Mirror This is back to the fishing line; look behind to reassess the situation. If it is not safe, you may have to abort the manoeuvre and start the procedure again.


Signal Make your intentions clear, even if you are not being followed: it may be useful for the driver of the vehicle you are about to overtake.


Manoeuvre A quick sideways glance may be necessary before moving out. This is just out of the driver’s window rather than an over-the-shoulder (blind spot) check, because even at 40 mph a car will travel 60 feet per second. Move out on a smooth line around the vehicle (ahead) leaving adequate room as you pass. You may need to allow extra room when passing vulnerable road users, for example moped riders and cyclists. You will certainly need to leave more room before, during and after overtaking horses.


Check your mirrors to ensure you have cleared the


vehicle you have overtaken, and to see if someone has followed you through: if they have, you may need to allow more space than originally anticipated. Wherever possible, it is more reliable to check the interior mirror rather than rely solely on the nearside mirror. This is because the rear-view mirror is made from flat glass and gives a true image, whereas traffic may appear further away than it really is in a nearside mirror, which is convex. Consider if a signal is necessary before returning to


the left. Sometimes a signal could be misleading, particularly on a single carriageway. This method reflects the DSA’s preferred method, which can be found in The Official DSA Guide to Driving: The Essential Skills.


The most important rule is R163: you


should only overtake if it is safe and legal to do so


April / May 2011 | driving


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