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Overtaking a big risk on the road

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A British survey shows that one in seven drivers has taken evasive action because of their risky overtaking. The road safety charity Brake surveyed 1,000 motorists. It found that 80 per cent of drivers have felt threatened by people's overtaking, while 94 per cent said they have witnessed dangerous overtaking. Young men aged 17-24 are the most dangerous at overtaking. In comparison, women are far safer. Nearly 40 per cent of 17-24-year-old male drivers admitted overtaking when they were not sure the road ahead was clear. The figure for female drivers doing this was just 15 per cent.

The charity found that the most dangerous place to overtake was on country roads. Drivers are twice as likely to die on rural roads than in urban areas. Many of these deaths are preventable. Brake said: "We're urging all drivers to avoid overtaking on country roads unless absolutely essential." It added: "Why risk it and rush? You could cause a devastating, high-speed, head-on crash that ends lives and ruins others….A significant minority are still taking the risk and performing this aggressive and selfish manoeuvre." It said "cool-headed and responsible drivers hang back and relax".