The Unmarked Junction and the Overtaking Lorry
You are riding a motorcycle on a two-lane rural road outside Manama, heading north at about 60 km/h in a 80 km/h zone. Ahead, a lorry is travelling at 45 km/h and straddling the centre line slightly. You intend to overtake. As you check your mirror you see a car about 60 metres behind you, closing at a noticeably higher speed. About 120 metres ahead there is an unmarked T-junction where a side road joins from the right, with a low wall and palm trees that block your view of anything emerging. There is a solid white line on your side of the road that begins about 40 metres ahead and continues past the junction. The road surface is dry. Your bike is a 250cc with good brakes and new tyres.
1. Decide whether to begin the overtake now, and justify your decision using the specific distances and markings.
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Do not begin the overtake. Three factors combine against it. First, the solid white line starts about 40 metres ahead and runs past the junction; crossing it to overtake is prohibited, and at a closing speed of roughly 15 km/h you would need well over 100 metres to complete a safe pass and return, so you would be crossing the solid line for most of the manoeuvre. Second, the unmarked T-junction with a view blocked by the wall and palms is exactly where a vehicle could emerge without seeing you; you need to be at a speed and position that lets you stop or swerve, not committed alongside a lorry. Third, the car 60 metres behind is closing fast and may itself pull out to overtake, creating a three-vehicle conflict. The correct action is to hold back, increase your following distance behind the lorry, and wait for a clear straight section with broken lines and full visibility.
2. The lorry slows to 30 km/h and signals right, apparently to turn into the side road. What is your plan, and what hazards does the signal create?
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A right turn means the lorry will swing across your path, and long vehicles often need to move left first to make the turn, so its initial movement may be misleading. Do not assume the signal is accurate or that the driver has seen you. Drop back further so you are not in the space the lorry needs to sweep through, and do not attempt to pass on the right as it turns. Watch for a vehicle emerging from the side road that may pull out in front of the turning lorry, and for the lorry's trailer cutting the corner. Be prepared to stop. Only once the lorry has clearly committed to the turn and the junction is visible should you proceed, and even then at a speed that lets you stop if something unexpected appears.
3. The car behind has now closed to 20 metres and is flashing its headlights. How should you respond?
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Flashing headlights can mean many things: the driver wants to pass, is warning of a hazard, or is simply impatient. Do not react by speeding up or by pulling into a gap that is not safe. Maintain your speed and your position behind the lorry, and create a buffer so that if the car does overtake badly you have room to react. If the car passes, let it go and do not chase it. If it tailgates, increase your own following distance from the lorry so that you can brake gradually rather than sharply, giving the driver behind more time. If the pressure continues and you feel unsafe, find a safe place to pull over and let the traffic clear. Never let another driver's impatience push you into an overtake across a solid line or into a junction with restricted visibility.