I almost changed my subject for my blog this week, but after my ride to work this morning I realised that this is an essential lesson for lots of drivers!

As always it's interesting to read the cycling related letters and comments - often left against articles that have nothing to do with cycling - and see how some of them are clearly the opinions of people who seem to have no clue as to what they are talking about!

Overtaking is an essential skill for all drivers, what follows is a lesson in how to do this. It's a selection of rules lifted directly from the Highway Code with some explanation where necessary.

Rule 162: Before overtaking you should make sure that the road is sufficiently clear ahead and that there is a suitable gap in front of the road user you plan to overtake. Seems obvious? It's amazing how often this doesn't happen.

Rule 163: Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should not get too close to the vehicle you intend to overtake; not assume that you can simply follow a vehicle ahead which is overtaking; there may only be enough room for one vehicle; move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking, once you have started to overtake. Allow plenty of room; move back to the left as soon as you can but do not cut in; give way to oncoming vehicles before passing parked vehicles or other obstructions on your side of the road; give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car.

Rule 165: You MUST NOT overtake if you would have to cross or straddle double white lines with a solid line nearest to you; if you would have to enter an area designed to divide traffic, if it is surrounded by a solid white line; the nearest vehicle to a pedestrian crossing, especially when it has stopped to let pedestrians cross; if you would have to enter a lane reserved for buses, trams or cycles during its hours of operation Rule 167: DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example approaching or at a road junction on either side of the road, where the road narrows, where traffic is queuing at junctions or road works, stay behind if you are following a cyclist approaching a roundabout or junction, and you intend to turn left.

Rule 211: It is often difficult to see motorcyclists and cyclists, especially when they are coming up from behind, coming out of junctions, at roundabouts, overtaking you or filtering through traffic. Always look out for them before you emerge from a junction; they could be approaching faster than you think. When turning right across a line of slow-moving or stationary traffic, look out for cyclists or motorcyclists on the inside of the traffic you are crossing. Be especially careful when turning, and when changing direction or lane. Be sure to check mirrors and blind spots carefully.

Rule 212: When passing motorcyclists and cyclists, give them plenty of room. If they look over their shoulder it could mean that they intend to pull out, turn right or change direction. Give them time and space to do so. Plenty of room means that if a cyclist can touch your vehicle you are too close! Brushing past the shoulder of the cyclist is also too close!

Rule 213: Motorcyclists and cyclists may suddenly need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles such as drain covers or oily, wet or icy patches on the road. Give them plenty of room and pay particular attention to any sudden change of direction they may have to make.

Rule 129: Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.

This one is interesting, it basically means that you are not allowed to overtake me when there's a solid white line in the middle of the road as I rarely drop below 10mph!

When you look through these rules, they seem really obvious, but it's frightening to see how many people either are not aware of them or choose to ignore them. Whilst there are lots of very loud complaints about cyclists not following the rules of the road, for every cyclist there are hundreds of motorists breaking rules that put people in danger.

I'm a great fan of the No Excuses campaign, both as a cyclist and a driver, I jsut don't think it goes far enough.

Based on information supplied by David Brown.