Overtaking

Overtaking can be a risky manoeuvre, as it can put you on a collision course with approaching traffic.

Overtaking at the wrong time or in the wrong place is extremely dangerous.

It’s vital to choose your time and place carefully.

Before overtaking you must be certain you can return to your side of the road safely without getting in the way of

• vehicles coming towards you
• vehicles you’re overtaking.

Overtaking a moving vehicle

Don’t overtake unless it’s necessary. For example, don’t rush to get past someone only to turn off that road shortly afterwards. Ask yourself whether it’s really necessary. If you decide it is, you need to find a suitable place.

You MUST NOT overtake where to do so would cause you to break the law. Details are shown in The Highway Code.

In addition, some places are never suitable. For example, don’t overtake • if your view ahead is blocked

• if there’s too little room
• if the road narrows
• if you’re approaching a bend or junction
• if there’s ‘dead ground’ – a hidden dip in the road where an oncoming vehicle can be out of sight.

Judging speed and distance

The speed of the vehicle you’re overtaking is very important. When you’re closing up behind a moving vehicle, it will cover quite a distance before you can actually pass it – probably much more than you think.

It could take you quite a long time to overtake. For example, if you’re doing 30 mph (48 km/h), it could take a quarter of a mile (400 metres) just to catch up with a vehicle 200 yards (180 metres) ahead that’s travelling at as little as 15 mph (24 km/h).

On the other hand, if you’re travelling at 55 mph (88.5 km/h) and an oncoming vehicle is doing the same, both vehicles are actually approaching each other at 110 mph (177 km/h) or 50 metres per second.

Overtaking takes time. The smaller the difference between your speed and the speed of the vehicle you’re overtaking, the longer the stretch of clear road you’ll need.

Overtaking large vehicles

If you’re considering overtaking a large vehicle, you need to keep well back to ensure that you

• get the best view of the road ahead
• allow the driver to see you in their mirrors. Remember, if you can’t see their mirrors, they can’t see you. Be especially aware that left-hand-drive lorries have different blind spots from right-hand-drive vehicles.

Leave a good space while waiting to overtake. If another car fills the gap, drop back again.

If possible, you should also note whether the vehicle you intend to overtake is loaded or unloaded. The speed of large vehicles varies greatly when they’re going up and down hills. A loaded vehicle might crawl slowly uphill and then pick up speed surprisingly quickly on the downhill run.

Always remember these possible changes in speed when you’re thinking of overtaking. Avoid driving alongside a large vehicle; you may be in its blind spot and the driver may not be able to see you.

Overtaking slow-moving vehicles

There are several types of slow-moving vehicle that you may encounter on the roads. These include farm machinery, tractors, roadworks vehicles and refuse collection vehicles. Most will have flashing amber beacons.

Tractors and farm machinery will often pull in to the left when it’s safe, or if there’s space to do so, to let a queue of traffic pass. However, they’re not always able to do so.

Travelling behind a slow-moving vehicle can be frustrating, but be patient. Wait until the road ahead is completely clear of oncoming traffic and you’re sure it’s both safe and legal to overtake. Remember also that there may be workers in the road – for example, around roadworks vehicles or refuse collection trucks.

Don’t overtake on the approach to bends, before the brow of a hill or where there are dips in the road ahead which could hide an oncoming vehicle. In rural areas, there may also be hidden entrances to farm properties from which vehicles may suddenly emerge.

Only overtake if your view of the road ahead is completely clear and unobstructed, and you’re sure there’s no oncoming traffic. Also check behind, to make sure no other vehicle is trying to overtake at the same time.

Leave plenty of room when overtaking and allow plenty of time for your manoeuvre. Some vehicles, especially those towing farm machinery, may be wider or longer than expected.

Overtaking on a hill

Uphill

Give yourself time and room to return to your side of the road well before the brow of the hill. Your zone of vision will get shorter as you approach the brow of the hill. Don’t forget that oncoming vehicles will be travelling downhill and could be approaching very quickly.

Downhill

It’s more difficult to slow down when going downhill. If you overtake going downhill, you may find yourself travelling faster than you intended. Be careful not to lose control of your vehicle.

Overtaking on long hills

On some long hills, double white lines divide the road so that there are two lanes for traffic going uphill, but only one downhill.

If the line is broken on the downhill side, this means you can overtake going downhill if it’s safe to do so.

Overtaking on three-lane roads

Some roads are divided into three lanes, where the middle lane can be used for overtaking in either direction. These roads can be particularly dangerous. Before overtaking, you must make sure the road is clear far enough ahead. If in doubt, wait.

Some three-lane roads have double white lines marked on the road to allow vehicles travelling uphill to overtake.

Before overtaking

Many danger spots are marked with double white lines along the road. Look out for arrows directing you to move over to the left as you’re approaching these areas.

Junction signs and hatch markings in the middle of the road alert you to the possibility of turning traffic. Don’t overtake as you approach a junction, and look for traffic

• waiting to turn right
• slowing to turn left
• crossing your path
• queuing.

