[DazC]

If someone is impeding my progress, i will overtake them at the first available and safe opportunity.

Be than 1 car or 3 cars or however many i can in a safe manner.

[d4springer]

Originally Posted by crazybones

Agree with you. I'm not sure whether it's because people are more worried about speed cameras, but the irony is that most cars these days have the ability to overtake safely whereas you would take your life in your hands with a Marina, Escort etc (showing my age).

However, undertaking (my pet hate) seems to have increased dramatically!

I have to admit to undertaking, I never used to do this but in the past few years I seem to have been undertaking more often. Usual case of someone just sitting in the outside lane, however in my last car (E92) I would sit behind them (not close) but hope they notice the bright lights and if they didn't move I would give them a couple of full flashes, however this almost always seem to result in them slamming on the anchors or giving me some form of hand signal. These days I decided to again sit behind and hope they notice the even brighter lights, if not and if it looks safe, I'll just undertake (rapidly) and disappear past them before they realise what happened.

I've then noticed they move over as other cars in the same queue behind me do the same.

[SomeRandomer123]

Know what you mean about this. Especially the comments on people going to auto-pilot and just blindly following. I remember a scenario last year on the way up to Newcastle - a line of about 6 or 7 cars following (too closely) a dawdling truck in front. Got a completely clear straight bit of road, had a look out to fully check for oncoming and it was totally clear so I just kickdowned it and flew by the lot of them.

But from their perspective, a high performance BMW rapidly accelerating past a long line of cars is dangerous and as someone commented above, makes you look like a hooligan, even though the scenario was as safe as it could be.

I felt it more dangerous being bunched up!

I think one of the main issues is engine power - I know I probably wouldn't have done that in a 320d/520d and those are still powerful cars - more powerful than most other cars on the road! Another is the mind set of economy. I think there's more stigma attached to revving an engine out these days than there used to be. I think people have to remember that the engine will only rev within its operating range and that a few trips to the redline isn't going to hurt it. In fact, a good blast out occasionally does it good!

[HighlandPete]

Good Topic.

One observation I've noted of recent years, more folks are prepared to drive slowly, 40 - 45 mph appears to be the new 50 - 55 mph of a few years ago. Certainly so up here in this part of the highlands. I think some of it is fuel costs, another factor is road quality, I sense folks are on too hard a suspension/big rims and slow for a better ride. Folks also slow down when they are on a section of noisy road, not just rougher road. See it so many times, get a quiet/smooth surface section, road speed goes up.

The bunching up problem is a nightmare up here, there are sections of road suitable for a safe overtake, but only one car at a time, so even folks who would like to get on have to give up, or it gets very unsafe. You are at the mercy of the second car in a queue, if they won't use passing opportunities.

It has been said it isn't the first person in a queue who is the real problem, it is the second, so true when you see them miss good overtaking opportunities, and no one else can make a move.

I know very often these second car drivers do cruise faster, but get to a slower car they just won't try and overtake, however clear the road may be. Often if I'm the third car and have followed one of these second cars, (at a sensible road speed before it catches the slow one), I'll have to wait for a longer space where I can take them both, and get on again.

One thing for regular motorway users, say you are in the middle lane of a three lane section. Why do folks follow on your bumper, but not use the empty third lane to overtake? If you get to move to the inner lane (same speed) they then go by increasing their speed. I just don't get that one, they could have overtaken say a mile or more back, but appears they won't use lane three.

HighlandPete

[GaryUFM]

Originally Posted by crazybones

Back OT, people generally appeared more "scared" to overtake. When you do overtake safely, as commented by MCMikey777, someone will flash their headlights. Maybe, we simply don't cover safe overtaking in driving lessons these days?

I get this a lot. I have a regular 60mi journey to/from Burnley to York along the A59 - single carriageway all the way. Ample overtaking opportunity, but often, like you, I get flashing headlights/beeping as I go past, despite plenty of time before a point of no visibility or oncoming traffic. Blubberhouses (if anyone knows it) is a prime example. There's a bend each at the top and bottom, beyond which, you can see a fair old distance down/up the road. Trouble is, it's bendy in between (but broken white lines), so of course the moment you begin a move after you've seen the road is clear, very often you'll get the light flashes, beeping & gestures. Of course, the fact that there are bends means that everyone drives at 40mph, even worse going up the hill. Doing the run early morning/late at night when it's clear, apart from one bend, I can cruise down at 60 with no need to touch the breaks or drop a gear...just turn the wheel. Why's everyone so scared?

