The IAM teaches drivers to acknowledge stylish overtaking by 300+bhp motorists with frantic light flashing. It's the equivalent of a standing ovation for you.
P.s. I havè réally ênjoyëd r?ading this thr?ad.
NRATS, but the bits I have read seem to be inhabited by people whose horses are so high they must need oxygen.
I'm with the OP. If people want to drive along a NSL road, which has safe overtaking opportunities, behind a slow vehicle at 38mph then they should leave a 2 second gap so that people who want to make progress can do so. I cannot see any reasonable reason for anyone to object to this suggestion. If you are happy at 38mph, then surely you will be equally happy 50 yards further back down the road?
There was the thread a few days ago about who you would pull if you were a traffic cop - it's the 40mph everywhere, NSL or 30, who would get my vote. They are just completely oblivious to what is going on - which is a pretty dangerous way to drive.
Best thing I ever did was advanced motorcycle training with the police (twice). It's not about knee- down heroism, it's about learning how to read the road and make the correct decisions. Obviously it's all taught at sensible speeds but it translates to spirited driving / riding too.
If people flash me after a perfectly legitimate overtake I tend to slow down to about 10mph for a mile or so to p*ss them off. Idiots.
There's a lot of anger in here.
If people flash me after a perfectly legitimate overtake I tend to slow down to about 10mph for a mile or so to p*ss them off. Idiots.
if that does not show them that you are not an inconsiderate dangerous driver then really what will?
aka_Gilo - MemberBest thing I ever did was advanced motorcycle training with the police (twice). It's not about knee- down heroism, it's about learning how to read the road and make the correct decisions. Obviously it's all taught at sensible speeds but it translates to spirited driving / riding too.
Agreed, having had sessions with Police instructors on 2 and 4 wheels, although the information is out there in books and on the www for people who are interested, so you can learn most of it before/without having a session with a Police instructor. Practice and more practice.
If people flash me after a perfectly legitimate overtake I tend to slow down to about 10mph for a mile or so to p*ss them off. Idiots.
Don't do that. Really, what is the point?
Don't do that. Really, what is the point?
Quite·...... and one of these days you'll get someone who is so doddery or angry that they'll give your back wheel a nudge .............
Out of curiosity for those that have criticised the OP in a trail centre when you come up behind a slow / novice rider do you chill out and sit behind at their pace or do you force your way by?
This. Also, if you're a mincer (hiya!) and a faster rider is behind you, do you get out of the way?
People ride, and drive, at different speeds. Whether you're slowerer or fasterer, you should really make allowances for each other.
never been on an stw ride with 40 people going downhill then 😉
Its pointless overtaking as their are folk everywhere, you would need to cut folk up and there is a still a queue in front of you which is just like the roads. the risk of crashing increases as well...I speak from experience 😳
Agree (Cougar) but sadly, so many on the roads just don't - too wrapped up in their own dead-set ideas of the way things should be done, or just plain unaware.
I've said this before, but the west coast of Scotland is especially bad for this, especially through the summer months when lots of tourists clog the narrow, winding roads. There's [i]always[/i] a few who drive round all the corners at 22mph, then immediately speed up to 70 coming on to the straights, preventing overtaking.
Considering the roads are 90% winding, this very quickly becomes irksome as it takes hours to get anywhere.
Every tourist areas has that one of the penalties of living somehwere nice.
I used to hate crawling behind cars pointing out of windows at the mountains and admiring the views when i just wanted to get home for tea or into work; what can you do though ?
It is better than being stuck in traffic jams in built up areas and equally annoying. Roads have vehicles and the other vehicles often impede your progress.
It's not so much that they're enjoying the scenery, more that they are terrified of going round corners and seem to feel they're doing you a favour by booting it on the (very rare) straight bits.
Slightly better in some ways at night, as you can scan the glen ahead for headlights, and if you haven't seen any for a while, you can overtake on semi-blind corners and terrify the poor beggars!*
*semi-serious observation but I have done this once or twice after becoming incredibly frustrated over the course of 20-odd miles crawling along in the dark...
[url= http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313260.ece ]122 dead - 106 hit by cars/vans/trucks/bikes[/url]
Motorcycles are the way forward, they make journeys so much simpler, no traffic, easy overtakes etc etc.....just a shame the weather isnt better on our little island.
