Idiots who tailgate

Cosimo · 18 Jul 2011 at 09:55

mjt said:
Brucey, come down here to the south of France. I think you might have a heart attack.

Come to Portugal and you'll probably be dead. Tailgating must be a subject they pass in their driving test. They get so close at speed that you can see the whites of their eyes. As to overtaking, F1 drivers could get a few tips about slipstreaming.

Lopéz · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:07

DRZ said:
"Only" speeding up is just as reckless? You've got a car on the other side of the road trying to pass you because they want to make progress. They aren't approaching at speed and simply switching sides, they are behind you at the same speed as you. Speeding up once they are committed to passing is putting you, them and any oncoming traffic at massive risk.

All to keep them behind you, exactly where you don't want them to be as they were driving too close for your comfort?

Pro-tip: Lift off, let them pass and go about your day in stress-free comfort. Your masculinity will not be damaged by this.

I've never understood that thought process either.

"Hmmm, the man behind me is driving very close and clearly wants to go faster. I don't like it, it makes me feel uncomfortable. Ah, he's going to overtake me. I'll do my utmost to prevent him from doing so, thereby prolonging the situation which is allegedly causing my discomfort."

Which makes me think that people that do this aren't actually concerned for their safety, or anybody elses - they're just tossers.

DRZ · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:09

Lopéz said:
Good post.

I didn't quite want to put it like that, but yes absolutely this

Gilly · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:09

BINGO

TFC · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:12

At the end of the day there is only one answer, "don't rise to the bait".
Tailgating and other stupid driving actions may annoy the hell out of you but that one action by yourself to do something about it could land you with a whole load of grief,
I bet you have all had that thought of "if only I had...." , it's just not worth the risk to you or your vehicle especially with some of the nutcases out there.

Siliconslave · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:24

the temptation to wire up some system that drops gravel just in front of the rear wheels is great...

mattx2 · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:34

If someone is tailgating why not just pull over and let them past ? This always my prefered course of action on country roads and motorways

mattyprice4004 · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:34

I wouldn't make someone go into the back of me on purpose, but if I slammed on the anchors I'd have no consideration for them, only the risk from the object in front of my vehicle. I wouldn't do it for no reason, however.

If they're driving too close and go into the back, then fine - my towbar will deal with them appropriately. It's a stupidly heavy Witter and will happily show them the error of their ways. If they don't, then excellent - they'll see them importance of leaving an adequate gap.

rojones · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:42

DRZ said:
I honestly cba to go into the maths of this but your thinking distance isn't as far as you'd think, plus even then you are only going to have a relatively small speed differential if you do touch.

Put it this way, if things have gone so massively wrong that I am performing an emergency stop on the motorway I would rather be hit by someone that was driving 6ft from my rear bumper and didn't see me start to brake than someone that was half a mile back and didn't see me brake.

Is this guy for real :confused:

... LOL I can only assume by your stupid posts that you must be one of the tailgate happy idiots.

These tailgate happy numpties are a pet hate of mine also. I can deal with a tailgater if he wants to speed past me at 80+ and there is no traffic in front of me. But like the original post stated, its the idiots that still tailgate you when there is a queue of about 10 + cars all in the outside lane overtaking people slower on the inside lane.

Hopefully they get what's coming to them one day and don't harm anyone else in the process.

I had a great example of one of these the other day, was heading down a dual carriage way getting close to the roundabout and i needed to be in the right hand lane. A woman who i would say was in her 30's came flying up behind me, now I wasn't going to move over because i needed to be in the right hand lane for the right turning off of the roundabout. She then proceeded to under take me swerve in front of me and then back in to the inside lane after getting past 1 car and making about 30 - 40 yards in the process. And by the time we got to the roundabout she was back in-line with me. And she had 2 young kids in the car ... what's the point?

BlastRadius · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:46

I tend to try and avoid people like this now, what's the point getting yourself in a rage or putting yourself or others in danger.

Slow slightly to increase gap to car in front, usually tailgaters back off a bit at this point. If not I have just created the perfect gap for them to overtake as soon as it is safe. If on motorway I pull down a lane at earliest opportunity.

mjt · 18 Jul 2011 at 10:46

rojones said:
I had a great example of one of these the other day, was heading down a dual carriage way getting close to the roundabout and i needed to be in the right hand lane. A woman who i would say was in her 30's came flying up behind me, now I wasn't going to move over because i needed to be in the right hand lane for the right turning off of the roundabout. She then proceeded to under take me swerve in front of me and then back in to the inside lane after getting past 1 car and making about 30 - 40 yards in the process. And by the time we got to the roundabout she was back in-line with me. And she had 2 young kids in the car ... what's the point?

