The Consequences of Passing Another Car Improperly

Improper passing is a leading cause of head-on collisions.

It is essential that drivers think about their safety before they try to pass another vehicle. Here are some safety tips that can help prevent car accidents caused by improper passing.

Safely Passing a Slow-Moving Vehicle

Avoid tailgating and maintain a safe distance with the vehicle in front of you. Check the road ahead properly before passing the vehicle; the closer you are to the vehicle in front of you, the more difficult it will be to see ahead. Blind spots on both the sides and the rear should also be checked constantly for any oncoming vehicles.

The riskiest part of passing is moving into the opposite lane. If a vehicle is moving at 60 miles per hour, the effective speed of a vehicle coming from the opposite direction is 120 miles per hour when a pass is attempted. It takes a mile to complete the pass. It is important to increase the speed of the vehicle after turning left to make sure the vehicle has enough room. However, the speed limit should still be observed when making a pass. If you think you cannot pass within the speed limit, you should not attempt it. Signal the vehicle you are passing before turning back into the lane. Remember to check your blind spots.

When Passing a Vehicle is Illegal

Keep in mind that it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus with its signals turned on. The following are other locations where passing is illegal or dangerous:

• school zones
• no passing zones
• curves where passing is prohibited
• three hundred feet from the top of hills
• roads with solid lines in the middle

Passing is generally illegal in the following locations:

• bridges
• intersections
• tunnels
• railroad crossings
• 300 feet from these locations

Being Passed by Another Vehicle

Drivers being passed by other vehicles should either maintain their speed or slow down to allow the other vehicle to safely complete the pass. One should never try to speed up to prevent other vehicles from passing. Drivers of slow-moving vehicles should find a place to pull over to allow faster-moving vehicles to pass. While passing other vehicles may reduce travel time by a few seconds, it is quite dangerous to pass on a two-lane road. It may be safer for drivers to simply enjoy their trip instead of risking their life and limb by making dangerous passes on the road.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by improper passing, you may be able to claim compensation for your losses, including lost wages, from the party-at-fault. Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242 for a free case evaluation.