Being overtaken as you enter NSL
Discussion
Hi guys,
Just after some opinions on what you would have done in a situation I was in earlier.
I'm driving through a village, 40mph speed limit, and a car turns onto the road behind me. Just after you exit the village it turns into a NSL with some nice twisty bends, where I plan on having a fun progressive drive.
So, I'm sitting at 40 as i approach the NSL in 3rd gear ready to accelerate firmly. Just as I pass the NSL sign I go to floor it and I notice the guy behind me has just moved to the opposite side of the road to overtake me (the front of his car was probably now inline with the back of mine, he must have started the manouvre in the 40 limit).
I accelerated anyway as I knew my car would be quicker than his and he'd be able to move back in behind me with no drama's. If he then started following me closely, I'd make it easy for him to pass.
Part of me thinks he was an idiot for deciding to overtake as soon as we hit the NSL as he'd only followed me through the village and didn't know whether i'd hold him up on the NSL. And I felt i'd be able to accelerately briskly enough that he wouldn't get stuck on the wrong side of the road (good vision ahead too).
The other part of me thinks that I should have just held back to let him come past, and then overtaken him again if he held me up (although there are not many overtaking opportunities).
So, what would you have done?
Just after some opinions on what you would have done in a situation I was in earlier.
I'm driving through a village, 40mph speed limit, and a car turns onto the road behind me. Just after you exit the village it turns into a NSL with some nice twisty bends, where I plan on having a fun progressive drive.
So, I'm sitting at 40 as i approach the NSL in 3rd gear ready to accelerate firmly. Just as I pass the NSL sign I go to floor it and I notice the guy behind me has just moved to the opposite side of the road to overtake me (the front of his car was probably now inline with the back of mine, he must have started the manouvre in the 40 limit).
I accelerated anyway as I knew my car would be quicker than his and he'd be able to move back in behind me with no drama's. If he then started following me closely, I'd make it easy for him to pass.
Part of me thinks he was an idiot for deciding to overtake as soon as we hit the NSL as he'd only followed me through the village and didn't know whether i'd hold him up on the NSL. And I felt i'd be able to accelerately briskly enough that he wouldn't get stuck on the wrong side of the road (good vision ahead too).
The other part of me thinks that I should have just held back to let him come past, and then overtaken him again if he held me up (although there are not many overtaking opportunities).
So, what would you have done?
You seemed to make a lot of assumptions about your driving ability, his driving ability, your cars ability, his cars ability, his intentions and your intentions.
Very easy to come unstuck going down that line of thought.
From your post they were already a way into their overtake before you acted, personally I would have said it was asking for trouble and I'd have let them complete the manoeuvre (losing some speed if need be) safely.
Very easy to come unstuck going down that line of thought.
From your post they were already a way into their overtake before you acted, personally I would have said it was asking for trouble and I'd have let them complete the manoeuvre (losing some speed if need be) safely.
Cheers for the constructive feedback guys - looks like I should have held back.
Pothole - I was not racing, if I was I wouldn't have posted on here asking for opinions. In my head I was committed to putting my foot down, and just as my foot was moving I noticed him going for the overtake (still behind me) and had a split second to make a decision. I also am a local and didn't want to get stuck behind him so decided to continue as I was, knowing I could let him past later on if needed. With hindsight and some constructive feedback from others on here I can see it was the wrong decision and have learnt from it.
Martin - he didn't react at all to be honest. Just moved back to the left and continued as normal. He just slowly dissapeared in my rear view mirrow and didn't appear until I was in the next village with a 30mph limit.
Pothole - I was not racing, if I was I wouldn't have posted on here asking for opinions. In my head I was committed to putting my foot down, and just as my foot was moving I noticed him going for the overtake (still behind me) and had a split second to make a decision. I also am a local and didn't want to get stuck behind him so decided to continue as I was, knowing I could let him past later on if needed. With hindsight and some constructive feedback from others on here I can see it was the wrong decision and have learnt from it.
Martin - he didn't react at all to be honest. Just moved back to the left and continued as normal. He just slowly dissapeared in my rear view mirrow and didn't appear until I was in the next village with a 30mph limit.
Edited by reggie82 on Sunday 27th June 22:06
Edited by reggie82 on Sunday 27th June 22:07
Turn the scenario round and I expect you would have been miffed to say the least, were you the driver of the other car having done what you considered to be a perfect overtake, only to then have the said numpty beside you making your life hard.
Of course one with such finely tuned driving senses would not dream of such an irregularity.
Of course one with such finely tuned driving senses would not dream of such an irregularity.
Highway Code Says said:
168
Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.
You should have let him overtake.Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.
Cheers guys, will definitely take this advice on board if it happens again.
I just want to clarify a couple of things:
1) I was actually in the process of putting my foot down as I looked in my mirror and noticed him on the other side of the road. The decision was to carry on or take my foot off. I did not see him and then decide to put my foot down.
2) He was still behind me when i noticed him
3) It was a long straight clear stretch of road with no junctions etc
I'm surprised only one person has said they would have been tempted to continue though. You are obviously all very restrained drivers on here!
I just want to clarify a couple of things:
1) I was actually in the process of putting my foot down as I looked in my mirror and noticed him on the other side of the road. The decision was to carry on or take my foot off. I did not see him and then decide to put my foot down.
2) He was still behind me when i noticed him
3) It was a long straight clear stretch of road with no junctions etc
I'm surprised only one person has said they would have been tempted to continue though. You are obviously all very restrained drivers on here!