I wish more people wood ride motorbikes. We could do with more of the nice fresh organs with which they supply us.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313260.ece
Very sad stats but what relevance does it have to the op?
do you chill out and sit behind at their pace or do you force your way by?
I get alongside and then throw energy bar wrappers in their face.
1. If I was able to safely overtake you already, the likelihood is that you'll dawdle again.2. You should have moved out earlier and put your indicator on. Two benefits 1 - you get a better view, 2 - people behind know your intentions. If you have left a decent gap to the car in front, you'll easily beat out any car behind you.
3. See 1.
1) bullshit, because people are stealing my opportunities all the time
2) It frequently happens that I see clear road, signal, look in my mirror, but it's too late cos some bastard is bombing by. Out of my way loser I'm coming through! I can't 'move out' when the road's not actually clear, can I?
3) No way. Outrageously rude. You're not getting it. I'm talking specifically about the times when I want to pass and could but am prevented from doing so by the selfish actions of someone else. It's not justifiable whatever way you try.
You're trying to make me out to be a dawdling old granny or something. I'm not.
Is that in your clipboard for every thread where a motorbike is mentioned?I wish more people wood ride motorbikes. We could do with more of the nice fresh organs with which they supply us.
Here's an idea - for every motorcyclist, or indeed cyclist who is killed by the ineptitude of a car driver (I went to two of them last week in separate incidents), how about we also harvest the organs from the moron behind the wheel? Gets the menace off the roads and helps people who obviously need them and halves the shortage.
Everyone's a winner 8)
Is that in your clipboard for every thread where a motorbike is mentioned?
Ooooh, get you girl!
(Yes, it most probably is...not sure it's [i]every[/i] thread though.)
how about we also harvest the organs from the moron behind the wheel
Whut? We kill someone for making a mistake? (Just playing along)
I struggle with long sentences but can someone tell me if a decent chunk of the thread is molgrips going on about people not letting him take his turn at overtaking?
I'll eat my hat if its not in there somewhere.
EDIT I don't know how that works but I struggle with long sentences gets automatically changed to I struggle with long sentences. Bravo 🙂
EDIT Oh FFS
Molegrips, sorry but from your post you seem like someone who drives too close to the obstruction in front and then when a gap appears, far too hesitant to take the opportunity. Perhaps try and position yourself better. There's no harm if it's clear indicating when you see a gap, pulling over to the opposite carriageway so that you can have a proper look and then going for the overtake if it's safe to do so. Drivers behind would clearly see your intention then and you wouldn't have the problems you do.
it's why I ride motorbikes. Get too wound up by dawdling knobbers when I'm in the car, on the bike they barely register I'm past that quick.
i have found since riding a motorbike my car driving has chilled out.
DD thats a pretty offensive thing to say imo. Would you say the same about cyclists?
Its also pretty tiresome and immature.
DD thats a pretty offensive thing to say imo.
I apologise if I've upset you. 🙁
Would you say the same about cyclists?
No.
Molegrips, sorry but from your post you seem like someone who drives too close to the obstruction in front and then when a gap appears, far too hesitant to take the opportunity.
I'm not. I just need to see more clear road to overtake than some people do apparently. I've no intention of taking unnecessary risks. I make my intentions clear by signalling and positioning myself, but plenty of people don't give a shit and will force their way through anyway, often dangerously.
I see some absolutely disgraceful overtaking manoevres on the roads, and yes, lots of accidents and deaths. This is why I play it safe and won't pass unless I'm sure. There's absolutely no point in teaching yourself to cut it as fine as possible.
It IS a matter of life and death.
Wow driving threads really bring out the inner bellend in some people don't they. Yes it's annoying going really slowly but have you looked at any of the stats about how much difference it actually makes to your journey times trying to 'make progress'?
Seen so many dodgy overtaking manoeuvres which achieve virtually nothing due to the volume of traffic further up the road. Plus you use a load more fuel and get a load more stressed.
Whut? We kill someone for making a mistake? (Just playing along)
I thought you'd be in agreement and rubbing your hands with glee at the thought of more organ donors? Ah well, shows how wrong you can be (just playing along)
BTW for those don't know, I believe DD's organ quote is (allegedly) originally from a surgeon who labelled bikers organ donors while waiting for an organ and observed that it was raining outside and that one would be along shortly.
Grum, quite right.
