Been a naughty boy?

[jcochrane]

Always a dilemma. What to do? No one answer fits all and it will depend on the circumstances of the moment. You're Nissan will not always have the power to out accelerate the car being overtaken as you may already be close to peak acceleration with little or none to spare. (Khaki pants time ). When driving my wife's Nissan I have to take this into consideration. Not such an issue in my GTi where I can plan an overtake to ensure I have more instant acceleration on tap if needed.

With regard to exceeding the speed limit I would say that if it was done purely on grounds of safety or to avoid an accident then there is no option than to do it.

[akirk]

How did you structure the overtake?
Sitting out on the right before accelerating for the overtake allows you to do a final check, but also warns the person being overtaken - if they are going to be silly then that is usually when they will do it and you can abort...
Alasdair

[GTR1400MAN]

Ah, the "You will not pass" driver. There are lots about. Yesterday I overtook an Audi stuck behind a caravan. It was a country road so could only pass the Audi. Dropped into the space and after the next right hand bend took the caravan. My two colleagues behind me also went to do the same (individually). Both times the Audi moved right squeezing them up against the right hand verge.

What should you have done? Maybe been a bit brisker in the first place? Out, decide, get it done and back in. I have aborted in the past with this sort of driver but taking a few MPH is always an option. You got to 80. I would have aborted by then.

Now that lorries are legally able to do 50 on B roads they are almost impossible to pass without nicking some MPH. It's made even worse by many now driving on their 56 limiter.

[jont-]

Now that lorries are legally able to do 50 on B roads they are almost impossible to pass without nicking some MPH. It's made even worse by many now driving on their 56 limiter.

Not to mention the queue of lemmings behind them all happy to sit at 50mph but not leaving return gaps... (we get lots of fast-track tractors around here doing 40ish where the same seems to apply)

[GTR1400MAN]

Yes, the queue of sheep behind the target. On a motorbike dealt with one at a time (mainly) but I'll admit the gaps are not great and I will brake while entering.

Once behind the lorry I then make a gap to it so I am not right up its backside and I can see.

[Gareth]

Allready in position so accelerate briskly, waiting till I can see CRV in rear mirror so I can come back in.

Couple of thoughts ...

• did you initially use all of the acceleration, or only some?
• did you ease off, down to their prior speed, to see how they like it?

[jont-]

did you ease off, down to their prior speed, to see how they like it?

Or keep slowing down to the point they get annoyed enough to try overtaking, then accelerate again?

[martine]

Tricky situation and not something I've had (either due to not enough overtakes or lucky I guess?).

I think what you should do varies so much on the situation...how aggressive the other driver is, what you're driving, what they are driving, the road etc. You chose to continue and no one was hurt - apart from the other driver's pride possibly...so I wouldn't get hung up on it.

[sussex2]

Get thee behind me satan...What you did.

[kfae8959]

not all IAM examiners keep a strict eye on speedos during safe overtaking manoeuvres.

To clarify, the guidance to examiners says, "candidates cannot plan to exceed the speed limit" [my emphasis]. In Tom's case, it seems clear that exceeding the speed limit was not part of his driving plan at the point of commitment, and was necessary for safety once committed.

David