From what it sounds like, you were in the right-hand lane too early.

LukeTW · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:06

If its a night all I do is put the rear fog on for a couple of seconds, scares the ***p out of people

mrk · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:07

LukeTW said:
If its a night all I do is put the rear fog on for a couple of seconds, scares the ***p out of people

Why? is your fog light a ghost or something?

My brake lights may as well be fog lights. they're brighter than them

DRZ · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:13

rojones said:
Is this guy for real ... LOL I can only assume by your stupid posts that you must be one of the tailgate happy idiots.

These tailgate happy numpties are a pet hate of mine also. I can deal with a tailgater if he wants to speed past me at 80+ and there is no traffic in front of me. But like the original post stated, its the idiots that still tailgate you when there is a queue of about 10 + cars all in the outside lane overtaking people slower on the inside lane.

Hopefully they get what's coming to them one day and don't harm anyone else in the process.

I had a great example of one of these the other day, was heading down a dual carriage way getting close to the roundabout and i needed to be in the right hand lane. A woman who i would say was in her 30's came flying up behind me, now I wasn't going to move over because i needed to be in the right hand lane for the right turning off of the roundabout. She then proceeded to under take me swerve in front of me and then back in to the inside lane after getting past 1 car and making about 30 - 40 yards in the process. And by the time we got to the roundabout she was back in-line with me. And she had 2 young kids in the car ... what's the point?

Stupid posts? Haha! My posts are about not endangering the lives of others.

Go back and read my posts. By that I mean do not scan what words are on the page and make up whatever you want to see in your head, but actually look at the words on the screen and try your best to comprehend the message contained within.

I have even absolutely categorically stated that I do not tailgate. It's right there. No honestly, it is - go back and read it. Go on.

When you've educated yourself as to what I have actually posted rather than what you imagined I had posted then come back and have another go.

EDIT:

Just for some help as you clearly misunderstood the post you quoted. If I braked from 70 and someone who was 6ft off my rear bumper didn't react, they might hit my car at 70 when I am at 60. That's a 10mph impact, fairly nasty at speed but not the end of the world. If I braked from 70 and someone was way way back down the road and also failed to acknowledge what was going on in front of them, they are still going to hit me doing a fair lick but I am now at 0. 10mph impact vs anywhere up to 70mph. I'll take the 10mph hit every time rather than be obliterated in a 70mph smash, which was my point.

Morba · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:14

Sho said:
As for not letting them overtaking me, i only speed up, i don't go on the other side of the road or central reservation.

You are a muppet. You are risking peoples lives to keep them behind you which is where they were annoying you. Increasing the chances of something even worse happening should the overtake not be allowed to be completed.

Morba · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:16

DRZ said:
When you've educated yourself as to what I have actually posted rather than what you imagined I had posted then come back and have another go.

People seem to forget that 'things may be closer than they seem' in the rear view mirror.

mattyprice4004 · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:16

mjt said:
From what it sounds like, you were in the right-hand lane too early.

This, if she could move across and back in without ending up on the roundabout, then probably.

We have a similar road around here, and people do it all the time - it's a 50 and they sit doing 40 in the outside lane as they're going to turn right in about half a mile. :mad:

blun · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:36

I've found that as my cars have become faster - I have become more relaxed and generally not bothered by stuff like this. When I had a 1.2 Clio, if someone wanted to overtake me I would take this as a challenge / suggestion I'm not driving fast enough etc..

Now I just let them get on with it / move out of the way and continue my relaxing journey wafting along in comfort.

Morba · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:44

blun said:
I've found that as my cars have become faster - I have become more relaxed and generally not bothered by stuff like this. When I had a 1.2 Clio, if someone wanted to overtake me I would take this as a challenge / suggestion I'm not driving fast enough etc..

Now I just let them get on with it / move out of the way and continue my relaxing journey wafting along in comfort.

That's called getting older and more mature

Sho · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:48

Morba said:
You are a muppet. You are risking peoples lives to keep them behind you which is where they were annoying you. Increasing the chances of something even worse happening should the overtake not be allowed to be completed.

How im i risking lives here?

Why should other drivers tailgate up your **s? Is there any need for it? If it's a 30Mph road stick to it. No need to speed tailgate someone, then to decide to overtake on the other side when there is traffic coming from the other side of the road.
Aint "that" driver risking people lives then?

Let me guess im in the wrong for driving normally but the person who decides to tailgate and overtake like an idiot forgetting all rules is the perfect driver :rolleyes: