Weird overtaking

[coppice]

This may have been mentioned elsewhere , life's too short to read every thread . but here's a weird thing . It's happened twice, once involving a sportier Cupra and once involving an oldish 3 series , both driven by young men. They overtake normally but then remain on the wrong side of the road for as long as they possibly can - ie until a corner or traffic appears .Have they seen this in a film ? Do they do it to impress girls ? We should be told .

[Vsix and Vtec]

More likely they've got thier phone in thier hand, scrolling through ticktock with thier thumb.

[DickyC]

When gaggles of us drove as lads and there was overtaking to be done, the lead overtaking car would stay on the wrong side as long as possible to show the others it was clear.

ETA forgot to say, I don't know about my mates but I carried on doing it for the benefit of drivers behind, particularly on roads I was familiar with. If you picture a long bend that's restricting your view but there's a car some way ahead on the wrong side of the road, the road immediately ahead is clear.

Edited by DickyC on Thursday 24th April 07:43

[Dingu]

Vsix and Vtec said:

More likely they've got thier phone in thier hand, scrolling through ticktock with thier thumb.

You could at least spell it correctly if spouting nonsense.

[cobra kid]

Dingu said:

Vsix and Vtec said:

More likely they've got thier phone in thier hand, scrolling through ticktock with thier thumb.

You could at least spell it correctly if spouting nonsense.

Also...thier???

[coppice]

DickyC said:

When gaggles of us drove as lads and there was overtaking to be done, the lead overtaking car would stay on the wrong side as long as possible to show the others it was clear.

ETA forgot to say, I don't know about my mates but I carried on doing it for the benefit of drivers behind, particularly on roads I was familiar with. If you picture a long bend that's restricting your view but there's a car some way ahead on the wrong side of the road, the road immediately ahead is clear.

Edited by DickyC on Thursday 24th April 07:43

Not in this case - single car, single occupant and no other cars in sight.

[gareth h]

Some advance police instruction would stay on the wrong side if there weren’t any hazards and it gave better vision though the next corner

[Vsix and Vtec]

cobra kid said:

Also...thier???

Oh no. What a tragedy. I'm guessing you pair of pedants are guilty of what i described which is why you've decided your best contribution to the thread is nothing to do with the topic at hand? Pathetic.

[Spare tyre]

Sometimes when needed I stay on the opposite side of the road so other potential overtakers can see that it’s still good for them to overtake

However I should probably stop doing this as being on the wrong side of the road unnecessarily is not good if things go wrong

The majority of people seem to get really freaked out by overtaking it’s a skill that is disappearing

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Spare tyre said:

The majority of people seem to get really freaked out by overtaking it’s a skill that is disappearing

I have noticed that people are more aggressive drivers (especially in bigger cars), yet are very reluctant to overtake. I tend to drive at the speed limit these days and the amount of people I get driving a foot from my bumper is crazy, yet will never over take me.

I had one late at night on a completely deserted road, I ended up winding down the window, putting my arm out the window and waving at him to over take me as I was getting sick of him sitting on my bumper.

The only time they seem to want to over take is when traffic lights have two lanes or when two lanes go into one. In this situation they will try and get alongside you and push you out of the way if you happen to be over to the left by 1 inch.

People are weird, I really don't enjoy driving that much anymore. Also don't get me started on the people who now seem unable to turn into a road without doing a scandi flick first as they clearly don't think they can make it around the turn.

[Smint]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

I have noticed that people are more aggressive drivers (especially in bigger cars), yet are very reluctant to overtake. I tend to drive at the speed limit these days and the amount of people I get driving a foot from my bumper is crazy, yet will never over take me.

I had one late at night on a completely deserted road, I ended up winding down the window, putting my arm out the window and waving at him to over take me as I was getting sick of him sitting on my bumper.

The only time they seem to want to over take is when traffic lights have two lanes or when two lanes go into one. In this situation they will try and get alongside you and push you out of the way if you happen to be over to the left by 1 inch.

People are weird, I really don't enjoy driving that much anymore. Also don't get me started on the people who now seem unable to turn into a road without doing a scandi flick first as they clearly don't think they can make it around the turn.

Agree with all points.

One of the good points about driving an old Prado, tailgaters don't tend to do this and if they do its easier to ignore them, similarly when i'm driving an artic, but then all truck drivers are assumed to be satans spawn and treated accordingly.

So seldom do i see a competent overtake these days and its a pleasure to witness when it happens, and if you've assisted the overtaker by road positioning lighting the road miles ahead with multiple roof lights (truck) or some other means of signalling, the competent driver (especially pro bikers) always acknowledge the courtesy.

[gareth h]

Spare tyre said:

Sometimes when needed I stay on the opposite side of the road so other potential overtakers can see that it’s still good for them to overtake

However I should probably stop doing this as being on the wrong side of the road unnecessarily is not good if things go wrong

The majority of people seem to get really freaked out by overtaking it’s a skill that is disappearing

Surely you’re blocking their view? I’d much rather you pulled in so that I could pull out to check for traffic.

[Mr Miata]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

I have noticed that people are more aggressive drivers (especially in bigger cars), yet are very reluctant to overtake. I tend to drive at the speed limit these days and the amount of people I get driving a foot from my bumper is crazy, yet will never over take me.

I had one late at night on a completely deserted road, I ended up winding down the window, putting my arm out the window and waving at him to over take me as I was getting sick of him sitting on my bumper.

