Overtaking Parked Cars on Narrow Roads
Discussion
What does the law actually say about this ?
I've always assumed that commonsense suggests that one waits behind a parked car until it is safe to pass. However these days I see that those exercising such patience are in the minority, and many more are happy to force oncoming traffic to stop in order to let them by.
What does the team think ?
I've always assumed that commonsense suggests that one waits behind a parked car until it is safe to pass. However these days I see that those exercising such patience are in the minority, and many more are happy to force oncoming traffic to stop in order to let them by.
What does the team think ?
If the "obstacle" to get around is in your lane/side of the road then you give way to oncoming traffic and only pass when safe to do so. You should not overtake if it may cause oncoming traffic to swerve or slow down. It's the same for all overtaking whether the "obstacle" is stationary or not.
Anyone who doesn't do that hasn't read the Highway code.
Anyone who doesn't do that hasn't read the Highway code.
It's common sense really - though the book says you have priority, it's no good being right but dead. If the obstruction is on the other side, take a bold position - towards the centre line - but be prepared to give up space, through sidewyas movement or braking, if the other driver is intent on coming through anyway.
If the obstruction is on your side, move out early, ideally as soon as you see a- the obstruction, b- you've checked for fast moving vehicles who may wish to overtake you and c- there's no junction or similar that's likely to make you move back in again.
Depending on the vision available, I'll either move to the centreline on approach (if there's, say, a bend ahead with the possibility of an oncoming), and take the final move when I know it to be safe, or if I can see that it's oging to be safe for the duration, take a nice smooth move out as far as I need to pass, bearing in mind door opening, peds stepping out, etc.
HTH
If the obstruction is on your side, move out early, ideally as soon as you see a- the obstruction, b- you've checked for fast moving vehicles who may wish to overtake you and c- there's no junction or similar that's likely to make you move back in again.
Depending on the vision available, I'll either move to the centreline on approach (if there's, say, a bend ahead with the possibility of an oncoming), and take the final move when I know it to be safe, or if I can see that it's oging to be safe for the duration, take a nice smooth move out as far as I need to pass, bearing in mind door opening, peds stepping out, etc.
HTH
This has become endemic as far as I can see in our me, first culture. One car goes by the obstacle on their side of the road, then each car behind follows using the "cover" of the car they are following! I come across it in one place on my morning drive every day! I quite like creeping forward reducing the space until the oncoming traffic has to stop and then we have a horrible mess to sort out! Probably, not a very "advanced" approach 
Bert
Bert
henrycrun said:
What does the law actually say about this ?
I've always assumed that commonsense suggests that one waits behind a parked car until it is safe to pass. However these days I see that those exercising such patience are in the minority, and many more are happy to force oncoming traffic to stop in order to let them by.
What does the team think ?
I don't think I've ever had much difficulty with this. Almost invariably I have found people to behave quite decently.I've always assumed that commonsense suggests that one waits behind a parked car until it is safe to pass. However these days I see that those exercising such patience are in the minority, and many more are happy to force oncoming traffic to stop in order to let them by.
What does the team think ?
However, having said that, I had a bit of a surprise a few days ago. On a road near where I live (edge of village, 30 mph zone, single carriageway road of fairly normal width) I pulled out slightly to pass a parked car on my side of the road. The parked car was partially off the road, so it wasn't a full car width type of obstruction. Anyhow, it meant that I put my offside wheels on, or maybe slightly over, the centre-line, and received a headlight flash from the driver coming the other way.
I can only assume he was miffed at me moving over a bit, but it didn't actually require him to do anything to compensate for what I'd done. He continued to drive down the middle of his lane, and there really wasn't a problem, but had the roles been reversed I would have moved left a little to give him more space to pass the parked car. I don't think I did anything unreasonable but he seemed to want to protest.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
PeteG said:
p1esk said:
...had the roles been reversed I would have moved left a little to give him more space to pass the parked car...
This is something of a lost art, I find...Best wishes all,
Dave.
If traffic is slow, eg in a 30 limit then I generally try to judge whether I will reach the parked car before someone else coming towards me, regardless of which side of the road the parked car is on.
If I think I can reach it first then I will get into the appropriate lane early so the oncoming driver can see what my intention is and then go past the parked car.
It's sort of a first come first served attitude.
If I think I can reach it first then I will get into the appropriate lane early so the oncoming driver can see what my intention is and then go past the parked car.
It's sort of a first come first served attitude.
waremark said:
LeoSayer said:
It's sort of a first come first served attitude.
Do you think that is justifiable, if the parked car is on your side of the road?I don't treat it as a race, never try to intimidate anyone into submission and always move into the other lane well in advance to give oncoming drivers sufficient warning. Of course, I won't make the manouvre if I judge that it will cause problems for the oncoming driver or any other road users.
Likewise, if an oncoming driver makes a move to overtake in front of me then I will happily back off or brake to let him complete the manouvre. Often, that will mean that both cars can keep moving, rather than one coming to a complete stop.
There is always a risk that oncoming drivers could take offence to the manouvre, but equally drivers behind me could take offence for me not making adequate progress.
On my HGV course we were taught that if there is enough room for two cars, even if the other person is using the whole space is to simply move on out and the other car will have to move into the side. It was absolutely not taught as a 'bullying' move for that would fail the test but to simply make progress, otherwise in a truck you could be there for god knows how long as you lack the 'zippiness' of a car.
In a car if there is only space for one I'm generally quite happy to wait as long it is on a fair 'two cars this way, two cars that way' basis. It is when you get a situation of people refusing to let anybody through that I can imagine frustration arises. I found drivers in Oxon to be very bad for that.
In a car if there is only space for one I'm generally quite happy to wait as long it is on a fair 'two cars this way, two cars that way' basis. It is when you get a situation of people refusing to let anybody through that I can imagine frustration arises. I found drivers in Oxon to be very bad for that.
henrycrun said:
What does the law actually say about this ?
I've always assumed that commonsense suggests that one waits behind a parked car until it is safe to pass. However these days I see that those exercising such patience are in the minority, and many more are happy to force oncoming traffic to stop in order to let them by.
What does the team think ?
It's not actually law, but the advice is that if the obstruction is on your side of the road, then you should give way; if both sides of the road are restricted, the safest thing to do is stop (because you take control of the situation). Beware of flashing lights - remember that the signal may not be for you.I've always assumed that commonsense suggests that one waits behind a parked car until it is safe to pass. However these days I see that those exercising such patience are in the minority, and many more are happy to force oncoming traffic to stop in order to let them by.
What does the team think ?
I totally agree with you, and it's left to us to do the thinking for these people. Best of luck!
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