Death In Seconds: Simple Overtaking Errors That Are Killing Drivers Daily

Road crashes during overtaking remain one of the most avoidable yet deadly incidents on Nigerian highways, and according to Federal Road Safety Corps officer Fareedah Lawal, many of these tragedies happen within seconds due to simple but dangerous mistakes drivers continue to ignore.

Drawing from her safety advisory, here are the critical errors drivers must avoid:

Ignoring Mirrors and Blind Spots
One of the most common mistakes is failing to properly check mirrors and blind spots before overtaking. A quick glance is not enough—drivers must be absolutely sure no vehicle is approaching from behind.

Skipping Turn Signals
Many drivers jump into overtaking without indicating. This leaves other road users unaware of their intentions and increases the risk of collision.

Misjudging the Road Ahead
Overtaking without carefully assessing the road—especially near bends, intersections, or pedestrian crossings—can turn deadly in seconds.

Underestimating Oncoming Traffic
A frequent and fatal error is assuming there is enough time to overtake. In reality, miscalculating the speed of oncoming vehicles is a leading cause of head-on collisions.

Overspeeding During Overtake
Trying to “rush” past another vehicle by speeding excessively often leads to loss of control or inability to react to sudden changes.

Following Too Closely Before Overtaking
Tailgating reduces visibility and reaction time, making it harder to execute a safe overtaking manoeuvre.

Ignoring Vehicle Limitations
Not all vehicles accelerate the same way. Attempting risky overtakes in underpowered or heavily loaded vehicles can be disastrous.

Overtaking in Dangerous Zones
Many crashes occur because drivers attempt to overtake at bends, junctions, or areas with poor visibility—places explicitly meant to discourage such moves.

Driving While Distracted
A split second of distraction—phone use, conversations, or even fatigue—can turn an overtaking attempt into a fatal mistake.

Impatience Behind the Wheel
Perhaps the most dangerous factor is impatience. Forcing an overtake without proper clearance often ends in tragedy.
Lawal warns that overtaking is not just a routine driving action but a high-risk manoeuvre that demands full concentration, discipline, and sound judgment.

According to her, “many crashes happen not because drivers don’t know the rules, but because they ignore them.”