[MarkG_M5Comp]

I have to say that my belief is all the driver aids available these days will only make this inattentive driving worse!

Part of the reason I never spec them, you can't beat old fashioned concentration.

[GaryUFM]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

One thing for regular motorway users, say you are in the middle lane of a three lane section. Why do folks follow on your bumper, but not use the empty third lane to overtake? If you get to move to the inner lane (same speed) they then go by increasing their speed. I just don't get that one, they could have overtaken say a mile or more back, but appears they won't use lane three.

HighlandPete

One thing that gets on my t*ts, is where I'm in the inside lane, with a faster car coming up behind in the middle lane and empty outside lane. I indicate to overtake (e.g.) a truck, in plenty of time, but the other driver refuses to move into the outside lane - despite the fact it's clear - forcing you to get the brakes on, wait for them to pass and then come out behind them.

Or those that come up behind you at speed, right up to the point where they're on your rear 3/4...again, as you approach a slower vehicle in front.



(No doubt most on here would just question why I wasn't flying along on the outside lane myself

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by GaryUFM

One thing that gets on my t*ts, is where I'm in the inside lane, with a faster car coming up behind in the middle lane and empty outside lane. I indicate to overtake (e.g.) a truck, in plenty of time, but the other driver refuses to move into the outside lane - despite the fact it's clear - forcing you to get the brakes on, wait for them to pass and then come out behind them.

Or those that come up behind you at speed, right up to the point where they're on your rear 3/4...again, as you approach a slower vehicle in front.



(No doubt most on here would just question why I wasn't flying along on the outside lane myself

Absolutely agree, however conversely one could argue that you had the same view of the road and could have signalled and manoeuvred sooner. Reading your post, you're referring to a [much] faster car, relatively. It frustrates me not only being boxed in but also the 'boxee' pulling out at the last moment as they haven't read the road ahead....

[gatsojon]

I'm doing the undertaking thing more these days. It is not illegal.

Here is a letter in the telegraph

"Passing strangeness
I was recently driving on the M25, using lane one of five. Lanes two and three were empty, but there was a car travelling more slowly in lane four. I had the choice of staying where I was, and overtaking on the inside, or moving all the way out to lane five and back again, which seemed a bit silly. Can you be prosecuted for "undertaking" in such situations?
JA, Peacehaven

It's not illegal to pass a slower car in the manner you describe – and there has never been any law against it. When variable limits are in force on the M25, you are ordered to stay in lane so it's inevitable that cars will pass on the inside from time to time."

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by gatsojon

I'm doing the undertaking thing more these days. It is not illegal.

Here is a letter in the telegraph

"Passing strangeness
I was recently driving on the M25, using lane one of five. Lanes two and three were empty, but there was a car travelling more slowly in lane four. I had the choice of staying where I was, and overtaking on the inside, or moving all the way out to lane five and back again, which seemed a bit silly. Can you be prosecuted for "undertaking" in such situations?
JA, Peacehaven

It's not illegal to pass a slower car in the manner you describe – and there has never been any law against it. When variable limits are in force on the M25, you are ordered to stay in lane so it's inevitable that cars will pass on the inside from time to time."

Was that the official response or your answer?!

[gatsojon]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Was that the official response or your answer?!

Yes. In Honest John's column.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...g-illegal.html

[GaryUFM]

Originally Posted by MarkG335

Absolutely agree, however conversely one could argue that you had the same view of the road and could have signalled and manoeuvred sooner. Reading your post, you're referring to a [much] faster car, relatively. It frustrates me not only being boxed in but also the 'boxee' pulling out at the last moment as they haven't read the road ahead....

