You’re traveling on a two-lane highway and the car in front of you is traveling under the speed limit. You want to get around them but passing them requires driving in the oncoming traffic lane until you’re past. There is a safe way to do this, but it requires planning. There are many dangerous passing practices to avoid on two-lane roads. These can increase your risk of having an accident. Passing where you aren’t allowed to on a double yellow line can be dangerous. In addition, passing without having a clear line of sight can result in an accident. Never pass with a tailgater behind you. And finally, never pass more than one car at a time. Avoiding these dangerous practices can keep you safer on the road and help you avoid a wreck.
Dangerous Passing Practices You Should Avoid on Two-Lane Roads
Passing On a Double Yellow Line
One of the dangerous passing practices to avoid on two-lane highways is passing on a double yellow line. There will be clear lines showing when you can and cannot pass. If you have a dotted line on your side, then it’s a space where passing is allowed. However, it’s up to you to determine if you have the space to do that. You must make sure that you have plenty of time to get around the car before oncoming traffic reaches you.
Passing Without Clear Visibility
One of the most common reasons for collisions on two-lane roads is when drivers don’t actually have a clear line of sight far enough into the distance to provide enough room for passing. This is another of the dangerous passing practices to avoid. If you can see any oncoming traffic, you probably don’t have time to get around a car. Although it feels like they’re moving slowly in front of you, passing them takes longer than you might expect. You also need to only pass on straight stretches of road because you won’t be able to see as far around a curve. Finally, if the weather is foggy or raining, your visibility is probably low and you should avoid trying to pass.
Passing With a Tailgater Behind You
Dangerous passing practices can lead to fatal wrecks because cars might be colliding head-on. However, they can also involve other cars around you on the road. For example, if you have a tailgater behind you, do not attempt to pass a car. The tailgater will probably move into space you were traveling in as soon as you begin moving around the car in front. If you need to bail on passing for any reason, you no longer have a safe space to fall back into. The tailgater might also follow you in passing the car in front which could lead to you both being in a wreck if there is not enough room for passing.
Passing More than One Car
One final example of dangerous passing practices is when drivers attempt to pass more than one vehicle. There are rarely big enough stretches of road visible at any given time to allow this to happen safely. Often, it’s done spur of the moment which means it hasn’t been well planned out. You should only ever pass one car at a time.
If you are traveling behind a slow driver on a two-lane highway, it’s best just to stay put if you aren’t traveling very far. However, if you really need to get around them just try to avoid any dangerous passing practices. Only ever pass them when you have road markings indicating that it’s legal to do so. Only pass when you have a clear line of sight long enough to accomplish the task. Don’t try to pass traffic if you have a car following closely behind you. And finally, only try to pass one car at a time on the road. Avoiding these situations can prevent you from getting into an accident. Make sure that you always take extra precautions when passing other cars so you can reach your destination safely.