Overtaking. Is it just me?

[RSD7a]

Probably in common with most here, I'd say I'm a confident, drive anywhere in any conditions, kind of driver. However a big "but" surfaced last time I drove the van in Europe and I wondered if anyone else has this uncomfortable experience?
The situation is when overtaking very long nose to tail convoys of HGVs on busy (narrow?) two lane dual carriageways, especially when being tailgated by impatient car drivers. I know, for me, it's a lot to do with being RH drive and therefore as the driver being only feet away from a towering truck, especially when the truck driver is veering a bit due to phone use/ coffee drinking etc.
Symptoms are sweaty palms, increased heart rate and rising panic feeling. This usually remains at a manageable level, but it's certainly not in any way pleasant. Occasionally I choose to dip back into the HGV convoy for a few miles for a "rest" before taking courage for the next foray into the outside lane
In the same situation back here in the UK where it's my trusty passenger who is next to the towering convoy, it's a completely calm and unremarkable situation.

I once was involved in doing some research with air traffic controllers and remember the older ones saying the job becomes more stressful as they got older, partly due to a decline in cognitive processing capacity but mainly because the way years of experience alerts you to potential hazards that the young ones can't even imagine. I think my imagination is getting the better of me.
I'm genuinely interested to know if this rings true for anyone... Or is it just me?

 

[trevskoda]

Dont bother me as I stay well away from others on the road, folk who tailgate me get the brake lights signal, normally BMW or AUDI drivers, I don't overtake much unless its farmer joe with his elbow out the window doing 15mph in the middle of the two lanes<very common here>, in fact most folks stay out of my way when they see the size of my van, esp old ladies whos dentures drop out with fear.

 

[mark61]

I don't think continental drivers view it as tail gating, no-one has told them the two second rule

Don't worry about overtaking yet.

 

[Millie Master]

I used to live in France and did so for quite some time and I know exactly what you mean about how intimidating these nose to tail truckers ever swerving truckers can be!
I suppose it is an age thing, whereas I used to regularly drive well in excess of 70k fast, accident free miles per annum, these days for me on the UK's atrocious roads, the traffic density, the impatience of drivers today, their aggressive bad driving manners, mobile phone usage, costa coffee sipping etc. etc., I am actually finding that most of my enjoyment of driving has almost gone. As this is the case, we are tending to plan most of journeys to be no longer than 2.5 hours in duration and generally at periods of the day when the traffic density is lower.

Mind you, as I am still a mad keen and fast driver at heart, during the summer months on dry sunny days I do quite often rise early so that I can take my very loved MGF for a fast spin along some of our surrounding roads, long before the majority of the populace have opened their eyes!!

 

[Fazerloz]

Probably in common with most here, I'd say I'm a confident, drive anywhere in any conditions, kind of driver. However a big "but" surfaced last time I drove the van in Europe and I wondered if anyone else has this uncomfortable experience?
The situation is when overtaking very long nose to tail convoys of HGVs on busy (narrow?) two lane dual carriageways, especially when being tailgated by impatient car drivers. I know, for me, it's a lot to do with being RH drive and therefore as the driver being only feet away from a towering truck, especially when the truck driver is veering a bit due to phone use/ coffee drinking etc.
Symptoms are sweaty palms, increased heart rate and rising panic feeling. This usually remains at a manageable level, but it's certainly not in any way pleasant. Occasionally I choose to dip back into the HGV convoy for a few miles for a "rest" before taking courage for the next foray into the outside lane
In the same situation back here in the UK where it's my trusty passenger who is next to the towering convoy, it's a completely calm and unremarkable situation.

I once was involved in doing some research with air traffic controllers and remember the older ones saying the job becomes more stressful as they got older, partly due to a decline in cognitive processing capacity but mainly because the way years of experience alerts you to potential hazards that the young ones can't even imagine. I think my imagination is getting the better of me.
I'm genuinely interested to know if this rings true for anyone... Or is it just me?

Welcome to the world of your passenger.

 

[wildebus]

Probably in common with most here, I'd say I'm a confident, drive anywhere in any conditions, kind of driver. However a big "but" surfaced last time I drove the van in Europe and I wondered if anyone else has this uncomfortable experience?
The situation is when overtaking very long nose to tail convoys of HGVs on busy (narrow?) two lane dual carriageways, especially when being tailgated by impatient car drivers. I know, for me, it's a lot to do with being RH drive and therefore as the driver being only feet away from a towering truck, especially when the truck driver is veering a bit due to phone use/ coffee drinking etc.
Symptoms are sweaty palms, increased heart rate and rising panic feeling. This usually remains at a manageable level, but it's certainly not in any way pleasant. Occasionally I choose to dip back into the HGV convoy for a few miles for a "rest" before taking courage for the next foray into the outside lane
In the same situation back here in the UK where it's my trusty passenger who is next to the towering convoy, it's a completely calm and unremarkable situation.

I would say a large number of people as they get older would have a similar uncomfortable feeling (although maybe not quite to the sweaty palms and rising heart rate levels?)
When I overtake something, I try to do it as rapidly as possible (within reason!) and get back to the correct side of the road. And if I suspected the driver I am overtaking might be a bit erratic, I wouldn't bother (no good being in the right when you are 6' under).


And I suspect this could be due to what you say later on in your post (in red below)

....
I once was involved in doing some research with air traffic controllers and remember the older ones saying the job becomes more stressful as they got older, partly due to a decline in cognitive processing capacity but mainly because the way years of experience alerts you to potential hazards that the young ones can't even imagine. I think my imagination is getting the better of me.
I'm genuinely interested to know if this rings true for anyone... Or is it just me?

 

[RSD7a]

Welcome to the world of your passenger.

EXACTLY that.

 

[1807truckman]

Since most of my driving in the motorhome is done in Europe I bought a LHD and being a part time truck driver I have no problem with being alongside truckers even with some of their erratic driving.