Off-Road Recovery - Page 215

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Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while 
you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following 
too closely reduces your area of vision, especially if 
you’re following a larger vehicle. Also, you won’t have 
adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or 
stops. Keep back a reasonable distance.

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When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t
get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
“running start” that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel your pass,
you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.

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If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.

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Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start
your left lane change signal before moving out of the
right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of
the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside mirror,
activate your right lane change signal and move back
into the right lane. (Remember that your right outside
mirror is convex. The vehicle you just passed may seem
to be farther away from you than it really is.)

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Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two

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lane roads. Reconsider before passing the 

next vehicle.

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Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.

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If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.