On June 30, a Unified Road Safety Day is held in the country under the slogan "Gaining Speed - Don't Stop Life!"
Warning about traffic accidents due to driving into the oncoming lane and speeding.
All our lives we hurry and try by all means to "catch up" with time. Thanks to road transport, we easily cover long distances, thereby saving precious minutes. The desire to be first in everything, including on the road, prompts drivers to maneuver and overtake their fellow travelers. According to the Traffic Rules, overtaking is defined as the process of passing vehicles by entering the oncoming lane, where extreme situations await us. It can be unequivocally stated that preparation is the key to successful and safe overtaking. Here are a few tips from auto professionals.
How to properly overtake cars to arrive faster than others and avoid an accident?
The first "enemy" of a driver during overtaking is the incorrect assessment of the road situation. Before maneuvering, one should analyze the situation comprehensively – the quality of the road surface (presence of puddles, potholes, ruts), weather conditions, and road signs. It is better to start overtaking by moving into the oncoming lane in advance, rather than suddenly "popping out" from behind another vehicle. It is advisable to calculate "escape routes," i.e., the width and surface of the shoulder, and the presence of poles or other obstacles on it. When performing a maneuver, it is important not only to comply with the traffic rules but also to be prepared for the fact that other road users may violate them at any moment.
What to do if you feel you are not going to complete the overtake in time? It is important to make a quick decision and not change it until the maneuver is completed – after all, if you start "floundering" on the road, it will only get worse. And once the decision is made, you must warn other road users of your subsequent actions by all possible means: turn on the appropriate turn signal, high beams (but do not flash them – this can be perceived as a signal that you are yielding the right of way), honk the horn. In a situation where the vehicle being overtaken is still in front of you, it is better to return to your lane. Simultaneously, quickly, but without locking the wheels, reduce speed.
If you have already drawn level with the vehicle being overtaken, but a oncoming car unexpectedly appears, you should first assess the possibility of continuing the maneuver. If the engine lacks the power and dynamics for a sharp "dash" forward, it is better to "give up" and return to your lane. But when the speed difference with the overtaken vehicle is significant enough, you can continue overtaking. In this case, you should clearly indicate your position to the oncoming vehicle, and also signal the overtaken vehicle: it may slow down and let you pass. However, you should not rely solely on the help of others. In a critical situation, you can use a technique sometimes called "shock acceleration": quickly shift to a lower gear, press the accelerator "to the floor," and then sharply release (engage) the clutch. Then, confidently but smoothly, move as far to the right as possible. After overtaking the vehicle, you should not make sudden movements, but smoothly return to your lane. Turning on the high beams will warn the driver of the oncoming car that they should reduce speed and pull over to the shoulder.
If your car is being overtaken, everything depends on the decision of the driver of the overtaking vehicle. If they intend to complete the maneuver, brake; if they intend to abandon it, accelerate. The main thing in this situation is to understand what your fellow driver will do. And if they vaguely demonstrate their intentions, it is better to reduce speed and pull over to the shoulder – because when the speed is lower, the consequences of an accident will not be as severe.
In any case, if the situation is critical, you must "to the last" avoid a head-on collision by all possible means. Avoiding a head-on collision must be done by choosing the path with the least risk to life – your own and that of others. Nudging a vehicle in the same direction or swerving onto the opposite shoulder, braking "to the floor," or driving into a ditch – such decisions cannot be calculated in advance – everything depends on the specific road conditions. In any case, you must try to maintain control of your vehicle and protect people.
Under no circumstances should you create an emergency situation by trying to teach or punish an overtaking driver. The cost of such behavior can be human lives. It can be unequivocally stated that common sense, attentiveness, and mutual respect are the indispensable conditions for safe overtaking.
Dear drivers, remember: "You are expected at home! Do not rush, do not violate the Traffic Rules. Your behavior on the road depends not only on your life but also on the lives of your loved ones!"
We remind you that the sanction of Part 9 of Article 18.13 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus provides for a fine ranging from two to ten basic units with or without deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for up to one year.
Be attentive on the road!!!
Head of the Traffic Police Department
Miory District Department of Internal Affairs A.F. Soveiko