Why do people pointlessly overtake?

[Rich1988]

I pointlessly overtake if the person if front is driving in a stupid way, I dont mean going slowly necessarily I mean braking all the time for no reason like when they come to corners or a lorry comes the other way... another thing that annoys me is the inability for people to maintain a constant speed.

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Yeah the lemmings thing is tricky. I guess ideally everyone would have overtaking lessons, maybe compulsory after passing your first driving test. Say a year later once you have really started to learn to drive
Some people will not overtake or attempt to no matter what the circumstances, often due to poor placement and lack of confidence I feel.
If people observed safe braking distances or even close to there would always be gaps to drop into, but the issue is I think the worst overtakers (or those who will never attempt one) get highly frustrated and sit inches off the car/van/lorry/whatever in front of them, the next guy back does the same and boom you get snakes of traffic none of whom has the skill or ability to overtake in that situation.

I think the term that was used to me (by a fast road driving specialist) was TSD (time subject to danger) which was conceived to be ANY time spent on the wrong side of the road, minimising that time was the key. Starting an overtake from 6 inches behind the vehicle your overtaking increased that time since you were in effect accelerating from the same speed, so dropping a bit back and observing your gap before this time would allow you to start to increase speed earlier and reduce your TSD.

Was also him that told me "never drive so fast that your stopping distance is greater than what you can see" or words to that effect. Screwed some of my backroad driving that. Once you think about it, its bloody obvious, if a car/cow/something bigger has broken down just round a corner and you come flying round it at 60mph its going to hurt.

 

[al123]

I quite often overtake 'just in case'.

Say I'm following a slow car and I know I'm turning off in a mile or so, then get a chance to overtake, I will. As I don't know if the car is going to turn off too.

 

[Gibbo]

I overtake because I like to drive at my pace and not at the pace of the person in front.

So yes I am one of those who will overtake on maybe just a 1-2mile stretch of country road and actually get to my destination no quicker.

BUT what I did manage was to drive that stretch of road how I wanted to drive it and have fun instead of been stuck behind some sunday driver who does not know what the accelerator does or how to take corners.

Its fine if thats how they wish to drive, but I also wish to drive according to my style so at the same time why should they be annoyed just because I go whizzing past at warp factor 9 and disappear off into the distance?

 

[Sin_Chase]

Many reason to overtake, mainly they are muppets.

Going too slow.
Slowing down too much for non-issues.
Slowing down for no reason at all.
Riding brakes/braking for no reason.
Indecisive driving.

 

[Relentless81]

I love it when a single lane changes to a double lane for a few 100M's and then theres traffic lights and the moron behind you insists on overtaking in the next lane and then braking harshly at the lights of which I then casually pull up next to them, I see this almost every day

 

["andy"]

selfishness usually

because for certain people its more important to have fun than it is to keep the roads that little bit safer

 

[Dogbreath]

I overtake when I want to drive more quickly than the person in front, or when they are driving a stinking diesel or are blocking my view of the road (van, 4x4 etc.). Sometimes I might be in a hurry to get somewhere, but usually it's just because I would prefer to either be driving faster or be in front. Providing the overtake is safe, I don't understand why people get so worked up about being overtaken...easily damaged ego's perhaps?

 

[[TW]Fox]

selfishness usually

because for certain people its more important to have fun than it is to keep the roads that little bit safer

Yeh, let's never ever overtake because it kills babies or something.

 

[redeye_uk]

It also increases my chances of being hit from behind at the next set of traffic lights so i can make that whiplash claim

 

[TangoSixteen]

selfishness usually

because for certain people its more important to have fun than it is to keep the roads that little bit safer

lol what?

It really winds me up when people start rabbitting about overtaking and driving fast automatically meaning that you will "plough into a line of school children" or that you will wipe out a convent of nuns.

Whats the point of being alive if you dont want to have fun?

I think we should donate your organs to people who like to overtake. Would be a better use of them!

to the max

 

[Dolph]

selfishness usually

because for certain people its more important to have fun than it is to keep the roads that little bit safer

A correctly performed overtake is not dangerous, any more than following the car in front isn't dangerous, or being on the road with another car at all.

It's such a shame that some people are so irrational.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

I like it when they fly past you, only for you to catch them up at the next set of lights

 

[Gibbo]

I like it when they fly past you, only for you to catch them up at the next set of lights

See that don't bother me as I am having so much fun in between those sets of lights as I am not getting held up by a slower driver or slower car.

 

[Begbie]

What annoys me, is people getting annoyed by you overtaking.

I mean, was there any reason to speed up?

Or close the gap?

Or give me the finger?

Or not make a gap, and make a perfectly safe overtake dangerous.

Or even re-overtake and then slow down?

Nice one.

 

[MikeHiow]

I haven't read the rest of the thread, or even the whole of the first post, but I often overtake just because I can, or because I'm bored. I rarely do it because I think it'll get me there quicker, most of the time its because I prefer to drive at my own pace rather than someone else's.

What is more dangerous, is people who get offended by people overtaking or those that think its dangerous enough that they feel compelled to react in some way.

 

[Meridian]

See that don't bother me as I am having so much fun in between those sets of lights as I am not getting held up by a slower driver or slower car.

A perfect summing up. If the road is full as far as the eye can see, then I won't bother. But if there are breaks then I'll start leapfrogging (but never pushing in). Because you never know: sometimes you get past one person and the road ahead is free for several minutes. Sometimes it isn't. But now I have got control back, and my progress is no longer dictated by the biggest lackwit on the road ahead. It may last ten minutes, it may last ten seconds - but it's mine.


M

 

[Gibbo]

A perfect summing up. If the road is full as far as the eye can see, then I won't bother. But if there are breaks then I'll start leapfrogging (but never pushing in). Because you never know: sometimes you get past one person and the road ahead is free for several minutes. Sometimes it isn't. But now I have got control back, and my progress is no longer dictated by the biggest lackwit on the road ahead. It may last ten minutes, it may last ten seconds - but it's mine.


M

+1

Spot on mate.

 

[Clarkey]

Because slow/hesitant drivers are a source of tremendous annoyance. If I'm behind one or someone who I suspect will become one at a further point then I'll pass them. In the case of a train of cars behind a truck I'll try to pass the whole lot at once if possible.

 

[Frozennova]

I'd rather travel at my own pace and have some fun, after all why should I slow for a corner that I have the ability to take faster than the incomptent driver in front. And for the record I will only overtake with a good view ahead.