Safe Speed Forums

Why is it that I end up feeling guilty as hell when I overtake slower moving cars? I know that I've made proper observations and that I'm perfectly safe, but I just can't get over the feeling that I'm somehow doing something agressive or antisocial.

Its quite disturbing really, but I just can't put my finger on it.

Any thoughts?

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

Keep taking the pills

Helpful, thanks!

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

I learnt years ago that both guilt and worry and self-centered and wasted emotions.

If you can't influence something don't worry. If you've done something deserving of remorse and can can do something about it - do it. If you can't do anything - guilt is just for your own benefit.

I'm sure a large part of the numpty driving population thinks overtaking is as antisocial as drink-driving.

Be proud to pass!

Edit: as a driver of a liveried (and phone numbered) van, I've had three complaints from the public over the years for overtaking them. On each occasion I was within the speed limit (perhaps 65ish in one case), and flatly refused to be contrite about it. In one case, the guy had just pulled out on me, so I just steered round him. How evil!

People expect me to overtake them (prejudging based on the car I am driving) so I don't get any odd reactions - or if I do they are too far back for me to see them!

Normally it is slight relief that I feel about safe negotiation of a potentially dangerous move (obviously if there was any danger I wouldn't have started to pass), and occasional slight concern about the possibility of being stung for exceeding the speed limit while passing...

There's potentially a gap between what-you-know-you-know and what-you-feel-you-know.

Since it's so irrational to feel guilty about safe overtaking, I'm wondering if the feeling is the manifestation of the gap between KNOWING that it is safe and FEELING that it might not be safe.

In other words, you have deep nagging (irrational) doubts about the safety of your own overtaking.

(Well, it's an idea... )

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I think you might be onto something. I KNOW its safe otherwise I wouldn't do it, but I wonder if its not me questioning my own judgement and observation.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

I saw on the back of a car once “Is there life after death, overtake me and find out”
People used to hate being over taken when I was in my rover, and they made it difficult for me by speeding up . In my alfa they seem to accept it more, and those that speed up just look stupid . I would not feel guilty; the people holding you up should feel bad. You don’t force them to drive at the speed you wish to go. It is strange how at the moment people think you are anti social to drive quickly, however it is perfectly reasonable to hold someone up on the road.

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

It's ok to overtake we have to keep reminding ourselves that!!

MInd you the north devon example in the other thread doesn't help.

It s the British mentality. We just love to wait in a que....

Even if that means slow moving traffic.

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Speed camera policy Kills

I've just given up caring what other people think. I'll ofter get flashed at or various hand signals after a perfectly safe overtake on a mile long straight in broad daylight.

Doing 40,000 miles a year for the last couple of years really does change your attidude (and not necesserailly for the better) but in all honesty if I haven't put anyone in danger and they still want to complain then quite frankly fuck them. They probably dont know what means anyway (else I wouldn't have just overtaken them)

My advice is get a bike........

Most people expect to be overtaken by them!

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It's tricky doing nothing - you never know when you're finished

I did quite a lot of advanced driver training in the past. One aspect of that training is that you're expected to develop a disciplined attitude to overtaking, including use of gears, acceleration, indicators and above all observation-as long as you don't overtake on a corner, a bend, a hill, a hump-backed bridge, where the road narrows or on the zig-zags of a zebra crossing. Overtaking is all part of being a disciplined driver. You've no need to feel guilty about it. Be more conscious of other drivers who recklessly overtake you.

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Anyone who tells you that nothing is impossible has never bathed in a saucer of water.

she's got one...

Sixy, I too suffer overtaking guilt. I think it's the daggers we get when we have to ordacity (sp) to get a move on.

2 actually

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

Do feel antisocial or aggressive when you walk past someone on a pavement? If you barge them out of the way or push them into the road, a lamppost, a puddle or knock them over then maybe.

If you do a clean, safe, overtake what is the problem?

I included the 'push them into the road' to demonstrate that even walking could have potentially fatal consequences for other pedestrians and is therefore, I think, a valid analogy even if the circumstances would have to be more extreme.

I was in the vacinity of Henlow, Beds, heading for a training course, and on the approach to an island a porche and myself both moved to the right when the oncoming lane was clear to pass a queue of traffic waiting to turn left and utilise the right hand approach lane. Some guy in a souped up Vauxhaul with a 'www.ferrariownersclub.co.uk' decal on his rear bumper decided he didn't appreciate this behavior and stuck his hand out of the window to make all manner of rude gestures.

So it seems the overtakees do sometimes take umbrage!

Some take umbrage when you outsmart them by planning ahead. Always cracks me up when some berk has been right on my back seat, goes past, tanks up to roundabout and has to stop. Meanwhile I have seen the traffic on the roundabout and I slow down slightly and have reached the exit before they've hardly turned a wheel

My fave is when you're passed on a DC on the approach to traffic lights and a similar thing happens - you're still rolling when the lights change and they disappear in your mirrors!

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.