Safe Speed Forums

That's what I was meaning really - Even if it was to pass something travelling extremely slowly, I would do it where visibility was good, and I'd want to complete the manouvre so I was back on my side of the road before I got to a stage where there could be oncoming traffic.



I'd certainly go along with that. About ten years ago, a horse that had bolted jumped over our car, smashing both the front and rear windscreen. Extremely scary stuff!

_________________
-mike[F]
Caught in the rush of the crowd, lost in a wall of sound..

True! Some time ago - some chap was in line of 10mph-ish traffic on double white road - and decided to overtake the whole line. Unfortunately for him - yours truly was coming up in opposite direction and had to take evasive action! He got the full acid - when I eventually caught up with him! He even had the nerve to tell me that he was not speeding and quoted the 10mph rule at me! Er- well - you still only overtake normally- on normal markings if safe to do so. Overtaking line of 5 slow moving cars bunched behind a grass cutter, on a double white, even within posted speed limit and nearly colliding with an unmarked cop car sort of undermines the discretionary bit! Was that day!



Horses can certainly be nervy. Reason why I suggest slow and careful drive past, with as much space as possible, is because if you throttle too hard - they can spook! If you cannot get past them due to other hazard - best to try to increase your distance behind them, and get ready to move as soon as it is safe to do so.

Same would apply to a cyclist.



But of course - we would use judgement and discretion in these cases.

That is why we have the edge on speed cameras!

The only difference between your view and mine lies in the need for the double white line system. I am assuming that visibility is short and the double white line system is necessary. In this case it is broadly safe to be on the wrong side of the double white line system at 0mph because the safe speed behaviour of oncoming traffic makes it safe. Driving at 10mph may be a reasonable safety compromise, 25mph almost certainly is not.

One the other hand - the view you are taking is that the double white line system may not really be necessary and some number of seconds of forward visibility exists, in which case I agree with you - let's get past as soon as possible. I also agree that there are now many double white line systems that meet this spec.

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

Many roads nowdays have double white lines extending for miles, so I would say that good visibility on these sections is becoming the rule rather than the exception.
I maintain that you should NOT overtake if forward visibility is short - white lines or no white lines. Rather stay behind for a few seconds until past the bend or whatever. After all, there's no guarantee that the driver coming the other way is applying the safespeed rule, and even if he was, there's precious little difference you can make whether you're doing 10mph or 25mph - given the comparatively very short stopping distances.

Regards
Peter