•Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For
one thing, following too closely reduces your area
of vision, especially if you are following a larger
vehicle. Also, you will not have adequate space if
the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops.
Keep back a reasonable distance.
•When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
startto accelerate but stay in the right lane and do
notget too close. Time your move so you will be
increasingspeed as the time comes to move into the
otherlane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
runningstart that more than makes up for the
distanceyou would lose by dropping back. And if
somethinghappens to cause you to cancel your
pass,you need only slow down and drop back again
andwait for another opportunity.
•Ifother vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle,
waityour turn. But take care that someone is not
tryingto pass you as you pull out to pass the slow
vehicle.Remember to glance over your shoulder and
checkthe blind spot.
•Checkyour mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
startyour left lane change signal before moving out
ofthe right lane to pass. When you are far enough
aheadof the passed vehicle to see its front
inyour inside mirror, activate your right lane change
signaland move back into the right lane. Remember
thatyour right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle
youjust passed may seem to be farther away from
youthan it really is.
•Trynot to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-laneroads. Reconsider before passing the next
vehicle.
•Donot overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Eventhough the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
beslowing down or starting to turn.
•Ifyou are being passed, make it easy for the
followingdriver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can
easea little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steerand constantly seek an escape route or area
ofless danger.
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