Being Flashed etc

[victormeldrew]

I don't know about anyone else, but for me a safe overtake does NOT start from a "tailgating" position. For one you will not have good visibility, and for another you will be starting the overtake from a zero speed differential and therefore have much longer time exposed to danger. Granted, there are plenty of muppets who nevertheless will dive out of a row of cars then proceed to crawl past the rest of it, but it's not good driving - the risk of this type of muppetry also makes a safer overtake less safe than it could be.

VH's choice of tag onto the back or hang back and let someone else overtake you isn't really a choice at all. If you are preparing for an overtake then you will be leaving a gap, and dare I say it, indicators are there to indicate intention, not action as most people seem to think. Anyone who overtook a car which was indicating an overtake would be welcome to whatever dangerous or inconsiderate driving charge they end up with.

You should hang back so you have plenty of visibility - up both sides of the line of traffic, you don't want a chancer doing a right turn onto your road to turn into a head-on part way through your overtake. If there isn't a safe haven in the midst of the traffic then, unless you are sure you can overtake the lot in whatever space is available (and visible), you don't go. Whatever your rush it isn't urgent enough to die for, and a space will come up eventually.

If your safe haven closes up then either you misjudged something, or someone has accelerated to close the gap. The latter is contrary to the highway code, and if it's not a serious offence in itself it should be. If by overtaking into a space you reduce that space to less than a safe gap for the car behind, well according to the highway code the driver behind has to restore the gap.

I can't help thinking this whole issue was never a problem when people were free(er) to determine their own pace instead of driving like brainless sheep in 50mph convoys.

Edited by victormeldrew on Thursday 23 November 10:26

[Big Fat F'er]

victormeldrew said:

If by overtaking into a space you reduce that space to less than a safe gap for the car behind, well according to the highway code the driver behind has to restore the gap.

Victor - leaving aside the 'recommended' method of overtaking, which is well documented and available to all. Why more don't do it is beyond me, but there you go.

Your statement above seems to suggest that somehow it is the other drivers responsibility to react to you making the gap dangerous. I'm not saying it doesn't make sense to do it, but why do you think it's up to them.

Surely it's your responsibility not to go there in the first place?

I can't wait for when the scuffers in the jam pot Astra suddenly dip in front of you leaving a 2 foot gap at 60mph, you rashly get out to remonstrate with them, and they tell you that its your place to back of if they pull in front of you. Yeah, right.

BFF

[Big Fat F'er]

victormeldrew said:

I can't help thinking this whole issue was never a problem when people were free(er) to determine their own pace instead of driving like brainless sheep in 50mph convoys.

I can't help thinking that the sooner we stop thinking "People who drive my way, good.....People who drive at 50mph in convoy....brainless sheep" the better we'll be.

I've seen people determine their own speed well above the limits, and some of them were brainless sheep as well.

There are many reasons that drivers drive as they do, but those slower than us and less confident are not all brainless. You are making it worse on the roads by suggesting they are.

BFF

[havoc]

Big Fat F'er said:

Surely it's your responsibility not to go there in the first place?

I can't wait for when the scuffers in the jam pot Astra suddenly dip in front of you leaving a 2 foot gap at 60mph, you rashly get out to remonstrate with them, and they tell you that its your place to back of if they pull in front of you. Yeah, right.

BFF

If I'm being honest I think it's both parties. An overtaker should look for a sensible-sized gap and not 'push' their way in (definition of 'sensible' would be a whole new thread!), and overtakees are, as VM says, bound by the highway code to make the overtake easier to complete, by reducing speed if necessary (which would result in increasing the gap).

Where one person's duties stop and the other's begin is VERY grey.

[Big Fat F'er]

havoc said:

Where one person's duties stop and the other's begin is VERY grey.

Havoc - so true. But it's what makes the discussion and learning interesting AND valuable.

See you out there matey. Drive steady.

BFF

[willibetz]

Big Fat F'er said:

I can't help thinking that the sooner we stop thinking "People who drive my way, good.....People who drive at 50mph in convoy....brainless sheep" the better we'll be.

BFF,

It appears that somebody has hijacked your account to spread their message of tolerance and respect.

Can't be you, as there were no references to other road users being "scuffers" or "scroats"...



WilliBetz

[Big Fat F'er]

willibetz said:

BFF,

It appears that somebody has hijacked your account to spread their message of tolerance and respect. Can't be you, as there were no references to other road users being "scuffers" or "scroats"...



WilliBetz

Will – good point!

I’m trying to be as tolerant and understanding as possible, ‘cos the England Cricket team is suffering enough without the cry babies on here taking their bats home as usual (see what I’ve done there – clever eh).

I don’t know, sometimes you can’t do right for doing wrong. Sheesh.

BFF

[chunks]

I believe I am one of a very few to have ever had not one but two caravans pull over to allow me to overtake.

The best behaviour I have ever seen when overtaking another vehicle was from a car with German plates (I think) on the A87 on Skye, upon seeing me closing while I was still a good distance back, indicated left and allowed me to overtake without any hassle on the empty stretch of road.

The worst behaviour I have ever seen when overtaking has got to be more or less the usual and very dangerous "game" some seem to play of accelerating hard whilst being overtaken.

[CaptainMike1970]

Don't have this problem when over taking in my company car, a volvo estate with the roof bars and xenon headlights. People rarely get upset when I zip past............. can't think what sort of car they might be mistaking it for but they don't seem to take a chance by gestering!

[crazypb]

Try overtakin' a sedate Plodmobile,.. trust me, they get very worked up about that,.. ask Dibble!