How to Pass Another Vehicle and Overtake Safely

Passing on a two-lane highway with opposing lanes of traffic is a high-risk manoeuvre. If you misjudge and overtake incorrectly you could be involved in a head-on collision. Head-on crashes are often fatal. Due to the combined speeds of the vehicles, vehicle occupants rarely survive a head-on crash.

And because head-on collisions often occur in rural areas, it takes a significant amount of time for emergency crews to arrive at the scene, extricate you from the wreckage, and transport injured people to the hospital. Trauma victims must be treated within an hour of incurring their injuries, otherwise their chances of survival are low.

Two road engineering features that have been implemented in the last quarter of a century have significantly reduced the number of head-on crashes:

1) paved shoulders on highways;
2) passing lanes at regular intervals.

Shoulder drop off was one of the most significant factors that caused head-on accidents. Inexperienced drivers would drop the vehicle off the shoulder of the pavement, panic, and yank the steering wheel back onto the roadways. The vehicle would shoot back onto the roadway, careen into the opposing lane of traffic and there would be a head-on crash.

With the paving of the shoulders of roadways in combination with rumble strips, head-on crashes have been significantly reduced. Another contributing factor is GPS and cell phones. Due to improved communications, emergency crews can more quickly transport car crash victims to hospitals.

The other contributing road engineering feature that has reduced head-on collisions is passing lanes at regular intervals - not more than 10-30 miles between passing lanes. Passing lanes allow traffic to overtake safely without entering the opposing lanes of traffic.

In the video above, the truck that passed risked a dangerous manoeuvre for little gain. After 30 minutes of driving the truck didn't gain a whole lot of distance. And in the 47 kilometres that we travelled south along highway #97, there were 4 passing lanes; therefore, we were never more than 10 minutes from a passing lane at any given time. And the traffic flow that day was 110kph (68mph), allowing for an average speed of 100kph (62mph).

Driving farther in a day for a commercial driver is not about attaining higher rates of speed, but attaining a higher daily average speed. In other words, a constant speed for the duration of the day will get you more overall distance at the end of the day.

Finally, for commercial drivers, you need to remember that you are setting an example, and risking a head-on crash when you're only 8 minutes from a passing lane is not prudent.

Good luck on your road test!
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[Uminental]

I love how this is the only American guy that is talking about *kilometers* . Thaks you pal!

[kathrynj.hernandez]

It's 2019 and I am watching all these videos again because I am required to take a drivers test every two years. I have lost vision in one eye. But I get to drive safely through these fabulous Canadian towns and country roads. It's just so beautiful. A secondary benefit of Rick August's Smart Drive genius. Thank you!

[kawaiijp]

i only pass when the driver in front of me maintains a surprisingly slow speed and there are no cars driving towards on the other lane.
but man, passing other vehicles is the most stressful thing of driving.

[chrisuk]

If you are not experienced enough don’t risk it because people that have taken this chance and made a mistake ended up dead or paralyzed for life.

[SH-kxjv]

I’ve had my license for one year and I’m still scared to go out and drive. I’m looking into all these videos to try ease my driving

[jackdanila]

In Argentina there are not any passing lanes. If there's a truck in front of you doing 80 in a 130 highway, you WILL have to overtake on the opposing lane

[bigford]

Thanks to your channel I passed my drivers test today. Thanks for the tips on Parallel parking and 90 degree parking.

[creatorjan]

Very informative! Rick You deserve a Golden Play Button!
Greetings from Philippines 🇵🇭

[mauditecharles]

this is the best driving channel ever! Stay cool and awesome!! :)

[eurosonly]

Speeding in town or with others on the road doesn't pay because you'll just arrive at the red light a few seconds earlier than the car you've just passed a few minute earlier. It's not worth the fuel cost and wear and tear on your engine.

[keishaforbes]

I have improved so in my driving and controlling my nervousness thanks ur the best

[harmelbrar]

Could you please make a information regarding DEAD END, no stooping.concealed, pavement end, , hazard marker, flashing red or yellow light ? Thanks

[merrillgehman]

Rick, if your still here, could you do something about the middle lane use where there’s three lanes. It’s a problem many places with people using the middle lane as a thru lane, or cruising lane where most of us use it as a passing lane and then move back right.

[night_traffic]

Hey Rick
What if there is no passing lane or paved shoulders like in some countries?Can we pass in that case?Thanks.

[kurtreber]

I have never committed to passing and had to take emergency evasive action because of it BUT I HAVE seen OTHERS commit to passing and then I HAD TO TAKE EMERG3NCY EVASIVE ACTION to prevent their causing an accident.

[jacquelinerochester]

thanks u Mr Rick I am just learning to drive your videos is helping me

[darealjayrichmond]

In the Philippines, most drivers overtake on the opposite road if the car in front is slow.

[damanpreetmultani]

Bro I was about to pass a big truck with a trailer and there was no oncoming traffic coming but the truck driver decided to speed up while I’m passing him and my parents were with me but why would he speed up while I was passing the

[alexplay]

Very helpful videos, I'm learning a lot to put in practice here in my country Venezuela, where not many people have good road education. Keep up the good work.

[DannyNomad]

The real reason head-on collisions are so often fatal is the combination of speeds. When you combine two vehicles traveling an average of 100kph/62mph, it's like hitting a brick wall at 200kph/124mph. Most high-speed highway head-ons are going to be an instant fatality.