Mastering the ‘overtaking triangle’

Throughout the Young Driver of the Year campaign, three professional drivers take turns in the driver’s seat to offer specialist advice on subjects Grampian Police consider to be major contributors to road traffic collisions. This week, Neil Warden, chairman of the Aberdeen branch of the IAM, tackles overtaking

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GREATER concentration is needed when overtaking because hazards can easily be missed due to the increase in speed.

Drivers must also always question whether overtaking is necessary. If in doubt, don’t do it.

There are generally three stages, sometimes referred to as the “overtaking triangle”.

The first stage involves getting into the correct overtaking position. This is the time to consider selecting a lower gear, after your observations have shown there is an opportunity to overtake within a few seconds.

You can also close in on the vehicle to be overtaken. Move your vehicle closer to the centre line to maximise your view ahead, but not to the point where you are running on the cat’s eyes or centre line.

The second stage – the take-off position – involves moving smoothly out to a position which gives maximum visibility, checking the road ahead for hazards without increasing your acceleration and committing yourself to the manoeuvre. When the circumstances are right, accelerate briskly, passing the vehicle. If the circumstances change at this point, you can drop back behind the vehicle to the left-hand side of the road, usually without using the brakes, provided you have judged the process correctly.

The third stage – or return position – will bring you back to the left side of the road at the earliest opportunity. Make sure you do not cut in too closely as you complete this manoeuvre. Once you have passed, check your mirrors and continue on your way safely.