Overtaking – On the decline

Over the last few weeks of driving, I’ve been noticing more and more that other drivers seem to be quite averse to overtaking, even with miles of clear and visible road ahead.  I don’t quite know why it is – maybe it’s about how generally risk-averse we’re becoming – but it’s bloody annoying.

I do overtake – so long as it’s safe, and the road is clear. (That should go without saying, but still) But I now seem to be in the minority.

Of course, the irony is that when you’re then on a multi-carriageway road, every single one of those motherfuckers is sitting in the outside two lanes, overtaking fuck-all. But I digress.

The thing is, if you’re behind five or six – hell, even two or three – vehicles who aren’t overtaking whatever’s holding everyone up/back, then my own overtaking manoeuvre becomes difficult, if not impossible. So you just end up sitting there, because no-one else is prepared to do anything.

It’s an odd state of affairs – and sometimes bloody annoying. But there’s not a lot that you can do, except accept that it’s just going to be one of those days…


2 Comments on “Overtaking – On the decline”

  1. Blue Witch says:

    You still drive an older, powerful car, which will allow you to accelerate rapidly to make an overtake safely. Most newer cars are very fuel-efficient, but have bugger-all acceleration at/from low speeds.

    Hence it’s a safety thing.

    Anyone who overtakes in a queue is an idiot anyway. As is anyone who causes anyone else to have to brake or take other evasive action because ot their impatience. Teenagers in old bangers, with one more of your mates than there are seats in the car, I’m looking at you.

  2. Lyle says:

    Agreed – but I’m not necessarily talking about the new/lower-powered cars. I don’t expect someone in a Micra or whatever to go overtaking a stream of vehicles on a clear road. But the bigger/sportier things? Yeah. (Don’t forget, I’ve experienced the joys of those new low-powered piece-of-crap Meganes, Clios etc., so I know they have issues with acceleration etc.)

    For example, yesterday on my drive home, there was a slow truck being followed – on a completely clear/flat stretch – by a sporty Alfa Giulietta, large Peugeot, an Audi S3, and me. And not one of the sods would go. I could’ve done the manoeuvre in any one of them with no problem at all.


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