Chapter 11 - Overtaking

Question 1

What are the hazards risks of overtaking?

Answer 1

• Around 1 in 20 of all car occupants killed in a crash are killed when the car is overtaking.
• Many overtaking deaths are due to head on collisions on rural roads.
• The risk of death in a head on collision at 60mph is 90%

Question 2

When you consider overtaking what should you always ask yourself?

Answer 2

• Do I need to?
• Is it necessary or appropriate in the circumstances?
• Is my vehicle capable of overtaking?

Question 3

What are the key Points for overtaking?

Answer 3

1. Don’t overtake if you can’t see far enough ahead to be sure it’s safe.
2. Avoid causing other vehicles (overtaken, following or oncoming) to alter position or speed.
3. Before starting to overtake, always ensure you can move back to the nearside in plenty of time.
4. Always be ready to abandon overtaking if a new hazard comes into view.
5. Don’t overtake in situations where you might come into conflict with other road users or the overtake would be illegal.
6. When possible, avoid overtaking three abreast to leave yourself a margin of safety.
7. Never overtake on the nearside on multi-lane carriageways except in slow-moving queues of traffic where offside queues are moving more slowly.
8. Never use the hard shoulder for over taking, even where an active traffic management (ATM) scheme is in force and the hard shoulder is available as a running lane.

Question 4

Questions to ask yourself in relation to your vehicles capability of overtaking.

Answer 4

• Are you familiar with the vehicle’s capabilities and characteristics? Are you driving a high performance or large vehicle, for example.
• are you sure that the vehicle will give you enough acceleration?
• Can you achieve the necessary speed?
• Have you assessed your vehicle’s capability in relation to the road user you’re overtaking? For example, overtaking a long vehicle will require more capability than a cyclist.
• Have you taken account of the load you’re carrying? Have you got passengers or a full boot?

Question 5

How do you overtake.

Answer 5

Using systems of car control safely you need to

• Observe
• Plan carefully
• Judge speed and distance accurately
• Be alert to possible secondary hazards

Question 6

What are the two overtaking situations?

Answer 6

• Where you are able to overtake immediately (approaching, overtaking and returning to your own side of the road) in one continuous manoeuvre.
• Where other hazards require you to take up a following position before you can safely overtake.