Cut risks of overtaking, says charity

AGGRESSIVE drivers are putting millions of lives at risk by dangerous overtaking, a road safety body warned yesterday.

A poll of 1,000 motorists revealed one in seven drivers, nearly five million motorists, have had to take evasive action because of risky overtaking. The worst offenders are young men aged 17- 24, with 39 per cent admitting they had tried to get past a vehicle in front without being sure the road ahead was clear.

The survey for road safety charity Brake and Direct Line insurance said that 80 per cent of drivers have felt threatened by an overtaking manoeuvre and nearly all ( 94 per cent) have witnessed one. The problem is worse on rural roads, which per mile travelled account for 52 per cent of the UK’s fatal crashes.

Julie Townsend, Brake’s deputy chief executive, said: “We’re urging all drivers to avoid overtaking on country roads unless essential. That doesn’t include feeling impatient if someone in front is driving slowly.”