Dangerous overtaken driver
Discussion
Today I was driving out of a 20 zone in to a 40, dead straight road for about a mile and the Audi estate in front of me continued at 25 mph, I indicated and moved out to look for the overtake, once out and straight I sped up to go past, as my rear 1/4 got past his front wing the Audi floored it, I was committed so gunned it, the Audi stayed with me and I had to use 70 leptons to clear the front. As soon as I was passed I slowed back down and Audi man dropped well back.
I guess I could have anchored up and pulled back in but I was virtually past their car....not a nice thing for them to do to me.
At the next set of lights I was tempted to try and speak to the driver but thought it was better to just let it go.
It seems people do not like overtakers anymore.
I guess I could have anchored up and pulled back in but I was virtually past their car....not a nice thing for them to do to me.
At the next set of lights I was tempted to try and speak to the driver but thought it was better to just let it go.
It seems people do not like overtakers anymore.
waremark said:
Difficult to decide whether to accelerate or brake. Do you now think that braking would have worked better? If you had happened to run foul of a radar gun there would have been no getout for you.
Yes, probably a sharp brake, pull back in and try to be calm and keep a big distance would have been better. I would have had to split second do another mirror check to make sure no bike or car had decided come with me or use up my space behind (when I pulled out there was no other traffic around at all). I was mostly focused on a turning quite a way ahead to make sure no car appeared ready to pull out.As Reg Local says "they know not what they do", you just have to make sure the red mist does not descend.
DaveH23 said:
Isn't a faster car the answer here?
Indeed. A gentleman should never be outgunned behind the wheel.In reality though, it's a tricky one. The utter throbber in the Audi might have braked anyway had OP tried to drop back behind. There's no avoiding some sort of issue when you come up against people like the Audi driver.
DaveH23 said:
Isn't a faster car the answer here?
I have to admit, my last car was quite slow and I had this problem a lot. I remember once passing a Boxster doing 40mph on a dead straight 60mph limit and I heard him downshift and nail the throttle. I often had no choice but to tuck in behind them, at which point they slow back down again! I've now changed to a faster car as my daily and whilst I notice people doing this, it doesn't affect me most of the time; I find that I've usually got enough power to complete the manoeuvre in safety. What I normally find then happens is I get tailgated for a few seconds, before they drop right back to their preferred speed (usually 42mph) and I never see them again.Caddyshack said:
Today I was driving out of a 20 zone in to a 40, dead straight road for about a mile and the Audi estate in front of me continued at 25 mph, I indicated and moved out to look for the overtake, once out and straight I sped up to go past, as my rear 1/4 got past his front wing the Audi floored it, I was committed so gunned it, the Audi stayed with me and I had to use 70 leptons to clear the front. As soon as I was passed I slowed back down and Audi man dropped well back.
I guess I could have anchored up and pulled back in but I was virtually past their car....not a nice thing for them to do to me.
At the next set of lights I was tempted to try and speak to the driver but thought it was better to just let it go.
It seems people do not like overtakers anymore.
The bold bit is the only thing you did wrong. Don't give them chance to stitch you up, sneak up on them and get past before they know what's happened.I guess I could have anchored up and pulled back in but I was virtually past their car....not a nice thing for them to do to me.
At the next set of lights I was tempted to try and speak to the driver but thought it was better to just let it go.
It seems people do not like overtakers anymore.
Surely you need to indicate that you are pulling out just in case they are about to plan a right turn or know that swerving could be an issue, you need them to know you are there? (or even let a motorbike that could, in theory, be in your blind spot or fast approaching, know that you are about to move? - appreciate I may be totally wrong here
The majority of drivers are not aware of what is going on behind them and I would not be surprised if the driver only gunned it when they realised I was alongside, it may have taken them a while to kick / shift down but I got the impression that they only sped up as I was nearly passed them.
The majority of drivers are not aware of what is going on behind them and I would not be surprised if the driver only gunned it when they realised I was alongside, it may have taken them a while to kick / shift down but I got the impression that they only sped up as I was nearly passed them.
Edited by Caddyshack on Friday 22 November 11:50
Just re-watched Reg's video on overtaking and see that he does not use the indicator. I wonder if he would if there was a car behind him who would maybe also consider the overtake?
