The Overtaking Lane and the Cyclist
You are driving on a two-lane road outside Nassau at 60 km/h. Ahead, a cyclist is riding on the left edge of your lane, in the same direction, because the shoulder is broken and sandy. The road is straight for about 200 metres, then narrows at a bridge with no shoulder. Oncoming traffic is light but not absent: a car is approaching about 150 metres away. Behind you, a line of three cars has formed. You want to pass the cyclist before the bridge. The cyclist is wobbling slightly, perhaps because of wind or the road surface.
1. Is this a safe place to overtake the cyclist? Explain.
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Probably not yet. To pass safely you need enough clear road to move well over, leave the cyclist a generous margin, and return before the bridge narrows the road. With an oncoming car about 150 metres away at a closing speed of roughly 120 km/h, that car is only a few seconds from you, and the narrowing bridge removes your escape space. The cyclist's wobble also means you cannot predict a straight line. The safe plan is to slow, hold back at a distance, and wait until the oncoming car has passed and you are clear of the bridge, then pass with plenty of room, ideally giving the cyclist at least a metre and more if you are travelling fast.
2. What should you do about the three cars behind you while you wait?
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Pressure from behind is not a reason to take a bad gap. Keep a steady, predictable speed and position, and do not brake sharply or swerve. If the line behind is building and you are holding them up, you can, when it is safe, pull over or slow near a wide spot and let them pass, but only where the road and visibility allow. Do not wave them past the cyclist; you cannot see what they can see, and a wave can cause a collision. Your job is to be patient and predictable, not to clear the road for others.
3. After passing, what should you check before pulling back in?
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Check that you can see the cyclist in your mirror and that there is a clear gap before you return to the left side of the lane. Do not cut in close, because a cyclist needs room in case of a wobble or a pothole. Signal, move back gradually, and keep your speed steady so the cyclist is not surprised. If the bridge is close, stay out until you are past it.