In
case the car being overtaken pulls out:
No matter what precautions you take, unexpected situations can occur.
One of the most common is the vehicle in front pulling out. While overtaking
on straight roads and even on dual carriageways you must be reasonably
certain that nothing will cause whatever you are overtaking to move out
and rob you of your overtaking space. Or more worrisome, push you off
the road into the ditch. Causes for pulling out could be rocks, a tree
root, animals running onto the road, a hidden cyclist, a puddle, wind,
anything including the unbelievable.
Experience is of no value in unprecedented situations. You must be watching
and thinking of what you are doing while doing it.
Experience will show that any car travelling behind another is liable
to pull out to overtake. In case you intend to pass this driver, you must
hoot to warn him of your intentions. In case he is deaf, has loud music
playing in the car or is mirror blind, drop to near his speed and follow
until he is are certain of your intention to pass him. This is particularly
important on dual carriageways where drivers tend to swing out without
glancing in their mirrors.
The reason why many fast drivers have bad accidents in because they disobey
the rule that what matters is the difference between their speed and the
speed of the car they are passing. You must be faster to pass but never
so fast as not to have the control to stop if the person you are passing
swings out or some catastrophe robs you of your passing area. You must
retain your envelope of safety and swerve margin.
As you are passing your eyes range far and near. Just before you commit
yourself to an overtaking manoeuvre, glance at his front wheels which
would give first warning of his swinging out. This watching his front
wheels without dwelling too much on them is one of the great secrets of
safety. Unless he skids, he can't come out if his wheels don't turn. This
wheel watching is an even greater life-saver when an approaching vehicle
is behaving dangerously. By keeping his wheels in the corner of your eye,
you know if he is getting more or less dangerous to you, and act accordingly.
A hoot might be justified if someone did pull out while you were in the
overtaking position but it better not replace evasive action. Unjustified
and overcooked anger is foolish. |
June 2001