Waving Cars Past

[domd1979]

I know this has come up many times before.... But, why do people insist on trying to wave drivers past when cycling and put their own safety at risk...?

Earlier this afternoon I was driving along the A513 over Cannock Chase (bit round Shugborough for anyone who knows it). There was a pretty heavy snow shower coming down, visibility not brilliant, road is fairly winding, double white lines, 60mph limit. I come up behind bloke on road bike, so slowed right down behind him so I could suss out when safe to pass. I'm a good distance back, not in a hurry to come past and he was persistently frantically waving at me to come past him. Found it a bit annoying because I didn't want to pass him when he wanted, but waited until I'd got enough vision ahead to go past, nothing coming the other way so I could cross the white lines and leave him plenty of room - had I gone past when he wanted the whole manoevure would have been less safe and put him at risk. What he thought was safe from his point of view certainly wasn't from where I was sitting.

 

[Dan B]

Always a tricky one. Some less confident drivers will follow you because they're not sure whether they can pass, and eventually get bored and attempt a pass at possibly the worst moment. If I think I might have such a driver on my tail, I'd much rather they get ahead when I can see it's clear than leaving it until they've plucked up the courage.

Not saying this is you, of course. Just that circumstances differ.

 

[brucers]

A couple of reasons could be that the cyclist is wary of a car behind them and would rather have them pass by and go away! It could also be that they are trying to be polite and not hold you up.

If I want someone to pass me, as I did a juggernaut the other day (who was not giving me any hassle I should say), I pull up into a driveway etc.

As a driver you did what you should - make a decision on safe driving yourself rather than someone on your behalf.

I think it's one of those situations where two understandable points of view collide with the best of intentions.

 

[661-Pete]

It used to be a recognised hand signal in the Highway Code, but has long since been abandoned. Probably after a spate of accidents.

True, the cyclist can often see that it's clear round the bend, before the following motorist can. I sometimes give a brief nod of the head, which the driver sometimes understands, sometimes not. And if the worst happens, I could always plead that my nod didn't mean anything.

If on the other hand, I can see around the bend that it's not going to be safe to overtake, I have no hesitation in sticking my hand out in a 'hold back' gesture...

 

[marinyork]

I understand the guy's point of view. I used to have a training run that had solid whites and national speed limit and people misbehave on them so much you just want people to get it over with. It doesn't matter whether you're doing 11mph or 40mph they'll still hang back a few seconds and then oh damn see the road ahead and then cut through at a worse point. It gets even worse when there are multiple vehicles. Strangely enough write offs, fatalities on exactly these spots on roads never puts people off doing it.

 

[siadwell]

If I want someone to pass me, as I did a juggernaut the other day (who was not giving me any hassle I should say), I pull up into a driveway etc.

Agree. If you really want someone to pass, best thing is to pull over.

 

[bigtrike]

oops ....

see rule 141 of the highway code
You MUST NOT overtake
if you would cross or straddle double white lines with a solid line nearest you ( but see rule 108)
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36, TSRGD regs 10,22,23&24, ZpppCRGD reg 24

rule 108
Double white lines where the nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line to pass a atationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle,horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph or less
Laws RTA sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26

So were they a slow gutter hog on a wide road ?

 

[domd1979]

Strangely enough write offs, fatalities on exactly these spots on roads never puts people off doing it.

That bit of the A513 is pretty horrendous for fatal accidents, it is a notorious stretch of road. Arguably it shouldn't be a 60mph road because of that and it being Cannock Chase there are a lot of deer that like to cross the road.

 

[al78]

Agree. If you really want someone to pass, best thing is to pull over.

Assuming, that is, that there is somwhere safe to pull over.

I occasionally get the sod's law sitiuation where cars will come up behind me on the twisty sections where they can't overtake. There will be no oncoming traffic during this period, up to the point where the road opens out, then 25* vehicles will suddenly be coming in the other direction.

*slight exaggeration, but you get the point.

 

[ianrauk]

never wave a car to pass. If they have an accident you could be responsible. Let the moton take the responsibility.

 

[Sam Kennedy]

never wave a car to pass. If they have an accident you could be responsible. Let the moton take the responsibility.

I thought the driver was fully responsible for their actions, and should ignore any signals to overtake, unless they know it is safe to pass.

Like if someone flashes their lights, it's not an official signal, so if a driver crashes because someone 'flashed them out', it is their own fault.

I'm not sure though, the law seems to keep changing depending on who I talk to.

 

[ianrauk]

The driver is fully responsible Sam. But it's not worth giving a moton any sort of ammunition for them to apportion blame onto others if there is an accident.

 

[thomas]

I thought the driver was fully responsible for their actions, and should ignore any signals to overtake, unless they know it is safe to pass.

Like if someone flashes their lights, it's not an official signal, so if a driver crashes because someone 'flashed them out', it is their own fault.

I'm not sure though, the law seems to keep changing depending on who I talk to.

The driver is fully responsible Sam. But it's not worth giving a moton any sort of ammunition for them to apportion blame onto others if there is an accident.

It's more to do with the driver will argue that you were partly at fault and it's not worth it. When I was learning to drive I waved someone across as I was stuck in traffic. my instructor said not to, just in case a motorcyclist or someone was coming along side. I may not have seen them, and the other driver will probably just go, potentially hit them and then blame me for waving them across.

The only time I really ever wave someone past is normally if I pull over for a lorry, so I'll signal to the side of the road/lay by (something like that) and then wave them past so they know I'm being kind

 

[jimboalee]

No no no no no!

The cyclist who thinks they would be put in danger if a car tries to squeeze past, should take 'Primary' to completely disallow the following motorist from performing such a risky manouver.

 

[bonk man]

I agree with the comment by jimboalee about taking the initiative to stop the car squeezing past, it is quite difficult to be that brave sometimes..
I will usually pull off the road if being followed down a narrow country lane, it is polite and courteous. There are some guys in the club who totally refuse to do this and it really gets me annoyed, not only is it rude it makes us all look bad.
If a driver is being obnoxious I will be awkward though.
Waving cars past is not something I generally do, but stopping them crashing into oncoming traffic is something we do all to often.....