This is the first in a series of four video clips dedicated to effective overtaking technques on a single carriageway road, which is a skills development that takes place as part of a Ride Drive advanced driving course.

In the following short video clip, Roger, who himself is completing a Ride Drive advanced road driving course, has caught up with a slower moving vehicle and begins working at planning an overtaking manoeuvre. As he closes in, and before he loses his view of the road ahead, he works out that there is a gap in the oncoming traffic, which he may be able to use. A gap like this should be primarily used to move out into position to the right so as to confirm if it is safe to complete the actual passing manoeuvre, and as you will see this is what he does.

Having stepped the car out to the off-side, and not increasing speed, he is in a very good position to assess the situation, and when it is understood that an opportunity to overtake is not available, Roger easily withdraws by steering back to the nearside. However, before he does, he looks beyond the vehicle coming towards him to see if there is an overtaking opportunity that is likely to follow.

Notice how Roger, when he understands that no further overtaking opportunities are likely to occur within the immediate future, he drops back from the target vehicle, creating space so as not to appear to be overbearing or intimidating to the driver.

Roger attended a Ride Drive day to develop his skills during which this film footage was recorded, and if there is a criticism of anything in the clip it is that when he positions the car to the off-side this could be done a little less abruptly. Otherwise the clip shows very well the required technique.

You will see more examples of when this technique is used within the other video clips that are available on these pages.