Which line to take when overtaking

[Fifteen15]

Today when I was riding, there was a car going about 45mph on an NSL with about six cars backed up behind it with me at the back of the line. I started overtaking each one, but as I was overtaking the third car, he didn't do a shoulder check and pulled out right in front of me for an overtake. If I was going a few mph faster he would have pushed me off the road. It made me think about taking the baffles out of my can! More importantly it made me think about road positioning when overtaking. Which line do you usually take to overtake? Line 1, 2 or 3?

https://img32.imageshack.us/img32/2177/desktopeg.png

Obviously if you're just overtaking one car on its own, I would have thought line 1 would be fine because it's very unlikely it will pull out into the other lane. If you're in a line of three, the first (slow) car, the second, and then you, would you then take line 3? Because there's a good chance the second car will pull out for an overtake.

Thoughts?
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[P.addy]

Middle of the road, loads of revving and popping If some nugget starts to move, bib the horn and either hang back or shoot off.

[yen_powell]

He doesn't need to see you. A double tap on your hooter before you start to pass may alert him to your presence (assuming he hasn't got Metallica going at full blast). Your hooter isn't just for showing displeasure, it's a vital safety aid.
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XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[G]

IAM teaches a 'sharks fin' approach.

That is that you move straight out in to the opposing lane without increasing speed, then increase speed and move back in with a parabola when you have ensured it's safe with the extra visibility afforded by being in the oncoming lane.

I prefer to accelerate first; but given the room being there will generally use it.

[Vincent]

On busy roads, before overtaking, I like to get in line with the drivers wing mirror with my light on and make sure they see me. Keep an eye on the drivers you intend to pass, you can usualy tell once they've seen you, some politely move in a bit, some twats do the opposite but at least it means they've seen you. If the road is clear well ahead, and no junctions, I go right over to the other side of the road.
Unfourtunately, they'll always be dumkofs that don't look, you just have to try and preempt them.
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Space Is Deep

[felicity]

https://www.tcx.org.uk/~river/files/overtaking.png

This is basically what G said, it's how my instructor taught me to do it and it's also what the Roadcraft book recommends. It means you have good visibility and a chance to abort the overtake before committing, which you can't do if you start moving past the vehicle immediately.

ETA: And you should never take what you've shown as line 1. That's okay for filtering, but you're way too close to the vehicle for overtaking at speed. If he decides to swerve for some reason (hazard in the road) or there's a sudden gust of wind, you'll go straight into him. If you feel that you need to be that close because of oncoming traffic, you shouldn't be overtaking in the first place.

[Rogerborg]

That. 2 or 3. If you're going to use the other side of the road, use the whole other side.
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GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[chris-red]

Like below, overtake the lot on one wheel with your finger up.


https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=81309
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[Vincent]

I was waiting for someone to put their own line in on the inside. One wheel and one finger's good enough tho.
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Space Is Deep

[JoeDougieDoug...]

I would usually overtake using Line #2. #1 you would be sitting in the cars blindspot for too long (wouldn't you?), and #3 I think is too far out into the other lane to be able to duck in again quickly if you need to... then again, I have overtaken before using the central bit between two seperate lanes... no idea if this was right...
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CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[G]

[sickpup]

[felicity]

[stinkwheel]

Pull out sooner, position yourself where you can see what is happening and in a low, responsive gear.

Decide if it's a go or no-go. If it is a go, accelerate smartly up to the point where you decide if you take one or both cars then either smpothly pull in or continue to accelerate up to the next car.

You can keep doing this for a huge line of cars providing you can see and know you can make it to the next safe place to pull in.

I particularly like doing it on sweeping left handers, if you get out and positioned near the right hand kerb before the corner starts, you can often pass the whole lot in one smooth overtake using the wider field of view you just afforded yourself. It is also extremely unlikely someone is going to pull out on you when you do this.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=81321
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[sickpup]

[G]

The IAM group I went to many times made it clear that they gave you the skills to analyse a situation better and decide for yourself.

Personally I was pretty sceptical - for instance I enjoy going around empty roundabouts and prefer to indicate when no one's there, but would be 'marked down' if I did them while being observed - but they did try to drill in that you were merely being given more skills to use, not a set system.

[sickpup]

[hmmmnz]

personally i dont cross the center line by much,
then if a car comes, i was just filtering
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I kick arse for the lord
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[GeneralXcepti...]

[G]

[GeneralXcepti...]

Or avoid all doubt - do the obs and put the indicators on. They aren't mutually exclusive things.

[The999Kid]

[felicity]

[Fruit'n'nut]

[sickpup]