Safe Speed Forums

Some subjects on this post made me think about overtaking

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1654

I had a few thoughts about the problems encountered by people not realising that when they are overtaking-a driver can come to a junction meeting with that road and look right to check it is clear (the way you are travelling) and pull right out into your path. It also raises the question:

Do you always check both ways at a junction in case someone is overtaking? Sounds an obvious question but do you? I know I don't always do it but should.

Regards

Andrew

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It's a scam........or possibly a scamola


Homer Simpson

I always do.

The fundamental and unforgettable rule here is:

look where you're going or maybe better:

never go anywhere you haven't had a good look at.

This discipline will save you from many problems including overtaking traffic approaching from your left when you turning left out of a side road.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

...not to mention running into the back of the lead car who has inexplicably given way at a roundabout when nothing was coming...

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CSCP Latin for beginners...
Ticketo ergo sum : I scam therefore I am!

YES!

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

It is dangerous to start overtaking with a junction ahead, that is clear, and I will not do that, at least not when I can see there is a junction ahead.

Now knowing/ seeing there is a junction ahead is a problem, at least over here. On main roads junctions ahead are not specifically marked. Even worse: junctions are marked behind the junction, not before, and only on junctions with a road to the right (to the left for you).

Behind the crossing there is a sign telling me that I am on a main road and that I have way at the next junction, only I do not know where that next junction is. It may be 100 meters away, it may be 10 km away. It may be to the right, it may be to the left.

How junctions ahead are marked in the UK?

There are standard red triangle warning signs for a side turning and a crossroads, but they aren't always used for very minor roads, and they don't in general show the distance (although in practice it's never more than about 400 yards)

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

It's a common problem near where I live, we have a set of traffic lights & Cars & HGV's try to push long distances down the offside lane to get into the right hand filter lane.
Me I hold my line & if it means I have to stop & they have to reverse then so be it, I won't put my wheels onto the pavement & I always stop as close to them as possible to prevent them filtering into the traffic they are overtaking.
I almost got wiped out a few weeks ago by a Dustcart pulling out from the back of the queue.

This particular attitude will very likely prevent you from avoiding a crash sooner or later. (not to mention raising your stress levels!)

Have a look at this: http://www.skilldriver.org/index.asp?pa ... .0.Beliefs

(10 short sections under that heading - read each of them)

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Sooner or later there's a fair chance you will get wiped out if you carry on like this mate. There's no point disappearing under the wheels of an HGV declaring "I was in the right.......".

[Edit]
Oh, I see Paul beat me to it

Yes indeed. better to be wrong than dead right.

I drive an HGV & I do not drive at people I gently pull to a stop & then move as close to the idiot overtaking as possible, but if people want to drive at me what can I do ?, a motorcyclist was trapped under a 4X4 at this junction 2 weeks ago after a prat in a van drove at her & she took avoiding action & fell off, guess who did not stop & who has not been found ?.
Sorry but this is not agressive driving it's just a bit of fun & as the idiot who tried to save a few minutes normally gets very upset & costs themselves even time, very good fun.
As for the dustcart, he pulled out into my lane forcing both of us to do an emergency stop, missing each other by 6- 8 feet, but had it been a car travelling at more than 20 mph would he have seen them or missed hitting them due to the higher speeds involved ?.

Do you mean that some junctions are not marked at all? That is even worse than it is over here. Or are these very minor roads unpaved "farmer" roads?

Looks like a misunderstanding. PeterE was responding to your question about junctions ahead being marked.

Virtually all junctions have designated priority with a "give way line" painted on the "minor" road and an inverted red triangle warning sign indicating "give way".

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety