Overtaking - Let It Be 'Passing By' & not a 'Passing Off'!

Overtaking is the event of one moving vehicle passing another moving in higher speed. Over taking can take place at low speeds and high speeds depending on the speed at which the vehicles are moving. By overtaking, a vehicle can pass ahead of one or more vehicles depending upon the traffic flow from the opposite direction of the road and the space available for passing without any threatening obstacles.

Overtaking requires skill. One has to assess the capacity of his vehicle in terms of acceleration and to be able to pass the other vehicle. The road has to be wide enough. One has to make sure that there is no oncoming vehicle at the time of passing or there is sufficient gap available. The overtaking needs to be done when the road is clear. To be able to do that the driver requires the capacity to assess speed, momentum, acceleration direction, swing, breaking capacity and so on.

In the nighttime, one has to be able to judge the distance, vision and momentum. The dazzling lights and glare from headlights could blind the vision and drivers can end driving into a black hole zone. That can result in collision or overshooting the roads and driving off the roads

Background

Serious accidents occurring on road are a matter of great concern for all of us. Not a day passes when we do not read report of at least 2 or 3 serious road accidents. Such accidents at one time or the other has affected almost everyone, because a relative or friend is somehow connected to such accidents. The number of deaths/10000 motor vehicle in India is 10 to 15 times more than that in advance countries in a year. The number of motor vehicle is increasing day by day. However, it is a sign of improving economy of the country. It is a bitter truth that is also adds to accidents on roads. Our inability to provide enough funds to widen the roads or to construct new roads in proportion to rise in vehicle population also results in perpetuating this state of affairs.

In Maharashtra, there were 100144 motor vehicle in 1961. Thirty-six years later in 1997, the figure rose to 4515746 a 45 fold increase! During the same period, the road length has risen by mere 5 times. In fact there are several roads where the vehicular traffic 4 to 5 times their capacity.

Statistics for the last few years show that there is a large increase in the number of accidents from year to year. In the state 77565 accidents were recorded 1996. These accidents are only those registered with the Police. Besides these, there are several accidents, which are not registered with the police. Because only one vehicle is involved or because the injuries or damages are not very serious, it can be surmised that the actual number of accidents may be much more. In these accidents, large-scale loss of life occurs every year. Several persons are maimed for life. The productivity of several others reduces due to temporary incapacity. On an average 212-road accident, occur in Maharashtra everyday and 24 person die therein while 145 are injured. Broadly, 30 percent of persons dying in road accidents are below the age of 30 years. This means that the proportion of those dying in the prime of their life is quite large. It is clear that unless urgent remedial measures are taken, the occurrence of these accidents and resultant casualties will go on rising.

Why Do Accidents Occur?

• Broadly, road accidents occur due to the following 4 reasons.


• Defects in vehicle e.g. breakage of tie rod of a running vehicle tyre bursting, wheel coming loose or failure of brakes, due to such occurrence, the driver loses control on the vehicle and an accident results.


• Error of driver e.g. overtaking at a wrong place, turning abruptly or stopping without prior signaling, which can cause collision with the vehicle following; driving fast through villages exceeding the speed limit; falling asleep at the wheel, overturning due to going round a curve at excessive speed, driving while intoxicated etc.,


• Environment around the road e.g. error of drivers of other vehicles like bullock carts, cycles, rickshaw, jay walking, pedestrians, school children being run over, cattle or dogs etc. running onto roads.


• Defects in roads: A study of accidents registered with the police shows that the number of accidents due to this reason is around 10% of total accidents. Even allowing for some errors in analysis of reasons for accidents, the figure will not exceed 20%.