Overtaking a Cyclist on a Narrow Road with an Oncoming Bus
You drive a Category C truck at 60 km/h on a two-lane road with a 1.5 m shoulder. A cyclist is ahead in your lane, riding about 0.6 m from the edge line, at roughly 20 km/h. The road curves gently right 150 m ahead. An oncoming intercity bus appears at about 200 m, travelling at about 70 km/h. Your lane is 3.4 m wide. The cyclist is steady but there is a pothole patch just left of his line. Behind you a van is following at 20 m.
1. Work out whether an overtake fits in the available time and space.
Read the worked answer
Closing speed to the bus is about 130 km/h, or 36 m/s. The 200 m gap closes in roughly 5.5 s. To pass the cyclist you must move left, which means entering the oncoming lane, and you need a lateral clearance of at least 1 m at 60 km/h, more if the cyclist wobbles near the potholes.
Your overtaking distance at 60 km/h versus a 20 km/h cyclist is about 40 km/h of relative speed, so passing a 10 m vehicle-plus-clearance takes several seconds plus the time to return to lane. That does not fit inside 5.5 s with a bus approaching. Conclusion: no overtake. The geometry and closing speed rule it out regardless of the van behind.
2. The van behind is close and may pressure you. What do you do?
Read the worked answer
Do not let the follower dictate the manoeuvre. Maintain a safe gap to the cyclist, which at 60 km/h should be at least 2 seconds and wider if the potholes make his line unpredictable. Reduce speed slightly to widen the time margin and to make a later overtake shorter.
Signal your intention to the van by keeping a steady line and, if safe, a brief brake-light tap to show you are slowing rather than speeding up. If the van attempts to overtake you and the cyclist together, that is his decision, but you should not accelerate or move right into the cyclist to make room. Hold your lane position and let him take the risk he has chosen.
3. The bus passes and the road straightens. What conditions must now be met before you overtake?
Read the worked answer
Confirm all of the following: the oncoming lane is clear for the full overtaking distance plus a margin, with no second vehicle hidden by the curve; you can give at least 1 m lateral clearance, more if the cyclist is near the potholes; you have a clear return to lane; no junction, crossing or solid line forbids it; and your speed advantage lets you complete the pass quickly, typically dropping a gear to accelerate briskly rather than labouring alongside.
Announce with the indicator, check the mirror and blind spot, and if the cyclist looks back or moves left, abort and drop back. The pass should be decisive and short, not a long creep alongside, because time spent beside a cyclist is time exposed to the next oncoming vehicle.