The lost art of overtaking

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Ulrikas PA

I have scientifically studied this for many, many years There are a few answers:-

Not taught to overtake any more ?
Roads too busy?
Scared of someone speeding up as you overtake them?
Scared of road rage?
Car isn't quick enough?
Don't know how to 'get their gears down' ?
Don't look any further than the car in front, so no planning of overtakes ?
'Get out of my way', rather than getting out of the way, (by overtaking) ?

I think the last one is true of a lot of drivers these days. Same as on a motorway where you are already making good progress but someone sits an inch from your back bumper, despite the traffic in front and to the side.

The older you get the more you think " what's the point" for all that effort and fuel , you only get to the next set of traffic lights 10 seconds ahead of the rest and you dont need to at all..

[Ulrikas PA]

Originally Posted by Clan

The older you get the more you think " what's the point" for all that effort and fuel , you only get to the next set of traffic lights 10 seconds ahead of the rest and you dont need to at all..

There's some truth in that.

As I've got older and I now live in an area where I use more twisty roads, I overtake less but do admit to having a bit of fun with aggressive drivers.

If I'm doing 50-60 and someone clearly wants to do 70 or 80, if the visibility ahead is there, I just carry my speed through the bends. After the 3rd or 4th time of almost outbraking themselves, they eventually get the message and back off. Often happens when I'm in our 4x4 Yeti and a new shape Land Rover Defender or Evoque looms large in the mirror.

[The Thong]

My motor isn’t the quickest so I find myself just going with flow these days for all the reasons mentioned by Clan. I’m more concerned about the mpg than the mph these days. As long as they’re not stupidly slow like 35mph in a 60mph zone etc.

TT

[loki_the_glt]

Moving out for a "look-see" is sensible, but the speed limit, weather/road conditions and the traffic speed have to be the deciding criteria. I was taught that you need a 20mph margin over the vehicle you're overtaking to carry out a SAFE overtake, which means not bothering in a built-up area unless you're stuck behind a milk-float or slow cyclist.

[classicswede]

Originally Posted by Ulrikas PA

I have scientifically studied this for many, many years There are a few answers:-

Not taught to overtake any more ?
Roads too busy?
Don't look any further than the car in front, so no planning of overtakes ?
'Get out of my way', rather than getting out of the way, (by overtaking) ?

I think the last one is true of a lot of drivers these days. Same as on a motorway where you are already making good progress but someone sits an inch from your back bumper, despite the traffic in front and to the side.

Lack of driver training is part of it. I very ofen see cars following too close so they have to move out to see past the car they are behind. They just have no idea of how to overtake and to some extent the acceleration of many modern cars allows them to get away with it

I very often end up passing long ques of cars.

Got stuck behind a bunch teh other day following a combine. The car directly behind it was jambed up against the back of it so could not see to pass it. Each time he moved out to look past they had missed the chance. They were all too close together and no stretch long enough to pass the bunch of them so I had to sit that one out for 5 miles where had the drivers the first idea how to drive we could have all been gone

[classicswede]

Originally Posted by AlwaysLearning

.

Question to the viewers ... how many cars in that line would you have passed before pulling in?

Without a doubt all of them. You could see far enough head that there was no oncoming traffic. The gaps between the cars were enough that should something be coming then you could drop in one of the gaps if you needed to

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by Ulrikas PA

I have scientifically studied this for many, many years There are a few answers:-

Not taught to overtake any more ?
Roads too busy?
Scared of someone speeding up as you overtake them?
Scared of road rage?
Car isn't quick enough?
Don't know how to 'get their gears down' ?
Don't look any further than the car in front, so no planning of overtakes ?
'Get out of my way', rather than getting out of the way, (by overtaking) ?

I think the last one is true of a lot of drivers these days. Same as on a motorway where you are already making good progress but someone sits an inch from your back bumper, despite the traffic in front and to the side.

you forgot one major thing
"taught to pass a test" is how it has been for far too long ,they are no longer taught to Drive.

Reliance on "driver aids" rather than any Driver education on How to drive , drive In traffic etc etc etc

and brain deads lets not forget the brain deads :P

[classicswede]

Originally Posted by The Thong

My motor isn’t the quickest so I find myself just going with flow these days for all the reasons mentioned by Clan. I’m more concerned about the mpg than the mph these days. As long as they’re not stupidly slow like 35mph in a 60mph zone etc.

TT

A couple of years ago when knocking about in the slowest car I have ever had I was amazed how often I would over take other cars with it. The little 1.4 CVT did not have much acceleration so you had to plan well ahead

[The Thong]

Originally Posted by classicswede

A couple of years ago when knocking about in the slowest car I have ever had I was amazed how often I would over take other cars with it. The little 1.4 CVT did not have much acceleration so you had to plan well ahead

Pretty much how I do overtaking these days. I have a 1.5 Diesel Auto Connect that’s pretty much rubbish on acceleration. I’m already checking the way ahead view ready to boot passed the slow car in front. Having none turbo takes away that warp factor when accelerating but years of driving fully loaded none turbo diesel vans has been a great teacher.

TT

[baggy798]

Relax guys, it was a totally safe and cautious overtake. I realise for most of you it was probably considered scary, but for me it was... Tuesday. I am such a good driver that IAM RoadSmart famously had to create a level higher than Masters just for me - Godlike! The Daily Mail headline read "Jesus is back... and he drives a Volvo!"

Nah just kidding, IAM drivers are not taught anything revelatory. It's all about anticipation and planning, and having an escape route!

Some people say what's the point and it doesn't save any time. Eh.. mixed bag. If you're behind a red light fetishist, it will save noticeable time on a journey.

Really liking this Viofo A129 Plus dash cam, pretty decent picture quality all-round for the price. Bear in mind I zoom the video in a bit and then the youtube compression on top. It's also really well hidden behind the rear view, can't see it from the inside and hardly from the outside. Why do some people install their dash cams half way up the screen AND leave the screen on?!

Here's another overtaking vid. I left some room for a run up, but then the silvertop in the 3 pot Pewgat overtook as well, took all my momentum away! Bit dodgy with the car appearing at the layby, but I pulled back in a bit to make space if they did set off. Always look both ways when coming out of a junction, people!

+ YouTube Video