My pet peeve these days is people who overtake on wide roads, drive down the white line and force both the car they're overtaking, and the oncoming traffic, to move over. Whilst there's technically the space to do it, it's an incredibly dangerous thing to do.

 

A particularly bad example was seen this morning on the A64 Seamer bypass by a mk1 Fabia vRS . Not content with forcing traffic aside as above, he then carved his way into the queue he was overtaking when it was clear he couldn't continue the overtake.

 

One thing to say to you, if you are a member here:

In a spirit of enquiry, rather than support to the overtaker, how many of these roads used to be marked as 3-lane single carriageway?

The one I'm thinking of, never. It's a bypass that was built back when the trend was to build monster single carriageways. The Ilminster bypass was another example.

 

Dangerous road engineering if you ask me, encourages ****s to drive like ****s.

Fair enough; I was asking because most of the examples I know were originally engineered as 3-lane.

No Reg's allowed sorry.

 

Edited OP accordingly 

I do this

If theres room then why not

Even see wagons 3 a-breast at times which is a little hairy

Whilst it can be seen as dangerous I'd argue it is potentially less dangerous than trying to force your way down a narrower road.

 

I know the stretch of road you are referring to and have overtaken down here before, always slower moving farm traffic however. In these situations I believe these wider roads allow road users to make better progress as it is possible to pass a tractor when faced with oncoming traffic rather than ending up with a stream of traffic stuck behind it.

 

These wider roads also allow for much better visibility. It is far easier and safer to move out to see what the risks ahead are in front of the obstruction are and therefore make a more informed decision on whether an overtake is safe or not.

 

Playing devils advocate if the traffic in both directions kept to the left to allow faster traffic through then the need to force other vehicles to move over would be avoided.

 

If I see a faster car approaching from behind when on this type of road I am able to make a judgement on whether he intends to overtake or not. If an overtake looks obvious (approaching speed, road positioning, indicators etc.) it is very easy for me to move over a little and let them past. He's happy, I am happy, likelihood of a collision reduced.

 

Equally if I can see a potential risk up ahead (a car waiting to pull out, a cyclist etc.) then I will maintain my road positioning so as not to encourage him to pass.

 

If the oncoming traffic did the same the guy in the Fabia would have all the room he needs and as much visibility as possible to allow him to make his own call on how to to progress.

 

I'm not defending the other guy as I wasn't there, I'm just trying to say that there is sometimes the mentality out there that suggests any overtake is dangerous or even seen as bullying.

 

I just want to make good, safe steady progress and will do all that I can to make life easier for those that also want to make safe but faster progress...

 

 

 

It shouldn't need explaining, but it's dangerous because it only needs one of the cars in the oncoming lane whose observation skills are limited to the back of the car in front, and you've got a head on. The Highway Code says that other road users should not have to take avoiding action to miss you.

 

If you want to overtake, wait till the ****ing road is clear and it's safe to do it, if it's not, then ****ing wait.

 

Likewise, a car coming the other way doing the same ****ing stupid thing will cause a major accident.

 

Obviously a slow moving tractor or whatever is different.

 

Why do we bother having lanes marked? Let's be like India and have no lane markings and a total free-for-all!

 

IMO roads like this are dangerous. They should be narrowed to one lane in each direction properly, or expanded to make a dual carriageway.

Unfortunately a lot of drivers aren't always concentrating. It requires someone who enjoys driving and enjoys driving safely to be on the look out for people making certain moves. I've had people flash their lights at me after passing them safely with no oncoming traffic as I assume I've woken them up or disturbed them from texting their friends. I find a lot on my travels that some people seem to see driving as just a means to get from A to B and don't give a monkeys about other road users so don't signal, drive at whatever speed suits them or cut lanes.

 

I did my advanced driving to make sure I could be as prepared as I could to deal with bad and unpredictable driving. I'm not saying I am the best driver in the world but I am more aware of what is around me than what seems like the majority of other road users

If you want to overtake, wait till the ******* road is clear and it's safe to do it, if it's not, then ******* wait.

 

Likewise, a car coming the other way doing the same ******* stupid thing will cause a major accident.

 

With all the swearing it sounds to me as though you are still riled by the Fabia driver.

 

Your outlook can be applied to any action that any driver performs behind the wheel of any vehicle. The Fabia driver saw the road as clear.

 

If there was an oncoming driver attempting the same then the road wouldn't be clear. 

 

We don't live in a perfect world. If we did there wouldn't ever be traffic jams or collisions.

 

Two cars passing on opposite sides of the road on their own side of the white line can be 'dangerous'.

 

We all have a responsibility to drive responsibly.

 

 

IMO roads like this are dangerous. They should be narrowed to one lane in each direction properly, or expanded to make a dual carriageway.

 

Would this stop the Fabia driver from overtaking, this time taking a higher risk by trying to pass during the short gaps in opposing traffic? I'm not so sure.

 

The difference between a narrow and wide road can be the difference between a lost wing mirror and a head-on.

