Completely messed up an overtake Tuesday in the car. Usual story of being on a road that's 60, 50 then back to 60. Following a driver doing 40, 30, 35 in those places. As I got on to a faster bit of A road with more visibility but in a mile or 2 knowing it was much harder to overtake I allowed myself to get sucked into rushing it and got it wrong. Couldn't initially go as there were oncoming cars but as I went I had the usual where the car I'm overtaking starts to accelerate combined with my car being no rocketship and a slight uphill. Car appears in the distance heading towards me, by this time I'm alongside the car I'm overtaking. Had that moment where I felt I had to make a decision and was worried if I braked and the car I was overtaking also braked I'd have no where to go so committed to the overtake as by this point I was going passed with a bigger speed differential. I made it, but it was a lot closer than I'd have liked and the oncoming car rightly blew me up on the way passed.
Only really posting as maybe I'm unusual but stuff like that stays with me for a good few days. It's been a long, long, long time since I cocked up an overtake and I really don't like getting that stuff wrong especially considering the consequences. I guess it's good in that going over it a lot after the event it's a great reminder of what not to do and understanding how these things come about. Both my wife and I noticed lots of 'Sunday' driving over the Xmas period with lots of cars bumbling along well under the limit and after a few weeks I let that get under my skin too much and caused the reaction on Tuesday. Usually in the car I just sit back but a dash of the mist appeared. I know it's a limit not a target but as we initially settled at 35 in the 60 the stupid side of my brain clouded my judgement A timely reminder not to be an idiot is the lesson I'm taking from that.
KungFooBob wrote: ↑Thu Jan 04, 2024 12:56 pm
The lesson to take from this is that you need a more fasterer car.
Yes, there is that. I very rarely overtake in the car mainly as there's little room, I'm not in a rush and it's slow (Mazda 3). When on the Suzuki overtakes are a piece of the proverbial which probably doesn't help when combined with poor judgment
Supermofo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 04, 2024 12:51 pm
Only really posting as maybe I'm unusual but stuff like that stays with me for a good few days. It's been a long, long, long time since I cocked up an overtake and I really don't like getting that stuff wrong especially considering the consequences.
I do this a lot. It still bugs me that I didn't see the car 'parked' on the motorway until almost too late a few weeks ago.
But as you say, going over it does generally help to work out the whats and whys. And sometimes that people that drive slowly then bloody speed up when you go to overtake Fukkers
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!!
Supermofo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 04, 2024 12:51 pm
I allowed myself to get sucked into rushing it and got it wrong. Couldn't initially go as there were oncoming cars
Worth remembering that drivers waiting to turn out from side roads (especially with a queue behind them) will feel mental pressure to go for smaller gaps than usual.
My whoopsie not long ago....following a slow vehicle with another car behind it on a lovely straight road NSL with a clear view ahead. Second car showed absolutely no inclination to pass although it was a bit of a blingy BMW so I took the opportunity to pass 'em both after waiting patiently. Laddo in the Bimmer finally decides to overtake....as I'm alongside. Gets about an inch away - I'm nearly in the right hand verge by then - and jumps out of his skin.
So, he goes berserk. Screams alongside a bit further on giving it chin music, so I point at my mirror indicating he might like to use his, so he zips in front.....and brake tests me*.
*Which I was expecting. (I suspect he decided to overtake the slow thing as he finished his phone call).
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
Supermofo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 04, 2024 12:51 pm
Only really posting as maybe I'm unusual but stuff like that stays with me for a good few days. It's been a long, long, long time since I cocked up an overtake and I really don't like getting that stuff wrong especially considering the consequences.
I do this a lot. It still bugs me that I didn't see the car 'parked' on the motorway until almost too late a few weeks ago.
But as you say, going over it does generally help to work out the whats and whys. And sometimes that people that drive slowly then bloody speed up when you go to overtake Fukkers
I also think that often people don't even notice they are doing it, at least I think not. The reason I think this is when using cruise control on the motorway I often find I'll be doing bang on 70 and will be catching the car in front, I'll pull out get alongside to suddenly find they speed up so I'm now hanging in the fast lane or even going backwards. So you pull in behind them to find they then slow up Or you'll accelerate to 75 to get passed pull back in and slow to 70 and leave them quickly as they've dropped back to the 65 odd they were doing before.
Supermofo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 04, 2024 12:51 pm
Only really posting as maybe I'm unusual but stuff like that stays with me for a good few days. It's been a long, long, long time since I cocked up an overtake and I really don't like getting that stuff wrong especially considering the consequences.
I do this a lot. It still bugs me that I didn't see the car 'parked' on the motorway until almost too late a few weeks ago.
But as you say, going over it does generally help to work out the whats and whys. And sometimes that people that drive slowly then bloody speed up when you go to overtake Fukkers
I also think that often people don't even notice they are doing it, at least I think not. The reason I think this is when using cruise control on the motorway I often find I'll be doing bang on 70 and will be catching the car in front, I'll pull out get alongside to suddenly find they speed up so I'm now hanging in the fast lane or even going backwards. So you pull in behind them to find they then slow up Or you'll accelerate to 75 to get passed pull back in and slow to 70 and leave them quickly as they've dropped back to the 65 odd they were doing before.
Definitely. I see it a lot doing transfers. I try and be very careful not to do it myself, but maybe it's a bit natural?
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!!
It's probably fairly common among car drivers who ride bikes. We get used to that extra bit of overtake oomph and it's easy to be caught out with a wagon that is much slower. I usually just resign myself to being in the queue when driving,but in a slow car,being in the right gear for overtaking a while before the moment arrives,saves a bit of time instead of fishing for the gear and pulling out all at once.
Skub wrote: ↑Thu Jan 04, 2024 4:21 pm
It's probably fairly common among car drivers who ride bikes. We get used to that extra bit of overtake oomph and it's easy to be caught out with a wagon that is much slower. I usually just resign myself to being in the queue when driving,but in a slow car,being in the right gear for overtaking a while before the moment arrives,saves a bit of time instead of fishing for the gear and pulling out all at once.
Momentum is key when pulling an overtake in a slow vehicle. Going from a 'standing start' leaves you exposed for too long on the wrong side of the road. Hang back until a suitable gap in the oncoming traffic appears then accelerate just as the oncoming car gets level with the car in front, pull out and get the job done.
But yes, riding a motorcycle with the power to weight ratio of a race car tends to breed complacency when you're in a slow tin box.
Did you hang back slightly to gain momentum before pulling out? I always found this method worked perfectly well when you had a car with a lack of power.
Thats the benefit of much faster cars, you could like a bike pull out and pass with such ease. I miss those days.
wull wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2024 7:06 am
Did you hang back slightly to gain momentum before pulling out? I always found this method worked perfectly well when you had a car with a lack of power.
Thats the benefit of much faster cars, you could like a bike pull out and pass with such ease. I miss those days.
wull wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2024 7:06 am
Did you hang back slightly to gain momentum before pulling out? I always found this method worked perfectly well when you had a car with a lack of power.
Thats the benefit of much faster cars, you could like a bike pull out and pass with such ease. I miss those days.
Pony would have you on the brakes on his Frazer.
Maybe not with that car, it was a bit mental. I used to go out and harass bikers at the weekend the poor bastards
A timely reminder not to be an idiot is the lesson I'm taking from that.
