Overtaking in corners - why the objection?

[NNH]

It's interesting how people react to being overtaken on a curve: my car is LHD so in Britain it's often easier for me to pass on a gentle curve to the right. By comparison, when I had RHD cars, I don't remember French people getting upset if I overtook on a leftwards curve.

[Dizeee]

People's overreactions are a typical by product of proper driving.

When I get headlight flashes / horn notes / head shakes or whatever it happens to be I often verbalise that I can't be blamed for the ignorance of the other driver's incorrect interpretation of what it is I am doing.

[Nearlyretired]

I have been driving for over 35 years.
I passed my advanced driving test,was a driving instructor, and was considering being an examiner and have driven hundreds of thousands of miles.
Overtaking is about preparation.
If you have superb vision ahead and even if the road is twisty and you are in the correct position, correct speed ,and correct gear and can carry out the whole manuvoure comfortably, and other road users are aware of your presence and intentions, then it is safe to overtake,but only if you are 100% sure,if not you MUST NOT OVERTAKE.
There is never a CHANCE to overtake,it must be a SAFE opportunity to overtake.
Remember it's NOT what you can see it's what you CAN'T see!
The problem is drivers are taught to pass a test, once they have done this most people never read the highway code again,and have no further training,and are never taught how to overtake.
I sound like a driving instructor!
End of rant!

[pim]

Dizeee said:

People's overreactions are a typical by product of proper driving.

When I get headlight flashes / horn notes / head shakes or whatever it happens to be I often verbalise that I can't be blamed for the ignorance of the other driver's incorrect interpretation of what it is I am doing.

If you receive regular headlight flashes and the two fingers etc.

You are doing something to irritate other drivers.Unless of course you are a driving God.>

[boyse7en]

Here's an example of a clearly-sighted corner. Overtakes on my motorbike are easy, but in the car I'm far more circumspect as a lot of people straighten the corner.

[Henzy]

Perhaps a google maps street view link of said corners would help...

[LordHaveMurci]

People judge you & your actions by their (low) standards, they wouldn't feel safe carrying out that overtake therefore it is by default, dangerous.

[Dizeee]

pim said:

If you receive regular headlight flashes and the two fingers etc.

You are doing something to irritate other drivers.Unless of course you are a driving God.>

Not regular, but when they do occur, not justified.

[Dr Jekyll]

Nearlyretired said:

I have been driving for over 35 years.
I passed my advanced driving test,was a driving instructor, and was considering being an examiner and have driven hundreds of thousands of miles.
Overtaking is about preparation.
If you have superb vision ahead and even if the road is twisty and you are in the correct position, correct speed ,and correct gear and can carry out the whole manuvoure comfortably, and other road users are aware of your presence and intentions, then it is safe to overtake,but only if you are 100% sure,if not you MUST NOT OVERTAKE.
There is never a CHANCE to overtake,it must be a SAFE opportunity to overtake.
Remember it's NOT what you can see it's what you CAN'T see!
The problem is drivers are taught to pass a test, once they have done this most people never read the highway code again,and have no further training,and are never taught how to overtake.
I sound like a driving instructor!
End of rant!

Your point being?

[fast_eddie]

Its always fun coming from a higher powered car to a lower powered one.

Drivers observing a 1.1 Alto 'gl' overtaking them , often respond with main beam, horn, shaking of head or fists.

I don't honestly believe I have warranted any of the above as to overtake in a 1.1 ltr car, takes a lot of planning.

What I do believe, is that regular drivers of vehicles including cars, vans, wagons and bikes don't like being overtaken at all, let alone by a 1.1 tin box.

If it is safe to overtake and 'you' have done your best to get a clear picture of the road ahead, then do it but:

Have you got a complete picture of your usual road and not just presuming its clear as normal and have you double checked the new road you are on doesn't hold any surprises?

Corners, fit in to all of the above.

[mph999]

Not quite a corner, but I pulled out of a T-Junction the other week, onto the 'worng side of the road' to overtake the car that had turned right in front of me (safe, nothing coming).

Let's just say it didn't go down well ...

I just shrugged my shouldrs and got on with it ...

[Dizeee]

mph999 said:

Not quite a corner, but I pulled out of a T-Junction the other week, onto the 'worng side of the road' to overtake the car that had turned right in front of me (safe, nothing coming).

Let's just say it didn't go down well ...

I just shrugged my shouldrs and got on with it ...

Was immediate? At what point did you get past the car - literally as they were finishing their turn or further on?

