If you want to get ahead, you need to get past those people who are slowing you down—and I’m going to tell you how to do that safely.

There are only two things that will define every overtake: how much power you have and your vision. I’ll be walking through some examples in POV using this car, limited to 500 horsepower and then to 200 horsepower, to give clear examples of how you should be planning overtakes with different power levels.

We’ll also take some country lanes, perform some overtakes, and focus on what to consider regarding vision and overtake planning. Once you’ve got these two elements down, you’ll be ready for any overtake situation imaginable.

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OBDeleven is compatible with the Volkswagen Auto Group, BMW, and Toyota group—anything from 2008 and up. It’s super easy to use.

One feature I don’t love about my car is that when I put it in reverse, it doesn’t automatically dip the rearview mirror. With OBDeleven, I can set the mirror dip adjustment to go much lower, allowing me to see clearly when reversing. OBDeleven is packed with features like silencing the seat belt warning, setting the car to default to Sport mode, and even allowing video playback on the screen—all accessible through one-click apps.

Vision

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to both vision and power. First, let’s talk about vision. Vision includes the entire situation around you—it’s not just about how far down the road you can see. It’s also about knowing if there’s a corner coming up, if you’re in an area where it might not be appropriate to overtake (like places where cyclists or pedestrians might be), and more. The list goes on: there could be shops along the road, or junctions like the one I’m approaching right here. Even dips in the road impact your visibility. You wouldn’t want to overtake when a dip restricts your view. So, remember, vision isn’t just about distance; it includes a variety of situational factors.

Power

Power is relatively straightforward. I’ve got a power graph in my BMW that shows how much horsepower I’m currently using. For simplicity, let’s go into “easy mode” and assume I’ll use all 500 horsepower available, then dial it back a bit for different scenarios. Now, when considering the power you have for overtakes, this assumes you’re in the correct gear. If you’ve got 200 horsepower and are trying to overtake at 40 mph in sixth gear, you’re doing it wrong—so maybe don’t do that.

Another crucial consideration is the speed limit. If the car in front of you is only about 10 mph under the limit, your overtaking speed difference will also be about 10-15 mph. So, you’ll need to assess if it’s even worth overtaking. All these elements come together to help you decide whether to overtake, as that’s the first question you need to answer: is this even a viable overtake?

Enough theory—let’s get into some actual examples of overtaking and how I approach these situations.

My POV Examples

I’ve purposely chosen a tight road because it’s a worst-case scenario for overtakes. Here’s our first example: the car in front is moving slowly, but we don’t have visibility due to a corner. As soon as it opens up, there’s still no good opportunity, as the visibility is limited by more curves.

Waiting for a gap to open up that provides enough visibility is essential. If you go for it, you need to fully commit. Technically, you could lift off at 60 mph after overtaking, but that can slow down the maneuver, which isn’t ideal.

Worst Overtake

We’ve got a double overtake scenario here, so we need ample visibility and full power. We have a ton of visibility and make the overtake, but I’d still call this a “scuffed” overtake. My car is almost 2 meters wide, so when overtaking something large like a bus, I didn’t account for a slight curve in the road, which pushed the bus over the white line. Because of the limited space, I had to slow down to make sure I fit through. This isn’t ideal, and it’s a learning point. Had a car come around the corner, I still think we’d have been fine, especially with the 500 horsepower to pull through tricky situations.

Here’s another example: we’re approaching a corner without visibility, and there’s an oncoming car, so I hold back. This car ahead is moving quite slowly, so a large speed differential isn’t necessary. Once visibility is clear, we go for it. Another tip: keeping your momentum up helps a lot, especially if you spot the obstacle or other driver with enough time. It can make overtakes much easier, particularly if you don’t have a lot of power.

Now, let’s turn it up a notch. I’ll demonstrate some overtakes using only 200 horsepower. We’ll need to plan differently here. A 500-horsepower spot would be easy, but at 200, it’s a different story. With less power, planning ahead and waiting for an even bigger gap are essential. Situations like these highlight how extra power makes overtakes smoother, but without it, you need to assess each overtake meticulously.

And remember, not every overtake is necessary; often, they’re just a waste of fuel or pose unnecessary risks. When it’s truly time to overtake, use these tips to make it a good one.