Overtaking a Slow Moving Vehicle

MetzgerMeister · 25-08-2010 10:33AM #1

Hey all,

This morning on my way to work, I was stuck behind a tractor with 2 other cars in front of me. When the chance arose, I checked my mirrors, indicated and waited 3 seconds before pulling out to make sure the car behind me saw my intention.

Everything was going well until the first car behind the tractor indicated and moved out immediately, nearly pushing me off the road. It was only after a blast of the horn that he realised I was there.

With this idiocy aside, is there a rule of the road that gives the first car behind a slow moving vehicle the right of way to overtake before cars behind him, or is it whoever makes their intentions clear to other road users first?

If he had pushed me off the road and it went to insurance claims, who would be considered to have been in the wrong?

bigSuzi12 · 25-08-2010 10:41AM

einheisserschre wrote: »

Hey all,

This morning on my way to work, I was stuck behind a tractor with 2 other cars in front of me. When the chance arose, I checked my mirrors, indicated and waited 3 seconds before pulling out to make sure the car behind me saw my intention.

Everything was going well until the first car behind the tractor indicated and moved out immediately, nearly pushing me off the road. It was only after a blast of the horn that he realised I was there.

With this idiocy aside, is there a rule of the road that gives the first car behind a slow moving vehicle the right of way to overtake before cars behind him, or is it whoever makes their intentions clear to other road users first?

If he had pushed me off the road and it went to insurance claims, who would be considered to have been in the wrong?

He should have checked his mirror before pulling out. He was in the wrong as you were already engaged in the overtake

Michael 09 · 25-08-2010 10:42AM

I would say that he was at fault, you were legitimately over taking and HE would have hit YOU.

Very poor driving on his behalf. Put it down to a near miss

josey_whale · 25-08-2010 10:42AM

He was in the wrong!

Atomic Pineapple · 25-08-2010 10:43AM

Apparently overtaking 3 vechicle's in one go is dangerous overtaking these days according to the gardai.

Someone else on boards reported being stopped by the Gardai for overtaking 2 cars and a tractor perfectly safely.

Ghost Train · 25-08-2010 10:50AM

http://www.rotr.ie/rules-for-driving/good-driving-practice/overtaking.html

# Give way to faster traffic already overtaking from behind.
# Before overtaking check that the way is clear, check in your mirror and blind spots to ensure another vehicle is not approaching from behind. Give your signal in good time, move out when it is safe to do so, accelerate and overtake with the minimum of delay.

eden_my_ass · 25-08-2010 10:55AM

He was in the wrong for not checking his mirrors, however in an judgement of blame had there been an accident I imagine it would depend on where and how impact occurred, if it looked like you held your ground and charged on rather than lifted off to avoid collision, you could possibly share some blame. Right and wrong doesn't work that simply when it comes to claim time!

I've been in the same situation though and reacted the same as you, not much else you can do, its a pity theres so many ignorant morons on the road though.

Wossack · 25-08-2010 10:57AM

draffodx wrote: »

Apparently overtaking 3 vechicle's in one go is dangerous overtaking these days according to the gardai.

Someone else on boards reported being stopped by the Gardai for overtaking 2 cars and a tractor perfectly safely.

According to one Garda

I overtake ~30-40 cars in one maneouver on a regular basis :pac:

motorbike

eden_my_ass · 25-08-2010 10:58AM

draffodx wrote: »

Apparently overtaking 3 vechicle's in one go is dangerous overtaking these days according to the gardai.

Someone else on boards reported being stopped by the Gardai for overtaking 2 cars and a tractor perfectly safely.

I wonder how it would hold up in court if it got that far, considering the tractor might be doing 20-30 miles an hour at most, and the two cars behind (the "i don't overtake" type) are typically hugging the back of the vehicle in front (a sure sign they're not dropping back slightly to plan a smooth and safe overtake). Any expert would surely equate that as closely equivalent to overtaking one car doing 50 mph in terms of risk....

Mr. Presentable · 25-08-2010 11:02AM

IMHO you shouldn't be attempting to overtake two cars and a tractor in one run. Notwithstanding that, the other driver should have ensured the way was clear for him to pull out.

Mr.David · 25-08-2010 11:07AM

I've had the exact same experience and it was inches to spare.

Just goes to show how common it is for people to neglect to check their mirrors when overtaking.....they seem to be totally consumed with whats on front of them and forget about what is behind!