 

Here is another stretch of road in your neck of the woods, the A1079 just east of Market Weighton. Lane two is essentially free to overtaking traffic in opposing directions. A driver travelling down this hill carrying out an overtake could very quickly find themselves facing an oncoming vehicle moving from lane 1 to lane 2 who is only checking behind them for approaching traffic and not ahead.

 

We all have a duty to be aware of what is happening around us, including noticing the Fabia driver approaching and doing our best to let him through.

 

Edited 15 October, 201411 yr by silver1011

I know the road the op is talking about, seen a few close shaves where the oncoming car hasn't noticed the overtaker till the last second. I'm guilty of it myself when I was changing radio station, road was clear, straight and wide so looked down and next thing a car half on my side of the road coming towards me without indicating. The road is useful in being wide due to the number of farm vehicles using it, they usually drive over the white line on the side of the road and oncoming traffic give room to overtaking traffic automatically

I grew up when three lane roads were still being built. And remember why they where largely discontinued. It was not to spoil your fun or stop you getting to your destination - they are VERY dangerous.

I grew up when three lane roads were still being built. And remember why they where largely discontinued. It was not to spoil your fun or stop you getting to your destination - they are VERY dangerous.

Er so are 2-lane if you don't concentrate.

I know exactly what you mean. I've seen many do it myself.

Its just abit dodgey. A head on at 60-70mph each way is a collision speed of 120-140mph

You arent going to survive that.

Its not worth risking mine and others lives over, so i dont bother doing it.

Unfortunately though not everybody has decent levels of patience.

Im sure we've misjudged thing. Misjudged an overtake and been abit closer to another car than we'd of liked. Sometimes the accelerator just doesnt go down far enough.

But we're all human and accidents do happen.

Dashcam and report to 5-0 then. One report may not be enough but if many people on many days report the same driver, the police will probably take action.

 

J.

No point reporting. Just too much hassle n surely we've all got better things to do.

People report others for stupid things all the time.

My mate got reported for overtaking 2 cars in his GTR. It wasnt even illegal and was perfectly safe, but somebody reported him for it.

Its just sad IMO.

Just to back Martin (the OP) up on this one I drive this stretch every day on my way to work.  I've travelled it for the last twelve years and have seen a large amount dangerous passing here compared to the rest of the road network in the area.  On a weekly basis people force oncoming traffic to dive left out of their way so they can make up one or two car lengths. 

 

I once had a very luck escape on there when two people decided to overtake at the same time and hit each other head on whilst alongside me.  Needless to say there was a huge amount of debris, torn metal and evasive action on my part.  It's not something I wish to repeat and I get as angry as Martin at people's stupidity and lack of concern for not only their own safety but that of other people.  The air in my car is regularly turned blue as someone decides to play chicken with my life and theirs.

 

It also amazes me how not only are they attempting an overtake in a ridiculously dangerous place but they are doing it in a ridiculously underpowered car and therefore take an absolute age to get back onto their side of the road.  I treat this stretch the same as I would any normal road and only overtake when there is an appropriate gap. 

 

Nope, I'm with you on this one mate and regularly question people's intelligence and their ability to see further than their own bonnet and personal desire to be wherever they are going two minutes quicker.

That pees me off. People who havent got much power (i know, i drive a htp fabia) and dont get a run up first.

Its soo much safer to hang back, get a run up the pull out to overtake, than it is to just go onto the other side of the road for 30 minutes.

Its not until you get some real power that exploring other techniques becomes possible is it.

That pees me off. People who havent got much power (i know, i drive a htp fabia) and dont get a run up first.

Its soo much safer to hang back, get a run up the pull out to overtake, than it is to just go onto the other side of the road for 30 minutes.

Its not until you get some real power that exploring other techniques becomes possible is it.

I experience this frequently in the 75 Clio

Google street view link? We got a road that sound the same, everyone looks where they're going though so no issues. If I have a lane that's wide enough for 1.5-2 cars then I keep left if I'm not overtaking, no issue for me, whatever road I'm on I tend to look where I'm going anyway. It's the blind bend overtakes I don't like...

Google street view link? We got a road that sound the same, everyone looks where they're going though so no issues. If I have a lane that's wide enough for 1.5-2 cars then I keep left if I'm not overtaking, no issue for me, whatever road I'm on I tend to look where I'm going anyway. It's the blind bend overtakes I don't like...

Or approaching the brow of a hill...

I've never been keen on wide two lane single carriageways. They just encourage people to try and overtake while straddling the centre, and as has been said it only needs someone coming the other way to be a bit to the right and you have a head on collision.

I'd rather see them use the space to provide dedicated passing sections with three proper lanes and double white lines.

At least with normal width lanes you know when an overtake is on or not.

The A6 is like that between Finedon and Kettering.

Due to a load of accidents, hatching has been put down the middle but people still overtake.

The police are often their filming motorists and sending them a present by post.

Learning to overtake safely in a low powered car makes for good tuition.

 

You have to be absolutely sure you have sufficient clearance to complete the manoeuvre so there are no 'suck it and see' decisions, everything is meticulously planned.

 

More than 100,000 miles in a 70bhp diesel Peugeot 306 has taught me well.