On country roads at National Speed Limit (60 mph) you follow someone doing around 40 at a respectable distance then when a safe overtaking opportunity arises you begin your manoeuvre only to find the other car tries to outrun you (thereby breaking HC rules) - once you have passed them they drop back and fade away. Happens so often and can turn a safe overtake into a positive danger! The other variation is that they straddle the centre line to try to prevent you passing - they shouldn't be on the road.
These drivers come in a few flavours.. the "40 milers" who drive at 40 mph regardless - 40 through a 30 in a village, then 40 through the national speed limit (60) and so on. Just 40 everywhere. They would probably suffer a nose bleed if they ever accidentally exceeded 40 mph. The others are those that are so unassured at driving that they in many ways they are a hazard to most other road users - these drivers brake heavily going around corners (they don't think to brake before the corner and drive around much more safely, as a result they feel unsafe and therefore brake very time) and the same drivers typically brake when cars are coming towards them on the opposing carriage way but are happy to speed up when the road is entirely clear - as in when it would otherwise be safe to overtake them.
You aren’t committed to the overtake once you pull out. If the vehicle you’re trying to pass suddenly speeds up, easy off the accelerator, let then move fully past you again, and drop back in behind.
@@nickryan3417 - Ever had a Morris Marina? OK at straight line speeds, useless on corners. Was being followed by a Ford Capri on twisty A483 in Wales. I helped the Capri overtake on a straight. Just got to recognise your own limitations. Yes I've noticed drivers who brake when there is oncoming traffic, particularly at night. The other drivers usually have dipped beam so can only guess their night vision isn't up to it. I remember a 55 year old at work who said he couldn't drive at night.
@@alanrobertson9790 A long time ago I had a Renault 11... It was very comfortable, only had 4 forward gears and the top gear had quite a high ratio. In practice unless I had a mile or two to speed up or I was overtaking something that was stationary I had to fill out a request-to-overtake form and send it in the post beforehand.
Although as a professional driver, Class 1 HGV, I totally agree with you, there has been occasions when I have had to exceed the limit due the inconsiderate and dangerous actions by the driver I am overtaking. On a few incidences on an unrestricted, national speed limit roads, when driving my car, I have come across drivers doing 40 to 50 miles per hour, some times slowing down and then speeding up in a very inconsistent manner, causing tailbacks behind and a danger to all concerned. On one occasion I indicated to overtake, began the manoeuvre, accelerated to about 60 mph and once alongside the vehicle, the driver then accelerated up to 60 matching my speed and with a cross road junction in the distance and with another car also indicating to overtake behind me the only safe and prudent thing to do was to accelerate over and above the limit to avoid any collision. I wish I had been in an unmarked police car because believe me he would have been done for dangerous driving. I know that I was breaking the law but there are some circumstances when it is prudent to do so.
Interesting video and comment - I had a similar situation 20 years ago, driving along in a 60 zone single carriagway country road behind a guy doing 40 - I didn't tail gate him or anything, maintained a 2 second gap despite a big queue of traffic behind me getting closer and closer and 'pushing' me. I knew there was a long straight section in about a mile so just waited until I got there, went to overtake but the guy sped up and matched my speed until we were both at 60. I would have dropped back but the tail of traffic behind me had all accelerated too and were now tailgating the person I was overtaking, so there was no gap for me to pull back into - it is a long straight with good visibility so I maintained my speed hoping he was just being a tool and would slow down in the end, but he didn't and then another car came over the hill in the distance so I felt I had no choice but to floor it, pulled in front safely and then slowed back down to 60 but I couldn't slam my brakes on as that would have made the situation worse so I just eased off and a light touch on the brakes. Turns out, there was a policeman on the brow of the hill with a mobile speed camera and pulled me over. The instant I lowered my window he read my rights and handed me a ticket, no opportunity to explain but to be fair I did do at least 70 to get past so I just accepted it and said sorry. (the ticket said 73, I didn't look fully as I was concentrating on the car coming the other way and getting past, but I only got just over 1 car length ahead and it was an old Nissan so not exactly lightning acceleration!) However, watching this video makes me wonder why the policeman didn't stop the other car too for causing it in the first place; if the law is to let someone pass safely if they're overtaking. It's the only driving offence i've ever had and it annoys me to this day even though it's no longer on my licence, so this video just makes it even more annoying! (not the video's fault!) I know speeding is bad and does cause a lot of serious accidents, but I also think bad driving is a bigger factor and the police don't do enough to stop this; the amount of people I see not knowing how a roundabout works or what indicators are for drives me mad; I guess the police just don't have time but I wonder how many accidents would be prevented if they targeted a few more of these 'minor' things and made people go back and do their test. Surprised the government haven't introduced a refresher exam or something for drivers, every 10 years or so, they could make a fortune ;)
@@montgomery77 That's weird that it happened to you. possibly an overzealous copper. When this happened to me, the exact opposite happened. Although, the unmarked police car was right behind me, not further down the road, so may he could see what was going on. He didn't pull me over. He pulled over the idiot who denied the overtaking. And I haven't received a citation in the mail either. This was only 2 years ago. Edit: also, refresher exam: absolutely! Something has to be done, because British drivers are getting worse and worse by the day now. It's ridiculous.
This brought me onto the point I was going to bring up - rule 168 - Being overtaken. It's clear that the person you were passing were in breach of this rule, and I myself in many instances have had to increase my speed in order to complete my overtake, due to the person I was passing deciding it was in their best interests to increase their speed to match mine whilst I was passing.
I think the legal safe answer to that is slow down and pull back in. The car behind has to deal with its own issues, and it shouldn't commit to an overtake with another vehicle in front.
The word, “limit,” is the clue. This whole, “I was only overtaking,” bollox is an excuse people use, when they have been caught speeding. There is no reason to break the speed limit. Period. 🤷♂️
@@ashroskell sometimes speeding briefly can get you out of a life of death situation. Ie someone pulling out and having to accelerate and swerve to avoid them, as people don't check their blind spots. It's a pity Police don't observe driving, plenty of nervous and very dangerously slow drivers out there 🤷♂️
My cycle ride into work used to include a run down a long hill. Part way down a 30mph limit started as it ran through a small village at the bottom. One day I noticed cars catching me up on the way down, stopped passing me and would remain behind until I slowed at the bottom. I also saw the speed trap in the village, it would seem the drivers did not assume you could break the speed limit if you were overtaking, even a bike.
Back in 1979 when l was getting my formal driving lessons at 17 years old from a retire Traffic cop he taught me that the safest way to pass a vehicle was to start accelerating from more than the safe 2 second following distance and pull out to pass at the 2 second distance then continue accelerating until you have established the 2 second safe distance to the vehicle you had past then move back into your lane & slow down to the speed limit. Logic; it is safer to speed for a short time on the wrong side of the road than spend a much longer time on the wrong side of the road at the speed limit. However the law is now enforced that if you go over the limit you will get a ticket, so much for safety first.
After completing rospa and being examined by an off duty police motorcyclist. I was told to perform a safe overtake, use the power of your motorcycle to complete the manoeuvre as quickly as possible then drop back to the speed limit.
@@nickbreen287 Not necessarily, the speed difference needed to overtake might well involve exceeding the posted limit without the overtaken vehicle being at the limit.
@@nickbreen287 no. If they are doing 68 the OP is saying to go faster than 70 to overtake quickly to reduce the time you are next to each other then drop back to 70.
A friend has just completed a week long IAMotorcycling course. She passed very well. The new thinking is that if the car truck whatever that’s in front is doing less than 15 mph under the road limit, you follow. You don’t go over to get past.
@@highdownmartin Iam is different in approach to. ROSPA. For instance IAM frowns upon offsiding where is is allowed with ROSPA. in regards to overtaking you can overtake if the vehicle in front is hindering your normal progress. If it is doing the speed limit then you are not hindered. If it is slightly below the speed limit then you have closed in on a hazard which is preventing good and safe progress. If safe, give it beans and get past, then drop back to the limit. But this was only encouraged on national speed roads.
I did an advanced driving course as part of a road safety campaign. We were told by the instructor, a serving traffic officer, that overtaking was one of the most hazardous situations you can experience. His statement was that you will not get charged with speeding if you accelerate past a slower moving vehicle PROVIDING you return to the relevant speed limit after the event.
@@andrewlongman2757 that may be so but imagine you’re approaching a 30mph speed camera and there’s a slow boat in front of you doing around 20ish, you, quite fairly, road clear, no white line your side, no junctions or other hazards, decide to overtake and in doing you get flashed for going over the speed limit. The fact that you had to accelerate to a speed beyond the limit to overtake quickly and safely is not catered for in the legislation and your defence should be dismissed by a competent court, but then again it’s possible to commit a blatant criminal offence like criminal damage and be found not guilty in a criminal court so you might get away with it if the judge or magistrate is of the same mind as you, but technically it’s illegal and the met Sgt was wrong in his advice and his understanding of the R.T. R. Act 1984 which makes no such provision.
@@BobK5 I was taught this in 1974, predating your sited act by 10 years. I don't know now what the regs were then concerning overtaking but I expect it was the same. If you are approaching a 30mph, you may well be acting differently anyway, also it is the speed difference that gives you the time in oncoming traffic. In your scenario, if the 20mph slowboat was say a tractor and trailer of 40ft long, you could get past him, not exceeding 30mph in 13 seconds and 540feet. But if you are still in the 60mph zone approaching, then from following at 20mph, in a car with a 0-60 time of 10seconds, you could get past him in just 6 seconds and 355 feet of road and still hold within the 60mph limit. People come unstuck when they try to pass a lorry, which should be doing just 50mph, but is actually bouncing off their limiter at 55mph, and the person following knows there is a steep hill ahead and wants to get past before the hill. Overtaking this lorry, and sticking to the 60mph limit will take 53 seconds and 4,685 feet in the oncoming traffic lane. That's nearly a minute and nearly a mile distance, so assuming oncoming traffic is there, which it probably is, you have to allow double the distance as in that time, the oncoming traffic is going to cover the same distance as you at 60mph, so all in all you need to be able to see a 2 mile gap. I doubt anyone could estimate what 2 miles is in the distance, and even if they could, oncoming traffic will be practically invisible at that distance. So it is simply not practical to stick to the limit, or you have to just stay behind slow moving traffic.
2 years ago I took RoSPA and it was generally thought that 5% over speed limit was allowed by the examiner. My RoSPA examiner was an ex-traffic cop and funny enough I kept speed in check. Was still nervous on the test and told could of got a Gold with a bit more progress and bit less hesitation 🙂. 30 years back when I passed my test I broke speed limit by 10-15mph a few times but still passed after examiner questioned me about it and warned me to watch my speed, lol.
I have been on bike training with the police, their advice was (as a motorcyclist) to execute the overtake as quickly as possible, which if it means a momentary exceeding of the speed limit, is OK. i.e. it's less of a risk to have a shorter, quicker overtake. Why prolong it unnecessarily. But different police may take a different view.
Overtaking a vehicle that speeds up when you pass it, it's happened countless times to me and it's dreadful and dangerous. I just don't get it, if somebody wants to overtake me, I take my foot of the pedal if I need to. Who am I to dictate their speed?
@@DavidFraser007 I’d love to know their thought process that they speed up to stop you overtaking but when you get passed anyway they slow back down again to a doddle 😂
A small win:- I was travelling back from a weekend away, dropped a friend in Glasgow and was heading home on the M74 at around 10pm, doing 70mph, when a car appeared behind me with one broken headlight and the other one dazzlingly bright. It caught up with me and sat behind me. The light from it's headlight was so bright that it was lighting up the whole interior of my car and the glare was making it impossible to concentrate on the road ahead properly. I slowed down to about 50mph and the car behind slowed down as well, remaining right behind me. After a minute or so I thought "sod this" and accelerated to around 90mph, leaving the car behind, and then slowed down again once it ceased to be a nuisance. Sure enough, after a couple of minutes it caught up again and began dazzling me again. I sat at 70mph, being dazzled and then slowed down to give it a chance to pass. Instead (surprise surprise) the blue lights came on. I pulled off the motorway and the cop car stopped behind me. The cops gave me a speech about how I was "driving suspiciously" due to the way I'd sped up in order to I "try and escape them". I pointed out that they had a broken headlight and that I'd accelerated to avoid being dazzled by the remaining light. At this, the cops changed their attitude and said that they had no intention of charging me with anything and they were simply checking what I was doing. They asked me where I was going and even offered to escort me to the correct junction so I could carry on home. I suggested their time might be better spent taking their car back to the police garage for repairs. Funny thing was, I was on my way home from the Stoneliegh military show and I had a boot full of deactivated WW2 machine-guns. The cops would have probably had a shit-fit if they'd searched my car and found them! 😛
@@madisntit6547 If the headlights of the car behind are so ill adjusted and so close, SUV behind a sports car perhaps, then the whole inside of you car is lit up so bright, your night vision is destroyed and you can see nothing. Nowt to do with mirrors. The situation Si Crewe describes has happened to me three times and in each case it was a police car, except the last which was two police motorcycles which were so close I couldn't see their heads.
@@madisntit6547 those manual dip rear view mirrors are so much better than the automatic ones. The auto ones still cause dazzle as they are not that good and you end up being blinded.
@@donaldasayers Exactly. When I said that the cop's headlights were lighting up the whole interior of my car that was my point - it wasn't just dazzling me in my mirrors, I was completely bathed in a dazzling light. The cop car turned out to be one of those all-purpose vans and I was driving a Mazda MX5. Speaking as an electrical engineer, I'm honestly not sure why it is that when one headlight goes out the other one seems to be especially dazzling. Maybe halogen headlights don't always draw the full 55w when both are lit but when one's lit there's enough power so that the remaining bulb CAN illuminate with the full 55w. Anyway, that was the one time that I got stopped for speeding and "got away with it" because the cops obviously thought my actions were justifiable.
@@madisntit6547 Don't think I've ever seen a car with auto-dimming wing-mirrors. Even if you've got an automatic rear-view mirror, you still get dazzled in your wing-mirrors and that can be even more confusing because the glare comes and goes depending on which mirrors you're looking at.
Another really helpful video. Thanks for explaining the white lines exceptions too (at exactly the point I was going to go look them up!). Thank you BB
Back when I was a teenager during my apprenticeship days of the early 1970's, riding motorbikes, one of the apprentices was killed while riding his motorbike during an overtake. The Met police decided it would be a good idea to give us some special training, and the sergeant in charge of road traffic division of the local area was sent to give us all instruction. We were told then, when making an overtake to "give it the beans" accelerate as hard as it is safely to do so just to get past as fast as possible, then return to you own lane and slow to the speed limit. In his words, to get out of the oncoming traffic lane as quick as possible. I have stuck to this since, and have always completed overtakes safely. On the other hand, I have observed other drivers NOT doing this, and sitting in oncoming traffic lane for quite some time, and watching oncoming traffic have to take evasive actions to avoid collisions, I have to drop well back then expecting a huge crash. When you do the actual mathematics for the overtakes, it is quite frightening the distance required while sticking to the speed limit. Many places, highway code, ROSPA, etc, all say make sure there is enough room to complete the overtake before starting, but give no guidelines as to the distances involved. I designed a web page where you could enter figures, such as speed limit, vehicle you want to overtake size and speed, and a many other parameters. If, for example, you are driving an average car in a 60mph limit following a lorry which is sticking to its 50mph limit, and allowing for the 2 second gap you should leave between you and the lorry, you are going to take at least a 25 seconds and you will cover a distance of 2,216 feet in the oncoming traffic lane, that's 0.42 miles, to perform the overtake and not break the speed limit. This is the distance needed, not the distance to any oncoming traffic closing the gap. Assuming there is oncoming traffic, and it is stickling to the 60mph speed limit, you need to double the length of clear road so you can just squeeze back in time before colliding with oncoming traffic that is not slowing. So, sticking to the speed limit, so you need to be able to see and gauge accurately 4445 feet, 0.84 of a mile, and I doubt anyone can judge that. I put some pictures on the web page showing what these distances look like along a straight flat road showing a parked car and caravan in a layby, and it is just a pin prick from 1500 feet away you cannot make it out at all from 4000 feet away. On the other hand if you make your overtake speed 70mph (10 over the limit) the overtake time drops from 25 seconds to 14 seconds, distance in the oncoming traffic lane drops from 2,216 feet to 1,378 feet, and if you went to 80mph (20 over the limit) the overtake time drops to 11 seconds and 1,140 feet.
In Cyprus, you can exceed speed limit in the highway up to 20% above the limit. The speed limit in the motorway is 100 Km/h, but if you don't exceed 120 Km/h, you won't be pulled over or flashed by speed cameras. If you exceed 120 Km/h, your penalty starts from exceeding the 100 Km/h (the actual speed limit). I usually drive at 100 Km/h, but when I want to overtake someone who is driving above 90 Km/h, I step on the throttle until I reach a speed higher than 100 Km/h but lower than 120 Km/h, so that I can overtake as fast as possible. However, some drivers are real jerks and they start driving at 120 or slightly faster, when they were previously driving at a speed between 80-90 Km/h, and then they make me slow down, in order to get behind them, or move a lot faster, so that I can get in front of them.
I'm glad I didn't see this before writing and getting a fixed penalty speed ticket overturned. I was snapped speeding whilst overtaking. I got a very nice letter back saying forget all about it.
2 local issues, although other areas may experience them. Firstly, I'm glad you mentioned speeding up when someone is overtaking. This is a common practice by the cloth cap wearing old codgers in Norfolk. They venture forth in the "rush hour" and then travel at 40 mph on good 60mph roads with a stream of traffic held up behind. Try and overtake (legally and safely with plenty of clearance) and their speed rapidly increases, the previously long gap before traffic approaching from the other direction gets shorter and with the gap behind you filled in by the following vehicle, the only safe option is to put your foot down and overtake. The cloth cap wearing old codger then flashes his headlights in anger. (No, I do not swerve right in front of them) Secondly, as you mentioned cyclists, if a cycle lane is provided alongside a road, are these compulsory or can lycra louts use the road, regardless of the delays they cause where it is not possible to overtake safely?
@@madisntit6547 Thanks for reply. I must have missed the advice on that issue. It does seem silly, however that a safe cycle path is provided and not used, thus putting more traffic into the road.
I think it depends on the situation. Yes i think its classed as speeding and driving without "due care" however in my opinion having sufficient power and speed can get one out of a potential hazard as a posed to having less power and using less speed to overtake thus increasing time in a hazardous position. It's not so much the speed that's the issue its the way people choose to use it that counts. Honestly our road laws are out of date and need revising in some areas.
interesting confusing with overtaking , I see it all the time, from Canada but live and drive here now for close 18 years, we learnt the thousand second rule when passing vehicles greater space for Lorry's , those cycle groups are a pain in the arse we have one lane that goes from one town to another here in the UK if that cycle group is on that road we have no choice but to sit behind them, the law in Ontario Canada is Passing to right of vehicle - 150.Passing to right of vehicle - 150.(1) The driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and pass to the right of another vehicle only where the movement can be made in safety and, other parts but it emphasizes safely nothing with speed , I learnt something new today, good video ,
The double white line laws are also in place for emergency services even when responding to an emergency. Something that I think the public don't realise and can thus cause issues for the emergency vehicle. In these situations keep driving until clear of the white line area or until you reach a spot where you feel you can safely let the emergency vehicle past, for example a layby. The exemptions for a vehicle responding to an emergency are probably something worth covering @BlackBeltBarrister ?
Yes definatly worth a video! Too many people think police have to have their blue lights on to use their exemptions. It needs clearing up and the mindset of the public needs to change!
@@tonyblake642 Yep, that's what I was going to say. You can overtake on an unbroken white line if the vehicle you're overtaking is travelling at less than 10mph or stationary so long as it's safe to do so. That's the big caveat and the top priority on any advanced driving course. There are four S's, Safety is the first and over-rides everything else. End of.
@Advanced Driving Nope, not on my advanced driving test I wouldn't. To both. And even not on my test I don't overtake into junctions, I've seen too many cars appear as if from nowhere.
Some years ago an old horsebox turned left from a side road giving me minimal opportunity to reduce my speed from a reasonable 50mph to nearly zero. They continued to travel at 20mph, keeping well to the centre of the windy 'B' Road. I was aware that their offside mirror was broken and they could not see me. After five miles they indicated left and pulled over onto the verge. I, *stupidly*, thought they had finally allowed me to pass but no, they had pulled over to allow an oncoming car to pass and I nearly caused a head-on collision. This continued for a further five miles with them always hogging the centre of the road, over the centre line where there was one, leaving no room to pass. My 2¼ litre diesel Series III Land Rover was never renowned for its acceleration but I was extremely frustrated by the slow progress. Had I been driving one of our ordinary family saloons (e.g. 1.6ltr Ford Escort) at the time I *may* have squeezed past but probably exceeded the 60mph speed limit to ensure the shortest, safest overtake of this totally incompetent LGV driver. UK Road Traffic Law and Highway Code is a *travesty of justice* in this context: "You *should* not accelerate whilst being overtaken" but "You *Must* not exceed the speed limit in order to complete a safe overtake! Whatever the circumstances the driver poodling along at 50mph in the centre lane has broken no law but when I arrive at 70mph and he accelerates to 70mph he has only contravened 'best practice' whilst I have acted illegally if I exceeded the speed limit. Invariably, if I slow down and abort the overtake the car in the middle lane will resume their 50 mph. The car travelling at 50mph in the outside of three lanes in an otherwise empty dual carriageway is far too common. Frustratingly, we cannot legally undertake them, just sit in lane one for mile after mile at 50 mph or less.
All great and valid points. It’s a shame so many “qualified” road users need this clarifying. Sadly it’s often not those here (trying to grow their knowledge) who could really benefit from these reminders 😂
Lots of people say the speed limit isn't a target, it's a limit. But what I've never seen is information on what a suitable target speed is, for a driver in ideal conditions who wants to arrive as soon as reasonably possible. In theory it seems like it might be a few mph below the speed limit, to give them a margin for error without breaking the limit.
As a regular cyclist, I can't tell you how few motorists pay attention to this part of the highway code. I'm literally surprised when someone obeys the law and hangs behind until it's clear and safe to overtake. It's not like I'm just pootling along either - I'm usually doing well over 20mph and I'll still have motorists try to force their way past on narrow streets with their wing mirrors inches from my handlebar. It's particularly annoying when they do it to literally go a car length ahead and get stuck behind the other car that was obviously in front of me and going at the same speed.
I hear you.. but by the same token, I see cyclists break the HC every day,. Only last Friday whilst talking about the new changes in my car, at a major junction in town, I'm sat at red lights and a cyclist swings out, comes past me, straight through the red light.. at exactly the same time another cyclist is doing it coming towards me. I've downloaded the footage from my dashcam and I'll post it up on my channel.
Where I am in central Europe it's quite normal for cars to happily wait behind bikes and give them a wide berth. I once saw a bike on a single lane bridge with an empty pavement with a lorry behind it, and the lorry driver hung back and didn't hit the horn once... needless to say, I was surprised. It has since become my normal and the aggro traffic of GB is weird to me now.
Many of us have been caught out here, I had a speeding ticket for overtaking in Birmingham in 1988, three lanes each way and 40MPH, unfortunately, l was actually test driving a Volvo T5 and asked the salesman if there was Turbo Lag! …. There wasn’t! Never noticed a police car and got pulled “ that’s a very nice motor car you have there Sir” was his first comment, of course it was three points and £80, an expensive test drive. Your right of course to advise caution, think seriously before planting one’s right foot to overtake. Best regards
Maybe things have changed since I took the test, when dinosaurs still roamed the earth, but I seem to recall the the advice was to complete the overtaking maneuver as quickly as possible. The reasoning given was that being on the wrong side of the road was a safety risk. So "pedal to the metal" was the right way to do it.
I don't know how far you go back but i've just had a look at my old 1979 highway code & the overtaking rules are exactly the same as they are today, & I suspect the same as they were when you took your test. Yes, complete the overtaking manoeuvre as quickly as possible, but as was explained in this video, that doesn't mean you can break the speed limit. If there's any chance of that, don't attempt the overtake in the first place.. Someone driving at 5 mph under a 50 mph limit night irritate, but legally overtaking them would be nigh on impossible, & that has always been the case. It's amazing how many drivers there are on the road who are completely oblivious to the basics.
As in most things surely commensense is key here. In order to overtake safely the drive must be focused 100% on the road and the manouvere. That simply cannot be done if the attention flickers from road to the speedo. That to my mind is careless dangerous driving, not the fact that one may have strayed over the legal limit for a few seconds.
Interesting. I definitely recall my driving instructor (2016-17) encouraging me to exceed a 30mph speed limit in order to overtake a cyclist. I can echo many of the comments regarding other drivers not being considerate. One of my routes to/from work has only 2 viable overtaking stretches. Often I will follow drivers doing 40-50mph who then speed up to 55+ on reaching the overtaking stretches. I then have to reach about 70 to pass them, knowing that once the road gets twisty again they will be back down to 40-50mph.
Since cyclists don't get anywhere near up to 30mph, I don't understand quite why you'd need to go this speed or above to overtake one? I overtook 3 tonight doing just 20mph. My driving instructor also told me to do this on a 50 road, but I think it was more to get the practice in - whilst not something you're supposed to do, you have to learn how to overtake, and with all the other cars doing around 50mph, you had to exceed it to safely overtake them.
My driving instructor taught me in 2011 that it was ok to exceed the speed limit (not excessively though) when overtaking slower vehicles or when going up very steep hills but that you must reduce your speed back down once you are finished. Everybody else around here drives around at 35-40 mph in 30 mph areas anyway. I also have a road on my way to and from work with only 2 stretches of road that are viable for overtaking and there is always a driver that does the same thing; 40-50 mph then up to 55-60 at those areas only to then slow back down again. What really angers me is they almost always then enter and drive through 30 zones at 35-40 mph, so they aren't that safety conscious.
Quite often I've had little choice but to exceed the limit to complete an overtake on dual carriageways I've been at a steady speed on cruise control and gaining on a car in lane 1 but as soon as I move to lane 2 and get alongside them they match my speed and traffic behind is heavy enough that I felt slowing down would have been more dangerous than accelerating over the speed limit a little. Cars matching your speed when you attempt to overtake seems to be so common.
Why would you imagine it is dangerous to slow down a little? What would you do if you were in the overtaking lane, with a line of cars behind you, but you caught up with a car ahead going more slowly than you?
@Advanced Driving that's a curious comment. I'm really not sure what point you're making. Are you suggesting slowing down in any other lane never causes an accident?
Very interesting. As usual. I found the bit about overtaking on double white lines if the road-user in question is travelling at 10 mph or less very useful. I always assumed it was a no-no even if you don’t cross the white lines.
The white lines mean that you mustn't cross them. So, for example, if there is enough room to pass safely, a motorcyclist can filter providing they do not cross the white line. Otherwise the exemptions have already been mentioned - cyclist or agricultural vehicle travelling at 10mph or lower or passing a stationary obstruction.
@@markellott5620 Heads up, an agricultural vehicle is not included. It is a ROAD Maintenance Vehicle. E.g. a vehicle cutting back the hedgerows or the verges. The verges are part of the road.
You may go as fast as is necessary to maintain your own safety. You always have a right to save your life and if “excessive speeding” is required , say because you are avoiding and obstacle in the road then it is not only necessary but it is lawful.
Which one of the laws in the Road Traffic Act allow that? I think you'll find that unless you're being chased by massive flame front from an explosion like those we see in the movies then you're going to find yourself with no defence at all and that just doesn't happen in real life. I'm struggling to think of a situation where excessive speeding is the only way out rather than slowing down to avoid the obstacle in the first place or to allow the idiot on your bumper to go past.
My experience was that when pulled over by the the police the officer listened and accepted my reasons but added a word of warning. I was travelling in two lane on a very long steep drag with the inside lane occupied by what I considered a slow moving procession of HGV's. I accelerate passed them and at the top of the rise I was flashed by a speed camera and was subsequently pulled over. I explained the situation and was told to watch my speed in future. I think the on that section of road comprising three lanes with no overtaking on the road going in the opposite
I recall clearly passing a police car maybe 1 or 2 miles in excess of the limit whilst in the right hand lane of the M5. There was another car tailgating and flashing lights behind me however I did not speed up. Once I passed and pulled over it police car set of its blues and twos behind me. When we stopped the WPC told me I would have been OK to speed, IE exceed the limit to pass
I note that for overtaking a large vehicle the code recommends dropping back to give yourself a better view of the road ahead. I wonder if the person writing that has ever driven on Britain’s roads, you drop back (so creating a space in front of you) and the idiot behind you will overtake and jump in that gap. I always remember one driving instructor telling me that when driving you should do so on the assumption that every other road user is an idiot in a hurry, not really paying attention, who doesn’t understand their car and doesn’t really know how to drive, then take the necessary precautions. Most of the time you’ll be more right than wrong.
Love these insights, and it’s interesting to note that I have been prosecuted for overtaking an unmarked police car that was doing 35mph in a 60mph zone, that then accelerated when I got alongside forcing me into a decision to either break the speed limit to complete the pass or brake and then potentially interfere with the other vehicles queued behind the police car (unmarked). Had I known the content of this video at the time I would not have accepted the fixed penalty notice that came through a week later, I would have made sure the magistrate and the police knew what the driver of the police car did, was careless driving that put another road user into a no win situation (get points or cause an accident). Not all police are corrupt, most of them are decent people, but there are cretins in every field of work.
@PGH Engineer Presumably as soon as Steve's car went to overtake, and the unmarked car accelerated, the others behind took the opportunity to speed up a bit too.
Technically Steve if you’ve started your overtake from 35, got alongside and the other car then accelerates up to 60, you’ve accelerated to 60 while still alongside, then you’re racing on the highway as you’re both doing 60. Your only option is to drop back behind the offending car get the number and report him. I take it you had a faster car than him? And no I wouldn’t have accepted the Fixed Penalty either.
I shake my head regularly, whilst cycling (safely), at what drivers do. It often gets them nowhere; it seems they feel too hierarchically superior to be behind me.
Had a gaggle of cyclists pull out in front of me on a roundabout today, absolute bunch of spandex wearing tossers! If I was in an HGV, I would have felt sorry for the ambulance crew having to scrape their entrails off the road.
@@Bhong666 so, you hit them with your car? Or you didn't but you are under the impression that LGVs have inferior braking systems to YOUR matchbox, in which case you would have plowed into them? It's important that you clarify this point so that we can choose for which of the numerous reasons that you should not hold a driving licence, or, at the very least, get some education.
Also motorway middle lane travellers, the left lane is the travelling lane the other 2 lanes are overtaking lanes, it’s not the slow lane, middle lane and fast lane
I never cease to be amazed at how drivers consider their illegal actions are justified as a result of claimed actions by other road users. In reality most drivers behave dangerously far too often. And no, I am not a driver. My sight has never been sufficient for me to get a licence but that doesn't stop me recognising an idiot in a vehicle when I see one.
It was advocated by the Institute of Advanced Motorists to exceed the speed limit when overtaking. They also say you should move at the normal speed of the traffic - if it is going at 33 in a 30 zone, you should go 33 not 30 as going more slowly will be inconsiderate. That was in the 1980s - I wander what they recommend now?
rule 163 Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so... This implies that you MUST remain within the legal speed limit while overtaking...otherwise your manoeuvre is no longer legal.
I was always taught that Safety trumps legality so if you were briefly exceeding the speed limit on a single carriageway road to get yourself out of danger that is safer than than staring at the speedometer to maintain 60mph and then have a head on collision
No there is no offence being committed unless signs prohibit the use of the right lane by vehicles exceeding a weight limit. Yes, it is frustrating but like you and I they too are trying to get somewhere.
@@nickolasreeks4743 There is the offence of committing to an overtake maneuver without being certain that it can be completed. This obviously applies to all those lorry drivers I see trying to overtake another on a long incline and having to filter back into the original lane behind the first because it was unsuccessful leaving a couple of dozen cars behind trying to filter back into the single lane. You know who you all are.🤬
I was driving an Army truck down a two lane Autobahn towing a generator, when I politely pulled into the fast lane to let a tanker join on the slip road. What he should have done of course is maintained his speed to let me past and then overtaken me, but what he actually did was speed up to match my speed on the inside. After a while with me only making a few metres of headway between us a German police car overtook on the hard shoulder and pulled me over. He was very nice about it and when I explained what had happened he shrugged his shoulders and zoomed off.
You can increase your speed, to safely overtake slower cars, but if the maneuver takes you through an average speed area, with the yellow fixed cameras, you are in effect exceeding the speed limit and can be fined for it. Anywhere that you go faster than the designated speed for that road, is considered speeding, and you can receive a fine and penalty points for it
interesting point, because I remember specifically reading thats why the average speedcheck cameras use 10%+3mph, to allow for safer overtaking as sometimes speeding is required. Strange how this actually conflicts with the law. I believe the real reason is for inaccuracies with the speedos however and them needing a certain margin in order for a court to look at the case
I have been driving near 40 years now and I have always held back from over taking, obviously I do do it but being a land rover driver ...... well you will understand 🤣
Would be nice to see a video on motorcycle filtering, being as alot of motorist think it is not legal and attempt to side swipe or move across towards the center of the road to block motorcycles.
Crazy how people's minds work, they think attempting to cause a potentially fatal accident is an ok response to what they view as queue jumping... 🤦♂️
Paddy Sparks I am a motorcyclist with 50 years on road experience ,& I see lots of bikers these days ,filtering between moving traffic at ridiculous speeds . This only aggravates other road users & is more likely to end up getting legitimate filtering on motorcycles banned . Motorcyclists should only filter at very slow speeds with caution ,between very slow moving or stationary traffic .
@@maskedavenger2578 Yes I agree I see it myself as well, but some drivers think it is not legal. I even had a driver tell me I should be passing on the left Haha, I am also a rider of 50 years!
@@NickNackpaddywhack I get drivers trying to tell me crap as well . I tell them if they don’t like it ,to p#$$ off & get themselves a proper vehicle like mine .
Or they accelerated when they saw they were being overtaken. There are people who really don't like that. And I'm talking people doing 40 in a 60 deciding that they'll do 60 as they're being overtaken, then if you abort and fall back behind them, they'll deliberately slow to 30. There really are people out there that are that stupid.
@@stevepowell491 run them off the road then. Or follow them and start a fight. Be sure to tailgate so they know you mean business Always follow advice on the internet. It's on the internet so it must be true 😂
You know what's funny? When I applied for a job at Asda to be a driver, part of the application process involved a test not unlike the theory part of the driving test. One of the questions was along the line of "Is it OK to exceed the speed limit to overtake someone?" The answers were nuanced, but I answered with the option closest to 'no'. ....Turns out that was the only question on the test I got wrong and it proceeded to explain to me that it's actually OK and can be considered SAFER to exceed the speed limit to pass someone. This is a 100% true story. Not making it up on embellishing it at all.
Can you please create a video explaining the punishments/legislation with regards number plates and the proposed changes that have had their first reading parliament?
I sometimes have to take my wife to work early hours of the morning, this is when you see it all, vehicles driven through traffic lights that are against them and on one occasion I was on a single carriageway road with a cycle lane to the left of us. On the 1100cc Honda we were on the 40mph limit when an idiot in a car overtook us on the left and was actually in the cycle lane and part of our lane forcing me to pull to the right, I wish I could have got hold of them!!!
I'm not a driver myself, so perhaps I'm being naive here, but to me it begs the question of why you would even need or want to overtake a vehicle if the only way overtaking was possible was to break the speed limit. If a driver would have to exceed the speed limit to overtake then it implies that the vehicle they are attempting to overtake is itself going at, or near to, the speed limit, and if that is the case then there is surely nothing much to be gained by overtaking them, as you cannot get meaningfully ahead of them once you are on the other side of them anyway as you cannot travel any faster than they are, meaning all you have done is change the precise order of your current convoy of 2 vehicles, but not the amount of time that either vehicle will take to reach any future point on the road. The only circumstance I can think of for wanting to overtake a vehicle that is travelling at, or near to, the speed limit, is if that vehicle has an unstable load, or loose bodywork or parts, or is being driving erratically or inconsiderately in such a way as to risk or disadvantage your vehicle then you may well prefer to be ahead of it rather than behind it, but even in that circumstance you could instead drop further behind it to put some extra distance between you and the other vehicle, rather than breaking the speed limit to get ahead of it.
There are many instances in which it is quicker and safer to exceed the speed limit in order to pass a vehicle, some of these other comments might clue you in to some of them. Alot of it comes down to what kind of driver you are, but everyone is different, and everyone has their 'pet peeves' about how other drivers are behaving that may influence a decision to overtake. Sometimes, when you're on your way home from a long day at work and someone is sitting at 45 on a national speed limit single carrage way (60) with three miles of clear road in front of them and the only way to make your day a little less suck-ish is to not be behind them anymore... but then again, maybe that's just me. I'm sure if/when you get on the road you'll have your own laundry list of criticisms. The examples you gave for overtaking another vehicle near the speed limit are all wrong by the way, in all three of those cricumstances you'd want to keep your distance and not pass. An unstable load travelling near the speed limit would be rather unsafe to pass as the turbulance of your vehicle could potentially cause the vehicle to topple over or begin to 'fish-tail', of cause there are laws regarding the safe loading of vehicles that ideally would be followed so that the vehicle isn't unstable, but even so, going around bends at speed with a heavy load is always an unpleasent experience, so these drivers would usually drive under the speed limit anyway for their own safety. Cars driving around with body panels hanging off will get stopped by the police as it is an offense to do so, I'd be supprised if you come across a car like that more than once in a blue moon. If you were to overtake one, the turbulance could shake body panels off or other car bits and potentially hit you. Best just to hang back so you'll have a fighting chance at dodging anything that might fall off. Finally, if a car is driving erratically, then the last place you want to be is to the side of it, or in front of it. In my experience, when a car is driving 'all over the place' it is either drugs or alcohol, in which case, the last thing you want to do is become the centre of the influenced drivers attention (being overtaken is infuriating to alot of drivers, especially when drugs and/or alcohol is involved), the last thing you want is to be chased by a road rage fuelled crack head. The only time you'd overtake is if they were driving very slow, and you'd most certainly want to do it as slowly as possible so you can counter any swerves. I'd also like to point out that anyone who tells you they have never broken the speed limit or have never done anything questionable on the road is lieing, and in my opinion the zealots who get infuriated with the idea of willingly braking the speed limit are just as bad as those that bomb it up the M4 at 150mph. These are the sort of people who will speed up to prevent you from passing when on-comming traffic is approaching or brake check you/slow right down in the outside lane of a motorway pinning you there as cars in the middle lane begin undertaking, both equally as hazardous and have just as much risk of causing an accident then those that use excessive speed. Either way, both are c*nts.
Yes is the answer. My one and only speed fine in 30 years was when I got zapped by a camera van on an overtake, and sent a fine for speeding. Fair cop, I was doing 50 something at the peak of the overtake of a car doing 20 in a 30 zone (twin turbo 300bhp german car acceleration was somewhat more brutal than I imagined...🙂).
You could, but you are likely to be shrugged off, as they are allowed to go faster than the speed limit if necessary to perform their duties. And no, they don't need to have sirens/lights on to do that. After all that would be counterproductive if they're eg called to a burglary and don't want to alert the burglars that they're coming.
Yep me too! I had an unmarked BMW not on lights tailgate me before pulling out across central hatchings and then pulled in front of me causing me to brake hard when he nearly had a head on with a vehicle. Then he exceeded the speed limit again to get past 3 more vehicles. Entering a town he then popped on his lights to get through slow traffic!!!!! 🙄
It's a shame that Daniel did not comment on the final overtaking rule: 169. Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass. This is a common source of frustration and failing to follow the rule is inconsiderate driving that frequently leads to reckless overtaking manoeuvres which can result in serious accidents.
I had a lorry driver pull into my right lane to prevent me overtaking before the road narrowed filtering from 3 to 2 lanes.. He new my lane was closing.and I was trying to get passed him as a slower vehicle. I managed to pass only because I accelerated but he tried to drive me off the road at the filter.
Sounds like you were 100% at fault. You don't start to overtake when lanes are about to merge (even if their lane was closing). That just causes chaos and makes merging in turn difficult. If the lorry was ahead of you, you should have maintained your position, dropped back a little and filtered in behind them rather than suddenly trying to get ahead and ending up alongside them at the filter.
It is frustrating when those who drive in a 60 at 40 for miles. With a huge tail back of cars. Many get frustrated and it gets really dangerous as everyone wants to overtake but unable to do so.
relating to overtaking, one road i travel, the A418 (Thame road), has overtaking broken white lines, but they're only a few hundred yards long before they switch priority to the opposite lane, not even long enough for a safe overtake imo.
I’m a lorry driver and car drivers seem to speed up when I’m overtaking them on the motorway, they don’t seem to see my little 42 ton vehicle behind them and then decide when I’m right next to them to speed up
This is where automated cars can be dangerous, my adaptive cruise control will slow automatically and keep a safe distance behind a slower moving car and then if that car turns off my car will automatically accelerate to the cruise control setting, it does not register if someone is overtaking before starting to accelerate.
I believed this until I went on a drivers awarness course that made it clear that you can not break the given speed limit for any reason. And do not go through a red light to allow emergency services through unless instructed to do so by a police officer. But what happens in say a 50mph road with double white lines for quite a distance following a tractor that's doing 20mph and a massive tail back and a police officer pulls you for not making adequate progress for the speed limit????.
Then the tractor driver is at fault, not vehicles following because it's not safe to pass. You can't be prosecuted for not breaking the law but of course coppers lie in court all the time so make sure you have your dash cam on so you can prove what you say is true.
@@_.Madness._ really it's all ready happenend a while ago they tried give me a ticket but I disagreed with them and said I will challenge it in court with a solicitor and if they issue me a ticket then I will ring 999 and say I want you ticked for same complaint and for not pulling the tractor and for stopping me on a blind bend. They tried to bluff me but I wasn't having any of it. I was well not happy as 6 months previous the x wife got a ticket for passing a tractor on double white lines whilst taking my cousin to hospital.
What about a tractor carrying load doing 20mph in a 50mph zone and there are straddle lines? I think it's safer to overtake with the right precautions taken as there will be a back up of cars and one might all of a sudden start overtaking and having to reach much faster speeds to overtake all the vehicles they have to go past, OR someone else might start overtaking and cause a crash due to the other vehicle coming from behind and the driver in not noticing them.
What about the times when you are overtaking a slow car that is travelling under the speed limit, they then start to speed up as you are trying to pass?. This has happened to me a few times and is so annoying, I have ended up having to break speed limits to get past. I shouldn't be in the wrong in this situation.
This happened to me today! A slow driver bimbling along at 20mph on a main road with a developing tailback then accelerates beyond 30mph to obstruct me from overtaking when a 2nd lane presents itself to me. I got past, only then to see them dramatically slow down and resume the tailback formation. Must not swear...
@@alisondale979 was overtaking a car that I had been following for a couple of miles and they were driving well below the speed limit. I got a chance to overtake on a stretch of road and they accelerated. 25 mph faster and I still could not overtake when a lorry was coming the other way. I had to slam on my brakes to pull in. I had the thought to get in front of the young woman driving, grab her keys and throw them into a stream.
I have just come back from Ireland and the one thing I did notice while driving around all week was NO ONE SPEEDS, and the only people who were driving like assholes, speeding, driving too close and so on were UK plated cars and vans.
Exceeding the speed limit to quickly pass on a single carriageway (one lane each way) minimises the time spent driving on the wrong side of the road and should be allowed for as a road safety issue.
No, speed limits are there for a reason and I can think of plenty of scenarios where driving faster in the opposite carriageway is infinitely more dangerous. Just think of vehicles or pedestrians who might only look right towards the normal direction of traffic when emerging onto or crossing that carriageway. Another question how much faster? Someone is doing 28mph in a 30mph can you overtake him at 60mph (a mere 2 seconds to reach from 28mph for some vehicles)? How would you phrase the law to catch all scenarios? If you set a limit why can you not work within the existing limit, which includes overtaking?
I'm sorry but that is bonkers. I can just see the excuse 'but I was overtaking' being used for a 70mph pass in a 30...... Road users expect other road users to observe the speed limit, especially pedestrians. Speed limits are there for a reason, i.e. to make drivers who think they know better to slow down. If everybody drove at sensible and safe speeds we wouldnt need speed limits
If someone is doing 55 mph and I want to get round. I'm not going to pass at only 5 mph over what they are doing. I will either go much faster or not make the pass. For those who play the law game it is also illegal to drive on the wrong side of the road and far more dangerous than adding a few mph to your speed to get round safely. Of course if someone's only doing 40, then I have 20 mph of headroom to play with which should be plenty. Although what the law actually is and will there be discretion is another thing.
If overtaking should be performed "quickly", does this mean that HGV drivers who overtake another HGV on a motorway with barely half a mph difference in speed, and take 2 junctions to do it, are causing an offense? I'm thinking particularly of the M11 in Essex and Cambridgeshire, where there are only two lanes...
I’d say no, that isn’t overtaking really in the context that these rules are typically applied. These rules generally refer to entering the oncoming lane on a single carriageway road and somewhat different guidelines apply to motorways and dual carriageways.
@@conorsykes Then, if not overtaking, you should return to the driving lane, which is the furthest left lane. Most people fail to remember, or never knew, that the lanes on the motorway are, from left to right, the driving lane, and then two *overtaking* lanes. Personally, I would like to see a rule stating that if one HGV is overtaking another, the vehicle in the driving lane should slow down by 3mph to allow the passing vehicle to overtake in a timely manner. I would also like to see it be an offence to drive alongside another vehicle for more than 1 mile unless the traffic density is such that this is unavoidable.
@@MessiahNonEst It was some years ago that I used to do the A14/A11 run. There'd often be two trucks side-by-side for ages on that long stretch from the M1/M6 East.
hi many years ago (1980s) I overtook ) a police car that was under 25mph, i did not go over 30mph. he pulled me over and the ensuing conversation was classic (I'm a police man i know what the law is). I then spent 15 years working in motorcycle riders rights. NEVER BELIVE A COPPER. the 6 other riders where too scared to overtake the police car. (true rebels they were not). A classic quote. "What are you rebelling against" WHAT HAVE YOU GOT.
Hey Daniel, could you possibly do a driving video related to what you can and cannot do while driving ? Doing around 45000 business miles per year I see everything from people reading books, applying make-up and even brushing their teeth. Also smoking while driving seems to be accepted by police to what I have seen? Yet somebody was fined for eating an apple ? Some clarity would be great please 🙏
Most drivers have no idea about overtaking. Rather than perform the action as quickly as possible, they dawdle and fanny about, creeping past the other vehicle, delaying the act and placing themselves and the other vehicle at risk. If you cannot get past without exceeding the limit then it's tough if you get done.
I've always said that our speed limits need changing on motorways and dual carriageways. It's simply this..motorway: left lane:50mph,middle lanes:60mph,right lane:70 mph. Dual carriageway:50/60 mph. This solves all the speed limit problems and overtaking issues.
I think you need to think that one through! Be nice but with vehicle restrictions and some people go 90mph + meaning someone doing 80mph drops in to lane 2 ...just dont see it working
@@TheVanderfulLife if your doing that speed,your breaking the law. The point in mine is this...motorway lanes: If your not in the right lane,your speed limit is 60 mph,if your in the left lane,it's 50. This would make overtaking,alot easier and safer and at no point will u break the speed limit. At the minute,you've got a speed limit of 70mph in all lanes. This is madness. If u want to overtake someone doing 70mph in the middle lane,how would u do it? U would break the speed limit. If they were restricted to 60mph,you'd get passed them,doing 70,easily. If the speed limit was 60,in the middle lanes and they r doing 70,they would then,b breaking the law. Simply because,they r stopping anyone in the right lane,overtaking them,at the speed limit. It's madness that these aren't the rules already.
@@stevenwilloughby1848 I'm honestly shocked you're genuinely convinced that is the way forward. Even in a world where no one ever breaks the speed limit, In your proposal if everyone wants to go 70mph, everyones restricted to one lane. How are you going to solve that congestion issue?
@@TheVanderfulLife your obviously a bad driver. It's never about speed when u drive your car. It's about getting from a to b safely. If everybody wants to lane hog the right lane. Simple solution,fine anyone who lane hogs the right lane. It's easy to do,just do it by mileage. 8-10 miles maximum,in the right lane,overtaking only. When I drive on motorways,I never lane hog the right lane,overtaking only. As long as I get where I want to b. Speed and time is never an issue. If this is an issue for anyone,who drives,u shouldn't drive. I'd rather b late,in one piece,than early but driving erratically. I just cruise in the left or middle lanes. Average speed I drive on a motorway is 60mph. I rarely do 70. Exceptions would b made for accidents or roadworks. Right lane would b permissable in these circumstances. Other than that,overtaking only. When I drove my workmates to work,in a minibus,they would go to sleep. They didn't at first but a few journeys on the motorway later,they did. Safe driver. Never had any accidents because I never lane hog and I'm never bothered about time or speed. As long as I've got fuel,radio on,jobs a good un. Takes as long as it takes.
I was caught overtaking a lorry and was clocked at 46 in a 40 zone, what maddened me more than anything was that I have driven some seriously fast cars but was caught speeding in a bloody Skoda Yeti!
@@veritasaequitas9875 Well you could argue that if I couldn't see the camera van, then I was not fully aware of the situation. Anyway, it was a fair cop, did the course and learnt from it. On the course, most of those caught were going in the opposite direction to me, they incorrectly thought that a three-lane, single-carriageway road had a 70 mph limit because of the additional lane for overtaking. At least I knew I was breaking the law. Nowadays, I drive no faster than the limit no matter how annoyed the schlub behind me gets. I'd always found that difficult before but I'm not paying that much again.
I have only ever had one speeding ticket. That was in 1997. I was doing 50 mph on a 60 mph dual carriageway at 7 am on a Sunday morning going to work. The only car on the road. I saw the camera team set up on a walkway over the carriageway and didn't think anything of it because I was 10 mph below the limit. About a week later I got the notification that I was being prosecuted for doing 50 mph in a "temporary" 40 mph speed limit that had been imposed at midnight for road works that day. There was no signage, no warning, no bollards and no maintenance staff or equipment at 7.00AM . But the did me anyway. 3 points and a fine. Scumbags.
Yes you can speed whilst overtaking 🚗, I did straight past a queue of traffic and a police car. Nothing ventured, nothing gained I thought. and then got pulled over. 😔 🚓. I gained a ticket and some points.
Does this mean that rule 163 mean that HGV drivers overtaking should not do so if it will take them 3+ minutes to do so on a dual carriageway/motorway?
I got done for that a few years ago, the 2 cars in front of me was about 2 feet from the front cars arse, and I though this is dangerous, I over took and then slowed down into the 30mph range... And then a yellow coated policeman stepped out into the road and pulled me other.... he said I should have just stayed behind the cars...!!! Think I was at 37pm on overtaking... So Yes bugger...
What are the rules for when lorries are overtaking. I have often been sat behind 2 lorries (side by side) for in excess of 10 miles! Is it law that the lorry being overtaken should slow down to allow the other lorry to pass. This leads to congestion further back down the road (concertina effect) as well as frustration.
On country roads at National Speed Limit (60 mph) you follow someone doing around 40 at a respectable distance then when a safe overtaking opportunity arises you begin your manoeuvre only to find the other car tries to outrun you (thereby breaking HC rules) - once you have passed them they drop back and fade away. Happens so often and can turn a safe overtake into a positive danger!
The other variation is that they straddle the centre line to try to prevent you passing - they shouldn't be on the road.
These drivers come in a few flavours.. the "40 milers" who drive at 40 mph regardless - 40 through a 30 in a village, then 40 through the national speed limit (60) and so on. Just 40 everywhere. They would probably suffer a nose bleed if they ever accidentally exceeded 40 mph. The others are those that are so unassured at driving that they in many ways they are a hazard to most other road users - these drivers brake heavily going around corners (they don't think to brake before the corner and drive around much more safely, as a result they feel unsafe and therefore brake very time) and the same drivers typically brake when cars are coming towards them on the opposing carriage way but are happy to speed up when the road is entirely clear - as in when it would otherwise be safe to overtake them.
You aren’t committed to the overtake once you pull out. If the vehicle you’re trying to pass suddenly speeds up, easy off the accelerator, let then move fully past you again, and drop back in behind.
@@jamieeames8934 That's often what you have to do, and then chug along at 40 again. I always respect safety and speed limits.
@@nickryan3417 - Ever had a Morris Marina? OK at straight line speeds, useless on corners. Was being followed by a Ford Capri on twisty A483 in Wales. I helped the Capri overtake on a straight. Just got to recognise your own limitations. Yes I've noticed drivers who brake when there is oncoming traffic, particularly at night. The other drivers usually have dipped beam so can only guess their night vision isn't up to it. I remember a 55 year old at work who said he couldn't drive at night.
@@alanrobertson9790 A long time ago I had a Renault 11... It was very comfortable, only had 4 forward gears and the top gear had quite a high ratio. In practice unless I had a mile or two to speed up or I was overtaking something that was stationary I had to fill out a request-to-overtake form and send it in the post beforehand.
Although as a professional driver, Class 1 HGV, I totally agree with you, there has been occasions when I have had to exceed the limit due the inconsiderate and dangerous actions by the driver I am overtaking. On a few incidences on an unrestricted, national speed limit roads, when driving my car, I have come across drivers doing 40 to 50 miles per hour, some times slowing down and then speeding up in a very inconsistent manner, causing tailbacks behind and a danger to all concerned. On one occasion I indicated to overtake, began the manoeuvre, accelerated to about 60 mph and once alongside the vehicle, the driver then accelerated up to 60 matching my speed and with a cross road junction in the distance and with another car also indicating to overtake behind me the only safe and prudent thing to do was to accelerate over and above the limit to avoid any collision. I wish I had been in an unmarked police car because believe me he would have been done for dangerous driving. I know that I was breaking the law but there are some circumstances when it is prudent to do so.
Interesting video and comment - I had a similar situation 20 years ago, driving along in a 60 zone single carriagway country road behind a guy doing 40 - I didn't tail gate him or anything, maintained a 2 second gap despite a big queue of traffic behind me getting closer and closer and 'pushing' me. I knew there was a long straight section in about a mile so just waited until I got there, went to overtake but the guy sped up and matched my speed until we were both at 60.
I would have dropped back but the tail of traffic behind me had all accelerated too and were now tailgating the person I was overtaking, so there was no gap for me to pull back into - it is a long straight with good visibility so I maintained my speed hoping he was just being a tool and would slow down in the end, but he didn't and then another car came over the hill in the distance so I felt I had no choice but to floor it, pulled in front safely and then slowed back down to 60 but I couldn't slam my brakes on as that would have made the situation worse so I just eased off and a light touch on the brakes.
Turns out, there was a policeman on the brow of the hill with a mobile speed camera and pulled me over. The instant I lowered my window he read my rights and handed me a ticket, no opportunity to explain but to be fair I did do at least 70 to get past so I just accepted it and said sorry. (the ticket said 73, I didn't look fully as I was concentrating on the car coming the other way and getting past, but I only got just over 1 car length ahead and it was an old Nissan so not exactly lightning acceleration!)
However, watching this video makes me wonder why the policeman didn't stop the other car too for causing it in the first place; if the law is to let someone pass safely if they're overtaking. It's the only driving offence i've ever had and it annoys me to this day even though it's no longer on my licence, so this video just makes it even more annoying! (not the video's fault!)
I know speeding is bad and does cause a lot of serious accidents, but I also think bad driving is a bigger factor and the police don't do enough to stop this; the amount of people I see not knowing how a roundabout works or what indicators are for drives me mad; I guess the police just don't have time but I wonder how many accidents would be prevented if they targeted a few more of these 'minor' things and made people go back and do their test. Surprised the government haven't introduced a refresher exam or something for drivers, every 10 years or so, they could make a fortune ;)
@@montgomery77 That's weird that it happened to you. possibly an overzealous copper. When this happened to me, the exact opposite happened. Although, the unmarked police car was right behind me, not further down the road, so may he could see what was going on. He didn't pull me over. He pulled over the idiot who denied the overtaking. And I haven't received a citation in the mail either. This was only 2 years ago.
Edit: also, refresher exam: absolutely! Something has to be done, because British drivers are getting worse and worse by the day now. It's ridiculous.
This brought me onto the point I was going to bring up - rule 168 - Being overtaken. It's clear that the person you were passing were in breach of this rule, and I myself in many instances have had to increase my speed in order to complete my overtake, due to the person I was passing deciding it was in their best interests to increase their speed to match mine whilst I was passing.
I have had this happen too. Madness.
I think the legal safe answer to that is slow down and pull back in. The car behind has to deal with its own issues, and it shouldn't commit to an overtake with another vehicle in front.
Excellent video, i was unaware of the 10mph condition when overtaking a cyclist on an unbroken white lined section of road
That's why everyone who drives or cycles or walks on a public highway should have a copy of the latest highway code and be familiar with it.
The word, “limit,” is the clue. This whole, “I was only overtaking,” bollox is an excuse people use, when they have been caught speeding. There is no reason to break the speed limit. Period. 🤷♂️
@@ashroskell sometimes speeding briefly can get you out of a life of death situation. Ie someone pulling out and having to accelerate and swerve to avoid them, as people don't check their blind spots. It's a pity Police don't observe driving, plenty of nervous and very dangerously slow drivers out there 🤷♂️
I'll be honest I don't want to get stuck behind 11 mph cyclists.
My cycle ride into work used to include a run down a long hill. Part way down a 30mph limit started as it ran through a small village at the bottom.
One day I noticed cars catching me up on the way down, stopped passing me and would remain behind until I slowed at the bottom.
I also saw the speed trap in the village, it would seem the drivers did not assume you could break the speed limit if you were overtaking, even a bike.
Well the cameras catch everything.
Back in 1979 when l was getting my formal driving lessons at 17 years old from a retire Traffic cop he taught me that the safest way to pass a vehicle was to start accelerating from more than the safe 2 second following distance and pull out to pass at the 2 second distance then continue accelerating until you have established the 2 second safe distance to the vehicle you had past then move back into your lane & slow down to the speed limit. Logic; it is safer to speed for a short time on the wrong side of the road than spend a much longer time on the wrong side of the road at the speed limit. However the law is now enforced that if you go over the limit you will get a ticket, so much for safety first.
After completing rospa and being examined by an off duty police motorcyclist. I was told to perform a safe overtake, use the power of your motorcycle to complete the manoeuvre as quickly as possible then drop back to the speed limit.
So you were overtaking a car that was already doing the limit?
@@nickbreen287 Not necessarily, the speed difference needed to overtake might well involve exceeding the posted limit without the overtaken vehicle being at the limit.
@@nickbreen287 no. If they are doing 68 the OP is saying to go faster than 70 to overtake quickly to reduce the time you are next to each other then drop back to 70.
A friend has just completed a week long IAMotorcycling course. She passed very well. The new thinking is that if the car truck whatever that’s in front is doing less than 15 mph under the road limit, you follow. You don’t go over to get past.
@@highdownmartin Iam is different in approach to. ROSPA. For instance IAM frowns upon offsiding where is is allowed with ROSPA. in regards to overtaking you can overtake if the vehicle in front is hindering your normal progress. If it is doing the speed limit then you are not hindered. If it is slightly below the speed limit then you have closed in on a hazard which is preventing good and safe progress. If safe, give it beans and get past, then drop back to the limit. But this was only encouraged on national speed roads.
I did an advanced driving course as part of a road safety campaign. We were told by the instructor, a serving traffic officer, that overtaking was one of the most hazardous situations you can experience. His statement was that you will not get charged with speeding if you accelerate past a slower moving vehicle PROVIDING you return to the relevant speed limit after the event.
You could try quoting him to the magistrates 🤣
Exactly how I was taught in the early 1970s by Met police sergeant, I have stuck to the principle ever since.
@@andrewlongman2757 that may be so but imagine you’re approaching a 30mph speed camera and there’s a slow boat in front of you doing around 20ish, you, quite fairly, road clear, no white line your side, no junctions or other hazards, decide to overtake and in doing you get flashed for going over the speed limit.
The fact that you had to accelerate to a speed beyond the limit to overtake quickly and safely is not catered for in the legislation and your defence should be dismissed by a competent court, but then again it’s possible to commit a blatant criminal offence like criminal damage and be found not guilty in a criminal court so you might get away with it if the judge or magistrate is of the same mind as you, but technically it’s illegal and the met Sgt was wrong in his advice and his understanding of the R.T. R. Act 1984 which makes no such provision.
@@BobK5 I was taught this in 1974, predating your sited act by 10 years. I don't know now what the regs were then concerning overtaking but I expect it was the same. If you are approaching a 30mph, you may well be acting differently anyway, also it is the speed difference that gives you the time in oncoming traffic. In your scenario, if the 20mph slowboat was say a tractor and trailer of 40ft long, you could get past him, not exceeding 30mph in 13 seconds and 540feet. But if you are still in the 60mph zone approaching, then from following at 20mph, in a car with a 0-60 time of 10seconds, you could get past him in just 6 seconds and 355 feet of road and still hold within the 60mph limit. People come unstuck when they try to pass a lorry, which should be doing just 50mph, but is actually bouncing off their limiter at 55mph, and the person following knows there is a steep hill ahead and wants to get past before the hill. Overtaking this lorry, and sticking to the 60mph limit will take 53 seconds and 4,685 feet in the oncoming traffic lane. That's nearly a minute and nearly a mile distance, so assuming oncoming traffic is there, which it probably is, you have to allow double the distance as in that time, the oncoming traffic is going to cover the same distance as you at 60mph, so all in all you need to be able to see a 2 mile gap. I doubt anyone could estimate what 2 miles is in the distance, and even if they could, oncoming traffic will be practically invisible at that distance. So it is simply not practical to stick to the limit, or you have to just stay behind slow moving traffic.
2 years ago I took RoSPA and it was generally thought that 5% over speed limit was allowed by the examiner. My RoSPA examiner was an ex-traffic cop and funny enough I kept speed in check. Was still nervous on the test and told could of got a Gold with a bit more progress and bit less hesitation 🙂. 30 years back when I passed my test I broke speed limit by 10-15mph a few times but still passed after examiner questioned me about it and warned me to watch my speed, lol.
I have been on bike training with the police, their advice was (as a motorcyclist) to execute the overtake as quickly as possible, which if it means a momentary exceeding of the speed limit, is OK. i.e. it's less of a risk to have a shorter, quicker overtake. Why prolong it unnecessarily. But different police may take a different view.
My motorbike instructor said to me it's best practise, so that's what I do!
I have asked myself that question since I've been driving. Ty
Overtaking a vehicle that speeds up when you pass it, it's happened countless times to me and it's dreadful and dangerous. I just don't get it, if somebody wants to overtake me, I take my foot of the pedal if I need to. Who am I to dictate their speed?
They obviously have a bigger ego than you and feel the need to be in the lead. :)
Following a Renault Megane doing 45 overtake and we’re side by side at 70mph 🤔 then when I get past he disappears behind again at a snails pace
@@Mr330d Horrible, dangerous and unnecessary.
@@DavidFraser007 I’d love to know their thought process that they speed up to stop you overtaking but when you get passed anyway they slow back down again to a doddle 😂
@@Mr330d Territorial driving. They take it as an offense against their right to be on the road. Which is an insanely dangerous way to drive
Always helps if you slow down a bit to help someone get past when overtaking you
A small win:-
I was travelling back from a weekend away, dropped a friend in Glasgow and was heading home on the M74 at around 10pm, doing 70mph, when a car appeared behind me with one broken headlight and the other one dazzlingly bright.
It caught up with me and sat behind me.
The light from it's headlight was so bright that it was lighting up the whole interior of my car and the glare was making it impossible to concentrate on the road ahead properly.
I slowed down to about 50mph and the car behind slowed down as well, remaining right behind me.
After a minute or so I thought "sod this" and accelerated to around 90mph, leaving the car behind, and then slowed down again once it ceased to be a nuisance.
Sure enough, after a couple of minutes it caught up again and began dazzling me again.
I sat at 70mph, being dazzled and then slowed down to give it a chance to pass.
Instead (surprise surprise) the blue lights came on.
I pulled off the motorway and the cop car stopped behind me.
The cops gave me a speech about how I was "driving suspiciously" due to the way I'd sped up in order to I "try and escape them".
I pointed out that they had a broken headlight and that I'd accelerated to avoid being dazzled by the remaining light.
At this, the cops changed their attitude and said that they had no intention of charging me with anything and they were simply checking what I was doing.
They asked me where I was going and even offered to escort me to the correct junction so I could carry on home.
I suggested their time might be better spent taking their car back to the police garage for repairs.
Funny thing was, I was on my way home from the Stoneliegh military show and I had a boot full of deactivated WW2 machine-guns.
The cops would have probably had a shit-fit if they'd searched my car and found them! 😛
@@madisntit6547 If the headlights of the car behind are so ill adjusted and so close, SUV behind a sports car perhaps, then the whole inside of you car is lit up so bright, your night vision is destroyed and you can see nothing. Nowt to do with mirrors.
The situation Si Crewe describes has happened to me three times and in each case it was a police car, except the last which was two police motorcycles which were so close I couldn't see their heads.
@@madisntit6547 those manual dip rear view mirrors are so much better than the automatic ones. The auto ones still cause dazzle as they are not that good and you end up being blinded.
@@donaldasayers Exactly.
When I said that the cop's headlights were lighting up the whole interior of my car that was my point - it wasn't just dazzling me in my mirrors, I was completely bathed in a dazzling light.
The cop car turned out to be one of those all-purpose vans and I was driving a Mazda MX5.
Speaking as an electrical engineer, I'm honestly not sure why it is that when one headlight goes out the other one seems to be especially dazzling.
Maybe halogen headlights don't always draw the full 55w when both are lit but when one's lit there's enough power so that the remaining bulb CAN illuminate with the full 55w.
Anyway, that was the one time that I got stopped for speeding and "got away with it" because the cops obviously thought my actions were justifiable.
@@madisntit6547 Don't think I've ever seen a car with auto-dimming wing-mirrors.
Even if you've got an automatic rear-view mirror, you still get dazzled in your wing-mirrors and that can be even more confusing because the glare comes and goes depending on which mirrors you're looking at.
Another really helpful video. Thanks for explaining the white lines exceptions too (at exactly the point I was going to go look them up!). Thank you BB
Amazed this question needs answering, but explains much about daily life on our roads.
When I did ROSPA I was told that it was encouraged to “borrow” a couple of mph over the speed limit to carry out a safe overtake
Back when I was a teenager during my apprenticeship days of the early 1970's, riding motorbikes, one of the apprentices was killed while riding his motorbike during an overtake. The Met police decided it would be a good idea to give us some special training, and the sergeant in charge of road traffic division of the local area was sent to give us all instruction. We were told then, when making an overtake to "give it the beans" accelerate as hard as it is safely to do so just to get past as fast as possible, then return to you own lane and slow to the speed limit. In his words, to get out of the oncoming traffic lane as quick as possible. I have stuck to this since, and have always completed overtakes safely.
On the other hand, I have observed other drivers NOT doing this, and sitting in oncoming traffic lane for quite some time, and watching oncoming traffic have to take evasive actions to avoid collisions, I have to drop well back then expecting a huge crash.
When you do the actual mathematics for the overtakes, it is quite frightening the distance required while sticking to the speed limit. Many places, highway code, ROSPA, etc, all say make sure there is enough room to complete the overtake before starting, but give no guidelines as to the distances involved.
I designed a web page where you could enter figures, such as speed limit, vehicle you want to overtake size and speed, and a many other parameters. If, for example, you are driving an average car in a 60mph limit following a lorry which is sticking to its 50mph limit, and allowing for the 2 second gap you should leave between you and the lorry, you are going to take at least a 25 seconds and you will cover a distance of 2,216 feet in the oncoming traffic lane, that's 0.42 miles, to perform the overtake and not break the speed limit.
This is the distance needed, not the distance to any oncoming traffic closing the gap. Assuming there is oncoming traffic, and it is stickling to the 60mph speed limit, you need to double the length of clear road so you can just squeeze back in time before colliding with oncoming traffic that is not slowing. So, sticking to the speed limit, so you need to be able to see and gauge accurately 4445 feet, 0.84 of a mile, and I doubt anyone can judge that. I put some pictures on the web page showing what these distances look like along a straight flat road showing a parked car and caravan in a layby, and it is just a pin prick from 1500 feet away you cannot make it out at all from 4000 feet away.
On the other hand if you make your overtake speed 70mph (10 over the limit) the overtake time drops from 25 seconds to 14 seconds, distance in the oncoming traffic lane drops from 2,216 feet to 1,378 feet, and if you went to 80mph (20 over the limit) the overtake time drops to 11 seconds and 1,140 feet.
Overtaking is an art.
Drivers are too impatient and stupid to do it correctly.
The police advance driver training manual, Roadcraft, is a worthy read regarding overtaking and other driving techniques.
Going by recent behaviour, anything illegal can only be deemed so if you get caught doing it!
Would you like Brie or stilton with your Claret? 🙂
My thoughts exactly! That's why I love my home county of Wiltshire, no speed cameras! 🤣👌
its true, its only a crime if you get caught.
@@Bhong666 That's because nobody cares if anyone from Wiltshire dies in an RTC ;)
@@SilverDomUK 🤣🤣🤣 Perfect reply! Although it's actually due to all the bloody horses in the way! 😉
In Cyprus, you can exceed speed limit in the highway up to 20% above the limit. The speed limit in the motorway is 100 Km/h, but if you don't exceed 120 Km/h, you won't be pulled over or flashed by speed cameras. If you exceed 120 Km/h, your penalty starts from exceeding the 100 Km/h (the actual speed limit). I usually drive at 100 Km/h, but when I want to overtake someone who is driving above 90 Km/h, I step on the throttle until I reach a speed higher than 100 Km/h but lower than 120 Km/h, so that I can overtake as fast as possible. However, some drivers are real jerks and they start driving at 120 or slightly faster, when they were previously driving at a speed between 80-90 Km/h, and then they make me slow down, in order to get behind them, or move a lot faster, so that I can get in front of them.
I'm glad I didn't see this before writing and getting a fixed penalty speed ticket overturned. I was snapped speeding whilst overtaking. I got a very nice letter back saying forget all about it.
2 local issues, although other areas may experience them.
Firstly, I'm glad you mentioned speeding up when someone is overtaking. This is a common practice by the cloth cap wearing old codgers in Norfolk. They venture forth in the "rush hour" and then travel at 40 mph on good 60mph roads with a stream of traffic held up behind.
Try and overtake (legally and safely with plenty of clearance) and their speed rapidly increases, the previously long gap before traffic approaching from the other direction gets shorter and with the gap behind you filled in by the following vehicle, the only safe option is to put your foot down and overtake.
The cloth cap wearing old codger then flashes his headlights in anger. (No, I do not swerve right in front of them)
Secondly, as you mentioned cyclists, if a cycle lane is provided alongside a road, are these compulsory or can lycra louts use the road, regardless of the delays they cause where it is not possible to overtake safely?
@@madisntit6547 Thanks for reply. I must have missed the advice on that issue. It does seem silly, however that a safe cycle path is provided and not used, thus putting more traffic into the road.
I think it depends on the situation. Yes i think its classed as speeding and driving without "due care" however in my opinion having sufficient power and speed can get one out of a potential hazard as a posed to having less power and using less speed to overtake thus increasing time in a hazardous position. It's not so much the speed that's the issue its the way people choose to use it that counts. Honestly our road laws are out of date and need revising in some areas.
interesting confusing with overtaking , I see it all the time, from Canada but live and drive here now for close 18 years, we learnt the thousand second rule when passing vehicles greater space for Lorry's , those cycle groups are a pain in the arse we have one lane that goes from one town to another here in the UK if that cycle group is on that road we have no choice but to sit behind them, the law in Ontario Canada is Passing to right of vehicle - 150.Passing to right of vehicle - 150.(1) The driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and pass to the right of another vehicle only where the movement can be made in safety and, other parts but it emphasizes safely nothing with speed , I learnt something new today, good video ,
The double white line laws are also in place for emergency services even when responding to an emergency. Something that I think the public don't realise and can thus cause issues for the emergency vehicle. In these situations keep driving until clear of the white line area or until you reach a spot where you feel you can safely let the emergency vehicle past, for example a layby.
The exemptions for a vehicle responding to an emergency are probably something worth covering @BlackBeltBarrister ?
Yes definatly worth a video! Too many people think police have to have their blue lights on to use their exemptions. It needs clearing up and the mindset of the public needs to change!
Except if you are going slow enough for them to overtake safely as it is legal to overtake a slow moving vehicle.
@@tonyblake642 Yep, that's what I was going to say. You can overtake on an unbroken white line if the vehicle you're overtaking is travelling at less than 10mph or stationary so long as it's safe to do so. That's the big caveat and the top priority on any advanced driving course. There are four S's, Safety is the first and over-rides everything else. End of.
@Advanced Driving Nope, not on my advanced driving test I wouldn't. To both. And even not on my test I don't overtake into junctions, I've seen too many cars appear as if from nowhere.
@Advanced Driving yes you can overtake any non motorised conveyance
Some years ago an old horsebox turned left from a side road giving me minimal opportunity to reduce my speed from a reasonable 50mph to nearly zero. They continued to travel at 20mph, keeping well to the centre of the windy 'B' Road. I was aware that their offside mirror was broken and they could not see me. After five miles they indicated left and pulled over onto the verge. I, *stupidly*, thought they had finally allowed me to pass but no, they had pulled over to allow an oncoming car to pass and I nearly caused a head-on collision. This continued for a further five miles with them always hogging the centre of the road, over the centre line where there was one, leaving no room to pass.
My 2¼ litre diesel Series III Land Rover was never renowned for its acceleration but I was extremely frustrated by the slow progress. Had I been driving one of our ordinary family saloons (e.g. 1.6ltr Ford Escort) at the time I *may* have squeezed past but probably exceeded the 60mph speed limit to ensure the shortest, safest overtake of this totally incompetent LGV driver.
UK Road Traffic Law and Highway Code is a *travesty of justice* in this context: "You *should* not accelerate whilst being overtaken" but "You *Must* not exceed the speed limit in order to complete a safe overtake! Whatever the circumstances the driver poodling along at 50mph in the centre lane has broken no law but when I arrive at 70mph and he accelerates to 70mph he has only contravened 'best practice' whilst I have acted illegally if I exceeded the speed limit. Invariably, if I slow down and abort the overtake the car in the middle lane will resume their 50 mph. The car travelling at 50mph in the outside of three lanes in an otherwise empty dual carriageway is far too common. Frustratingly, we cannot legally undertake them, just sit in lane one for mile after mile at 50 mph or less.
Good spotting Sir!
Thank you!
All great and valid points. It’s a shame so many “qualified” road users need this clarifying. Sadly it’s often not those here (trying to grow their knowledge) who could really benefit from these reminders 😂
The police would not make an exception to fining speeding in any circumstances because it would be a loss of revenue.
Lots of people say the speed limit isn't a target, it's a limit. But what I've never seen is information on what a suitable target speed is, for a driver in ideal conditions who wants to arrive as soon as reasonably possible. In theory it seems like it might be a few mph below the speed limit, to give them a margin for error without breaking the limit.
As a regular cyclist, I can't tell you how few motorists pay attention to this part of the highway code. I'm literally surprised when someone obeys the law and hangs behind until it's clear and safe to overtake. It's not like I'm just pootling along either - I'm usually doing well over 20mph and I'll still have motorists try to force their way past on narrow streets with their wing mirrors inches from my handlebar. It's particularly annoying when they do it to literally go a car length ahead and get stuck behind the other car that was obviously in front of me and going at the same speed.
I hear you.. but by the same token, I see cyclists break the HC every day,. Only last Friday whilst talking about the new changes in my car, at a major junction in town, I'm sat at red lights and a cyclist swings out, comes past me, straight through the red light.. at exactly the same time another cyclist is doing it coming towards me. I've downloaded the footage from my dashcam and I'll post it up on my channel.
Where I am in central Europe it's quite normal for cars to happily wait behind bikes and give them a wide berth.
I once saw a bike on a single lane bridge with an empty pavement with a lorry behind it, and the lorry driver hung back and didn't hit the horn once... needless to say, I was surprised. It has since become my normal and the aggro traffic of GB is weird to me now.
Cyclists on the road are incredibly annoying though to be fair.
@@blob22201 as are cars.
Many of us have been caught out here, I had a speeding ticket for overtaking in Birmingham in 1988, three lanes each way and 40MPH, unfortunately, l was actually test driving a Volvo T5 and asked the salesman if there was Turbo Lag! …. There wasn’t!
Never noticed a police car and got pulled “ that’s a very nice motor car you have there Sir” was his first comment, of course it was three points and £80, an expensive test drive.
Your right of course to advise caution, think seriously before planting one’s right foot to overtake.
Best regards
Excellent video. Clear and concise information. fantastic channel !
Maybe things have changed since I took the test, when dinosaurs still roamed the earth, but I seem to recall the the advice was to complete the overtaking maneuver as quickly as possible. The reasoning given was that being on the wrong side of the road was a safety risk. So "pedal to the metal" was the right way to do it.
Indeed, well said. The world has gone stupid.
I was told years ago, when overtaking a slower moving vehicle pass quickly as long as it is a safe manoeuvre.
I always used to overtake every car when driving was fun, now it's all slow and boring, I still get there, speed cameras and vans can get f.
I don't know how far you go back but i've just had a look at my old 1979 highway code & the overtaking rules are exactly the same as they are today, & I suspect the same as they were when you took your test. Yes, complete the overtaking manoeuvre as quickly as possible, but as was explained in this video, that doesn't mean you can break the speed limit. If there's any chance of that, don't attempt the overtake in the first place.. Someone driving at 5 mph under a 50 mph limit night irritate, but legally overtaking them would be nigh on impossible, & that has always been the case. It's amazing how many drivers there are on the road who are completely oblivious to the basics.
@Ed Straker You think you remember. It's never been the case that you can break the speed limit when overtaking.
I'm pretty certain that it used to state in the highway code that you should 'overtake as fast/quickly as is safe to do so'.
As in most things surely commensense is key here. In order to overtake safely the drive must be focused 100% on the road and the manouvere. That simply cannot be done if the attention flickers from road to the speedo. That to my mind is careless dangerous driving, not the fact that one may have strayed over the legal limit for a few seconds.
Interesting. I definitely recall my driving instructor (2016-17) encouraging me to exceed a 30mph speed limit in order to overtake a cyclist.
I can echo many of the comments regarding other drivers not being considerate. One of my routes to/from work has only 2 viable overtaking stretches. Often I will follow drivers doing 40-50mph who then speed up to 55+ on reaching the overtaking stretches. I then have to reach about 70 to pass them, knowing that once the road gets twisty again they will be back down to 40-50mph.
Since cyclists don't get anywhere near up to 30mph, I don't understand quite why you'd need to go this speed or above to overtake one? I overtook 3 tonight doing just 20mph.
My driving instructor also told me to do this on a 50 road, but I think it was more to get the practice in - whilst not something you're supposed to do, you have to learn how to overtake, and with all the other cars doing around 50mph, you had to exceed it to safely overtake them.
My driving instructor taught me in 2011 that it was ok to exceed the speed limit (not excessively though) when overtaking slower vehicles or when going up very steep hills but that you must reduce your speed back down once you are finished. Everybody else around here drives around at 35-40 mph in 30 mph areas anyway.
I also have a road on my way to and from work with only 2 stretches of road that are viable for overtaking and there is always a driver that does the same thing; 40-50 mph then up to 55-60 at those areas only to then slow back down again. What really angers me is they almost always then enter and drive through 30 zones at 35-40 mph, so they aren't that safety conscious.
@@04williamsl Cyclists can easily get to 30mph or more.
Quite often I've had little choice but to exceed the limit to complete an overtake on dual carriageways I've been at a steady speed on cruise control and gaining on a car in lane 1 but as soon as I move to lane 2 and get alongside them they match my speed and traffic behind is heavy enough that I felt slowing down would have been more dangerous than accelerating over the speed limit a little. Cars matching your speed when you attempt to overtake seems to be so common.
I’m another big user of cruise control. Let’s just say it highlights how erratic other people’s driving can be.
This is very common, I put much of it down to competitiveness!
Why would you imagine it is dangerous to slow down a little? What would you do if you were in the overtaking lane, with a line of cars behind you, but you caught up with a car ahead going more slowly than you?
You should see the idiots that get triggered by a biker overtaking them...
@Advanced Driving that's a curious comment. I'm really not sure what point you're making. Are you suggesting slowing down in any other lane never causes an accident?
Very interesting. As usual. I found the bit about overtaking on double white lines if the road-user in question is travelling at 10 mph or less very useful. I always assumed it was a no-no even if you don’t cross the white lines.
The white lines mean that you mustn't cross them. So, for example, if there is enough room to pass safely, a motorcyclist can filter providing they do not cross the white line. Otherwise the exemptions have already been mentioned - cyclist or agricultural vehicle travelling at 10mph or lower or passing a stationary obstruction.
@@markellott5620 Heads up, an agricultural vehicle is not included. It is a ROAD Maintenance Vehicle. E.g. a vehicle cutting back the hedgerows or the verges. The verges are part of the road.
@Advanced Driving well, yes, of course.
You may go as fast as is necessary to maintain your own safety. You always have a right to save your life and if “excessive speeding” is required , say because you are avoiding and obstacle in the road then it is not only necessary but it is lawful.
