Your Driving and
the
Road
Passing
The driver of a vehicle about
to pass
another on a two-lane highway waits for
just
the
right moment, accelerates, moves
around the vehicle ahead, then goes back
into the right lane again.
A
simple
maneuver?
Not
necessarily! Passing another vehicle
on a two-lane highway is
a
potentially
dangerous move, since the passing
vehicle occupies the same lane as
oncoming traffic for several seconds.
A
miscalculation, an error
in
judgment, or a
brief surrender to frustration or anger can
suddenly put the passing driver face to
face with the worst of
all
traffic accidents
-
the head-on collision.
So
here are some tips for passing:
“Drive ahead.’’ Look down the road,
to the sides, and to crossroads for
situations that might affect your
passing patterns. If you have any
doubt whatsoever about making a
successful pass, wait for a better time.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement
markings, and lines.
If
you can see a
sign up ahead that might indicate
a
turn
or an intersection, delay your
pass.
A
broken center line usually
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0
indicates it’s all right
to
pass
(providing the road ahead is clear).
Never cross
a
solid line on your side
of
the lane or
a
double solid line, even
if
the road seems empty of
approaching traffic.
Do
not get too close to the vehicle you
want
to
pass while you’re awaiting an
opportunity. For one thing, following
too closely reduces your area of
vision, especially
if
you’re following a
larger vehicle.
Also,
you won‘t have
adequate space if the vehicle ahead
suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.
When
it
looks like a chance to
pass
is
coming
up,
start to accelerate but stay
in
the right lane and don’t get
too
close. Time your move
so
you
will
be
increasing speed
as
the time comes
to
move into the other lane. If the way is
clear
to
pass, you will have a “running
start” that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose
by
dropping
back. And if something happens to
cause you
to
cancel your pass,
you
need only slow down and drop back
again and wait for another
opportunity.
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0
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If other cars are lined up to pass a
slow vehicle, wait your turn.
But
take
care that someone isn’t trying to pass
you as you pull out to pass the
slow
vehicle. Remember
to
glance over your
shoulder and check the blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and start your left lane
change signal before moving out
of
the right lane to pass. When you are
far enough ahead of the passed vehicle
to see its front
in
your inside mirror,
activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane.
(Remember that your right outside
mirror is convex. The vehicle you just
passed may seem
to
be farther away
from you than
it
really
is.)
Try not
to
pass more than one vehicle
at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider
before passing the next vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving
vehicle
too
rapidly. Even though the
brake lights are not flashing,
it
may
be slowing down or starting to
turn.
If
you’re being passed, make
it
easy
for the following driver to get ahead
of you. Perhaps you can ease
a
little
to
the right.
.
.
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