Driving Tutorials - Overtaking

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How to Overtake.

Let's see how to use the MSM routine for overtaking with the aid of this diagram.

Look well ahead to the front to see that there is enough space in front of the leading vehicle to complete the manoeuvre safely and there is no danger of conflict with oncoming traffic.

You'll need to position yourself just left of the centre line or the centre of the road - check your mirrors and signal if necessary to move to the overtaking position.

From the overtaking position check again - to the front and for any fast approaching vehicles from behind - make your signal and then manoeuvre if it's safe.

If you see that you can't complete the manoeuvre when you move to get your better view you'll have to drop back to the holdback position and re - apply the MSM routine from there - here's how.

Speed & Gear.

Speed and Gear

If you have maintained your safe following distance at the holdback position you will already have adjusted your speed to match that of the vehicle we intend overtaking.

At this point you should consider selecting a lower gear - this is so that when we do make the manoeuvre we have the extra acceleration available that may be needed
to complete the manoeuvre.

We're all ready to go - now we'll look again.

Look.

We're prepared to overtake and we can see that it's safe as far as oncoming traffic is concerned - now we apply the MSM routine to proceed with the manoeuvre.

Mirrors.

First we must check the mirrors - we always need to know what is happening behind and to the sides but in this situation we also need to check because we will probably need
to adjust our position.

We're not using a dual carriageway as an example - that's too easy! If you're learning to drive or taking your driving lessons in Hull or Hessle you will find the Beverley by pass and A15 roads are single carriageway roads where the traffic is fast flowing and we'll be able to practice our overtaking manoeuvres on them.

Here we see the driver of the blue car has come up and prepared to overtake the green car on a fast moving road - he has good views to the front and has seen it would not be safe to complete the manoeuvre because of the red car approaching from the opposite direction - he has adopted the holdback position and is continuing to look as the situation changes.

From the Holdback Position we apply the MSM procedure:

Mirrors - Position - Speed & Gear - Look - MSM

Position Positioning to the Left

We'll use a large vehicle to illustrate the importance of the position phase prior to overtaking:

Having checked the mirrors to ensure that's it's safe we need to adjust our road position to check on the view to the front.

First we position to the left for a nearside view - can you see the blue car ahead? - it would not have been visible from the normal driving position.

The distance between vehicles ahead is a factor to consider when we are planning the manoeuvre - we need to know there is enough clearance between the vehicles for us to move into.

Whilst in this position you should take the opportunity to look well ahead at the road layout for anything you may not have seen from the normal position.

Positioning towards the centre
Then we need to position towards the centre of the road so that we will have a clear view of any oncoming vehicles.

Click here for a tip about how to make sure that drivers of large vehicles can see you clearly.

How to avoid driving in another vehicles blind spot Don't drive in their blind spots

Large vehicles have bigger blind spots than cars! The unwary driver can unwittingly drive in the blind spot of a large vehicle - this presents obvious dangers. To check that you have left enough room between yourself and a large vehicle to your front; look to see if you can see the other vehicles' wing mirrors - if you can't then the driver of the large vehicle can't see you!

Close this window

Once we know that it is safe ahead we will be able to begin our preparation to overtake - now is the time to make any alteration to our speed and gear.

Mirrors

Now we're checking the Check the mirrors again

mirrors, watch for any vehicles approaching quickly from behind who may try to pass as you move out to overtake.

Signal

How should we check if it's safe before we signal?

[next]

We need to check over our shoulder into the blind spot to make sure it's safe.

[Next]

Manoeuvre

Check the blind spot to make sure it's safe - if it is move out to your overtaking position - keep looking ahead for oncoming vehicles - accelerate past the leading vehicle
Make sure you leave enough clearance once we're past the leading vehicle and then use the MSM routine to move back to the left lane.

Now, would you like to run through that again?