Will's Improved but what is "Dead Ground"? 

Being able to take criticism and allow yourself to change habits and improve is one of the most important skills as a driver, fair play to Will for his improvement 👍

Thanks for the video ash, ye I just went a bit early. I did Partially feel a little pressured however that’s no excuse to go when it’s unsafe to do so. Now I always tend to wait a couple of second after it’s safe compared to a couple of seconds before. Thanks for all the help on your videos as they’ve helped me so much 👍 :)

A riding buddy of mine once told me about an overtake he went for on the A66 near the military base, didn't realise it was dead ground section and he didn't see the bloody Challenger II TANK coming! A bloody armoured tank in a dead ground section! Now that's what I think whenever I see a dipped section, could be a tank coming the other way!

I am genuinely gobsmacked by how much Will's driving has improved. I would be almost certain this has had a positive impact on other areas of his life too. Thanks Ashley for encouraging us to improve.

As a cyclist, I have stopped waving cars past for this reason. It's done with good intentions, but it needs to be the driver's decision!

We were out in a group on a narrow stretch when an Audi came up behind - there was a short straight into a blind right hander - I heard the gear being dropped and thought it was foolish - he overtook only for a car to come the other way - big braking match for 2 cars and they ended up nose to nose - if there was a collision it would have been carnage as there was at least 12 bikes in the group ! The car on the other side was an elderly farmer who was just trickling along- Lucky escape for us all - Just shows what can happen ! Cheers Ashley !

So many drivers would of overtaken long before Will did and just taken there chances, nice to see great constraint on behalf of Will, well done.

I was caught speeding 2x last year, February and July. I personally think the second time was a little unfair but nether the less I was caught and accepted the course and then the 3 points on my license After watching your channel for around a year now, my driving has improved dramatically. After my first offense in February, I was really careful to stick to limits and all rules of the road that I knew at the time, this was a natural response from not wanting to get caught again and also genuinely wanting to improve my driving habits However, there are a lot of smaller, lesser known parts to driving and rules to follow which I wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for this channel, which I now know and put to use every single day in my driving since I am now a self employed nationwide courier As it’s my job to drive, I see it as my job to know how to drive according to the Highway Code and to the law, if I don’t, then I’m doing my job poorly and unsafe and it shouldn’t be my profession if this is the case You always include so much insight in your videos and I’d like to thank you for helping me change my driving habits, driving attitude and overall awareness for other peoples safety whilst on the road. I think without this channel (or similar channels), my driving would have changed only momentarily and the habits would eventually creep back. Having a constant reminder on your channel of the danger of driving on your phone, speeding etc really has helped embed it into my head where it’s now second nature to drive very similarly to yourself (I try to copy your approach to driving) I’d just like to say that I’ve never been one of these extremely dangerous drivers who weave in and out of traffic at full speed whilst on their phone and drinking a beer, my reactions and hazard awareness has always been quite good, this channel has just helped to tenfold my experience/knowledge and to be another safe driver on the road rather than a dangerous one, because we have a plague of bad drivers on the roads and it can be really scary how some people drive and are so oblivious to the rules

When you've got markings, and there are elevation changes and corners, it's a good rule of thumb to never overtake until you can see an unbroken line of road markings. If it's not unbroken, there's dead ground - whether a hidden dip and, or, a bend hiding something.

Its interesting how the camera perspective makes it look like he could have overtaking opportunities. I know that stretch of road very very well, and in reality there is no good view to allow a pass between where the video starts and where he overtook. (Its the B4194 between Bewdley and Stourport in Worcestershire, known as the 'switchback', its a very high accident rate route)

Great video Ashley. Congratulations for reaching 100K. That is Fantastic. Well done 👏🎉

In all my years as a cyclist, I don't think I have ever waved a car to overtake. I have occasionally pulled over to let a lorry pass after signalling left when on the sort of road shown in the video.

Great job Will on working to improve 🙂👍🏻 A really good learning point clip in this one.

