Overtaking hazards

Jide Owatunmise

OVERTAKING or Passing is a very complex task both for learners and experienced drivers. Errors in overtaking is responsible for thousands of road traffic crashes every year in Nigeria. It is the major cause factors in head on collision usually with high rate of fatalities. Impatience, miscalculation, aggressiveness, driving under the influence of alcohol and other psychoactive drugs, overconfidence, disobedience to traffic rules and several other factors are responsible for the high rate of overtaking incidents.

To avoid overtaking hazards, governments must install the appropriate traffic signs and road markings to warn drivers against overtaking at the various points where overtaking or passing should not be done.

All categories of drivers and riders must always remember that Overtaking or passing Must  Not Be Done at a road bend, near or on a bridge, on a hill or slope, junctions, roundabouts, cross roads, wherever there is solid line mark on the road, at congested areas such as markets, bus stops, school environment, malls, etc.

When overtaking at points where it is permitted, there are rules the driver still need to follow to prevent accidents. Before starting the overtaking process, the driver must honestly ask himself the following questions: Is the overtaking necessary? Is it safe? Is it legal? Can it be successfully and safely completed? Will it not obstruct the traffic? Will it not cause others to alter their path or speed?, etc.

Having answered the above questions and satisfied that the overtaking can be done safely, the driver needs to strictly follow the MSM/PSL routine to start and complete the overtaking safely. That is, use your mirror to check the upcoming traffic (vehicles), signal your intention to overtake, manoeuver or move, position your vehicle safely to allow adequate lateral space between your vehicle and the one(s) you intend to overtake, move in a safe speed without violating the approved speed limit, and look at the path of travel and the entire environment to ensure the avoidance of any perceived hazard in the course of overtaking. After completing the overtaking of the vehicle(s), you must allow a safe distance before returning back to the right or original lane. In the process of returning back to the lane after the overtaking, the driver must again follow the MSM/ PSL routine to ensure a safe return.

Drivers must not overtake on the right lane except on a dual carriage road and where the vehicle to be overtaken has indicated or has been confirmed to continue moving on the left lane. In this case, overtaking can be done safely on the right lane. Before overtaking, the driver of the vehicle you want to overtake must be alerted with the horn to be sure he is aware you want to overtake him. Failure to do this can result to a simultaneous pull out by the vehicle you want to overtake thereby resulting to confusion and accident.