their horn at a friend on the pavement. Unfortunately they were sitting at a red light, second in the line. The person at the front interpreted it as "green light" and drove straight into a crash. Fortunately minor, but it ruined several peoples' day.

[Tom1312]

Managed a 4 and 3 car overtake in the same journey the other day. Thought of this thread whilst the wife gave me evils and my boys cheered the family Galaxy on


Main beams for overtaking, something that was taught to me on a course was to put your full beams on if doing a multi car overtake, just solid full beam. Helps you been seen obviously but given the level of attention the average driver exhibits it probably makes little difference. Don't use your horn, that would probably encourage a .. sub optimal response.

Ironically even on a blue light run, flashing head lights is usually more effective than the strobes and tones....

Edited by Tom1312 on Wednesday 26th October 05:32

Edited by Tom1312 on Wednesday 26th October 05:32

[fflump]

I regularly drive the A702 Edinburgh to Abingdon. At a normal time of day it takes an hour ± 5 mins regardless of whether I'm in overtaking dawdlers or not so I usually just don't bother there's always a dawdler just up the road, or a numpty that does crawls round corners then floors it on the straights.

Makes for a more relaxing drive TBH

[Majorslow]

I am an ADI, I have now given up on learners, but did teach them overtaking first on D/C's, Then motorways, then on national speed limit single carriageways. Some would not take to it very well, others loved it.

Sadly there are not many cars that you can drop a gear or two that a new driver can afford to run these days. Many are handicapped with "black boxes" that monitor acceleration so will put off many.

I do "fleet" driver training now and many many drivers i sit next to who having had their D/L for years and sometimes decades haven't a clue either. Poor road positioning, gear selection, poor planning, etc....

It is great when I do my check test for "ROSPA" when you are alongside a Police traffic/ driving god and they encourage you to overtake, and at debrief compliment your choice to overtake or not depending on all the factors that make up a safe overtaking opportunity

[Second Best]

I daily a 17bhp car that, on a good day, can hit 55mph after over 25 seconds of brutal acceleration.

I still overtake people who think 37mph is a sensible speed on a well-sighted piece of road. Of course, when we get to the next village and I drop to 30mph, as is the prevailing speed limit, they're tailgaiting me as if I'm the hazard. As expected I normally drop my speed as I'd rather not a 2 ton Land rover shunt me if I need to brake for any reason (e.g. someone stepping into the road or a horse around the blind corner, where it's 30 for a reason) at any speed more than acceptable in a 30. Particularly a 2 ton Evoque is about 4 times the mass of my car and I, so there'll only be one loser in that scenario (well, a few if there's a horse on the road).

Whilst I have to plan my overtakes well and, touch wood, I've not come across someone accelerating to block me in my 17bhp vehicle, there's still some finesse and reading the road required. To be honest, 90% of cars I overtake in that are Ubers, who have no fking idea what they're doing anyway.

I also drive a 567bhp weekend car, in which overtakes are unsurprisingly very easy and I can dispatch a train quite quickly. I assume because of the noise (112dB, unmodified) people like to flash their lights and throw me a small road party, but sadly I'm normally too far up the road to participate in their impromptu disco. I've had one or two Insignias / Transits etc try and speed up to block my overtake, but I expect they realise that the speed difference isn't worth fighting.

My local area is mainly older folks, which is double-edged. Some of them are happy to keep their speed up through the local NSLs, if they're doing 55+ then I'll happily sit a respectable distance behind them, but you also get those who do 37mph everywhere. Thankfully, for now, the former is more common than the latter.