10 Things You Must Keep In Mind For Safe Overtaking

The duration of our overtaking manoeuvres represents less than 0.1% of the total time we spend on the road. Yet these twenty to thirty seconds on the odd highway trip can actually be one of the most dangerous actions you'll ever take on the road.
Car insurance can cover the odd dent, twist and even roll-over when it comes to your car, but it can do nothing to replace you as a driver, or your passengers, if your overtaking manoeuvre fails. So today we look at the steps involved to successfully overtake, with a focus on highway overtaking where you must cross into an oncoming traffic lane in order to pass a car.

1. Put your headlights on

It's good driving practice to put your headlights on as soon as you hit that 110 km/hr zone anyway. However, if you're going to be pulling into an oncoming traffic lane, it is even more critical.

2. Make sure it is legal to overtake - double and broken lines

Those double lines are there for a reason - if the government doesn't feel that it is safe to overtake at a particular point, it probably isn't. There may be a cross road coming up, or a known black spot. Trust the lines!

- Double white lines means that neither side of the road can overtake
- Double lines with a broken line on your side means that only your side of the road can overtake
- Double lines with a broken line on the other side of the road means only the other side can overtake
- A single broken line means you can freely overtake... as long as it is safe

3. Watch out for upcoming intersections

There may be nobody approaching on the straight, but an overtaking manoeuvre can quickly turn into tragedy if somebody is turning out into the road from a side road. Accidents happen particularly when a car is turning left into the highway, as they usually only look to their right for oncoming traffic.

4. Ensure you have enough room - watch out for subtle changes in road height that can hide cars

Particularly on hot days, road haze can obscure subtle shifts in road height that may hide cars. Be POSITIVE there is nothing coming!

5. Check your rear view mirror and give way to those already overtaking

If you've been sitting behind a car for a long time and traffic has built up behind you, check your rear-view mirror before pulling out. Someone behind you may have also seen the gap. Give way to those already overtaking.

6. Be aware of the camber change in the road

Our roads are usually cambered so that the centre is slightly higher than the sides, and it can be quite off-putting when the usual feeling is reversed! Be aware that the camber will change, and that you'll have to put slight leftwards pressure on the steering wheel in order to stay straight, compared to the subtle rightwards pressure you would usually use.

7. Be aware of wind

If you are passing a truck, wind can be a major factor in your safety. Wind that you are blocked from when passing, but exposed to after getting past the bonnet of that truck can suddenly spear you off the road if it is strong enough. Try to avoid overtaking in strong wind conditions.

8. Get up to speed before you pull out

Don't pull out at your following speed and try to build speed in the wrong lane - minimize your time in the danger zone by getting up to overtaking speed before you pull out.

9. Can you speed while overtaking?

The police, the road rules, and your mother will tell you that it is never safe to speed, even while overtaking. Common sense often tells us that rules are less than hard and fast, and you may actually reduce your chance of making a car insurance claim if you speed a little while overtaking. Only speed in moderation (up to 10 km over the limit), and be extra careful.

10. Pull back in once you can see the other car's headlights in your rearview mirror

Don't endanger the other car by pulling back in too soon - when you see their headlights in your rear view mirror, it is safe to pull back in."

How To Get Auto Insurance Quotes Today

There are many sources of auto insurance quotes you can use today, but not all of these sources are created equal though. By understanding the pros and cons of using each source of quotes, you can make the process of buying your policy very easy to handle. The following paragraphs will give you the pros and cons of each source of quotes you can use.

Online Insurance Policy Search Engines- These websites can be some of the most useful tools you can use while searching for a great policy. These sites provide all of the information you need to know about your coverage, they can connect you with dozens of providers, and they can find the best deals in the industry for you practically instantly.

If you use these websites though, you might accidentally miss some of the special offers that are available to you right now. Also, if you use one of these websites, you might not have access to the inside information professional insurance brokers know about the industry. Some people also find the process of finding their quotes online to be too easy, because they can find a great product being offered by a great company in only a matter of minutes by using these services.

Insurance Agents and Brokers- This source of quotes will likely be one of the most reliable sources you use, because these professionals have access to all of the information you need to make an informed purchase. By talking with these individuals, you can also uncover detailed information concerning the policies that would best suit your situation and your budget. Many brokers and agents have a virtual space online where you can communicate with them too.

When you visit brokers and agents though, you should be prepared to see some fairly blatant sales techniques being deployed. These professionals usually receive a share of the profits if they make a sale. For this reason, they often push the products that they would receive the largest cut from. Brokers and agents also have access to a limited amount of policies, which might limit the amount of help they can truly provide you with.

Insurance companies- You can always use the providers themselves as a great source of auto insurance quotes. You can get the information you need rather quickly by utilizing the free policy comparison sites most companies run today. You can also call these companies directly to uncover detailed information concerning the policies you are interested in. Once you have exhausted all of these sources of insurance quotes, you will likely be very familiar with the best policies available to you right now."

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