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Overtaking on climbing lanes

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - 2 min read

Overtaking lanes are for overtaking vehicles, not for overtaking large gaps.

Photo credit: Pool

Columnist

Is it okay to stay in a climbing lane when overtaking well-spaced slower vehicles, or should the faster car return to the left-hand lane when there are brief gaps?

Cristina

Anon

The protocol on this used to be very strict, and you could fail your driving test if you used a “fist” grip. Since the widespread introduction of power-assisted steering, the discipline is less crucial.

The issue is what happens if the car has an accident that forces the front wheels to turn to full lock, instantly and with great force. That will turn the steering wheel, and the spokes of the ring could smash the driver’s thumbs if they were in a wrap-around position.

The danger did, and still does, apply to off-road driving where dropping a wheel into a deep hole or hitting a concealed boulder can fling a front wheel sideways in a split second…even if the vehicle is only travelling at walking speed.

A good grip and power steering might lessen the force with which the front wheels might be externally flipped (the driver’s hold, magnified by the power system, will offer more resistance) but the recommended principle is to keep your thumbs free of grip and preferably outside the orbit of the ring spokes. Not often important, but make it a choice so it becomes a reflex habit.