Watch the vehicle in front

Before overtaking, decide what the driver in front is likely to do by watching both them and the road ahead for a while. They might

• decide to overtake
• continue to drive at the speed of the vehicle ahead of them
• intend to turn off soon
• have seen something ahead which you haven’t.

Vehicles turning right

Research has shown that most overtaking incidents are caused by the overtaking driver hitting a vehicle that’s turning right. To avoid this type of collision you should

• check the indicators of the vehicle you’re about to overtake
• assume that a vehicle that’s slowing down is about to turn.

Following through

Never automatically follow an overtaking vehicle without being able to see for yourself that the way is clear. The vehicle in front obscures your view and hides you from the view of oncoming traffic.

Always make your own decisions about overtaking, based not only on what you see but also on what you know.

Be patient. If in doubt, hold back. There might not be enough time for both of you to overtake at once.

Steps to overtaking

To overtake, you might have to use some or all of these steps several times before the right moment arrives. For example, if someone overtakes you just as you’re about to overtake, you’ll need to start all over again.

Use the MSM/PSL routine

M – Mirrors

Check your mirrors to assess the situation behind and look well ahead.

S – Signal

Give a signal if it will help

• drivers behind
• the driver you’re overtaking
• drivers coming towards you.

M – Manoeuvre

Use the PSL routine

P – Position

Be near enough to the vehicle ahead to overtake smoothly when you’re ready, but not so close that you can’t get a good view of the road ahead.

S – Speed

Be fast enough to keep up with the vehicle in front and with enough reserve power to pass it briskly.

You might need to change down to get extra acceleration when you’re ready to start overtaking.

L – Look

Assess the whole situation

• the state of the road
• what the driver ahead is doing or might be about to do • any hazards
• the speed and position of oncoming vehicles • the speed difference between you and oncoming vehicles.

Make a final check in front and behind. Check especially for motorcyclists as they may be approaching quickly and could have been hidden from  view previously. Be aware of, and check, any blind spots by taking a quick sideways glance if necessary before deciding to pull out to overtake. If it’s safe, steer out gradually, then

• overtake as quickly as you can
• steer gradually back to the left and avoid cutting in.

Never begin to overtake if another vehicle is overtaking you or is about to do so. Overtake only when you’re sure it’s safe to do so.

Allow plenty of room

When overtaking cyclists, motorcyclists or horse riders, give them plenty of room – move out as far as you would if you were overtaking a car. Never attempt to overtake them just before you turn left or if you would have to stop or slow down soon after.

If they look over their shoulder it could mean that they intend to pull out, turn right or change direction, so give them time and space to do this.

Overtaking on the left

You should never overtake on the left unless

• the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and you can safely overtake on their left. Take care if there’s a road to the left; oncoming traffic turning right into it may be hidden by the vehicle you’re overtaking
• traffic is moving slowly in queues, and vehicles in the lane on your right are moving more slowly than you are.

Passing on the left

In addition, you can go past on the inside of slower traffic when

• you’re in a one-way street (but not a dual carriageway) where vehicles are allowed to pass on either side
• you’re in the correct lane to turn left at a junction.

Overtaking on dual carriageways

Overtake only if you’re sure you can do so safely.

You should normally stay in the left-hand lane and only use the right-hand lane for overtaking or turning right. If you use the right-hand lane for overtaking, you should move back to the left-hand lane as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Plan well ahead and use the appropriate parts of the MSM/PSL routine.

For example

M – Mirrors

Use your mirrors to assess the speed and position of following traffic. On a high-speed dual carriageway, start the checks in plenty of time.

S – Signal

Give a signal if it will help the driver you’re overtaking and other drivers further ahead. Be aware that on a dual carriageway, a vehicle in the right-hand lane signalling right may be slowing to turn right through the central reservation.

P – Position

Keep well back from the vehicle you’re going to overtake to give you a good view of the road ahead.

S – Speed

Make sure you have enough speed in reserve to overtake briskly without breaking any speed limits.

L – Look

Look ahead and assess

• the condition of the road
• what the vehicle ahead is doing
• any hazards.

Check behind again to reassess the situation; check especially for motorcyclists as they can approach very quickly. Don’t begin to overtake if another vehicle is about to overtake you.

If it’s safe, change lanes by steering gradually across to the right-hand lane and overtake briskly. Make sure you’re well clear of the vehicle you’ve overtaken before moving back to the left. Don’t cut in.

Overtaking on the left

You mustn’t overtake on the left unless traffic is moving slowly in queues, and the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are.

Never move to a lane on your left to overtake.

Defensive driving

Never accelerate when someone is overtaking you. If necessary, ease off to help them pass you.

Keep well back from any vehicle that’s too close to the vehicle in front and swinging in and out. Be patient, in case they do something hasty.

Be considerate. Don’t block faster vehicles that might want to overtake you, even if they’re breaking the speed limit.