I was driving on a hilly two lane divided highway when the car behind me tried to pass. When the passing car was almost even with mine, the driver saw an on-coming car and realized that it wouldn’t be able to successfully pass. I hit the brakes but so did the passing driver so we were still in about the same position relative to each other. The on-coming car saw what was going on and slowed down and the passing car eventually got back behind me, so all’s well that ends well.
What is the proper thing to do? Speed up, slow down, maintain speed or something else?
Slow down is the default action, but you have to play that game with the other car to see who will do what. You can slow down faster than you can speed up, that’s why it would be the default, but you can’t predict what an idiot who shouldn’t have been passing you in the first place will do next.
Unless you’re into car crashes, you slow down/stop if only to create for yourself a safe distance from the impending head-on collision. If all 3 of you end up stopping for no reason no big deal, everyone collects their senses and resumes their journey.
My first thought is “be predictable,” which in my mind means “maintain speed” in this case. However, I’d most likely ease up on the gas if it’s apparent that they’re determined to complete the pass. Otherwise, if they choose ABORT then slowing down could complicate matters.
Slow down so the passing guy can get in front of me. Actually, when anyone is passing me on a two lane road, I usually tap the brake almost immediately to slow down to let him finish his pass sooner.
I figure that anyone who wants to get around me isn’t someone who is going to slow my travels down so I lose nothing by letting him get by quickly and efficiently.
I like this. Be predictable is always the mantra. However…
Full situational awareness is required here.
Is he driving a Yugo or a Porche?
What’s the speed delta and how is it progressing?
Is that rate of change such that I can *overcome *it easier with my gas or with my brake?
Is there room ahead for me to accelerate?
Is there a guy on my tail to influence my braking decision?
Within the situation playing in my head… if he’s passing like such a pussy that he’s run out of room and steam, I’m probably gonna punch it. I’ll let him around at the NEXT (safe) opportunity.
If there is shoulder, go there. I saw this play out right in front of me. The car in front of me was going too slow for the road. There were 2 cars behind me who were anxious to pass. I know the road well. I knew it was dangerous to pass at that time. I maintained right behind the slow car when the car furthest back decided to make a run for it. I immediately slowed the guy directly behind me slowed. I was at least 3 car lengths behind the slow turtle. Here comes the rabbit, when he was neck and neck, a semi-truck made an appearance. He slammed on his brakes and pulled right behind the turtle. I mean within feet before the semi zoomed by. It would have been a serious pile up if he had head-on-ed the truck. At least it would have been the turtle, the rabbit and possibly me.
I’ve been in this situation many times, when I had to drive a back road several times a week. I drove 6-8 miles above the speed limit, but still had people who wanted to pass me enough that they’d do it even on a solid line.
If there was another car behind me, I’d maintain speed, but if the space behind me was clear, then I’d slow way down. I wanted to be far away from the head-on collision.
It’s a variant of chicken. If you speed up & he brakes, he can tuck in behind you sooner, which is probably safer than him trying to get in front of you with an ever decreasing gap between him & the oncoming vehicle.
If you’re being passed, one of you needs to brake & one of you needs to gas it to create the biggest speed differential between the two of you. The question is who does which.
The roads I travel, in the outback of So. Arkansas are very narrow and little to no shoulders. One of my fears is an unfamiliar driver in a big hurry. They seem to always take chances with passing. It is just too treacherous in some places. Log trucks, semis, drunks and deer. It is an obstacle course some days. I swear I have more age on me because of these roads. I rarely pass and I am always on the lookout for unaware drivers. If the deer don’t get me, they will!
I’d generally slow down without even waiting for a running-out-of-room situation to arise. And hope the idjit is a couple of miles ahead of me by the time he gets into real trouble. I don’t need to be a part of anyone else’s roadside drama.