[mph999]

Dizeee said:

mph999 said:

Not quite a corner, but I pulled out of a T-Junction the other week, onto the 'worng side of the road' to overtake the car that had turned right in front of me (safe, nothing coming).

Let's just say it didn't go down well ...

I just shrugged my shouldrs and got on with it ...

Was immediate? At what point did you get past the car - literally as they were finishing their turn or further on?

A little further on - there was a few seconds before I pulled out as I had to look both ways first ....

[Dizeee]

Was just thinking of potential conflict had the car decided to reciprocate and re enter the T junction to go back on themselves, unlikely I know, but this is the AD forum

[antiok]

I regularly overtake on clear sighted 'bends' or 'curves' rather than 'corners' if the distinction is clear enough for an internet forum. Generally when heading up or down hill with excellent vision ahead on quieter country roads.

Got past 11 cars being held up by a slow camper van in one go on Welsh mountain A road a few weeks ago. Perfectly safe and less chance of sheep drivers (not real sheep) pulling out to overtake without looking behind them on a corner so safer %s in some regards.

Does tend to illicit angrier responses than a straight line overtake. I think people just don't expect it and seeing a yellow Lotus whizz past with a screaming engine note tends to make people think 'wker!' anyway so it's not a normal baseline.

Overtaking around a corner tends to focus mind further I find. Some of my more dodgy maneuvers (in hindsight) have been on straight bits.

[dvenman]

antiok said:

I Does tend to illicit angrier responses than a straight line overtake. I think people just don't expect it and seeing a yellow Lotus whizz past with a screaming engine note tends to make people think 'wker!' anyway so it's not a normal baseline.

Diverging slightly away from the "overtake on corners" piece - even if the overtake is solid, if you have a bingle a sort while later, all the overtakees will remember is a yellow Lotus whizzing past with a screaming engine, and that will end up in any witness statements as evidence of driving actions shortly before any incident.

Wafting past is preferable - and if the car allows, a higher gear would help.

Edited to add a link to a thread which is germane to my point - read 10 Pences' contributions here - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by dvenman on Tuesday 18th October 08:41

[antiok]

dvenman said:

Diverging slightly away from the "overtake on corners" piece - even if the overtake is solid, if you have a bingle a sort while later, all the overtakees will remember is a yellow Lotus whizzing past with a screaming engine, and that will end up in any witness statements as evidence of driving actions shortly before any incident.

Wafting past is preferable - and if the car allows, a higher gear would help.

Edited to add a link to a thread which is germane to my point - read 10 Pences' contributions here - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by dvenman on Tuesday 18th October 08:41

I understand your point and have read the thread in question but I'd rather pick the appropriate gear for best safe progress in the overtake (with accompanied noise) than pick a higher gear and pass slower.

[dvenman]

antiok said:

I understand your point and have read the thread in question but I'd rather pick the appropriate gear for best safe progress in the overtake (with accompanied noise) than pick a higher gear and pass slower.

Understood too. However, have a play on a safe piece of road and see if a higher gear impacts the overtake time at all. I've no clue if the Lotus picks up well from slightly lower RPM in a higher gear, but it's an option to bear in mind.

[Blakewater]

Overtaking on stretches that appear to be straight but have hidden dips is a common thing people do. The other day I was behind a woman in a Peugeot 107 with a guy in a grey Astra behind me who I was keeping an eye on. We reached a straight with a dip in the middle and I moved to the centre of the road to look for the overtake and show my intention to overtake but I waited until I could see all of the tarmac before I chose to go. Astra Guy decided to pass both of us from a point where the dip was easily deep enough to be hiding another vehicle or other hazard.

Further on we were behind a caravan going down a well sighted hill through a series of curves and he wasn't taking the chance to overtake safely there.He wasn't a happy chap when I passed him again perfectly safely.

[DocSteve]

Blakewater said:

Overtaking on stretches that appear to be straight but have hidden dips is a common thing people do. The other day I was behind a woman in a Peugeot 107 with a guy in a grey Astra behind me who I was keeping an eye on. We reached a straight with a dip in the middle and I moved to the centre of the road to look for the overtake and show my intention to overtake but I waited until I could see all of the tarmac before I chose to go. Astra Guy decided to pass both of us from a point where the dip was easily deep enough to be hiding another vehicle or other hazard.

Further on we were behind a caravan going down a well sighted hill through a series of curves and he wasn't taking the chance to overtake safely there.He wasn't a happy chap when I passed him again perfectly safely.

As per one of my previous posts, your Astra Guy sounds like he chose to enter the "dead space". So called for good reason!