Recently I followed a slow moving bus one car back (i.e. there was a car in front of me then the bus) the driver in front of me did not seem to want to overtake so I waited for a place to pass both at same time as the one in front had not left a big enough space for me to pop in (they should have left 2 car lengths to allow someone to chose to overtake - the cushion of safety I think it is called?) I made my intentions known by my road position then gave a flash of the lights and indicated when I made the overtake as I didn't want the one in front to suddenly pull out and attempt an overtake themselves whilst I was passing (they had not so much as moved out to look)
Therefore, in this instance was I right to indicate? There were 2 or 3 other cars also travelling behind me.
Recently I followed a slow moving bus one car back (i.e. there was a car in front of me then the bus) the driver in front of me did not seem to want to overtake so I waited for a place to pass both at same time as the one in front had not left a big enough space for me to pop in (they should have left 2 car lengths to allow someone to chose to overtake - the cushion of safety I think it is called?) I made my intentions known by my road position then gave a flash of the lights and indicated when I made the overtake as I didn't want the one in front to suddenly pull out and attempt an overtake themselves whilst I was passing (they had not so much as moved out to look)
Therefore, in this instance was I right to indicate? There were 2 or 3 other cars also travelling behind me.
Caddyshack said:
Just re-watched Reg's video on overtaking and see that he does not use the indicator. I wonder if he would if there was a car behind him who would maybe also consider the overtake?
Recently I followed a slow moving bus one car back (i.e. there was a car in front of me then the bus) the driver in front of me did not seem to want to overtake so I waited for a place to pass both at same time as the one in front had not left a big enough space for me to pop in (they should have left 2 car lengths to allow someone to chose to overtake - the cushion of safety I think it is called?) I made my intentions known by my road position then gave a flash of the lights and indicated when I made the overtake as I didn't want the one in front to suddenly pull out and attempt an overtake themselves whilst I was passing (they had not so much as moved out to look)
Therefore, in this instance was I right to indicate? There were 2 or 3 other cars also travelling behind me.
The indicator is necessary to signal to the following potential road users:Recently I followed a slow moving bus one car back (i.e. there was a car in front of me then the bus) the driver in front of me did not seem to want to overtake so I waited for a place to pass both at same time as the one in front had not left a big enough space for me to pop in (they should have left 2 car lengths to allow someone to chose to overtake - the cushion of safety I think it is called?) I made my intentions known by my road position then gave a flash of the lights and indicated when I made the overtake as I didn't want the one in front to suddenly pull out and attempt an overtake themselves whilst I was passing (they had not so much as moved out to look)
Therefore, in this instance was I right to indicate? There were 2 or 3 other cars also travelling behind me.
- Following drivers/bikers.
- The car being overtaken. They may choose to assist the overtake by backing off, or they themselves may need to overtake a cyclist etc hidden from your view, or drive around a pothole, and therefore they may choose to indicate that intention early to show you what's about to happen. They may also be driving slowly because they're looking for an obscure junction or driveway entrance hidden from your view.
- A road user up ahead who is considering turning towards you. Obviously their side of the road is clear (that's why you're able to start overtaking), so it's a good time for them to pull out. However, if they know you're about to overtake then they won't. Yes, you don't knowingly overtake near a junction, but it's quite common in rural areas to have junctions, driveways, or field entrances hidden by long grass. You'd spot a car, but would you spot a runner in the long grass? A reclined bike? At night this is a particularly salient point, especially if that road user (e.g. a pedestrian) is unlit.
The position of your car is a signal in itself. If the person you are overtaking, the ‘overtakee’ if you will, is about to swerve around a hazard they’ll either check their right mirror or they won’t. If they check then the mirror will be full of car, if they don’t it will make no difference if you are indicating or not by that stage.
If there’s a chance that the overtakee might be looking for a turn etc then don’t go. If you need to indicate (to the overtakee) to make it a good overtake then it is not a good overtake.
It’s about balancing risk. There’s more danger from the overtakee flooring it when he sees you signal and attempting to punt you head on into an oncoming Scania than there is sneaking up on him and getting round him quickly and cleanly before he even knows what’s happened.
The overtakee will not need to take any action because of a good overtake, so why do we need to tell him? Of course we should give a signal if it would benefit anyone else but as someone who likes to make progress and takes every safe opportunity to pass I struggle to remember a time that a signal was necessary. I also can’t remember the last time someone tried to out accelerate me, or being flashed after the overtake.
If there’s a chance that the overtakee might be looking for a turn etc then don’t go. If you need to indicate (to the overtakee) to make it a good overtake then it is not a good overtake.
It’s about balancing risk. There’s more danger from the overtakee flooring it when he sees you signal and attempting to punt you head on into an oncoming Scania than there is sneaking up on him and getting round him quickly and cleanly before he even knows what’s happened.
The overtakee will not need to take any action because of a good overtake, so why do we need to tell him? Of course we should give a signal if it would benefit anyone else but as someone who likes to make progress and takes every safe opportunity to pass I struggle to remember a time that a signal was necessary. I also can’t remember the last time someone tried to out accelerate me, or being flashed after the overtake.
Caddyshack said:
Just re-watched Reg's video on overtaking and see that he does not use the indicator. I wonder if he would if there was a car behind him who would maybe also consider the overtake?
Recently I followed a slow moving bus one car back (i.e. there was a car in front of me then the bus) the driver in front of me did not seem to want to overtake so I waited for a place to pass both at same time as the one in front had not left a big enough space for me to pop in (they should have left 2 car lengths to allow someone to chose to overtake - the cushion of safety I think it is called?) I made my intentions known by my road position then gave a flash of the lights and indicated when I made the overtake as I didn't want the one in front to suddenly pull out and attempt an overtake themselves whilst I was passing (they had not so much as moved out to look)
Therefore, in this instance was I right to indicate? There were 2 or 3 other cars also travelling behind me.
Personally I would not indicate or flash the lights in this situation. Look at the body language of the car and you’ll be able to tell if he’s looking for the overtake or not. If he is, wait for him to go. If he’s not then take your opportunity and get gone!Recently I followed a slow moving bus one car back (i.e. there was a car in front of me then the bus) the driver in front of me did not seem to want to overtake so I waited for a place to pass both at same time as the one in front had not left a big enough space for me to pop in (they should have left 2 car lengths to allow someone to chose to overtake - the cushion of safety I think it is called?) I made my intentions known by my road position then gave a flash of the lights and indicated when I made the overtake as I didn't want the one in front to suddenly pull out and attempt an overtake themselves whilst I was passing (they had not so much as moved out to look)
Therefore, in this instance was I right to indicate? There were 2 or 3 other cars also travelling behind me.
Indicating out can also lead to the person behind accelerating in anticipation of you going, even if you’re just having a look. This can mean you’re then getting tailgated through the overtake with no option to abort, or they start to come up on your left whilst you’re having a look, leaving you unable to pull back in if it’s not on
You meant to say a 2 second gap, not 2 car lengths, didn’t you?
Caddyshack said:
Just re-watched Reg's video on overtaking and see that he does not use the indicator. I wonder if he would if there was a car behind him who would maybe also consider the overtake?
Recently I followed a slow moving bus one car back (i.e. there was a car in front of me then the bus) the driver in front of me did not seem to want to overtake so I waited for a place to pass both at same time as the one in front had not left a big enough space for me to pop in (they should have left 2 car lengths to allow someone to chose to overtake - the cushion of safety I think it is called?) I made my intentions known by my road position then gave a flash of the lights and indicated when I made the overtake as I didn't want the one in front to suddenly pull out and attempt an overtake themselves whilst I was passing (they had not so much as moved out to look)
Therefore, in this instance was I right to indicate? There were 2 or 3 other cars also travelling behind me.
If you were happy they weren't going to overtake, why indicate? If you weren't, why overtake?Recently I followed a slow moving bus one car back (i.e. there was a car in front of me then the bus) the driver in front of me did not seem to want to overtake so I waited for a place to pass both at same time as the one in front had not left a big enough space for me to pop in (they should have left 2 car lengths to allow someone to chose to overtake - the cushion of safety I think it is called?) I made my intentions known by my road position then gave a flash of the lights and indicated when I made the overtake as I didn't want the one in front to suddenly pull out and attempt an overtake themselves whilst I was passing (they had not so much as moved out to look)
Therefore, in this instance was I right to indicate? There were 2 or 3 other cars also travelling behind me.
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