Driving Lesson - Overtaking

When / Where to overtake?

• Safe
  • NOT hills, bends, junctions, etc.....
  • Vehicle to be overtaken not turning or moving out
• Legal
  • Signs, road markings, only on right (exceptions)
• Necessary
  • Exiting next junction, heavy traffic, same speed, etc.....

Time taken to overtake

• 40MPH overtaking 30MPH - 200 Metres
• 60MPH overtaking 70 MPH - over 1⁄2 Mile

Mirrors

• Assess speed/distance of following traffic
• Locate suitable "slot" to move into (dual carriageways)

Position

• Stay back at least 4 seconds while waiting to overtake
  • Better vision
  • Time to accelerate to:-
    • same speed as outside lane
    • briskly overtake

Signal

• Always signal before overtaking moving vehicle
  • Don't signal when:-
    • another vehicle is just about to overtake
    • there is no "slot" to move into

Mirrors

• Final check

Blindspot

• Check over right shoulder

Manoeuvre

• Move out positively but gradually at 2 seconds distance
• Accelerate to speed limit (if safe)

Clearance

• Centre of right lane (dual carriageways), or at least 1 metre

Return to left lane

• Always signal
• Single carriageway - ASAP
  • Do not cut into overtaken vehicle
• Dual carriageway
  • When you can see overtaken vehicle in CENTRE mirror
  • Can stay out if line of slow traffic

Tags: Driving Lesson - Overtaking