What should be paid attention to when overtaking a motor vehicle?
2 Answers
When overtaking a motor vehicle, the following points should be noted: 1. Slow down and honk: When passing a parked vehicle, slow down and honk the horn (in areas where honking is not prohibited), observe carefully, stay alert, and maintain a larger lateral distance. Be prepared to brake at any time to prevent the parked vehicle from suddenly starting and entering the lane, causing a collision, or the driver suddenly opening the door and getting out. Especially when passing a bus parked at a station, extra attention should be paid to pedestrians suddenly crossing the road from behind the parked vehicle. 2. If obstacles are found on the left side of the road or the lateral distance is too small, making a collision possible: Avoid using emergency braking to prevent side-slip collisions due to road camber. Instead, hold the steering wheel steady without turning it left or right. Increase the distance appropriately in the shortest possible time, and then look for an opportunity to overtake. Never take the risk of forcing an overtake.
Before every overtaking maneuver, I make it a habit to glance at the rearview and side mirrors to ensure no vehicle is tailgating me. Choosing the right moment is crucial—like when the opposite lane is clear and the road is straight without curves—then promptly activate the left turn signal to alert other drivers. Accelerate decisively but not recklessly, maintaining ample safety distance. Don’t forget to turn off the signal after completing the pass and smoothly merge back into your lane. In poor weather conditions, such as heavy rain or fog, overtaking risks skyrocket, so I either slow down or abandon the attempt altogether. Once, I nearly collided with an oncoming car while overtaking at a hilltop—that experience taught me to prioritize absolute safety over haste; it’s better to arrive late than risk an accident. In summary, clear situational awareness, unambiguous signaling, and controlled acceleration are key to safer driving.
