June 26 — Single Road Safety Day "Overtaking must be safe!"

Overtaking is the most dangerous maneuver when driving a car. Moreover, it is equally dangerous for the overtaking vehicle, the overtaken vehicle, and oncoming vehicles. Overtaking is the most common cause of road accidents.

If you are overtaking

Constantly monitor the situation ahead and behind. You need to make sure that no one is overtaking you at the moment you start to overtake. You must scan the road ahead and refrain from overtaking on an uphill, a bend, or in places where there are pedestrians or where they might unexpectedly appear (in a city, for example, near schools).

You should also refrain from overtaking a vehicle that is slowing down or deviating from a straight path. It is better to first find out the reason for this maneuver, and only then overtake.

It is most difficult to overtake large vehicles or groups of small vehicles. In both cases, do not approach too closely from behind. Distance in this case is necessary for acceleration and for better visibility of the road. Also, when approaching the vehicle being overtaken, you can shift left and right for better control of the road situation ahead.

Overtaking involves three maneuvers: changing lanes into the oncoming traffic lane, passing, and changing back into your own lane.

For a good and safe maneuver at night, you need to know the road perfectly. You should start overtaking with low beam headlights. High beam can only be switched on after your cabin is level with the overtaken car's cabin.

You are being overtaken

Someone can always drive faster. Give them the opportunity to overtake. At the moment of overtaking, if there are no oncoming cars, do not press the gas, but also do not brake. If an oncoming car appears, you need to act according to the situation. Most often, many drivers advise to move to the right and brake. This is correct, but with a small exception. Indeed, if the overtaking car has already passed your vehicle by at least half a body length, it is better to follow the advice and brake, moving to the right. If it has just started overtaking, you need to move to the right without changing speed. In this case, the driver of the overtaking car will have the opportunity to abandon the overtake and get back behind you. Otherwise, a situation of simultaneous braking may arise, which will not please the drivers of oncoming vehicles.
If a truck is overtaking you, also remember about aerodynamics: in the middle of the overtake, your car will be pulled towards the truck.

When overtaking is happening ahead

Quite dangerous situations can arise when overtaking is happening towards you. In case of another driver's error, a dangerous accident can occur. I recommend moving your foot to the brake when you see an overtake ahead (even if the distance is still sufficient). If you see that the car ahead may not have time to change lanes, brake and smoothly move to the shoulder.

Alexander Orekhov, Head of the State Automobile Inspectorate of the District Executive Committee's Internal Affairs Department