Go ahead...overtake!

[BENT_8]

Just wondering what peoples thoughts were in relations to trucks etc. giving you the ok to pass when you otherwise couldn't see.

During my rescent trip to Wagga, i was given the ok to pass a road train/b-double just out of Mildura.
Now i am never one to trust these helpful people as i like to take responsibility for my own driving, but the other night really confirmed my instincts.
I followed this truck for about 10k's out on the road to Hay which for those who have never been through there is winding and has a 50k limit for much of it.
When we came to a stretch of clear road of say 500m he signalled me to overtake. I moved over the line to get a good look and as i went to go a truck with only one headlight came around a blind bend leaving me 300-400 meters to make my passing manouver and merge before being hit head on by the other truck.
Needless to say i quickly pulled back in and waited for a good place with visibility.
It worries me that i could just as easily booted it on his advice and not be here now.

[HLC]

ive been given the ok to overtake by trucks, and ive not done it. ill ONLY overtake if I can see.

[Outbackjack]

UHF channel 40, talk to the guy in the truck. Tell him that you are gratefull for the info about the road being clear, but you will go around in your own time.

[S3SR]

recently it was pouring down but so bad it was like mist and i couldnt see anything but the rear of the truck...anyways truck in front of me indicated to overtake... at least they are better than caravaners

[Melz]

Did you think he might not have spotten the other car until after he gave you the go ahead, then it would have been too late????

But yes as everyone said always check before you go out, the road may be clear of cars but there may be other things on the road that the truck driver/other car may have not noticed.

I live in southwest WA and alot of the road trains from large companies down this way signal that it is fine to overtake, I usually do but only if i can see that it is clear to do so.... Then the usual hazard lights as a thanks

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Melz

Did you think he might not have spotten the other car until after he gave you the go ahead, then it would have been too late????.

I did consider this but then figured if he couldn't see 500m up the road around the bend and had no idea the performance or overtaking capabilities of my car, then perhaps he should keep to driving his own vehicle and leave me to drive mine.

I wonder what would have happened if an accident had occured?
Do you think he would have stopped and helped or tell the cops that he had signalled me to overtake even though he had no idea what was around the next corner?
I doubt it.
I would be labelled as impatient and guilty of killing myself and others.

[Melz]

Around the bend... there are different definitions of bends, my translations was it might have been a blind bend, the truckie might not have even seen it at night..

[Feathers]

He thought he was doing the right thing, helping you out.
He may not have been familiar with the area though.

I've grown up around various types of heavy vehicles, and am in the process of getting a bus licence to drive for our business, so I personally wouldn't be too hard on the truckie. I've seen it done many times, and been in vehicles when the driver I was with has done it. It's a courtesy thing.

If you don't want to or don't feel comfortable, don't do it.

Like you said though, it's ultimately YOU driving your vehicle, and your decision to make. I wouldn't overtake unless I could also see that it was clear to do so.

He didn't force you to overtake, so if there had been an accident, while he might have felt guilty about it, it would still have been you in the wrong.

[Full Noise]

I used to signal to cars to overtake all the time, however, I rarely do this now.
Firstly, I’m sick to death of being courteous to car drivers only to have them pull in front, not indicate and then slow down to 80 for a 100 k bend.

Some car drivers are absolutely clueless so it’s best to stay on the safe side.

I indicated to one driver once to overtake on the Newel Hwy going through the Pilligas and when I gave him a right flash, he locked his brakes up behind me. : As if I’m going to do a right turn at 100 kph into the Pilliga State Forest. For those who aren’t familiar with this stretch of road, it’s about 105 kilometres long and dead straight.

On many other occasions I’ve indicated to some boneheads behind me to overtake, only for them to think about it for about two minutes and when they finally figure out what I meant, they pull out and another vehicle’s approaching.

Then you get the drivers that pull out to overtake you when you’re driving a B-double and they either get half way beside you and just sit there or they decide to take two minutes to do it.

If you assume that every car driver is a brain dead moron, you’ll generally be a lot safer on the road.

[DOC]

Have driven many long roads and as a rule i will give he truckies full marks, they are good drivers, 70 year old tourists towing thier shiny new caravan in thier new 4 w drive who have never towed anything bigger than a 6 x 4 trailer if they were lucky, another story.

[Full Noise]

I will just say one other thing though. If a car comes up behind me fairly quickly, I’ll do my best to help them around. Sometimes it’s a bit hard to tell what sort of car it is in your mirrors at night and when they’re 30 metres behind you, however, you generally get a feeling from the headlights and how low they are to the ground. If they’re prepared to stick the boot in to get around me, I’ll help them as much as I can.

GT 8888 can back me up on this one. :hihi:

[BENT_8]

I agree with what you all have said, and often signal my appreciation to the driver of the truck who signals me past, however as this guy was in front of me and has powerful lights i found it down right dangerous for him to lead me to believe that with his view, i was safe to overtake a 50mtr vehicle.

If he was unable to see the bend he should not have signalled, nor should he signal if he is unfamiliar with the area.
Lets not forget that this guy had a near 80mtr advantage in terms of distance of sight than i could have with him infront, and should have been able to see the roadside markers end, indicating a crest or bend.

As a driver can you honestly say you have never signalled someone to overtake when you haven't been fully aware of the traffic conditions.

Or perhaps i was just unfortunate to come across this guy when he had a bad day.
And heavy vehicle drivers never get it wrong.

I would put it that because the oncoming truck had only one operating headlight, that at some stage prior to arriving at the bend, he turned off his spotties, which at night time out of Mildura should be fairly easy to see for the guy in front of me.

[kyro_02]

just don't overtake anything if you cannot see xxxx metres in front ... or see further enough to make a safe overtake, never overtake on a bend or coming over a crest and you will be safe :P

don't let another driver pass you by cause he could be out to get you killed "accident" not "murder" ;) ... !

[rodderz]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

I will just say one other thing though. If a car comes up behind me fairly quickly, I’ll do my best to help them around. Sometimes it’s a bit hard to tell what sort of car it is in your mirrors at night and when they’re 30 metres behind you, however, you generally get a feeling from the headlights and how low they are to the ground. If they’re prepared to stick the boot in to get around me, I’ll help them as much as I can.

GT 8888 can back me up on this one. :hihi:

I think thats the safest option Danny, for most people anyway

Last year both Brocky and Skaife wrote columns in the paper whereby they said the safest way to overtake, is to boot it past but not get to unsafe or ridiculous speeds. Their agrument was the longer you are overtaking, the greater the chance of an accident. This is all dependant on road conditions too however

[HOON69]

your the driver not him,his interpretation of the overtake might be different to yours,did you think that maybe there was enough time but whilst your making up your mind that gap closes really quickly?

im not one to trust anyone except my own driving
and there for if you can see the vehicle in the opposite lane then i feel its too close,though im sure we've al been in a tight situation before.

the little left blinker right blinker,flash lights etc kinda thing trucks do and vice versa has worked a treat for me,i find 90% of trucks if slower will move to faster vehicles.

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

I will just say one other thing though. If a car comes up behind me fairly quickly, I’ll do my best to help them around. Sometimes it’s a bit hard to tell what sort of car it is in your mirrors at night and when they’re 30 metres behind you, however, you generally get a feeling from the headlights and how low they are to the ground. If they’re prepared to stick the boot in to get around me, I’ll help them as much as I can.

GT 8888 can back me up on this one. :hihi:

Agree 1000% Comon Sence...The driver who pull across in front of trucks are more dangerous than doing 15 klrs over speed limit, open road...Especially when its done before traffic lights etc...Highway patrol should be looking for this sort of inconsiderate driving than speed.

[J.C.]

Originally Posted by HLC

ive been given the ok to overtake by trucks, and ive not done it. ill ONLY overtake if I can see.

Good advice.

As mention, channel 40 UHF. Have a small hand held unit that we travel with and listen to. Don't talk much on it as I have found the truckie don't like car drivers much (not all. Some are very polite). They signal you to overtake, then b***h about you doing it.

It can work both ways too. I have being travelling and see a truck coming up behind. I have pulled into the right lane (when safe to do so of course), called them through and have clicked off the cruise to assist them so they don't have to move over and they can keep momentum up and the over take go quicker. The only real downfall to this is you have not much of an idea on what is behind them until you venture out a little for a beter view.

[OldManGhia]

A friend has a scanner that we listen to when we visit them and its amazing the no. of semis' that are reported to Police for things such as tailgating, overtaking in turning lanes, driving on high beam etc. There was even one recently shining a strong torch light into cars as they passed. The Police here have adopted the attitude of pulling them over and inspecting the vehicle and log books and generally delaying them as long as they can. There are so many cowboys on the road these days, there isn't a chance I would overtake a truck that signalled for me to pass.

[Miss_XR6]

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

UHF channel 40, talk to the guy in the truck. Tell him that you are gratefull for the info about the road being clear, but you will go around in your own time.

not all truckies use channel 40

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by AU98C-Wagon

A friend has a scanner that we listen to when we visit them and its amazing the no. of semis' that are reported to Police for things such as tailgating, overtaking in turning lanes, driving on high beam etc. There was even one recently shining a strong torch light into cars as they passed. The Police here have adopted the attitude of pulling them over and inspecting the vehicle and log books and generally delaying them as long as they can. There are so many cowboys on the road these days, there isn't a chance I would overtake a truck that signalled for me to pass.

The number of trucks reported is more a refection of the do gooders that live in the area. “This truck tailgated me so I’m ringing the cops” attitude is absolute bull****. Do they also tell the cops that for the last fifteen minutes, every time the truck has tried to overtake, I’d thought I’d speed up from 90 to the speed limit knowing that the truck is speed limited?

This truck had his high beam on, I’m ringing the cops. What about the inept drivers that insist on leaving their high beam on, regardless of the other vehicles around them? Do they wonder why so many people hit them with their high beam?

I’m not going to waste any more time on this post as I couldn’t be bothered arguing about winging car drivers who feel that it’s their civil duty to ring the cops every time they feel a truck driver has done something wrong, in their little minds.

Let’s keep this thread on its original topic.

[merlin]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

Let’s keep this thread on its original topic.

What is the topic again? I don't get it - a truck signalled the orignal poster to pass, in his own words he said that he trusts no-one so always checks first, pulled out, there was a truck coming around a blind-bend, so he pulled back in - whats the issue?

PS - how does a truck signal you to pass - do you mean like an arm out the window?

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by merlin

How does a truck signal you to pass - do you mean like an arm out the window?

They generally give you a right flash.

[Dazza XLT]

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

UHF channel 40, talk to the guy in the truck. Tell him that you are gratefull for the info about the road being clear, but you will go around in your own time.

^^^ Works for me!
Some truckies I have seen (Emphasis on SOME, NOT ALL) in the NT are barely capable of keeping their truck on the road, let alone worrying about what the car behind is doing!
UHF has helped me over the years. Saved a few fines.

[OldManGhia]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

The number of trucks reported is more a refection of the do gooders that live in the area. “This truck tailgated me so I’m ringing the cops” attitude is absolute bull****. Do they also tell the cops that for the last fifteen minutes, every time the truck has tried to overtake, I’d thought I’d speed up from 90 to the speed limit knowing that the truck is speed limited?

I am talking about the Pacific Highway where the majority of the vehicles would be thru traffic and not local do gooders. Even if they were locals maybe the locals have a better idea of local conditions and the number of people killed to be concerned. And I am not saying that trucks are the reason so many are killed either. I have friends who are truckies and I really do sympathise with them when they talk about moron car drivers, but lets face it not all truckies are perfect either. My point was that I wouldn't trust any truckie with my life just like I wouldn't trust a 4x4 with a van or any other vehicle for that matter.

[max]

The day I drive by remote recommendation is the day I will hand my licence in. Having said that... I accept that whoever has an insight/farther vision etc
that's fine, but the ultimate decision will be mine based on my knowledge of critical factors, directly under my control.

[Kenaz]

If you've seen the movie Duel you'll understand why I don't pass in those circumstances.

[max]

Originally Posted by Kenaz

If you've seen the movie Duel you'll understand why I don't pass in those circumstances.

Yeah that was a great picture! Also hate Kenworth prime-movers behind me at level crossings......

[[Tonko]]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

I would be labelled as impatient and guilty of killing myself and others.

you would be labelled as an impatient, lead footed hoon. they are the words of these times

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

The number of trucks reported is more a refection of the do gooders that live in the area. “This truck tailgated me so I’m ringing the cops” attitude is absolute bull****. Do they also tell the cops that for the last fifteen minutes, every time the truck has tried to overtake, I’d thought I’d speed up from 90 to the speed limit knowing that the truck is speed limited?

This truck had his high beam on, I’m ringing the cops. What about the inept drivers that insist on leaving their high beam on, regardless of the other vehicles around them? Do they wonder why so many people hit them with their high beam?

I’m not going to waste any more time on this post as I couldn’t be bothered arguing about winging car drivers who feel that it’s their civil duty to ring the cops every time they feel a truck driver has done something wrong, in their little minds.

Let’s keep this thread on its original topic.

Lets keep this on topic!
Dont give me that cr&p about trucks having speed limiters because i followed and passed many trucks Friday night to Wagga and 90% of them were doing 120+km/hr so how do you explain that?