Exceeding the speed limit whilst overtaking - opinions
Exceeding the speed limit whilst overtaking - opinions
Author
Discussion

chris182

Original Poster:

4,227 posts

174 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
This probably comes up regularly but what is the prevailing opinion on observing the posted limit whilst overtaking?

I stick fairly rigidly to the limits, but on the rare occasions when I overtake someone on a single carriageway I occasionally break the limit in order to get past in a sensible time. Do others do this or only overtake if they can get past safely whilst observing the limit?

From a logical point of view, overtaking someone doing 50 in a NSL at 60 will take three times the distance as doing it at 80 but I imagine the good fellows of her majesties constabulary would disapprove of such behaviour if they were to witness it.

On a related note, has anyone been caught speeding mid-overtake?


FloppyRaccoon

1,916 posts

187 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
I do it to get past quickly and safely return to my lane. Sometimes you get some unusual people who like to speed up when they realise they're getting overtaken as well.

I remember my driving instructor telling me it was okay to break the limit a bit to complete an overtake.

Adam_W

1,096 posts

221 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
Personally I'm one for giving it everything while passing then slowing when back on the correct side of the road.

bicycleshorts

1,939 posts

182 months

Friday 13th April 2012
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I was in a car when it was done by a camera van like this. The nice camera operator waited until the car pulled back in to get his shots though, the latter actually showed a 5mph deceleration. Only noticed the van as we got closer.

ImDesigner

1,961 posts

215 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
Get the manoeuvre completed as quickly as possible. Tbh I rarely overtake on an A road in anything less than an NSL because there is little point unless it's a tractor or something.

Engineer1

10,486 posts

230 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
Von on - If you have to speed to overtake they couldn't have been going that slowly - Von off

Seriously though it depends on the road and the car in front, someone who brakes for every corner and speeds up on straights consistently may mean I hoof it past as I know they will hold me up most of the time.

otolith

64,648 posts

225 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
The only ticket I ever got was while overtaking. Unmarked bike in a layby, I saw it and thought nothing of it.

I've learnt my lesson, though, I wouldn't do it again.

(show insufficient paranoia before overtaking as I consider best and safest, that is)

Cotty

41,721 posts

305 months

Friday 13th April 2012
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The quicker you are back in your own lane the better. Mind you if your pressing on its not like you are going to stick to the speed limit after the pass anyway.

Sir Bagalot

6,858 posts

202 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
FloppyRaccoon said:
I remember my driving instructor telling me it was okay to break the limit a bit to complete an overtake.
So there you have it. It's ok to speed, but only if you're driving on the wrong side of the road. Go figure!

petrolsniffer

2,529 posts

195 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
Everytime!

Would be difficult not to simply because of the low gearing in my 205 1.6 gti

PaulB81

883 posts

181 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
Given good conditions on an NSL road I do occasionally go over the speed limit to complete an overtake. I dont see it beeing a massive issue.

Its clearly not advisable to do it just because the gap before an oncoming car arrives is only small, that just means you could end up accelerating faster into an oncoming vehicle which is not doing anyone any favours.

chris182

Original Poster:

4,227 posts

174 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
ImDesigner said:
Get the manoeuvre completed as quickly as possible. Tbh I rarely overtake on an A road in anything less than an NSL because there is little point unless it's a tractor or something.
Yep, same. It is easy to see some big numbers as you draw level though (90+ leptons overtaking a 50mph vehicle). I do worry about what PC Plod would have to say if ever they caught one doing this.

TVdinneR

240 posts

171 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
Engineer1 said:
Seriously though it depends on the road and the car in front, someone who brakes for every corner and speeds up on straights consistently may mean I hoof it past as I know they will hold me up most of the time.
+1

kambites

70,364 posts

242 months

Friday 13th April 2012
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Pretty much the only time that I significantly break the speed limit on single carriageway roads is when overtaking. I don't like being on the wrong side of the road for any longer than I have to.

vonhosen

40,597 posts

238 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
chris182 said:
This probably comes up regularly but what is the prevailing opinion on observing the posted limit whilst overtaking?

I stick fairly rigidly to the limits, but on the rare occasions when I overtake someone on a single carriageway I occasionally break the limit in order to get past in a sensible time. Do others do this or only overtake if they can get past safely whilst observing the limit?

From a logical point of view, overtaking someone doing 50 in a NSL at 60 will take three times the distance as doing it at 80 but I imagine the good fellows of her majesties constabulary would disapprove of such behaviour if they were to witness it.

On a related note, has anyone been caught speeding mid-overtake?
otolith said:
The only ticket I ever got was while overtaking. Unmarked bike in a layby
That's all.


Choice is yours, just as it is in exceeding the speed limit in any circumstance.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

267 months

Friday 13th April 2012
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Engineer1 said:
Von on - If you have to speed to overtake they couldn't have been going that slowly - Von off.
One question to ask yourself is "if it was a police car in front of me would I overtake it?"

vonhosen

40,597 posts

238 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
FloppyRaccoon said:
I remember my driving instructor telling me it was okay to break the limit a bit to complete an overtake.
That won't cut the mustard as a defence.

kambites

70,364 posts

242 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
One question to ask yourself is "if it was a police car in front of me would I overtake it?"
I think I tend to overtake police cars in places that I wouldn't overtake other cars, because I have slightly more faith in them not doing something stupid.

Wills2

27,756 posts

196 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all

I complete the overtake in the shortest possible distance I can.

chris182

Original Poster:

4,227 posts

174 months

Friday 13th April 2012
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
One question to ask yourself is "if it was a police car in front of me would I overtake it?"
In that case I would never overtake anything!

It is true, if one ever got caught then one would have to admit it was a fair cop. The law is unequivocal and there is no excuse for breaking the limit, I just wanted to ascertain what most other people do.