On the A417 either side of Ledbury there were so many bad accidents due to absolutely terrifying driving, mostly from rep types in fast cars, that the police started leaving the mangled smashed up cars on the roadside for a week or two, to remind people of the dangers. It would calm people down for a few weeks.
I apologise if I've upset
Stop being so bloody reasonable. This is stw you know!!
I see some absolutely disgraceful overtaking manoevres on the roads, and yes, lots of accidents and deaths.
I'm really pleased that I don't spend time on the same roads as you, I wouldn't last 5 minutes!
What I don't get however, is that someone else has already reacted to what you consider to be a safe overtaking place (as you're indicating and about to go) yet you hadn't in time to get the overtake done first. You are my grandma and I claim my £5.
On a slightly more serious note, I would expect someone in a M3 to be able to overtake quite safely somewhere that a perfectly capable driver in a Prius couldn't dream if it. In that case, I see no reason that the more capable car should wait behind.
@woody and a_a I missed a smiley. well, not really, I assumed people would realise it was a tongue in cheek comment. I don't really wish death on any road-users, even bellenderous ones. So, I take it back and thanks for the clarification Woody.
As someone who drives a lot of rural roads, I see lots of people who wish to pootle. No problem, but I have to agree with the numerous comments already made. If you want to just plod along, why accelerate when people overtake?
This business of "stealing" an overtake opportunity. Having watched & waited & saw safe opportunities pass by due to extreme hesitance & concluding an overtake isn't going to happen, my response then is to take that opportunity myself when it next arises & pass the hesitant driver & whatever the vehicle causing the delay.
The other thing I note is people who pull out to overtake, but don't accelerate sufficiently & dither about on the wrong side of the road. If you plan to pass, get on with it. Select the correct gear for maximum acceleration & keep accelerating until you have completed the overtake.
"Saves no time" - you clearly don't make 150 mile journeys on purely rural roads, no dual carriageways & more B roads than A roads.
Use more fuel? Really? My car is far more efficient maintaining a steady speed & not having to go up & down the gearbox at every corner or for oncoming vehicles. I'm not saying I expect to maintain a constant speed through every corner, just that some people are ridiculously cautious & slow excessively for every slight corner or oncoming vehicle, when the road isn't narrow enough to require such slowing.
On a slightly more serious note, I would expect someone in a M3 to be able to overtake quite safely somewhere that a perfectly capable driver in a Prius couldn't dream if it. In that case, I see no reason that the more capable car should wait behind.
Common ****ing courtesy?
I'm talking about being PREVENTED from going when I could have gone, because someone else has stolen my spot. If someone takes a spot that I can't take, then fine, whatever.
You people seem to take the default position that everyone else on the road is a dawdling granny. I'm not at all. I learned to drive in the countryside, every journey includes plenty of a-road overtakes. I don't mind people in fast cars overtaking when they can.
I do however object to people taking my turn away from me. You would object too. When people start charging though willy nilly the whole thing deteriorates into bedlam. Enough 'fast car' arseholes in the queue and no-one else can get a look in. This is most definitely not fair, and utterly indefensible.
Having watched & waited & saw safe opportunities pass by due to extreme hesitance & concluding an overtake isn't going to happen, my response then is to take that opportunity myself when it next arises & pass the hesitant driver & whatever the vehicle causing the delay.
That's fine - I will do the same eventually. However, that's not what I'm complaining about. I'm not extremely hesitant, and I take my opportunities. When someone else isn't helping themselves to them, that is.
Not to mention that flying past someone who's attempting to pull out themselves AND IS SIGNALLING is clearly ridiculously ****ing dangerous.
You're trying to make me out to be a dawdling old granny or something. I'm not.
No, but given how wound up you're getting here, it's no wonder you appear to be a danger to others on the roads with that temperament.
I think Molly rams them off the road, mad max style, hence the deaths.
That's fine - I will do the same eventually. However, that's not what I'm complaining about. I'm not extremely hesitant, and I take my opportunities. When someone else isn't helping themselves to them, that is.
Not to mention that flying past someone who's attempting to pull out themselves AND IS SIGNALLING is clearly ridiculously **** dangerous.
If you're not being hesitant, how exactly has the car further back on the road managed to have pulled out & by flying by?
Is it more dangerous to be making the overtaking manoeuvre quickly or for someone who has clearly hesitated to then think that because they have their indicator on, that it is ok to pull into the path of another vehicle?
