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Difficulty: MediumOvertaking Rules

You are following a long articulated lorry on a two-way road and are looking for a safe opportunity to overtake. Why should you maintain a generous following distance behind the lorry before moving out?

  1. A
    To flash your headlights so the lorry driver is required to give way
  2. To increase your view of the road ahead and allow oncoming drivers to see youAnswer
  3. C
    To overtake quickly without needing to check your vehicle blind spots
  4. D
    To pass the lorry on the left if it moves out towards the centre of the road

Answer

Maintaining a generous distance increases your forward visibility of the road ahead and ensures oncoming traffic can see you.
According to Highway Code Rule 164, keeping well back behind a large vehicle gives you a much better view of the road ahead, road markings, and oncoming traffic, while also allowing oncoming drivers and the lorry driver to see your vehicle in their mirrors.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the visual restrictions caused by following a large vehicle.
Recognise that travelling too close to the rear of a high-sided vehicle severely restricts the forward field of view and conceals oncoming hazards.
Large vehicles create substantial visual blind zones directly ahead of following traffic on two-way roads.
2
Apply Highway Code Rule 164 regarding following distance prior to overtaking.
Hold back at a safe distance where sightlines open up past both sides of the vehicle.
A greater following distance allows you to observe approaching traffic, evaluate overtaking distance accurately, and allows oncoming drivers to spot you.

Key Concept

Highway Code Rule 164: Following distance and forward visibility when overtaking large vehicles
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Overtaking Rules

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