What are the precautions for overtaking on highways?
2 Answers
Precautions for overtaking on highways: 1. Always maintain a safe distance from the vehicle being overtaken before, during, and after overtaking to prevent sudden braking by the vehicle being overtaken before overtaking, being squeezed to the left by the vehicle being overtaken during overtaking, and being tailgated by the vehicle being overtaken after overtaking. 2. Avoid forced overtaking: Do not force overtaking when the vehicle ahead does not yield speed or lane due to certain reasons. Do not forcibly squeeze or push the vehicle being overtaken to yield when there is insufficient safe distance ahead. 3. Overtake cautiously: When overtaking, first observe the status of the vehicles ahead and behind, then turn on the left turn signal. After confirming safety, slowly turn the steering wheel to the left to smoothly enter the overtaking lane. After overtaking the vehicle, turn on the right turn signal and wait until the overtaken vehicle is fully visible in the rearview mirror before smoothly steering back to the right lane and turning off the turn signal. Avoid sudden steering during overtaking. 4. Maintain a smooth overtaking path: Change to the left lane in advance before overtaking and delay returning to the right lane after overtaking to keep the driving path basically parallel with the vehicle ahead. 5. During overtaking, if an obstacle is found on the left side with insufficient lateral distance that may cause a squeeze or scrape, quickly decelerate and abort the overtaking. Wait for another opportunity to overtake, but use the service brake cautiously to prevent skidding.
When overtaking on the highway, I pay special attention to maintaining a safe distance and using signals properly. Before changing lanes, I always check the rearview mirror and blind spots to ensure no vehicles are approaching rapidly. Then, I activate the left turn signal for at least 5 seconds to give following vehicles ample reaction time. During the overtaking maneuver, I accelerate smoothly without being too aggressive, trying to stay within the speed limit without exceeding it excessively. After completing the pass, I don't rush back to the original lane—I wait until there's sufficient distance before signaling right to return. In poor visibility conditions like rain or fog, I refrain from overtaking as it increases the risk of skidding. Also, when passing large trucks, I maintain at least a three-second following distance because their strong airflow can pull my vehicle closer. With high speeds on the highway, even small mistakes can be dangerous. Over my ten years of driving, I've developed these habits for safety.
