This is constructed in collaboration with Greg VK2DIL.

    The topic of this effort will be relative speeds and distances required when overtaking.

    We will also discuss braking distances using a couple of specific examples so as to illustrate our message. It is my contention that the bare minimum distance required to overtake a 17.5m long semi-trailer is such that a kilometre would not be excessive at 100 km/hr, on the open road.

    Bare in mind that our highways now have B-Double trucks, which are considerably longer. I figure this based on the fact that one has to allow for oncoming traffic at unknown speeds..... possibly well in excess of the speed limit. We all know that everyone obeys the speed limits all the time... don't we!

    So many times I have had to risk my own life, going bush to save some mug who has not allowed sufficient room to overtake. This displeases me somewhat, as my boss of the time may hold a dim view of accident reports whereby trees, guide posts, livestock and other associated items have been embedded on various parts of my lorry.

    In view of the fact that accident reports instil a feeling of sheer terror you may appreciate my dislike of such lunacy. I believe that such people create bedlam unintentionally as they simply do not comprehend the factors involved. On the matter of braking distances let us give an example.

    Assume that you are travelling at 60 km/hr and you are approaching the rear of, say, a school bus. At 60 km/hr you are travelling at approximately 16.6m/sec. Reaction time from having sighted a problem until you remove your foot from the accelerator and cover the brake, but not apply it, has been tested to take 1.5 seconds. From this we can see that you will have travelled about 25m before braking has even commenced. A school bus is 12.5m long. Therefore if you were at the back of the bus when a child ran out in front, (s)he would be well and truly protruding from the rear of your motor vehicle before you had even commenced braking. You then have to factor in how far it takes you to stop after you have applied the brakes. This varies, of course, depending on your motor vehicles braking capacity, tyres and a myriad of other parameters.

    Whilst discussing braking distances, it should be noted that trucks require considerably more distance to stop than a motor car. Simple physics will tell you that 42.5 tonne has a lot more momentum than your 1 tonne rice burner. Thus, it can be seen that should you choose to commit suicide then I suggest there are few better ways than to duck in front of a truck at a set of traffic lights, for instance. Most truckies allow sufficient braking distance between themselves and the stop line and/or motor vehicle in front. If you choose to intercede then you get what you deserve. There have been occasions when I have allowed for minimal braking, four cars have ducked in the gap, and all of a sudden we have an emergency braking procedure. This is not uncommon. I hope none of you  practice this manoeuvre.

    The moral of the story is that if you choose to drive at what some would consider the slow speed of 60 km/hr near anywhere that a child may do the unexpected (which could really be anywhere) you will have something on your conscience for an awful long time.