Around two years ago, I saw a driver overtake a car approaching a side turning to the right where any kind of vehicle could have emerged but worse, around 50 or 70m past this side road there was a dead area caused by a sharp dip in the road. The driver at the time of the overtake was travelling at over 60mph and he or she had no idea whatsoever whether there was a car in that dip ... just as he or she had no idea whether any kind of vehicle may have emerged from the side road already mentioned. This really terrified me at the time as there is no doubt that with a closing speed of approaching (or exceeding) 100mph, had there been a vehicle in that dead spot, there would have been at least two fatalities on that day. Edit: Other than the hazard centre line-markings which exist all along this road, there is no other warning for drivers .. for example, a solid white line (preferably double solids) on the side we were travelling on and taking into account the side turning already mentioned! I realise that all side roads aren't considered when deciding on solid white line centre markings, but when they're placed for a dead area perhaps a good idea to bear nearby side turnings in mind. *How about a new 'DEAD GROUND' warning sign?*

Thanks Ashley, for all these helpful videos! Keep them coming! Suberb videography!

Great learning video. Thanks Will and Ashley 🙏

Hi Ashley, yet one more good video!, you never fail!. One thing that I did notice during the clip was that for the most part he was staying back a safe and sensible distance, he could however allow a bit more space so that in anticipation of an overtake he has room to accelerate and maybe slow down again within the available space, eventually the result would be a slightly higher speed at the start of the actual overtake, reducing the total time required and offering a slight reduction in the limit point, in some circumstances this early acceleration can be started a bit before the sight-line is clear, at the same time the extra space for the riders would reduce their concern for your presence. I am sure that this style of driving is somewhat advanced and requires a high standard of spacial awareness, judgement of speed and distance and timing, but these things can be developed gradually over time. I have become so familiar with it that I actually drive in normal traffic with at least enough space between me and the vehicle in front for one more car to fit in if needed!, not only does this give me a clearer sight of the road in front of the vehicle in front, especially on bends but reduces the concentration needed to monitor its performance as well as give me that speed up space if I do want to pass. One aspect of this issue is that while there is a minimum space depending on speed to be sure of avoiding collisions if something suddenly happens to the people in front that space should be looked at as a limit not a target. Cheers, Richard.

As a cyclist, I never indicate to following vehicles that _I_ feel it's safe for them to overtake, other than by moving to the far left of the carriageway. I also would not have gone into single-file where they did at the beginning of the clip immediately prior to the brow of a hill; I'd have waited until over the hill [some people may say I've been over the hill for years now!]

very good video. Dead ground can be really hard to spot too, when the road you can see just seems to join up. Well done Will for being so patient! (and, to be fair, the dash can seems to be mounted low so Will probably see over the crest a few seconds earlier than we do).

Love this and as a driver and a cyclist I'm always trying to improve my roadcraft and often wave drivers past because I think I'm helping but this video has taught me that's not the right thing to do. Thanks!

Great video 👌 this road is between stourport and bewdley, a 60mph road, so on coming traffic will be fast, great job holding back and waiting

What usually happens with a driver who seems very patient, is they miss a number of safe opportunities then decide to go at the most ridiculously unsafe point!

I'm a dreaded cyclist as well and I would NEVER beckon a car to overtake and as you point out Ashley dead ground is bad, really bad, in the army its good as its used to sneak up on the enemy, but as a road user of whatever its bad as it hides no end of possible dangers. Well done Will, that's showing good mature driving skills and remember we are always learning and can always improve.

Thanks Ashley. That answers a question for me. I do (or i used to) beckon cars past when I considered it safe for them to overtake my bike.

THANK YOU Will and to Ashley's commentary! ☺

A lot of the roads in Lincolnshire have dead space like this, but the view gives the impression of a flat road.

I think it's great that most of us actually reflect what we've learnt on this channel and add it to our daily driving. I have to say i've felt more relaxed in certain situations.

Glad you bought up the limit point, crucial. They don’t call it ‘ dead ground for nothing! I always taught my pupils early on about limit points, even on early lessons in quiet areas, I would then progress further during more advanced phases including rural settings. I got the feeling many instructors missed this info out. Well done Will,but make your own judgment call and don’t rely on others, especially The Flasher 🚑

Thanks Neil! Even though I have English as a second language (now specially from movies and the internet) for more than 40 years, I still learn. Today I did learn "dead ground" in English. Very good description of the part of the road you cannot see. Sometimes the dead ground isn't even obvious when the road is straight wirh no bends. That's why I would add, always look at the lines in the road, to see if they indicate danger. No new driving skills learned today, but my language skill improved. (Driving 60000 km each year, so the reason I watch is to learn my kids the same important skills.)

Excellent discussion, as always.

Aside from dead ground hiding vehicles, to which you may say "ahh, but I'd see the roof", it can also hide junctions off to the right, which are VERY commonly positioned at the bottom of these dips. Any of Ashley's regular viewers will be well aware of the perils of overtaking before a junction to the right! All it takes is for you to miss that junction, just as a car is looking to their right and emerges to their left, directly into your path!

Well done for highlighting Will's improvement. I've never heard it called 'dead ground' but rather a 'hidden dip'. But 'dead ground' is much more evocative and really drives the point home.

Great video Ashley' by watching your videos i've become a better driver as i now think so much more before i act' Cheers

Holding back for that long (or what seemed like a long time) takes a lot of patience and actually confidence - how many nervous drivers in that situation would have felt pressure to overtake before it was safe? Hats off to Will for his consideration and restraint there. The points about dead ground and not going on a beckon are well made.

Congrats on 100k Ash!

Another great contribution. I just wonder how many drivers understand what the maenings of the different centre lines are. Some clearly don't.

Congratulations on 100,000 subscribers. Just found out from bbb.👍

The only time I'll wave drivers by is if I'm stopped at road works traffic lights just turned green, so as not to hold them up. On an open road, a quick glance behind and deliberate move to the left, by way of an indication I'm OK with them coming past. Otherwise if I really don't see a opportunity I'll pull over when safe, normally do the latter on single track roads.

Interesting point about limit points - had one yesterday on the way to work where what should have been a simple safe overtake within half the distance turned into a situation with potential for being dangerous because the lorry I was overtaking decided to speed up by a fair amount after I'd pulled out to overtake...

All good points, especially about needing half the distance to the limit point to overtake. I always felt insecure about my ability to judge overtakes on roads like this. This helps a lot (the idea is quite simple really, I realize now)! Although judging the distance you actually need to overtake is the harder part imho. I try to err (a lot) on the side of safety. I think Will’s eyes are probably higher than the camera, so there’s a chance he could see the brow of the second hill all the way through before going for that overtake.

In my advanced test, I was driving in thick fog over numerous small hills so the amount of dead ground was massive. It took patience getting through them but as my instructor taught me there can always be "a snake on a skateboard" so gotta proceed with caution ! :)

Just wanted to big up Will! Nice work.

Thanks for showing this clip, as an inexperienced driver, I can definitely see myself doing something dangerous in such situation.

The beckoning motion can be useful, but not in this scenario. I often use it if I'm approaching a short length of widening where the driver can only safely overtake if I stop or slow. I'll indicate left then make the beckoning gesture. This allows the driver to prepare to overtake while I am slowing to enter the widening and reassures them that I am intending to stay left to allow the overtake.

Great driving, waited for the safe time to overtake, and haven't sat on cyclists 'rear end' but stayed at safe distance, a pleasure to watch, definitely I would thank with a nod, and probably with thumbs up for the patience 👍👍 Ps. I'm still waiting for the material about painted cycling lanes, and a possible answer to the question, Can cyclists overtake on the left while being in the cycling lane. So many times I've been in a situation where I'm cycling in a painted cycling lane, there's queue building up for the right turn, cars slowing down, so I pass on the left, and all of a sudden some impatient driver who wants to go straight, overtakes going into cycling lane, almost mowing me down (because obviously didn't check the mirrors, same thing every time). I've learned from that to be more cautious, but how many cyclist will get injured through that behavior?

congrats on 100k ashley

I was in a similar position yesterday, this time it was a horse rider waving cars past on a long left hand blind bend. All the cars in front went. As I got up to her I could see round the bend and there was a van in the opposite carriage way which had stopped for the overtaking cars.

Excellent!

spot on , its the drivers job to overtake when they feel its safe

This kind of situation is something I have seen a lot of rurally, it seems to be something cyclists do fairly often, in my experience. And can absolutely be highly dangerous. I’m glad Will has sent the clip in for you to share Ashley, it’s something I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to highlight to you as well. Just like to say thank you for the continued content. I first found your channel after doing a speed awareness course, and whilst the course was informative I think your channel has had a much bigger impact on the quality of my driving. Currently I am a day away from my final assessment for emergency driving, and I’ll soon be working on ambulances. Even though the standard of training is high I will still use your channel to help me think about and improve my driving, both personally and professionally. Keep up the good work Ash!

Although the overtake was a tad premature - I totally understand why this happened. The overall improvement demonstrated by Will is worthy of praise 👍

It's a really great point, well made. The reverse is also true. Often I'm waiting to cross two lanes of traffic where a cycleway crosses without priority. Drivers are queued up in one lane, and one driver will stop and beckon me to go. Problem is, I can see someone coming in the other lane who I have no idea if they have seen me or realise the other driver is waiting for me. So I just smile, shake my head and wave my hand to say "no thank you". You can be pressured to accept someone's gesture of courtesy, but you have to look at the safety of the situation, even if you end up offending them.

Great comments from Ash, as usual. I drive this kind of road a lot and this situation is very familiar. I would have done what Will did but with one thing firmly in mind: I would get up to overtaking speed early but would not commit to the overtake until the road comes fully into view. Suppose there is another cyclist crawling up the hill, I'd be certain I can slow down comfortably before reaching the two cyclists. This takes precise judgement and can't be done when there is another vehicle behind.

One time I was driving on a rural road and reached a straight section which looked like it had pretty good visibility. Suddenly, a Subaru with a canoe on the roof materialised from the road just ahead, hidden by a dip I never would have thought could hide a car. Dead ground is something to be very careful of!

There's one other thing worth adding. When you start the overtaking manoeuvre, be prepared to back out if it then becomes apparent it's not safe to continue. Once you start there's no rule that you must follow through. Sometimes pulling out enables you to see things that were not obvious before you started the manoeuvre.

Good learning point

I think it’s also worth pointing out how far back he was waiting, which was really nice to see. I’m sure a lot of drivers don’t realise how intimidating the sound/general presence of a car behind them can be, even if the have every intention of waiting patiently for a safe overtake. As a cyclist, I always hang back as far as is possible without introducing the possibility of missing an opportunity to get by, but also stay in as high a gear too, so the engine note of the car reflects the fact that I’m being calm and patient. I just plan in an extra second to downshift when it’s time to go. Well done Will!

Another thought: if the light is poor, make sure you get your headlights on early so that anyone coming the other way can see you coming. In the days when people used to run around on sidelights I once found a Lotus Elan and a Triumph TR7 (both with pop-up headlamps down) which had met head-on in a three-lane section.

Two other points with dead ground: 1. I would never trust that there is no road user in the hidden dead ground area just be because I didn't see anyone come down the down slope on the far side towards me. There's always the possibility that someone broke down in the dip / a farmers track / cycle path / pedestrian path that comes out at the bottom of the dip. 2. Whilst you are still on high ground and approaching the dip, that's a great opportunity to seize the view of any road user in the far distance that is also approaching the dip from the oncoming direction as well as what other traffic is traveling in the same direction. Because once you start to descend, you lose that view very rapidly.

As I cyclist (and car driver) I appreciate the learning points in this. I never wave anyone to encourage an overtake if I am cycling. If they are holding back then it is because they cannot see to over take. Should they still be behind me after a few more beds on roads like that I would be looking out for a safe place to pull in and let them past. Often there isn't any place for a cyclist to do a complete stop so then I have lowered my speed to 7mph, which gives car drivers more time to overtake in any straight which might appear. I don't advocate all cyclists doing that but sometimes it has worked for me, especially on narrow bendy roads with continuous fences, walls or hedges.

@Ashley, another great vid! Thank you (both). There are elements of an overtake in similar situations to Will's vid, that can be applied on bendy/hilly roads with short straights. I'm never sure what effect the camera has on the view in these vids, but neither yourself or Nick seem to move from a Safe Position to a Pre-Overtake position. A good Pre-Overtake position can reduce risk and increase overtaking opportunities by opening the view earlier. This need not impact on the cyclists, but I would take your lead with regard to overtaking houses. What's you opinion on moving to a Pre-Overtake position. If you feel it can be applied whats your advise on its application?

Nice video. 👍 I think the lesson of "don't proceed just because someone beckons you, but only when *you* are confident there are no hazards about" is one that can be applied to many scenarios. Here it's cyclists beckoning an overtake but I think it also applies to cars beckoning pedestrians at a crossing, or vehicles of any variety beckoning each other out of junctions. Always check yourself to make sure the situation is safe before proceeding. Only you can determine if you have the power, visibility and skill to pull off a manoeuvre safely. Roads like this can be deadly, though. I know of so many incidents and near misses that have happened on our local A roads. And people still speed around on them like it's a race track. 😐

Good stuff, an example for us all. 👍

Further to my comments, I think you should do a video on the limit point, particularly concerning bends, bends are where many fatals occur, due to speed, loss of control, too fast into the bend, straight lining bends, straight into a 🌳 etc

I never beckon a driver to overtake when out cycling. What I do is vary my road position. I will ride central in the lane when it's not safe to overtake, but move over to secondary when there's an opportunity. This can help a hesitant driver with their decision making, without putting them under pressure to follow an 'order'!

At the end of the day if an accident occurs it’s the drivers who get into trouble the person who possibly beckoned them may feel bad or get a tell of ( maybe , maybe not) but the drivers are the ones who will get into trouble . As you stated only go if you know it’s safe .👍

I passed my test but I still watch you cus it helps. Great videos!

I had never heard of the limit point before but that's good advice.

Driving down a narrow road this morning and I'm behind a pickup that is giving cover to a slow moving road maintenance vehicle in front of it, the vechicle at times is over the middle line in the road as it is wide. The road is bendy and has dead ground. Transit sized van behind me gets impatient and goes to over take the 3 of us in the dead ground (me who has more sense and a more powerful, agile car won't overtake unless it is legal, safe and worth it), low and behold a HGV comes the other way forcing the Van to an emergency stop. What beats me is the SUV who blindly followed the Transit in the overtake not been able to see jack sh** of the road ahead. less than 300 yards down the road it opens up with a lot of visibility with safer overtaking opportunities. Caught the Van up at the end of the road and the SUV was behind me anyway due to the stupid overtake attempt. Why do people drive without engaging their brains, it was 7am in the morning and that road is known as a rat run.

Spot on with the final over take analysis. Unless you know the road very well and know it has no side access points, can be 100% confident that the cyclist could see all of the dead ground fully and clearly (I don't think they could) and trust the cyclist with your, their and any other road user's lives - as far as I am concerned, these cannot all be met, so see with your own eyes and be sure.

I know them as "blind summits" and sadly also know somebody who was in a serious accident as a result of one and now has life-changing injuries.

Just a quick question I was hoping to get an answer too after debating with someone, when if at all can you let someone out of a junction in a more rural setting particularly farm vehicles which may have difficultly emerging otherwise

When I'm cycling, I never beckon people through - as you say, it's the driver's decision. I can't help wondering, though, with this example, if the camera is mounted low? If so, the driver could well have been able to see into the dead point when he started to overtake.

No vision, no decision!

I’ve been in that position behind cyclists a few times and not overtaken until the time is right. However, other motorists behind me weren’t so patient and would overtake us all on bends. Crazy!

I once was about to overtake on a hill like that, but I just got this really bad feeling and decided against it even though I normaly don't hesitate. It turned out there was a car in the "dead ground", after he appeared I though my chest was gonna explode.

Well done Will and Ashley, this rule applies to all walks of life too. You make the final decision, make sure you are right. Thankfully the cyclists were not pulling a prank, but then they are not on BMX's. Hey, I used to ride BMX ! Some people can be arses though so you decide. Big respect to Will by the way for allowing you Ashley and all of us to criticize and well done for learning all the way Will ! I am no Angel either, but I do my best.

I've started cycling on a faster road near me Ashley. I was quite scared as there's a lorry park near and it's sometimes busy, but... I had lights front and back, high vis clothes, helmet, camera and even a bicycle side mirror on my right to look for overtaking traffic. And guess what...no problems what so ever! It was great! Everyone was ok no beeps lorry's overtook well, apart from one who came past a vehicle waiting to overtake me but still plenty of space was given. I even found it better than expected. But sadly, there was bad luck in town when a driver did something a little dangerous, they went on the wrong side of the road in built up traffic and tried to take the spot empty I was in with me on my bike. They did move back but I filmed her and the kids in her car were a little silly.

Probably the best driving video I've seen in a long time - I'm a new driver (4 months) and live in the countryside - this situation happens ALL THE TIME and the pressure builds when you have cars behind you (usually in a rush) not realising why your not overtaking. I wish Cyclists would stop acting like Traffic Wardens - they have no idea the pressure on drivers on these kinds of roads.

Ashley, could you do a video on straight lining roundabouts? You mentioned it in the next video and I wondered your take on it - cheers

I only ever take a ‘beckon’ signal as meaning the person knows you are there and will not impede your progress, never take it as meaning ‘your safe to go’ unless you can see for yourself the way ahead is adequately clear. The only time this is not true, is when being guided at manoeuvring speed (like reversing without a good view) by a trusted helper on foot.

Great driving. We all have to admit we need improvement. Brave of Will and good on him. Cyclist could have pulled in the layby. Not much delay to anyone, and would have been safer and very helpful.

There is also an element of local knowledge. Maybe not in Wills clip as we don't know if he is familiar with the area. If you know how deep a dead ground spot is then you may be able to see any dangers. But then is it still dead ground if you can see what's in the road even if you can't see the surface itself?

Never take instructions or be forced into any action from others, you should make your own decisions, only you know when you feel its safe to make a move.

If I'm totally honest, I'm not sure I would have held back as long as Will did. There were several occasions there where I might have been tempted to drop it down to 2nd gear and accelerate briskly past the cyclists, whilst giving them plenty of room of course. Not the right thing to do but being totally honest here, so I've learned from this. The other key thing with a situation like this is not to be pressured into overtaking by impatient drivers behind you. It's as well to remember that overtaking is entirely optional. There's no rule saying you have to do it!

The dead ground is not between the two hill brows, it is between the first brow and the visible upward slope towards the next. From there to the next brow is visible ground... Other than that, yes Will started his overtake a second too early whilst dead ground could still hide a vehicle (assuming that the camera could see what Will could see - a dangerous assumption).

No no no. Not there….that’s a hidden dip!

