crr003 wrote:As an aside, I think you need 6s and about 160M to overtake a car doing 40, if you're doing 60. If the target's doing 50 that increases to 12s and 320M. To meet stressed_dave's criteria, that means the junction needs to be either 320 or 640M away.
This is my concern really. Assuming that the vehicle is doing 50mph, and I want to do a lawful 60mph overtake (PLEASE don't get into that debate again, I BEG you) then the junction or driveway or field exit etc has to be 640 metres away. That is 0.4 of a mile.
I sometimes wonder if everyone knows what 0.4 mile looks like. It is interesting to get some idea by driving it and noting the mileage, then saying "I wouldn't overtake a car doing 50 if there was a junction within that distance". It is a considerable distance. If you say the words to someone else it brings it home. If you said "if I'm overtaking and I saw a junction just less than 1/2 a mile away I would not overtake" it doesn't sound right somehow. I know that it IS right. It just doesn't seem it.
Can I emphasise that I am not saying the drivers on here wouldn't do the correct thing, it's just that for me the actual practice is harder than the theory. I'm wondering if everyone who says they definitely wouldn't overtake, would if they were physically out there with nearly 1/2 mile of road in front of them.
Try it and see. It's one heck of a long way.
Regards
Sally
P.S. I'm only voicing my thoughts, to hep me get a clear understanding of what I'm trying to learn. I appreciate everyone's comments, and I am NOT suggesting anyone isn't driving to the highest standards. I only ever criticise me, no-one else.