Overtaking a car that is accelerating?
Discussion
Maybe a stupid question as it's not something I've ever done...
You are following a car that is sticking between 40-50mph in a NSL single lane carriageway with no safe points to overtake. You get to a roundabout and they take the same exit as you, and there is a clear straight directly from the exit of the roundabout.
Would it be considered dangerous to overtake them whilst they are still accelerating up to speed (in the knowledge that they are probably only accelerating up to 40-50mph)or would it be best to let them get to 40-50mph, lose the safe overtake spot and wait for another chance?
I have never done it because I worry that someone who's inclined to drive slowly may not have the best observations and so may not be expecting an overtake in that situation, or they may accelerate unexpectedly without noticing me.
Any opinions?
You are following a car that is sticking between 40-50mph in a NSL single lane carriageway with no safe points to overtake. You get to a roundabout and they take the same exit as you, and there is a clear straight directly from the exit of the roundabout.
Would it be considered dangerous to overtake them whilst they are still accelerating up to speed (in the knowledge that they are probably only accelerating up to 40-50mph)or would it be best to let them get to 40-50mph, lose the safe overtake spot and wait for another chance?
I have never done it because I worry that someone who's inclined to drive slowly may not have the best observations and so may not be expecting an overtake in that situation, or they may accelerate unexpectedly without noticing me.
Any opinions?
In theory, you don't actually know what speed he is going to accelerate to - he could do most of the journey in front of you at 40-50mph then when you choose to overtake he has already decided he is going to gun it down the next straight at 100mph. While it's unlikely and you can often reasonably predict what others will do after sufficient observation you can never be 100% sure. If you were going to overtake, you would want to make sure there was (obviously) nothing coming the other way for a long time to give you plenty of space to complete the overtake and that you have sufficient room behind you to slot back in should you have to abort.
On the other hand, if you are driving say, a 600bhp Skyline and they are in a 1.2L Corsa (that does not appear to be mapped!
) you might feel that you have more than enough performance to get past no matter how hard he tries to accelerate and then nip past him easily.
On the other hand, if you are driving say, a 600bhp Skyline and they are in a 1.2L Corsa (that does not appear to be mapped!
) you might feel that you have more than enough performance to get past no matter how hard he tries to accelerate and then nip past him easily.I do this occasionally on roads that I know. The few places that I do it have great line of sight and no turnings off the road and are long enough that if, for any reason, I need to abort, I can do so and pull back in.
I don't see any issue with accelerating faster than someone else...
I don't see any issue with accelerating faster than someone else...
LawrenceOfArabia said:
(in the knowledge that they are probably only accelerating up to 40-50mph)
Just make sure you can get past either way.
Unfortunately I tried this exact move on a rather unsuspecting base model Mk3 Astra that was trundling down the A303 at 50mph. Me, complete with 280bhp worth of Mk4 Astra decided I'd had enough and coming off the next roundabout he was mine. Granted, the slightly squat stance and 3" exhaust really should have at least triggered by spidey senses... but no, I had my race face on and went for the overtake knowing damn fine I'd easily outdrag this rusty arched s
tbox on the left.
Of course I hadn't factored in the possibility that it could be modified and could be running a 2.0 turbo... and yes, it was and yes it made me look rather silly as I gave up, admitted defeat and slotted back in behind.
I suspect I wasn't his first victim that day either.
tbox on the left. Of course I hadn't factored in the possibility that it could be modified and could be running a 2.0 turbo... and yes, it was and yes it made me look rather silly as I gave up, admitted defeat and slotted back in behind.
I suspect I wasn't his first victim that day either.
Moar said:
Depends what car they have and what car you have....
Yep. In some of my previous cars, the average family car driver wouldn't have had time to think "That fker's gonna overtake me!"... whereas, in my current rusty heap, if I tried that manoeuvre, we'd be exchanging insurance details at the side of the road. Reality is, I'm most likely to be that slow ste you're trying to overtake (and if someone did pull that move, I'd ease off on the accelerator pedal to reduce the chances that if they made a judgement error, I'd be speaking to them on the pavement). 
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