If you're on the motorway & sat at 70mph, passing lorries, faster moving traffic passing you on outside lane & Mr/Mrs 57mph in their car decides to pass lorry & just puts on indicator as they blindly pull into the middle lane straight into your path, forcing you to brake, is that ok too? At least on the motorway you don't have the possibility of oncoming traffic.
If you're intending to pass, then BE PREPARED. Correct gear, road position etc to ensure you can maximise your overtaking opportunity. See too many people drive halfway down a straight before pulling out & then squeezing back in just before a corner, often forcing the overtaken vehicle to brake (that vehicle not altering speed during overtake).
I also agree that the vehicle will also determine what is "safe" when overtaking. It's all about what you can safely achieve. There are places I can comfortably overtake in my car that I wouldn't contemplate in the wifes car.
The other thing I note is people who pull out to overtake, but don't accelerate sufficiently & dither about on the wrong side of the road. If you plan to pass, get on with it. Select the correct gear for maximum acceleration & keep accelerating until you have completed the overtake.
+1
Wow driving threads really bring out the inner bellend in some people don't they. Yes it's annoying going really slowly but have you looked at any of the stats about how much difference it actually makes to your journey times trying to 'make progress'?Seen so many dodgy overtaking manoeuvres which achieve virtually nothing due to the volume of traffic further up the road. Plus you use a load more fuel and get a load more stressed.
Shut up hippy and get very aggressive when you drive FFS
Could you not say how good you are at risk perception,. how fast your car is and make other drivers[ making different choices ]out to be inadequate people with small members etc.
Driving threads - its no wonder road rage exists you can feel the pent up aggression on here
Yes many drivers are annoying, many situations hinder and slow you down as it is basically what happens when you share the road with 34.2 million other vehicles.
PS they go fast in a straight line because they can see and they dont know the road. they are not trying to hinder your overtaking they are trying to get to their destination quickly and safely just like you. Not knowing the corners means they drive slower round them which is sensible. Remember you should be able to stop in the distance you can see round a bend
Braking for oncoming traffic just makes me pull back from them as they are clearly not amongst the best or safest drivers. I see little point in buzzing drivers of this ability level.
It's Pointless Overtaking that I don't understand.
I often drive on rural roads and really can't be arsed overtaking a lot of the time (so I sit well back to leave room for others), the opportunities are few and many times some idiot has pulled a dodgy move in a dubious gap, I then catch up with him at the next set of traffic lights on the way into town. So he gained about a metre on me.
Then there are the dorks who insist on bullying their way past, my speed not varying from 55-60, then SLOW DOWN. Why ?? Why ??
Some folk just have to be at the front, it's a character flaw no matter what you tell yourselves about making progress, time is money etc.
If you're not being hesitant, how exactly has the car further back on the road managed to have pulled out & by flying by?
By being reckless.
Or, if they have a faster car, just as I look in my mirrors they simply floor it, despite me indicating. I'm not going to risk an accident by pulling out to overtake and forcing them to wait behind me.
I check my offside wing mirror before pulling out to overtake, because I can't be sure that some nutter isn't alongside be, before it was safe.
It's reckless lunatics that I am complaining about. We all know they are there, and we all dislike their actions. The question is, are you one of them?
If you're intending to pass, then BE PREPARED. Correct gear, road position etc to ensure you can maximise your overtaking opportunity.
Is this aimed at me? If so, spare me the driving lecture ffs. I know how to do it. Of course, you've then got the issue that if you drop back to see and be safe someone else takes a dangerous opportunity to force their way though and occupy the space you've created by dropping back. I'm talking about a few car lengths here.
There's a problem with this thread. Half of us have assumed that the other half are their problem. So the speedies think that we're dithering grannies, and the sensible people think that the speedies are dangerous lunatics.
Most probably none of us are either.
Driving back from Oakham last Thursday behind one of those drivers who does just under the speed limit, then slows to ~40mph for the slightest bend in the road and any oncoming traffic.
See, I don't mind driving at 50/55/60mph so long as it's consistent but even leaving a fairly large gap, I kept closing up to this car and having to back off every time we got to a bend or oncoming traffic. The constant deceleration/acceleration does my head in as it's very uneconomical (and unnecessary).