Which one of the laws in the Road Traffic Act allow that? I think you'll find that unless you're being chased by massive flame front from an explosion like those we see in the movies then you're going to find yourself with no defence at all and that just doesn't happen in real life. I'm struggling to think of a situation where excessive speeding is the only way out rather than slowing down to avoid the obstacle in the first place or to allow the idiot on your bumper to go past.
My experience was that when pulled over by the the police the officer listened and accepted my reasons but added a word of warning. I was travelling in two lane on a very long steep drag with the inside lane occupied by what I considered a slow moving procession of HGV's. I accelerate passed them and at the top of the rise I was flashed by a speed camera and was subsequently pulled over. I explained the situation and was told to watch my speed in future. I think the on that section of road comprising three lanes with no overtaking on the road going in the opposite
I've been on those roads where the passing lane is about to run out. And the annoying thing is the HGVs got back in the lead after the police stop!
I recall clearly passing a police car maybe 1 or 2 miles in excess of the limit whilst in the right hand lane of the M5. There was another car tailgating and flashing lights behind me however I did not speed up. Once I passed and pulled over it police car set of its blues and twos behind me. When we stopped the WPC told me I would have been OK to speed, IE exceed the limit to pass
I note that for overtaking a large vehicle the code recommends dropping back to give yourself a better view of the road ahead. I wonder if the person writing that has ever driven on Britain’s roads, you drop back (so creating a space in front of you) and the idiot behind you will overtake and jump in that gap.
I always remember one driving instructor telling me that when driving you should do so on the assumption that every other road user is an idiot in a hurry, not really paying attention, who doesn’t understand their car and doesn’t really know how to drive, then take the necessary precautions. Most of the time you’ll be more right than wrong.
Love these insights, and it’s interesting to note that I have been prosecuted for overtaking an unmarked police car that was doing 35mph in a 60mph zone, that then accelerated when I got alongside forcing me into a decision to either break the speed limit to complete the pass or brake and then potentially interfere with the other vehicles queued behind the police car (unmarked).
Had I known the content of this video at the time I would not have accepted the fixed penalty notice that came through a week later, I would have made sure the magistrate and the police knew what the driver of the police car did, was careless driving that put another road user into a no win situation (get points or cause an accident).
Not all police are corrupt, most of them are decent people, but there are cretins in every field of work.
@PGH Engineer Presumably as soon as Steve's car went to overtake, and the unmarked car accelerated, the others behind took the opportunity to speed up a bit too.
Was a dick move from police.
@PGH Engineer They were left standing in a queue behind him.
Technically Steve if you’ve started your overtake from 35, got alongside and the other car then accelerates up to 60, you’ve accelerated to 60 while still alongside, then you’re racing on the highway as you’re both doing 60. Your only option is to drop back behind the offending car get the number and report him. I take it you had a faster car than him? And no I wouldn’t have accepted the Fixed Penalty either.
How long ago was this? If you put in an SAR I wonder if they'd have the footage.
I shake my head regularly, whilst cycling (safely), at what drivers do. It often gets them nowhere; it seems they feel too hierarchically superior to be behind me.
Who gave you the right to undertake/jump the traffic light que?
You're part of the problem.... Roadies pffff (avid mtb rider 😉)
@@jamesashby9065 I don't, sir. I wait patiently.
Had a gaggle of cyclists pull out in front of me on a roundabout today, absolute bunch of spandex wearing tossers! If I was in an HGV, I would have felt sorry for the ambulance crew having to scrape their entrails off the road.
@@Bhong666 so, you hit them with your car? Or you didn't but you are under the impression that LGVs have inferior braking systems to YOUR matchbox, in which case you would have plowed into them? It's important that you clarify this point so that we can choose for which of the numerous reasons that you should not hold a driving licence, or, at the very least, get some education.
Also motorway middle lane travellers, the left lane is the travelling lane the other 2 lanes are overtaking lanes, it’s not the slow lane, middle lane and fast lane
A very clear, simple and easily understood answer....No!
When in doubt..nail it.
I never cease to be amazed at how drivers consider their illegal actions are justified as a result of claimed actions by other road users. In reality most drivers behave dangerously far too often.
And no, I am not a driver. My sight has never been sufficient for me to get a licence but that doesn't stop me recognising an idiot in a vehicle when I see one.
It was advocated by the Institute of Advanced Motorists to exceed the speed limit when overtaking. They also say you should move at the normal speed of the traffic - if it is going at 33 in a 30 zone, you should go 33 not 30 as going more slowly will be inconsiderate. That was in the 1980s - I wander what they recommend now?
rule 163 Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so... This implies that you MUST remain within the legal speed limit while overtaking...otherwise your manoeuvre is no longer legal.
I was always taught that Safety trumps legality so if you were briefly exceeding the speed limit on a single carriageway road to get yourself out of danger that is safer than than staring at the speedometer to maintain 60mph and then have a head on collision
Is there any penalty for overtaking really gradually? It would help when following those pairs of trucks on dual carriageways.
Driving without due Care and Attention, or more serious examples may amount to Dangerous Driving.
It would be interesting to see a video based on when lorries can and can't overtake.
No there is no offence being committed unless signs prohibit the use of the right lane by vehicles exceeding a weight limit.
Yes, it is frustrating but like you and I they too are trying to get somewhere.
@@nickolasreeks4743
There is the offence of committing to an overtake maneuver without being certain that it can be completed. This obviously applies to all those lorry drivers I see trying to overtake another on a long incline and having to filter back into the original lane behind the first because it was unsuccessful leaving a couple of dozen cars behind trying to filter back into the single lane. You know who you all are.🤬
I was driving an Army truck down a two lane Autobahn towing a generator, when I politely pulled into the fast lane to let a tanker join on the slip road. What he should have done of course is maintained his speed to let me past and then overtaken me, but what he actually did was speed up to match my speed on the inside. After a while with me only making a few metres of headway between us a German police car overtook on the hard shoulder and pulled me over. He was very nice about it and when I explained what had happened he shrugged his shoulders and zoomed off.
You can increase your speed, to safely overtake slower cars, but if the maneuver takes you through an average speed area, with the yellow fixed cameras, you are in effect exceeding the speed limit and can be fined for it.
Anywhere that you go faster than the designated speed for that road, is considered speeding, and you can receive a fine and penalty points for it
interesting point, because I remember specifically reading thats why the average speedcheck cameras use 10%+3mph, to allow for safer overtaking as sometimes speeding is required. Strange how this actually conflicts with the law. I believe the real reason is for inaccuracies with the speedos however and them needing a certain margin in order for a court to look at the case
I have been driving near 40 years now and I have always held back from over taking, obviously I do do it but being a land rover driver ...... well you will understand 🤣
Would be nice to see a video on motorcycle filtering, being as alot of motorist think it is not legal and attempt to side swipe or move across towards the center of the road to block motorcycles.
Crazy how people's minds work, they think attempting to cause a potentially fatal accident is an ok response to what they view as queue jumping... 🤦♂️
Paddy Sparks I am a motorcyclist with 50 years on road experience ,& I see lots of bikers these days ,filtering between moving traffic at ridiculous speeds . This only aggravates other road users & is more likely to end up getting legitimate filtering on motorcycles banned . Motorcyclists should only filter at very slow speeds with caution ,between very slow moving or stationary traffic .
@@maskedavenger2578 Yes I agree I see it myself as well, but some drivers think it is not legal. I even had a driver tell me I should be passing on the left Haha, I am also a rider of 50 years!
@@NickNackpaddywhack I get drivers trying to tell me crap as well . I tell them if they don’t like it ,to p#$$ off & get themselves a proper vehicle like mine .
Just a quick one which comes to mind; could you do a quick tutorial on regarding parking motorcycles on the pavement jn the UK... thanks
Speeding is speeding and for the purpose of the act there are no exception.
yes it is better to have a head on collision than to exceed the speed limit , things change quickly especially overtaking a lorry with a trailer. !!!
If you need to speed to overtake, the person is not going slow enough
Or they accelerated when they saw they were being overtaken. There are people who really don't like that. And I'm talking people doing 40 in a 60 deciding that they'll do 60 as they're being overtaken, then if you abort and fall back behind them, they'll deliberately slow to 30.
There really are people out there that are that stupid.
I agree with your name wholeheartedly!
@@stevepowell491 run them off the road then. Or follow them and start a fight. Be sure to tailgate so they know you mean business
Always follow advice on the internet. It's on the internet so it must be true 😂
You know what's funny? When I applied for a job at Asda to be a driver, part of the application process involved a test not unlike the theory part of the driving test.
One of the questions was along the line of "Is it OK to exceed the speed limit to overtake someone?"
The answers were nuanced, but I answered with the option closest to 'no'.
....Turns out that was the only question on the test I got wrong and it proceeded to explain to me that it's actually OK and can be considered SAFER to exceed the speed limit to pass someone.
This is a 100% true story. Not making it up on embellishing it at all.
Can you please create a video explaining the punishments/legislation with regards number plates and the proposed changes that have had their first reading parliament?
I sometimes have to take my wife to work early hours of the morning, this is when you see it all, vehicles driven through traffic lights that are against them and on one occasion I was on a single carriageway road with a cycle lane to the left of us. On the 1100cc Honda we were on the 40mph limit when an idiot in a car overtook us on the left and was actually in the cycle lane and part of our lane forcing me to pull to the right, I wish I could have got hold of them!!!
I'm not a driver myself, so perhaps I'm being naive here, but to me it begs the question of why you would even need or want to overtake a vehicle if the only way overtaking was possible was to break the speed limit. If a driver would have to exceed the speed limit to overtake then it implies that the vehicle they are attempting to overtake is itself going at, or near to, the speed limit, and if that is the case then there is surely nothing much to be gained by overtaking them, as you cannot get meaningfully ahead of them once you are on the other side of them anyway as you cannot travel any faster than they are, meaning all you have done is change the precise order of your current convoy of 2 vehicles, but not the amount of time that either vehicle will take to reach any future point on the road. The only circumstance I can think of for wanting to overtake a vehicle that is travelling at, or near to, the speed limit, is if that vehicle has an unstable load, or loose bodywork or parts, or is being driving erratically or inconsiderately in such a way as to risk or disadvantage your vehicle then you may well prefer to be ahead of it rather than behind it, but even in that circumstance you could instead drop further behind it to put some extra distance between you and the other vehicle, rather than breaking the speed limit to get ahead of it.
There are many instances in which it is quicker and safer to exceed the speed limit in order to pass a vehicle, some of these other comments might clue you in to some of them. Alot of it comes down to what kind of driver you are, but everyone is different, and everyone has their 'pet peeves' about how other drivers are behaving that may influence a decision to overtake. Sometimes, when you're on your way home from a long day at work and someone is sitting at 45 on a national speed limit single carrage way (60) with three miles of clear road in front of them and the only way to make your day a little less suck-ish is to not be behind them anymore... but then again, maybe that's just me. I'm sure if/when you get on the road you'll have your own laundry list of criticisms.
The examples you gave for overtaking another vehicle near the speed limit are all wrong by the way, in all three of those cricumstances you'd want to keep your distance and not pass.
An unstable load travelling near the speed limit would be rather unsafe to pass as the turbulance of your vehicle could potentially cause the vehicle to topple over or begin to 'fish-tail', of cause there are laws regarding the safe loading of vehicles that ideally would be followed so that the vehicle isn't unstable, but even so, going around bends at speed with a heavy load is always an unpleasent experience, so these drivers would usually drive under the speed limit anyway for their own safety.
Cars driving around with body panels hanging off will get stopped by the police as it is an offense to do so, I'd be supprised if you come across a car like that more than once in a blue moon. If you were to overtake one, the turbulance could shake body panels off or other car bits and potentially hit you. Best just to hang back so you'll have a fighting chance at dodging anything that might fall off.
Finally, if a car is driving erratically, then the last place you want to be is to the side of it, or in front of it. In my experience, when a car is driving 'all over the place' it is either drugs or alcohol, in which case, the last thing you want to do is become the centre of the influenced drivers attention (being overtaken is infuriating to alot of drivers, especially when drugs and/or alcohol is involved), the last thing you want is to be chased by a road rage fuelled crack head. The only time you'd overtake is if they were driving very slow, and you'd most certainly want to do it as slowly as possible so you can counter any swerves.
I'd also like to point out that anyone who tells you they have never broken the speed limit or have never done anything questionable on the road is lieing, and in my opinion the zealots who get infuriated with the idea of willingly braking the speed limit are just as bad as those that bomb it up the M4 at 150mph. These are the sort of people who will speed up to prevent you from passing when on-comming traffic is approaching or brake check you/slow right down in the outside lane of a motorway pinning you there as cars in the middle lane begin undertaking, both equally as hazardous and have just as much risk of causing an accident then those that use excessive speed. Either way, both are c*nts.
Brilliant, as always
Yes is the answer. My one and only speed fine in 30 years was when I got zapped by a camera van on an overtake, and sent a fine for speeding. Fair cop, I was doing 50 something at the peak of the overtake of a car doing 20 in a 30 zone (twin turbo 300bhp german car acceleration was somewhat more brutal than I imagined...🙂).
I'm still using the "tear along dotted line" excuse from my original licence!
I've often witnessed marked police cars going faster than the road permits. Could I ask them if they know how fast they were going etc etc.....
they will tell you they are highly trained and can stop quicker than you.
You could, but you are likely to be shrugged off, as they are allowed to go faster than the speed limit if necessary to perform their duties. And no, they don't need to have sirens/lights on to do that. After all that would be counterproductive if they're eg called to a burglary and don't want to alert the burglars that they're coming.
@@allothernamesbutthis Which is not always the truth.
Yep me too! I had an unmarked BMW not on lights tailgate me before pulling out across central hatchings and then pulled in front of me causing me to brake hard when he nearly had a head on with a vehicle. Then he exceeded the speed limit again to get past 3 more vehicles. Entering a town he then popped on his lights to get through slow traffic!!!!! 🙄
@@allothernamesbutthis Like the highly trained officers guarding the parties at No.10?