Following my experience, when overtaking multiple vehicles in a go I usually give a short blast of the horn as I pull out to reduce the chance of that happening.

Also illustrates the need to balance overtaking quickly (accelerating hard) and not having too high a speed differential between you and the other cars (so that in this case you are able to brake and avoid collision).

whippet · 25-08-2010 11:09AM

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

IMHO you shouldn't be attempting to overtake two cars and a tractor in one run. Notwithstanding that, the other driver should have ensured the way was clear for him to pull out.

why?

Every situation is different, you can't make a statement like that.

I have over taken 4 or 5 cars in one go and it wasn't a dangerous move while often I have seen people overtaking a bicycle and it was dangerous !!!

Every move on the road is unique and so is the danger associated with it.

Cionád · 25-08-2010 11:11AM

Mr.David wrote: »

Just goes to show how common it is for people to neglect to check their mirrors when overtaking.....they seem to be totally consumed with whats on front of them and forget about what is behind!

And often whats infront of them is just a view of the car ahead, and they blindly follow it onto the other side of the road without checking if oncoming traffic is close or not, forcing oncoming traffic to slow down (or stop!). One of the most frustrating things I see regularly on backroads.

eden_my_ass · 25-08-2010 11:11AM

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

IMHO you shouldn't be attempting to overtake two cars and a tractor in one run. Notwithstanding that, the other driver should have ensured the way was clear for him to pull out.

What if the road is straight for 500 metres with no oncoming traffic, low hedges on either side, no housing or sign of people or animals, the tractor is doing 20 mph, the cars in front are bunched and not even edging out or dropping back to see the road ahead....would you "attempt" it?

Cuddlesworth · 25-08-2010 11:13AM

Mr.David wrote: »

Just goes to show how common it is for people to neglect to check their mirrors

Fixed that for you.

langdang · 25-08-2010 11:13AM

Mr.David wrote: »

Just goes to show how common it is for people to neglect to check their mirrors when overtaking.....they seem to be totally consumed with whats on front of them and forget about what is behind!

Following my experience, when overtaking multiple vehicles in a go I usually give a short blast of the horn as I pull out to reduce the chance of that happening.

That's legitimate and a safe way to do things (but will rub some of those spacers the wrong way unfortunately) but I have a confession to make - when doing the same thing at night I just throw on the full beams (OSRAM nightbreakers) as soon as I pull out, and just push on past. It's a bit aggressive but there are too many dopes out there...

kippy · 25-08-2010 11:15AM

OP - according to the rules of the road the person in front of you was "in the wrong" so to speak, as outlined by other posters.

As an aside, I really really hate overtaking - one of the most dangerous maneouvers you can do when driving, no matter what the situation or circumstance.
I've seen a few very very bad accidents either caused by the person being overtaken or by the guy doing the overtaking - some of which were fatal.

eden_my_ass · 25-08-2010 11:16AM

langdang wrote: »

That's legitimate and a safe way to do things (but will rub some of those spacers the wrong way unfortunately) but I have a confession to make - when doing the same thing at night I just throw on the full beams (OSRAM nightbreakers) as soon as I pull out, and just push on past. It's a bit aggressive but there are too many dopes out there...

Why would you even admit to doing something so foolish, you're basically blinding each driver ahead through their driver-side mirror...its not at all aggressive, its a whole different level of ignorant driving. Please stop doing it.

Mr. Presentable · 25-08-2010 11:20AM

whippet wrote: »

why?

Every situation is different, you can't make a statement like that.

I have over taken 4 or 5 cars in one go and it wasn't a dangerous move while often I have seen people overtaking a bicycle and it was dangerous !!!

Every move on the road is unique and so is the danger associated with it.

The problem lies in the fact that there are three other unpredictable drivers to get by, and as seen in the OP, a mistake can be made which is made more dangerous by being midway along a long run on the wrong side of the road.

langdang · 25-08-2010 11:20AM

eden_my_ass wrote: »

Why would you even admit to doing something so foolish, you're basically blinding each driver ahead through their driver-side mirror...its not at all aggressive, its a whole different level of ignorant driving. Please stop doing it.

It's alright, they're usually pointed at the back wheel (or folded in, or missing) on the cars in question.

eden_my_ass · 25-08-2010 11:20AM

kippy wrote: »

I've seen a few very very bad accidents either caused by the person being overtaken or by the guy doing the overtaking - some of which were fatal.

Thats mostly down to the poor level of education we have on our roads, not because overtaking is in itself dangerous, it should be no more dangerous than driving on a two lane road. When you have people though who do things like helping out by hitting the brakes when they notice they're about to be overtaken (nothing more frightening than executing a smooth maneuver only to find the car in front is falling back on you waaay too fast as you accelerate and move out past it!)

fionnsda · 25-08-2010 11:21AM

He might have looked at his mirror when you where at his blind spot!
however he should have been more aware of the situation around him long before his decision to overtake.

Mr. Presentable · 25-08-2010 11:21AM

eden_my_ass wrote: »

What if the road is straight for 500 metres with no oncoming traffic, low hedges on either side, no housing or sign of people or animals, the tractor is doing 20 mph, the cars in front are bunched and not even edging out or dropping back to see the road ahead....would you "attempt" it?

Huh. The point is somebody did edge out.

eden_my_ass · 25-08-2010 11:22AM

langdang wrote: »

It's alright, they're usually pointed at the back wheel (or folded in, or missing) on the cars in question.

Aw well, two wrongs do make a right then. Best of luck to you.

eden_my_ass · 25-08-2010 11:26AM

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

Huh. The point is somebody did edge out.

No, your point was that one shouldn't attempt to pass two cars and a tractor. The OP never mentioned seeing anyone edging out....theres a difference between edging out to see the road ahead and just blindly slapping on the indicator and attempting to pull all the way out.

My point is there are many situations where its safe to do so, as it was in this case. If everyone took your point of view, we'd all be travelling in convoys of cars bunched up behind the slowest thing on the road. Overtaking is not only safe (when done correctly) but also essential to a safer road where cars are well apart from each other. Driver education is the problem, not overtaking.

whippet · 25-08-2010 11:30AM

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

The problem lies in the fact that there are three other unpredictable drivers to get by, and as seen in the OP, a mistake can be made which is made more dangerous by being midway along a long run on the wrong side of the road.

that is why you have to do it safely.

If you give yourself enough distance between the sides of the cars someone moving out a slight bit shouldn't be a problem and your acceleration and momentum will have you past them before it causes a problem

What makes it dangerous is people who don't really understand what they are doing, driving behind the traffic at 50kph in 5th gear and then move out foot to the floor in fifth and end up driving along side the traffic for an age before managing to get by.

I have plenty of poke in my motor and by dropping down from 6th to 3rd (dsg box) I can be out and infront in plenty of time.

Cookie_Monster · 25-08-2010 11:33AM

eden_my_ass wrote: »

My point is there are many situations where its safe to do so, as it was in this case. If everyone took your point of view, we'd all be travelling in convoys of cars bunched up behind the slowest thing on the road. Overtaking is not only safe (when done correctly) but also essential to a safer road where cars are well apart from each other. Driver education is the problem, not overtaking.

+1

Overtaking like that is only necessary anyway as people don't keep correct distances between each other. If they did you could overtake those 2 car and tractor in 3 short moves if you felt like it or needed to because of dictating conditions.

langdang · 25-08-2010 11:33AM

whippet wrote: »

your acceleration and momentum will have you past them before it causes a problem

your acceleration, your momentum and the hardshoulder on the opposite side....:D

MetzgerMeister · 25-08-2010 11:40AM

eden_my_ass wrote: »

What if the road is straight for 500 metres with no oncoming traffic, low hedges on either side, no housing or sign of people or animals, the tractor is doing 20 mph, the cars in front are bunched and not even edging out or dropping back to see the road ahead....would you "attempt" it?

This is actually the situation I was in. If anyone is familiar with the Thurles/Templemore road, you will know that there's a section of the road, townsland's name is Whitefield. Although there is housing, it's a long, straight stretch and a good opportunity to overtake very safely.

BigEejit · 25-08-2010 11:41AM

I had to do a good bit of this down in the wilds of Kerry at the start of August. I flash my lights when overtaking a few vehicle at one go ...

Good god the amount of camper vans doing 30mph, with clowns just doodling along behind them with no intention of overtaking, nearly drove me simple

MetzgerMeister · 25-08-2010 11:46AM

langdang wrote: »

your acceleration, your momentum and the hardshoulder on the opposite side....:D

The hard shoulder on the opposite side would barely fit a bicycle

As mentioned, in my op I left out something. No one edged out to see if the road ahead was clear before I began my overtake. It was due to this that I assumed it was safe for me to do so.

Had there been someone behind me or in front of me who did this, I obviously would have stayed where I was.

Overtaking a Slow Moving Vehicle

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