So - on a hill out of one of the villages, I hoofed it past & was greeted by much flashing of lights from this driver who was obviously not happy that I had the front to overtake on a completely clear bit of road. No doubt I was the 'hooligan, bad driver', even though he (assuming it was a bloke) was the one driving erratically.
Overtaking isn't always about 'making progress' and getting somewhere quicker, either.
There's an old, chavved up 200SX down the road from me that trundles past in the morning with it's potato can exhaust belching out blue smoke. From the noise it makes, it's obviously not happy when cold and sounds like it's always about to stall.
Anyhoo. I had the mis-fortune of being behind him one day last week. There's a short section of NSL between two villages & normally I potter down there; there's no point accelerating up to 60, as you soon have to brake back down to 30mph for the next village. But, behind this car belching out acrid smoke I decided I'd rather get in front if I could. He was only doing 40 anyway, so I passed him & went on my way. Yes, he was behind me for about the next 3 miles to the nearest dual carriageway so in terms of 'making progress' there was no point in my overtake. But it did get me in front of the acrid fumes belching from the back of his car. (And yes, my car does have a re-circ button).
Some folk just have to be at the front, it's a character flaw no matter what you tell yourselves about making progress, time is money etc.
Not necessarily. Sometimes I drop well back to avoid potential trouble. Sometimes I get ahead of it. Getting 1/2 mile ahead and then seeing in the rear view mirror the person you've just passed come round a corner sideways on the wrong side of the road might be good decision making rather than a character flaw.
FWIW I'm with the OP.
I drove home from Mallaig to Glasgow last weekend. Must have overtaken 40+ cars on my way home. No flashing lights, no beeping horns.
The key is observation and planning, sit a fair way back from the car(s) you are planning on overtaking, know before you start your move where you are going to pull back in. Already be in the gear you plan to use to overtake. When its clear pull out and accelerate, pull back in without getting too close to the last car you are overtaking or the car you are pulling in behind.
Repeat
Probably got home an hour earlier than I would have if I had just sat behind the first slower car
I saw some horrendous moves ahead of me though. First prize goes to the guy in a Passat who though the best way to overtake a bus was to sit a metre form its bumper and pull out into oncoming traffic to "have a look" every ten seconds or so. Thing is this was on Rannoch Moor where you could safely overtake an aircraft carrier. I sat back and watched him overtake the first bus. When he got to the next one overtook him and the bus.
This might upset Molgrips - the guy did indeed have every intention of overtaking but given his position he would have never seen past the bus to overtake (he also seemed to struggle with his indicators) so I sat back waited for the mile long straight that I knew was just ahead and safely overtook both of them
There's a problem with this thread. Half of us have assumed that the other half are their problem. So the speedies think that we're dithering grannies, and the sensible people think that the speedies are dangerous lunatics.Most probably none of us are either.
Is probably the most sensible thing that has been said in 7 pages
Junkyard - I never said I was taking corners at excessive speeds. I like my car, I love my family, not about to take undue risks, but some people are excessively slow & cautious. I also made no mention of "buzzing" drivers as you put it. I want to be well clear of drivers who slow for oncoming traffic, allowing plenty of braking distance to allow for their erratic driving & then pass quickly & safely when the opportunity arises.
Go fast in a straight line? If you can see that another car has caught you up, then it is reasonable to assume they're likely to want to overtake (but then far too many people seem to make entire journeys without ever looking in their mirrors). If I want to plod steadily, I'll make space where I can, indicate & slow to allow them an easy & safe overtake. What I don't do is floor it as they pull out, leaving them stranded outside. TBH I'd rather have them pass me & not have them getting frustrated & getting closer behind me & then maybe make a rash manoeuvre that may endanger me too.
I do agree with hels - there are some who overtake & then slow down. Really don't see the point. Often tends to be the "straight line drivers" - hare down the straights & crawl through the corners. Seems particularly applicable to those who don't know the roads. If I'm unfamiliar with a road, then someone like hels comments above maintaining a steady speed is a godsend, you get to follow at a safe distance & quickly acknowledge that the driver ahead knows the road (easy to tell from manner of driving difference between those pushing things a bit & those who genuinely know the road, just watch braking & cornering actions). So long as I have a comfortable braking distance & feel comfortable with the speed versus road conditions, I'm happy to follow. If it feels too fast, I don't follow. Very simple.
