Cyclist Before a Blind Crest
You are on a two-way rural road at 78 km/h on an 80 km/h limit. Ahead, a cyclist is travelling at about 20 km/h near the left edge. The road has a solid double white line in the centre, a blind crest 120 m ahead, and a slight right-hand bend before it. An oncoming lorry is visible about 300 m away, approaching the crest. Your vehicle is a loaded van with poor acceleration in fifth gear. The cyclist wobbles slightly around a pothole. A tractor is waiting to enter from a field gate 40 m beyond the cyclist. The verges are narrow and wet. You have a passenger and a deadline. There is no cycle lane. You are about 60 m behind the cyclist and closing at roughly 58 km/h. The van’s brakes and tyres are in good condition. You have checked your mirrors and no one is overtaking you.
1. Should you overtake? Give your reasoning, including the road markings, visibility and oncoming traffic.
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Do not overtake. The solid double white line prohibits crossing, the crest is blind, an oncoming lorry is approaching, and a tractor may emerge from the field gate just beyond the cyclist. The loaded van’s poor acceleration in fifth gear means an overtake would take longer than in a car. The wet, narrow verges leave no room for error. Your closing speed is about 58 km/h, so the gap will shrink quickly. The deadline and passenger are irrelevant to the safety decision. Hold back, reduce speed and wait until you have a clear view past the crest, the line permits crossing, no oncoming vehicle is near, and there is a safe gap to complete the manoeuvre. A wave from the cyclist would not change those facts.
2. Describe your following position and speed while you wait, and the minimum gap you would use if you eventually pass.
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Ease off early and change down so you can hold a steady speed without braking late. Keep at least a two-second gap in dry conditions; on this wet road, extend it to three or four seconds. Stay well left of the centre line and do not crowd the cyclist. If the cyclist wobbles around the pothole, be ready to slow further. If you eventually pass, wait for a clear straight section, keep well within the speed limit, and leave at least 1.5 m between your vehicle and the cyclist at these speeds-more if possible. Do not cut back in; return to the left only when the cyclist is clearly visible in your mirror.
3. The cyclist waves you past just before the crest. What do you do?
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A wave is not a guarantee that the road is clear. Recheck the crest, the double white line, the oncoming lorry and the field gate. If there is any doubt, stay behind the cyclist. The cyclist may not be able to see the lorry or the tractor, and a wave does not override the road marking or your own visibility. If the road opens, the line permits and you can see far enough to complete the overtake before the crest, proceed smoothly with a wide gap. Otherwise, hold back and accept the delay. The safe decision is the one you can justify after the event, not the one that saves a few seconds.