The only time they seem to want to over take is when traffic lights have two lanes or when two lanes go into one. In this situation they will try and get alongside you and push you out of the way if you happen to be over to the left by 1 inch.

People are weird, I really don't enjoy driving that much anymore. Also don't get me started on the people who now seem unable to turn into a road without doing a scandi flick first as they clearly don't think they can make it around the turn.

You could always indicate left and slow down. Even pull into a lay by.

[mac96]

Mr Miata said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

I have noticed that people are more aggressive drivers (especially in bigger cars), yet are very reluctant to overtake. I tend to drive at the speed limit these days and the amount of people I get driving a foot from my bumper is crazy, yet will never over take me.

I had one late at night on a completely deserted road, I ended up winding down the window, putting my arm out the window and waving at him to over take me as I was getting sick of him sitting on my bumper.

The only time they seem to want to over take is when traffic lights have two lanes or when two lanes go into one. In this situation they will try and get alongside you and push you out of the way if you happen to be over to the left by 1 inch.

People are weird, I really don't enjoy driving that much anymore. Also don't get me started on the people who now seem unable to turn into a road without doing a scandi flick first as they clearly don't think they can make it around the turn.

You could always indicate left and slow down. Even pull into a lay by.

That works if there is only one tailgater; often another cretin turns up as soon as you are slowed by traffic in front again, so you would be continually stopping.

What infuriates me is tailgaters who want to go faster than the traffic in front of you, but when that traffic goes elsewhere they are slower than you. Especially if that was obvious to them all along.. Often driving a van to make their presence more intimidating.
Grrr!

[AndyAudi]

Most of my driving is A or B road

If I’m overtaking & approaching a fairly open sighted left hand bend, I’ll stay out if it lets me see more

Sometimes I’ll partially go out when not overtaking.

[RSTurboPaul]

gareth h said:

Spare tyre said:

Sometimes when needed I stay on the opposite side of the road so other potential overtakers can see that it’s still good for them to overtake

However I should probably stop doing this as being on the wrong side of the road unnecessarily is not good if things go wrong

The majority of people seem to get really freaked out by overtaking it’s a skill that is disappearing

Surely you’re blocking their view? I’d much rather you pulled in so that I could pull out to check for traffic.

I am confused.

You are behind a car and wish to overtake, and the person who has already overtaken is staying out on the opposite side when (presumably) the 'correct' lane in front of the dawdler is empty.

I am not sure how that would be blocking the view?

You could move out / 'offside' to see past the dawdler, and then you would see the carriageway in front is clear to pull in to, while also observing the still-offsiding vehicle in front hasn't had a head-on crash (presumably some way ahead and with a longer view of the road than afforded by your current position) and therefore reasonably summarise that the overtake is 'on' (presuming you have also mirror- and shoulder-checked to make sure no-one behind you has already started to overtake both you and the dawdler)?

[gareth h]

RSTurboPaul said:

I am confused.

You are behind a car and wish to overtake, and the person who has already overtaken is staying out on the opposite side when (presumably) the 'correct' lane in front of the dawdler is empty.

I am not sure how that would be blocking the view?

You could move out / 'offside' to see past the dawdler, and then you would see the carriageway in front is clear to pull in to, while also observing the still-offsiding vehicle in front hasn't had a head-on crash (presumably some way ahead and with a longer view of the road than afforded by your current position) and therefore reasonably summarise that the overtake is 'on' (presuming you have also mirror- and shoulder-checked to make sure no-one behind you has already started to overtake both you and the dawdler)?

I’m assuming the first overtaker is remaining on the wrong side of the road to “reassure” those overtaking behind that nothing is coming in the opposite direction, if they overtook and pulled back in the next overtaker could pull out and check that the road was clear for themselves.

[RSTurboPaul]

gareth h said:

RSTurboPaul said:

I am confused.

You are behind a car and wish to overtake, and the person who has already overtaken is staying out on the opposite side when (presumably) the 'correct' lane in front of the dawdler is empty.

I am not sure how that would be blocking the view?

You could move out / 'offside' to see past the dawdler, and then you would see the carriageway in front is clear to pull in to, while also observing the still-offsiding vehicle in front hasn't had a head-on crash (presumably some way ahead and with a longer view of the road than afforded by your current position) and therefore reasonably summarise that the overtake is 'on' (presuming you have also mirror- and shoulder-checked to make sure no-one behind you has already started to overtake both you and the dawdler)?

I’m assuming the first overtaker is remaining on the wrong side of the road to “reassure” those overtaking behind that nothing is coming in the opposite direction, if they overtook and pulled back in the next overtaker could pull out and check that the road was clear for themselves.

But one can infer from them staying out that the road is clear further ahead than one can see (because the car in front will be able to see further)?

I know we should treat others like they are stupid on the roads... but I would hope 'has a death wish and is going to drive head-on into oncoming traffic' is a relatively rare mindset... lol

[gareth h]

RSTurboPaul said:

But one can infer from them staying out that the road is clear further ahead than one can see (because the car in front will be able to see further)?

I know we should treat others like they are stupid on the roads... but I would hope 'has a death wish and is going to drive head-on into oncoming traffic' is a relatively rare mindset... lol

Sorry, but I’m not trusting anybody else to tell me an overtake is safe!

[Mandat]

gareth h said:

Sorry, but I’m not trusting anybody else to tell me an overtake is safe!

Quite right, and you must always make your own decision on whether an overtake is safe or not.

However, the other driver is not telling you whether an overtake is safe, but he is providing you with additional information that you otherwise might not have available as part of your decision making process.