I'd have continued as you did. I'd perhaps also have been the person who'd attempt the overtake at the NSL sign, IME most other drivers don't want to proceed as quickly as I do, but if someone did floor it I'm sure I'd be happy to drop in behind. So long as there was reasonable visibility ahead and you really did take off quicker, what you did would be fine with me.
Typical PH; pile in on the OP. 
The OP didn't, imo, do anything wrong per se. He left a 40 and accelerated up to NSL. Sounds like the guy behind should have waited to see what the OP did leaving the 40. As it happens, he realised the OP was getting a move on and slotted back in. Neither at 'fault' and it sounds like there was no altercation of any kind between the two.
OP, for the record I'd probably have let him pass simply because he was already mid-manoeuvre, but equally he was probably more than happy you weren't dawdling and holding him up.
The OP didn't, imo, do anything wrong per se. He left a 40 and accelerated up to NSL. Sounds like the guy behind should have waited to see what the OP did leaving the 40. As it happens, he realised the OP was getting a move on and slotted back in. Neither at 'fault' and it sounds like there was no altercation of any kind between the two.
OP, for the record I'd probably have let him pass simply because he was already mid-manoeuvre, but equally he was probably more than happy you weren't dawdling and holding him up.
This happens to me regularly as I do not put my foot down until past the NSL sign - I do not wish to collect a ticket for 37 in a 30 for absolutely no reason.
I let them past. Then proceed to overtake them as rarely do they get above 45mph and I'm usually capable of 60.
I once made a mistake (I admit it) and did not notice an overtaking vehicle in this situation. In my defence it was dark and the lights of the queue behind filled my mirrors somewhat and the nutter was overtaking a queue of three or so. He arrived roughly behind me as I began to accelerate. As soon as I notice him I braked. Just as well. He proceeds to brake test me in "revenge".
50/50. It was a piss-poor overtake but I should have clocked it earlier. No need for the "revenge" though. Disgraceful.
I let them past. Then proceed to overtake them as rarely do they get above 45mph and I'm usually capable of 60.
I once made a mistake (I admit it) and did not notice an overtaking vehicle in this situation. In my defence it was dark and the lights of the queue behind filled my mirrors somewhat and the nutter was overtaking a queue of three or so. He arrived roughly behind me as I began to accelerate. As soon as I notice him I braked. Just as well. He proceeds to brake test me in "revenge".
50/50. It was a piss-poor overtake but I should have clocked it earlier. No need for the "revenge" though. Disgraceful.
Technically as soon as you realised someone was attempting to overtake you should have let them past.
Coming off roundabouts / limit changes are where I often overtake slower vehicles as the drivers of those vehicles don't tend to use the full performance of their car to get up to speed. And I can pass them while still in the limit.
Oddly on sunday I had a car in front who I'd been happily following at 60 in a 60. When they pulled over to let me past! Which was nice. Unnecessary, but nice.
Coming off roundabouts / limit changes are where I often overtake slower vehicles as the drivers of those vehicles don't tend to use the full performance of their car to get up to speed. And I can pass them while still in the limit.
Oddly on sunday I had a car in front who I'd been happily following at 60 in a 60. When they pulled over to let me past! Which was nice. Unnecessary, but nice.
TuxRacer said:
I'd have continued as you did. I'd perhaps also have been the person who'd attempt the overtake at the NSL sign, IME most other drivers don't want to proceed as quickly as I do, but if someone did floor it I'm sure I'd be happy to drop in behind. So long as there was reasonable visibility ahead and you really did take off quicker, what you did would be fine with me.
I agree with that. Additionally, I hate being overtaken at such points as the car inevitably gets sprayed with stones as they pass. In my view jumping the speed limit sign is no different from going before the green at a set of lights and the following driver should have waited to see if you accelerated after the sign.I notice this happens quite regularly. Sticking to 30 in a 30 limit, waiting to reach NSL sign before I put my foot down, and... I get overtaken by someone about 50 metres away from the NSL sign, who then proceeds to sit at 50mph when 60 would be no problem.
I wish people would realise the limit changes when you pass the sign, not as soon as you see it.
I wish people would realise the limit changes when you pass the sign, not as soon as you see it.
I apologised to someone the other when I completely failed to overtake them in sort-of-similar circumstances (me behind them, we both overtook a slow car and I stayed out). We pulled up at a T-junction heading opposite ways, so I was next to them.
I said "sorry" and explained I just didn't expect a pretty girl in a Megane 'vert to actually drive their car. Got a smile and a "that's OK" but not her number
Had it a few times when I've hit the loud pedal and the attempted overtaker has never been seen again
As OP said, if I turned out to be holding them up, I'd get out of the way ASAP.
What annoys me more is Mr-42mph-everywhere. Do you also speed in the 30 limit knowing the change to NSL is the only chance to overtake in the next few miles of fun NSL twisty, or do you stick to the limit and catch him again on the first corner...
I said "sorry" and explained I just didn't expect a pretty girl in a Megane 'vert to actually drive their car. Got a smile and a "that's OK" but not her number
Had it a few times when I've hit the loud pedal and the attempted overtaker has never been seen again
As OP said, if I turned out to be holding them up, I'd get out of the way ASAP.What annoys me more is Mr-42mph-everywhere. Do you also speed in the 30 limit knowing the change to NSL is the only chance to overtake in the next few miles of fun NSL twisty, or do you stick to the limit and catch him again on the first corner...
In that situation, I would take a 3-way mirror safety check about 20-30m before reaching the NSL sign, which would will allow me to assess whether one (or more) to the rear will attempt an overtake based on his following distance, position, behaviour and even noise.
This check also helps to prevent any surprises when the overtaker comes from three cars back.
This check also helps to prevent any surprises when the overtaker comes from three cars back.
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff