Should You Brake When Changing Lanes and Overtaking?
2 Answers
Changing lanes and overtaking require braking. You must observe both sides and only change lanes when conditions permit. Introduction to Lane Changing: Lane changing refers to the driving operation where a vehicle, during travel, moves from one lane to another due to overtaking, avoiding obstacles, or turning at intersections. Lane for Overtaking: Overtaking means a vehicle moves to the side of another vehicle and passes it from behind while traveling in the same direction. The lane typically used for overtaking is the inner lane, which is closer to the center of the road and farther from the shoulder. In regions where driving is on the right, the overtaking lane is the left lane; in regions where driving is on the left, the overtaking lane is the right lane.
When changing lanes or overtaking, it's generally unnecessary to brake, which I've come to deeply understand. As a newly licensed driver, I initially thought slowing down would be safer, but this nearly caused the car behind to rear-end me—fortunately, nothing happened. My instructor explained that braking disrupts steady-speed flow, confusing surrounding drivers and actually increasing risk. The correct approach is signaling early, carefully checking mirrors and blind spots, ensuring ample safety distance, then smoothly accelerating or maintaining speed to merge into the new lane. Especially for urban lane changes, pre-planning routes is crucial; brake only in emergencies like encountering obstacles ahead. Now accustomed to this process, my driving has become more confident and fluid, significantly reducing those panicked hard-braking moments.