Not necessarily much faster, but fast enough that it would be considered rude to pull out in front of him. You're right, I probably could move out earlier, but it would mean longer rolling along in the middle lane than necessary, and I guess I just assume everyone else drives like me: 'I'm approaching a car who is approaching a truck, he's going to want to overtake, I'll move over and let him out...oh look, he's even indicating, he definitely wants to come out'. Hey-ho.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Good Topic.

Thanks Pete! I was getting bored of xdrive v sdrive and pro nav v bus nav!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Was that the official response or your answer?!

Yes I suppose overtaking on the inside would have to being in same lane, deliberate move to inside lane, pass, them return to outer lane again?

[PrinceBarin]

OP - great post

I agree wholeheartedly with much of what has already been said.

Bunching up is a major irritation - I remember Honest John doing a piece in the Telegraph on this years ago, about the importance of leaving space if you are not overtaking. Sadly it seems, not many people out there take the Telegraph!

Oh and GaryUFM's point about people shutting you into the inside line by not predicting or responding to your need to overtake is spot on. This, however, belongs to that most anti-social of motorway behaviours: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=931892

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

One thing for regular motorway users, say you are in the middle lane of a three lane section. Why do folks follow on your bumper, but not use the empty third lane to overtake? If you get to move to the inner lane (same speed) they then go by increasing their speed. I just don't get that one, they could have overtaken say a mile or more back, but appears they won't use lane three.

This ^^^
I've noticed this time and time again. Some kind of strange/weird driving mentality - or is it just the Audi drivers?


Its like they are trying to "push you" into the inside lane - just to prove a point. Then when they overtake you, they dont pull into the inside lane themselves. Cocks!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by dopper99

This ^^^
I've noticed this time and time again. Some kind of strange/weird driving mentality - or is it just the Audi drivers?

I've not noticed too many Audi's reluctant to use the outside lane.. quite the opposite!

[FSE23]

I have noticed several times on motorways driver looking on the speedo rather than on the road afraid of speeding even 1mph over the limit. It is even more dangerous ....but it is not only the overtaking I think - it is probably a deep background of poor driving lessons or lack of them, copying errors etc. No common sense at all - just one example -exercising in the gym tonight looking through a huge window onto the road - 3 lanes one way, two junctions 200 yds apart and the entrance to the car park just in the middle to the right. The second junction - one lane to turn left, two lanes to turn right. and what I saw? Queue to the car park, so the right hand side lane blocked by a number of cars and there is one car amongst them queuing as well however it turned it was going further away turning right on the junction. Everything looks ok, but ...the other two lanes were completely empty, no point to wait 1-2 minutes on 200 yds

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by GaryUFM

Not necessarily much faster, but fast enough that it would be considered rude to pull out in front of him. You're right, I probably could move out earlier, but it would mean longer rolling along in the middle lane than necessary, and I guess I just assume everyone else drives like me: 'I'm approaching a car who is approaching a truck, he's going to want to overtake, I'll move over and let him out...oh look, he's even indicating, he definitely wants to come out'. Hey-ho.

Agreed. Completely!

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Highway code rule 268

Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.

What general public take from this rule (as generally taught to 17 year olds):

Do not overtake on the left

What I take from this rule:

bla bla bla... overtake ...bla... speeds ...bla... faster ...bla... keep up ...bla... passing ...bla... overtake.

[Tengocity]

Another overtaking phenomenon I've noticed is how much the car you're driving affects how much you're overtaken.

Had to drive a Fiat Panda for a few days once... And it's the only time I've ever been overtaken in town before! Irrespective the speed I was doing.

Yet my other half noticed that when she went from a Peugeot 206 to a BMW she only ever gets passed on the motorway, rather than on most days! She does not drive any faster than she did before.

Seems to me that overtaking is all in the mind!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by MarkG335

Highway code rule 268

Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.

What general public take from this rule (as generally taught to 17 year olds):

Do not overtake on the left

What I take from this rule:

bla bla bla... overtake ...bla... speeds ...bla... faster ...bla... keep up ...bla... passing ...bla... overtake.

So nothing covers the situation where you're in lane 1 and some muppet is way out in lane 4 and you just stay where you are going faster than him?