The Art of Safe Overtaking

Overtaking is potentially one of the most dangerous and safety critical aspects of driving. In spite of this, very few drivers get taught how to do it.

Some drivers consider overtaking an unnecessary evil and even aggressive driver behaviour. Many Police and other advanced and high-performance drivers will tell you that when done properly, it’s a joy to watch when achieved safely. They know that performing a well-planned and expertly executed overtake is always in total harmony with safety, courtesy and sensibility.

There’s the conundrum - where can you learn the skilful rudiments of overtaking from a driving master?

Overtaking - is it necessary?

As written in many driving manuals and worth pointing out when considering an overtake, the first things you MUST ask yourself are: Is it safe? Is it legal? Is it necessary?

Once such safety criteria have been considered AND justified, only then can we look deeper into the specific planning and techniques necessary to get started and importantly, fully understand the principles and fundamentals of safe overtaking.

Let me state here: there are NO grey areas when considering and planning an overtake. It’s either safe or unsafe. Yes or no! There can be NO in between.

When planning and executing an overtake, a driver needs to follow a structured plan of several critical steps to ensure confidence, safety and effectiveness. Here's an incremental breakdown which goes through the planning and action process in greater detail. The Why’s and How’s of an overtake:

Check Mirrors / Rearward Awareness

Check the rearview mirror(s) to be aware of any fast-approaching vehicles from behind and to ensure the adjacent lane is clear. Also confirm the potential presence and speed of any vehicles actually overtaking you! Expert drivers will be aware of this already but here, we are not talking about experts.

Views Ahead

This means creating the fullest visual scanning processes ahead and incorporating peripheral observation. This full observation process should influence the possible ‘elimination’ process when considering an overtake. If the visual scanning says NO, then it’s NO!

Long range ‘selective visual scanning’ is absolutely essential and if possible and safe, position your car so you can look up the inside/outside/underneath the vehicle in front to assess and optimise any oncoming traffic situations. Plus checking for any potential hazards such as junctions, driveways and blind entrances, cyclists, horse riders, pedestrians (the list is almost endless) as well as being able to see the whole road surface ahead. Yes, it’s complicated!

Oncoming Traffic

Ensure there is sufficient distance and time to overtake without encountering or endangering potential oncoming vehicles and be aware of the ‘Time Exposed to Danger’ factor too when driving on the ‘other side of the road’.

Gear Selection for Best Power Response

Select a lower gear if necessary (yes, even in an automatic) to ensure the vehicle has enough acceleration for the manoeuvre and to ensure the engine is in the optimal RPM range to maximise power delivery.

Confirm Through Positioning

If safe to do so, then position the car towards the right-hand lane where you can fully scan ahead before committing with power application - only committing to the overtake when you are sure it is totally safe.

There should be no hesitation once the decision is made to overtake.

A significant point about extending the road positioning to obtain a clearer view of the road ahead, BEFORE applying acceleration, is that should the driver decide not to overtake, they can move back in behind the vehicle they were looking to overtake, once clearly checking it’s safe to do so.

Powerful Acceleration

Once confirmed, accelerate decisively to minimise the time spent in the opposite lane. Ensure sufficient speed to complete the overtake quickly and return to your lane.

Time Exposed to Danger (TED)

Aim to minimise the time you are exposed to oncoming traffic. The shorter the TED, the safer the overtake will be. Lastly, ensure there is a clear path to return to your lane safely.

Finally, consider a thank you to the driver you have just overtaken for their assistance in the overtake – a gentle wave of the left hand works well I find.

However, doing such a precise check list is time consuming and you may lose the overtaking opportunity you were considering. Learn the process by heart so you can go through it systematic yet quickly, always remembering that there can be NO DOUBT about any overtake!

Overtaking, or passing another vehicle on the road, can be a safe manoeuvre if done correctly and under the right conditions. However, it also carries significant and inherent risks that need to be carefully managed.

When not to overtake

Of the utmost importance is understanding when not to overtake! You must avoid overtaking on curves and hill crests for example or in poor visibility conditions like fog, heavy rain, or at night unless the road is well-lit. Pay attention to road markings and signs as they could make an overtake illegal and refrain from overtaking near intersections, pedestrian crossings, or other areas where unexpected hazards may suddenly occur.

Conclusion

Overtaking can be safe when done with careful consideration of the conditions, awareness of your surroundings, and adherence to proper processes and risk management procedures. It is a complex manoeuvre that requires judgment of speed and distance and patience. However, it should be approached with the upmost caution, coupled with precise planning. If there is any doubt about the safety of the overtake, you MUST evalualate the situation and wait for a more opportune moment.

Always prioritise safety over convenience and overconfidence as if it all goes wrong, often there are no second chances!