In Russia, the expression “woman behind the wheel” has long beenis considered a folk tale. Some male drivers simply keep silent and do not take lady drivers seriously, while others break into a malicious grin and cannot refrain from barbs and ridicule. And in order not to give them a reason and to adequately respond to the sometimes unfounded claims of male drivers, every woman needs to know all the subtleties and nuances of behavior on the road. Today we will talk about such an important point as the rules of overtaking. It is not without reason that the largest section in the traffic rules is devoted to overtaking, and it is because of this maneuver that the most terrible accidents occur.
If you are ahead of you
Let's say you're in a hurry to get to an important meeting (ona date with your loved one, a job interview, visiting your mom), and in front of you, an old "seven" is barely moving, filled to capacity with summer residents. Of course, it is better to overtake it and you, turning on the left turn signal, drive into the next lane. It seems to be simple, but there are some nuances:
- Make sure that the lane on which you are going to leave is quite free, and you will not interfere with the vehicles moving to the meeting with your maneuver.
- Carefully look in the rear-view mirror - did the overtaking of the driver following you. If you have started, then better pass it forward.
- Next, you need to make sure that after completing the overtaking you can return to your lane without interfering with the car that is overtaken.
- And finally, if everything is okay - turn on the leftturn signal and overtake, just before you return to the correct series, make sure that the distance between you and the vehicle overtaken is not less than the size of the car body.
There are still some rules that are worth following.take into account when overtaking. For example, it is better to be on a hill from overtaking, also you should not start this maneuver on a turn or on a pedestrian crossing. If the car you decided to overtake deviates from straight-line movement or starts to slow down - you should not take risks either. In the case of overtaking a group of cars, you should definitely wait for a situation when it is possible to overtake everyone at once, and not one by one. This is much safer than overtaking each car separately. At the same time, you should not greatly increase the speed, that is, your speed should not exceed the speed of the overtaken cars by more than 20 km per hour.
If you are overtaken
Agree, there will always be a person whowill drive faster than you. Therefore, let's consider such situations. If you are being overtaken and oncoming cars are not visible in front of you, you do not need to press the brake. Calmly move at the same pace as before. If a car appears in the oncoming lane, act based on the situation. Many professional drivers advise to pull over to the side of the road and brake. Of course, this is correct, but only when the overtaking car is at least half a body length ahead of you. If the driver has just started the maneuver, there is no need to brake, just pull over to the right without slowing down. This is necessary so that the car overtaking you has the opportunity to return to its lane if it changes its mind about overtaking. Otherwise, you will start braking at the same time, which oncoming drivers will not like at all. In the case when a truck overtakes you, you must remember about aerodynamics, since in the middle of the overtaking maneuver you can be carried towards the truck, pulling you towards it. Therefore, you need to hold the steering wheel tightly and get ready to steer.
If ahead ahead
The most dangerous situations on the roads arise,if overtaking occurs in the oncoming lane. In this case, an incompetent driver's mistake or violation of overtaking rules can lead to a serious accident. Having noticed that overtaking is taking place in front, prepare for emergency braking in advance. Even if the distance to oncoming cars seems safe to you. Seeing that the car in front does not have time to change lanes - press the brake and smoothly move to the side of the road. Do not forget to turn on the right turn signal. This way you will let the driver of the overtaken car know that you are moving to the right, and he will try to drive in the middle. It is worth noting that such a maneuver does not always work. Therefore, in each specific case, you need to act based on the current situation. To minimize such cases, try to reduce speed on the highway in places where visibility is limited, that is, on climbs and before a sharp turn.
Overtaking prohibited
Let's continue studying the traffic rules. The sign "overtaking is prohibited" is probably known to all lady drivers. So, according to the rules, overtaking is not possible in several cases:
- When driving on a secondary road, where there are adjustable and unregulated intersections.
- When approaching a pedestrian crossing, especially if people are seen on it.
- In the area of a hundred meters from the railway crossing, as well as at the crossing.
- On bridges, overpasses and under them, in tunnels.
- At the end of the climb, on steep turns, and on other sites with poor visibility.
The rules of overtaking also provide for the following facts:
- Overtaking is prohibited when a car moving in front, rides around an obstacle or also goes overtaking.
- Going to overtaking is also not worth it, if the car in front, going on your lane, gave a turn signal to the left.
Consider some of the prohibitions in more detail
The rules of overtaking state that overtaking on a bridge orunder it, as well as in the tunnel, is strictly prohibited by these rules. It is worth keeping in mind that some small bridges are built in such a way that they are difficult to notice from afar. And with all this, if the bridge is located within a populated area, its boundaries are not marked. This is the difficulty. Therefore, be very careful in such a situation, since your ignorance of the presence of such a bridge does not protect you from liability and from a fine for violating the rules. Overtaking on an incline and in poor visibility. To identify a steep incline or a dangerous turn, there are special signs that indicate its approach. It is worth noting that overtaking is prohibited at the end of any incline, and not just a sharp one, as well as on any section with poor visibility. Independently determining a section with poor visibility is not an easy task, so if, based on some criteria, you still decide that visibility is limited, it is better to play it safe, otherwise violating the overtaking rules will be inevitable, as well as a conversation with a formidable traffic police officer.
Some tips in the end
- You do not need to perceive overtaking as a personal insult, even if you were overtaken by the ancient tarah-making "Zaporozhets". You can always catch up with him and overtake him a little later.
- The expression of politeness is a slight decrease in speed when overtaking. But raising it is a great stupidity.
- When driving on a road with several cars, you do not have to go overtaking immediately after your friends. First, study the situation and make sure that your maneuver is safe.
- If you went to overtake a wagon or anotherheavy car, blink his headlights, thereby warning of his intention. Male drivers, especially truckers, respect courtesy on the roads.
- When you are going to overtake, switch to a weaker gear. This will save the power reserve for maneuvering. For example, we went to the fourth, switch to the third.
No matter how much men mock women behind the wheelevery year becomes more and more. And despite all the ridicule, it is the lady drivers who are always more careful and attentive on the roads (not counting, of course, experienced professionals with many years of experience). Do not be afraid of difficulties, remember the rules and signs, gain experience, and in a year or two you will definitely become an experienced motorist. Attentiveness, courage and self-confidence are the main qualities that allow you to feel confident even in the most difficult situations on the roads!
