overtaking on motorways

[MartinKeane]

When overtaking on dual carriage/motorways I just check on my mirrors but a driving instructor friend of mine recommends a half glance over the shoulder as well.Any comments please.

[sara3]

of course you glance over your shoulder. there may be a car right next to you as you pull out!

[poohshunny]

Hi Martin. I passed my test 15 years ago. I was taught to glance over my shoulder to check my blind spot .

[jno]

yes, you should, though it means taking your eyes off the road ahead for a second - so it pays to be a safe distance behind the car in front.

[Jugglering]

Definitely glance over your shoulder - try this out if you don't believe us...

Sit in your car (stationary) and have a friend walk alongside the car, as if s/he was overtaking you in another vehicle.... watch as you see them in your mirror, then watch as they vanish into your *blind spot* and then reappear as they pass you. This blind spot is not just there when your friend is overtaking you - it's there when you are overtaking another vehicle.

When I want to overtake another vehicle, I check my mirrors (rear and wing) quite a few times (not just the once) before even indicating and checking over my shoulder, just in case a really fast moving vehicle has come up behind me.

[MartinKeane]

Thanks for the replies but my point is you cant see the driver about to overtake you who is 25 yards behind on the overtaking lane,and if your driving a truck this is more so

[sigma]

If you can't see a vehicle 25 yds behind you, adjust your mirrors.

[DrFilth]

a driving instructor friend of mine recommends a half glance over the shoulder as well

you should fail your test if you don't look over your shoulder to see your blind spot.


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[New Judge]

Of course, the simple answer is that it is your responsibility to ensure that it is absoutely safe to change lanes and you should do this by whatever method(s) suit you, the circumstances and the vehicle you are driving.

If you cannot be absolutely sure then do not change lanes.

[Compostella]

I have, on many an occassion seen someone (usually a bike) right beside me when I glanced over my shoulder.

I have seen the effects of not checking and it scares me

Please heed your friends advice and make the glance.

[gouldc]

Funnily enough, I normally always check over my shoulder, but rather typically the one time I didn't do it, I hit a motorcyclist (luckily at 20 mph in incredibly slow moving traffic - going to be classed as my fault despite witnesses stating I had indicated AND started to change lanes before he thought he could zip passed me - I know the insurance laws and I'm stuffed sadly).

[R1Geezer]

You SMSB jockies are so backward, the "Life Save" is standard practice for motorcyclists, the superior beings on the road. On the depression occasssions when I too have to drive I still look over my shoulder all the time.

[lesblue]

Take a look over both shoulders if there is the possibility of a bike being in the vicinity.

[ugly_bob]

You should always check your blind spot.
I find I have to check mirrors multiple times before I even consider indicating in van (bigger blind spot!) and check pretty regularly just to see what is going on anyway.
Bikes can come from nowhere sometimes, so it doesn't hurt to be doubly sure there is nothing there!

[karmgirl]

I was taught to glance over my shoulder to check blind spot but ex bf said this is dangerous and you should only ever look forwards on a motorway

[karmgirl]

ex bf said to check blindspot you can lean forwards in your seat to see more in the wing mirror

[betterman]

If you cant be bothered to glance over your shoulder then dont, but this is how i used to drive until one day i tried over taking and as mentioned on a lot of posts above this one, a car was directly besides me, both of us doing about 70-80 mph, scared the s**t outta me, but I learnt from it!

[douggym]

I was always taught to check mirrors often enough to know exactly what is going on behind and to the sides and to always move my head to check before maneuvering. My girlfriend failed her test a couple of years ago because she glanced over her right shoulder to check as she was joining a dual carraigeway from a slip road. The examiner told her that to move in your seat whilst driving could affect the steering and was therefore unsafe practice.What a load of rubbish. The same load of rubbish that now says you don't need to indicate if there is no other traffic about.

[simonruss]

you can buy 'blind spot mirrors' from most car accessory shops, these are little shaped mirrors that stick onto your wing mirrors and help show anything that may be there.

[cassa333]

It amazes me how many people don't know simple road rules. This is a good example of why everyone should retake the test every so often.

[marcus5771]

Blind spot mirrors come in a pack of two. Place on the lower left for the drivers side. Near side mirror place on the right lower. Dont get round ones.