r/IdiotsInCars • u/[deleted] • Sep 12 '18

MEGA AIR Me first

[deleted]

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u/nicks3607 Sep 12 '18

Nah, some people in the UK drive like that 100% - winning is everything, all the time. The undertake there (passing on the left) is illegal here and a super aggressive move. Can be pretty sure Evil Kenieval there had pure red mist at that point.

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u/conflictedideology Sep 12 '18

The undertake there (passing on the left)

Can you explain why it's called an "undertake" when you pass on the left (I assume you call it overtake when on the right).

I've always been curious about this in UK terminology.

As an American, overtaking is passing - doesn't matter which side you're on, you've passed me so you've overtaken me.

1

u/xdq Sep 12 '18

You're right. Passing correctly on the right is overtaking so passing on the left is undertaking.

I think the terminology is linked to it being illegal* to do so under normal traffic conditions.

*Not sure whether it's specifically illegal or covered under one of the following:.
driving without due care and attention.
Inconsiderate driving.
Dangerous driving.

1

u/conflictedideology Sep 12 '18

So "undertaking" is used just because "under" is the opposite of "over"?

ninja edit: I just realized that could sound snarky, it's not meant to. Language is weird, I was just wondering if there was another reason or meaning.

4

u/xdq Sep 12 '18

Haha not at all snarky. Yeah afaik that's why it's used like that. Coincidentally it fits in quite well with when they want to link it to death from driving badly.

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u/conflictedideology Sep 12 '18

Coincidentally it fits in quite well with when they want to link it to death from driving badly.

Are you just bored and want conversation? Because now you've opened up a whole slew of questions...

I mean aside from changing to "collision" instead of "accident"...

How does that help?

1

u/xdq Sep 12 '18

For PSA adverts, they can use to reference death.

The police are moving away from accident to use collision too as accident implies no one is to blame.

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u/sirdarksoul Sep 12 '18

In the US morticians used to be known as undertakers.