It's a shame that Daniel did not comment on the final overtaking rule:
169. Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are
driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors
frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic
pass.
This is a common source of frustration and failing to follow the rule is inconsiderate driving that frequently leads to reckless overtaking manoeuvres which can result in serious accidents.
I had a lorry driver pull into my right lane to prevent me overtaking before the road narrowed filtering from 3 to 2 lanes..
He new my lane was closing.and I was trying to get passed him as a slower vehicle.
I managed to pass only because I accelerated but he tried to drive me off the road at the filter.
Sounds like you were 100% at fault. You don't start to overtake when lanes are about to merge (even if their lane was closing). That just causes chaos and makes merging in turn difficult. If the lorry was ahead of you, you should have maintained your position, dropped back a little and filtered in behind them rather than suddenly trying to get ahead and ending up alongside them at the filter.
It is frustrating when those who drive in a 60 at 40 for miles. With a huge tail back of cars. Many get frustrated and it gets really dangerous as everyone wants to overtake but unable to do so.
Thank you
Thanks for this video.
Just overtake as fast as you can without getting caught, safest way to do it, job done.
relating to overtaking, one road i travel, the A418 (Thame road), has overtaking broken white lines, but they're only a few hundred yards long before they switch priority to the opposite lane, not even long enough for a safe overtake imo.
Depends how fast the vehicle you're overtaking is travelling.
I’m a lorry driver and car drivers seem to speed up when I’m overtaking them on the motorway, they don’t seem to see my little 42 ton vehicle behind them and then decide when I’m right next to them to speed up
Excellent advice, regards
This is where automated cars can be dangerous, my adaptive cruise control will slow automatically and keep a safe distance behind a slower moving car and then if that car turns off my car will automatically accelerate to the cruise control setting, it does not register if someone is overtaking before starting to accelerate.
I believed this until I went on a drivers awarness course that made it clear that you can not break the given speed limit for any reason.
And do not go through a red light to allow emergency services through unless instructed to do so by a police officer.
But what happens in say a 50mph road with double white lines for quite a distance following a tractor that's doing 20mph and a massive tail back and a police officer pulls you for not making adequate progress for the speed limit????.
Then the tractor driver is at fault, not vehicles following because it's not safe to pass. You can't be prosecuted for not breaking the law but of course coppers lie in court all the time so make sure you have your dash cam on so you can prove what you say is true.
They're not going to pull you over for that.
@@_.Madness._ really it's all ready happenend a while ago they tried give me a ticket but I disagreed with them and said I will challenge it in court with a solicitor and if they issue me a ticket then I will ring 999 and say I want you ticked for same complaint and for not pulling the tractor and for stopping me on a blind bend.
They tried to bluff me but I wasn't having any of it.
I was well not happy as 6 months previous the x wife got a ticket for passing a tractor on double white lines whilst taking my cousin to hospital.
What about a tractor carrying load doing 20mph in a 50mph zone and there are straddle lines? I think it's safer to overtake with the right precautions taken as there will be a back up of cars and one might all of a sudden start overtaking and having to reach much faster speeds to overtake all the vehicles they have to go past, OR someone else might start overtaking and cause a crash due to the other vehicle coming from behind and the driver in not noticing them.
interesting as always. great advice and guidance
What about the times when you are overtaking a slow car that is travelling under the speed limit, they then start to speed up as you are trying to pass?. This has happened to me a few times and is so annoying, I have ended up having to break speed limits to get past. I shouldn't be in the wrong in this situation.
This happened to me today! A slow driver bimbling along at 20mph on a main road with a developing tailback then accelerates beyond 30mph to obstruct me from overtaking when a 2nd lane presents itself to me. I got past, only then to see them dramatically slow down and resume the tailback formation. Must not swear...
@@alisondale979 was overtaking a car that I had been following for a couple of miles and they were driving well below the speed limit. I got a chance to overtake on a stretch of road and they accelerated. 25 mph faster and I still could not overtake when a lorry was coming the other way. I had to slam on my brakes to pull in. I had the thought to get in front of the young woman driving, grab her keys and throw them into a stream.
@@alisondale979 That sounds like a perfect excuse to swear in my opinion! 👌
He explains this at 4:17 - Rule 168
I have just come back from Ireland and the one thing I did notice while driving around all week was NO ONE SPEEDS, and the only people who were driving like assholes, speeding, driving too close and so on were UK plated cars and vans.
Exceeding the speed limit to quickly pass on a single carriageway (one lane each way) minimises the time spent driving on the wrong side of the road and should be allowed for as a road safety issue.
No, speed limits are there for a reason and I can think of plenty of scenarios where driving faster in the opposite carriageway is infinitely more dangerous. Just think of vehicles or pedestrians who might only look right towards the normal direction of traffic when emerging onto or crossing that carriageway. Another question how much faster? Someone is doing 28mph in a 30mph can you overtake him at 60mph (a mere 2 seconds to reach from 28mph for some vehicles)? How would you phrase the law to catch all scenarios? If you set a limit why can you not work within the existing limit, which includes overtaking?
I'm sorry but that is bonkers. I can just see the excuse 'but I was overtaking' being used for a 70mph pass in a 30......
Road users expect other road users to observe the speed limit, especially pedestrians. Speed limits are there for a reason, i.e. to make drivers who think they know better to slow down. If everybody drove at sensible and safe speeds we wouldnt need speed limits
If someone is doing 55 mph and I want to get round. I'm not going to pass at only 5 mph over what they are doing. I will either go much faster or not make the pass. For those who play the law game it is also illegal to drive on the wrong side of the road and far more dangerous than adding a few mph to your speed to get round safely. Of course if someone's only doing 40, then I have 20 mph of headroom to play with which should be plenty.
Although what the law actually is and will there be discretion is another thing.
If overtaking should be performed "quickly", does this mean that HGV drivers who overtake another HGV on a motorway with barely half a mph difference in speed, and take 2 junctions to do it, are causing an offense? I'm thinking particularly of the M11 in Essex and Cambridgeshire, where there are only two lanes...
I’d say no, that isn’t overtaking really in the context that these rules are typically applied. These rules generally refer to entering the oncoming lane on a single carriageway road and somewhat different guidelines apply to motorways and dual carriageways.
@@conorsykes Then, if not overtaking, you should return to the driving lane, which is the furthest left lane. Most people fail to remember, or never knew, that the lanes on the motorway are, from left to right, the driving lane, and then two *overtaking* lanes.
Personally, I would like to see a rule stating that if one HGV is overtaking another, the vehicle in the driving lane should slow down by 3mph to allow the passing vehicle to overtake in a timely manner.
I would also like to see it be an offence to drive alongside another vehicle for more than 1 mile unless the traffic density is such that this is unavoidable.
"I'm thinking particularly of the M11 in Essex and Cambridgeshire"
- Ah yes, I think that they continue their conversation along the A11 or the A14.
The trucks are usually overtaking slow moving cars than other trucks on the M11 most days.
@@MessiahNonEst
It was some years ago that I used to do the A14/A11 run.
There'd often be two trucks side-by-side for ages on that long stretch from the M1/M6 East.
hi
many years ago (1980s) I overtook ) a police car that was under 25mph, i did not go over 30mph. he pulled me over and the ensuing conversation was classic (I'm a police man i know what the law is). I then spent 15 years working in motorcycle riders rights. NEVER BELIVE A COPPER. the 6 other riders where too scared to overtake the police car. (true rebels they were not). A classic quote. "What are you rebelling against" WHAT HAVE YOU GOT.
I was convicted of being at a specific location at 07.03, and leaving at 07.04 , subsequently causing a RTA. at 07.13.
How the hell did that work?
Butterfly effect?
@@richardk5246 where had the butterfly been a body positivity meeting?
@@yetti423 Yes and then McDonalds for a salad.
@@richardk5246 ....sandwiched between two apple pies? ;)
Betteridge's law of headlines applies here. The answer is 'no'.
since covid i have learnt that a lot of things we thought were illegal are NOW Legal :)
Works all ways im afraid
Hey Daniel, could you possibly do a driving video related to what you can and cannot do while driving ?
Doing around 45000 business miles per year I see everything from people reading books, applying make-up and even brushing their teeth. Also smoking while driving seems to be accepted by police to what I have seen? Yet somebody was fined for eating an apple ?
Some clarity would be great please 🙏
Most drivers have no idea about overtaking. Rather than perform the action as quickly as possible, they dawdle and fanny about, creeping past the other vehicle, delaying the act and placing themselves and the other vehicle at risk.
If you cannot get past without exceeding the limit then it's tough if you get done.
I've always said that our speed limits need changing on motorways and dual carriageways. It's simply this..motorway: left lane:50mph,middle lanes:60mph,right lane:70 mph. Dual carriageway:50/60 mph. This solves all the speed limit problems and overtaking issues.
You will need one more lane for me as my company van is limited to 64 mph.
I think you need to think that one through! Be nice but with vehicle restrictions and some people go 90mph + meaning someone doing 80mph drops in to lane 2 ...just dont see it working
@@TheVanderfulLife if your doing that speed,your breaking the law. The point in mine is this...motorway lanes: If your not in the right lane,your speed limit is 60 mph,if your in the left lane,it's 50. This would make overtaking,alot easier and safer and at no point will u break the speed limit. At the minute,you've got a speed limit of 70mph in all lanes. This is madness. If u want to overtake someone doing 70mph in the middle lane,how would u do it? U would break the speed limit. If they were restricted to 60mph,you'd get passed them,doing 70,easily. If the speed limit was 60,in the middle lanes and they r doing 70,they would then,b breaking the law. Simply because,they r stopping anyone in the right lane,overtaking them,at the speed limit. It's madness that these aren't the rules already.
@@stevenwilloughby1848 I'm honestly shocked you're genuinely convinced that is the way forward. Even in a world where no one ever breaks the speed limit, In your proposal if everyone wants to go 70mph, everyones restricted to one lane. How are you going to solve that congestion issue?
@@TheVanderfulLife your obviously a bad driver. It's never about speed when u drive your car. It's about getting from a to b safely. If everybody wants to lane hog the right lane. Simple solution,fine anyone who lane hogs the right lane. It's easy to do,just do it by mileage. 8-10 miles maximum,in the right lane,overtaking only. When I drive on motorways,I never lane hog the right lane,overtaking only. As long as I get where I want to b. Speed and time is never an issue. If this is an issue for anyone,who drives,u shouldn't drive. I'd rather b late,in one piece,than early but driving erratically. I just cruise in the left or middle lanes. Average speed I drive on a motorway is 60mph. I rarely do 70. Exceptions would b made for accidents or roadworks. Right lane would b permissable in these circumstances. Other than that,overtaking only. When I drove my workmates to work,in a minibus,they would go to sleep. They didn't at first but a few journeys on the motorway later,they did. Safe driver. Never had any accidents because I never lane hog and I'm never bothered about time or speed. As long as I've got fuel,radio on,jobs a good un. Takes as long as it takes.
Yep, got my one and only speeding ticket for 69 mph in a 60 zone when passing a slower van. I didn't see the van hidden behind a hedge. D'oh.
That happened to me
Presenting no danger to anyone. It's just revenue collection. Probably paid for a few bottles of Chardonnay at the council's Christmas bash.
I was caught overtaking a lorry and was clocked at 46 in a 40 zone, what maddened me more than anything was that I have driven some seriously fast cars but was caught speeding in a bloody Skoda Yeti!
@@veritasaequitas9875 Well you could argue that if I couldn't see the camera van, then I was not fully aware of the situation. Anyway, it was a fair cop, did the course and learnt from it. On the course, most of those caught were going in the opposite direction to me, they incorrectly thought that a three-lane, single-carriageway road had a 70 mph limit because of the additional lane for overtaking. At least I knew I was breaking the law.
Nowadays, I drive no faster than the limit no matter how annoyed the schlub behind me gets. I'd always found that difficult before but I'm not paying that much again.
I have only ever had one speeding ticket. That was in 1997. I was doing 50 mph on a 60 mph dual carriageway at 7 am on a Sunday morning going to work. The only car on the road. I saw the camera team set up on a walkway over the carriageway and didn't think anything of it because I was 10 mph below the limit. About a week later I got the notification that I was being prosecuted for doing 50 mph in a "temporary" 40 mph speed limit that had been imposed at midnight for road works that day. There was no signage, no warning, no bollards and no maintenance staff or equipment at 7.00AM . But the did me anyway. 3 points and a fine. Scumbags.
Yes you can speed whilst overtaking 🚗, I did straight past a queue of traffic and a police car. Nothing ventured, nothing gained I thought. and then got pulled over. 😔 🚓. I gained a ticket and some points.
Very good . I thought , wrongly it was 20mph to overtake a slow vehicle - clearly not .
Does this mean that rule 163 mean that HGV drivers overtaking should not do so if it will take them 3+ minutes to do so on a dual carriageway/motorway?
3 minutes ?? three sodding WEEKS
I expect so. Its amazing how long it takes some lorries to overtake.
I bet they are both hitting their speed limiters when one is overtaking at 1mph faster, they always seem to take miles to overtake each other.
I got done for that a few years ago, the 2 cars in front of me was about 2 feet from the front cars arse, and I though this is dangerous, I over took and then slowed down into the 30mph range... And then a yellow coated policeman stepped out into the road and pulled me other.... he said I should have just stayed behind the cars...!!! Think I was at 37pm on overtaking... So Yes bugger...
What are the rules for when lorries are overtaking. I have often been sat behind 2 lorries (side by side) for in excess of 10 miles! Is it law that the lorry being overtaken should slow down to allow the other lorry to pass. This leads to congestion further back down the road (concertina effect) as well as frustration.
Vehicle doing 53 in a 60 zone. Better to get past quickly ( and safely ) then return to speed limit asap.
Thank you for your videos :)