Thank you Ashley in your instruction to the cyclists. They are not in control of other road users and are not in anyway in a better situation to give commands. They are in charge of a bicycle and the driver is in charge of a 1.5 ton car. Gone are the days of having someone walk in front of a motor vehicle with a red flag... but then maybe they don't walk!?🤪

When I was a regular road cyclist (10 miles to work and 40-50 on the way home) in the Cotswolds- I came up with a theory - often the point when a driver realised it was ok to overtaken me was exactly the point when it became too late to safely overtake. Vehicles would sit behind me seemingly debating with themselves whether it was safe to go or not and then do a last minute squeeze past.

I would've overtaken before Will did, but that's because I'm watching this at home. Maybe if I was actually there in person I'd choose to wait longer. I definitely wouldn't have overtaken where Will did despite what the cyclist was gesturing.

there's a question in my mind whether the cyclist's hand signal was a beckoning or a warning. which means the cyclist didn't communicate clearly. as for myself, I would have been tempted to pull into the wide spot to allow a car behind to overtake, if I were a regular cyclist on that road and knew there were limited opportunities. as a driver, yes, I would have waited until I was certain I could complete the overtake without risking hitting an oncoming vehicle or encroaching on the cyclists' lane, and preferably without going to WOT, which is just impolite.

I have been in the opposite scenario (as a cyclist), a car tried to overtake and I could see that there was a car approaching that they could not see. I pulled out from the side into the outside of the lane as to block their attempted overtake and put my hand out gesturing them to stop immediately... luckily this worked, and they stopped the overtake maneuver, 1 second later a fast moving car came round the corner in the oppsite direction. The outcome of that could have been me and my friends hit by a car performing an evasive maneuver, or the two cars colliding head on, thankfuly not. Impatience can be a killer!

As a cyclist I will wave people past but only when I can see a significant distance and I'm sure there aren't vehicles hidden.

At 1:40 as the driver I would have taken the hand gesture as meaning stop/don’t pass now. The second gesture by the other rider was a definite wave to move on.

I was on my driving test (the one which I actually passed) waiting to pull out and turn left at a junction, when a car to my right flashed his lights for me to pull out in front of him. I did nothing, so he flashed again but I shook my head and stayed put. He went past and I pulled out and made some comment. The examiner told me that just because someone flashes, it doesn't put me under any obligation to act on it.

The best thing cyclists can do in this situation is make it obvious to the driver you are aware of them by having a good look over your shoulder. Don't make any hand signals, other than when turning or slowing. Ride in a predictable manner (cyclists in a group passing each other while a car is trying to overtake seems to be a particular problem) and if possible keep left where visibility is good on narrow roads. There are things both user groups can do to make it easier and safer for each other.

I have had something like that happen before. Was holding back behind a cyclist coming up to the brow of a hill and he beckoned me to overtake. As you say, this makes the car driver feel obliged to overtake but it was lucky that day that I didn't because about 1 second after the cyclist beckoned a car came up over the brow of the hill at 80 km/h. For whatever reason that day I just decided not to go and I certainly was glad I didn't because that was for sure a head on collision.

I’ve been cycling a similar road today with brief amounts of pavement, I was faced with a lot of oncoming traffic and a car following me close behind, when I felt safe to do so I mounted the pavement, just prior to this I stuck a thumb up for the driver as an early warning. He tooted as he passed which I took as a sign he was happy with my actions, is that a becon? Did I do the right thing???

Not seeing any oncoming vehicles, is not the same as it being clear. "I can't see a car, therefore it's safe to proceed." Is such a bad mentality. I had an instance of this on a road that I had no knowledge of during a lesson. The bend on must have been more of a curve than a right angle, so the little indent into the hedge was hiding a car. I pulled out, and a car just managed to miss me. My instructor was furious. On roads you don't know, account for hedges drastically distorting the road shape, or hidden side roads.

As a cyclist you can feel pressurised when someone is driving a vehicle behind you, the pressure builds the longer you "hold them up", there is a sense that they will run out of patience and pass in a dangerous manner or location. That's probably the reason the cyclist is trying to wave the camera car past, he views it as a location which is safe for him, rather than one which is safe for the car.