Tailgating - Driving too Close

[volvorocks]

To accompany my post on centre lane hogging which can be seen here (http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?p=990741#post990741) what are peoples views on tailgating - driving too close - and why do they do it?

Regards

[Palmer]

To accompany my post on centre lane hogging which can be seen here (http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?p=990741#post990741) what are peoples views on tailgating - driving too close - and why do they do it?

Regards

It gets on my tits. More so that i feel inclined to drive slowly and just waft along.

Has anyone noticed that if you ever go out drinking or something and get a taxi, that they seem to do it to EVERY single car they drive behind.

Im like

"Do you want a chamois leather? You can polish his bumper if you want!"

Or

"Summit in his boot you want?"

LOL

[stephend]

Yep, I hate people tailgating me and people cutting in, in almost equal measure.

[mhl]

Very dangerous practice, which I hate. Usually down to aggression - tailgater wants to be going faster than the guy in front, even when he can see there's a line of traffic on a busy road with no opportunities to pass; or he (almost inevitably male) doesn't like that he's just been passed by the other guy.

I occasionally used to achieve a result by a quick on/off with the tail lights, convincing the tailgater that I was braking. Can't do that any more with DRL on my V50. I'd love to have a solid old banger with a concrete rear bumper and stand on the brakes ....

[caveman_returns]

I used to be a lorry driver and van driver, at certain times I've tailgated but only when fully laden and when the vehicle in front has been going to slow for the road conditions. The reason being, if you're fully laden it's a right pain in the arse to keep dropping a gear or 2 because the git in front is driving too slow because they either can't drive properly/they're lost/faffing about/on the mobile/putting make-up on/reading a map/being a git.

I never do it in a car, I do however slow down a tad if someone in a car is doing it for no other reason than being an impatient swine.

[weble]

I dunno about anyone else. I get the feeling about 7/10 cars that tailgate me. Are not doing it to "Bully" me. Most the time i think they simply dont realise they're way too close to be safe! They have more confidence in their brakes/abilities than they should have. It bothers me more in the car, simply because it's my car they damage and my family/friends that's damaged! At work it dont bother me in the slightest. I got a 44foot trailer plus unit, lots of solid steel between their plastic bumper and me!

I've always wanted a sticker on the back of my lorry, something along the lines of "You wouldnt drive with your bonnet up, so why tailgate a large vehicle?"

If anything when im driving i tend to follow other cars a little too far away, i always get cut in on. Mainly because im lazy, when ya follow too close u have to do twice the work adjusting to traffic!

[princepugh]

I think you'll find a lot of people do it out of shear ignorance in terms of safety.

I've had old boys and young girls sitting on my rear bumper (so to speak) through residential areas (30mph) - you can invariably see them sat there just driving as normal, no appreciation of stopping distance, anticipation or anything.

Some people will just drive as close to you as they can or as fast as you are going I'm afraid, irrespective or anything else...

Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule! :-)

[Daim]

It is annoying, but then I catch myself doing so, when other people just drive "crappy".

Autobahn, at night. Right lane empty. A "sleeper" is driving in the middle lane... By law I have to pass him on the left meaning to shot across the Autobahn to head back to my desired lane... I always then tailgate for a couple of seconds and then overtake and really make sure he/she/it understands "it was your fault in the first place!" ;)

Or when driving along a country road with an overtaking ban. Person is crawling along (mainly people with a biblical age!) and can't keep straight... I tend to tailgate then too...

But in 99.9% of all times, I'm "tailed" by others...

[volvorocks]

I used to be a lorry driver and van driver, at certain times I've tailgated but only when fully laden and when the vehicle in front has been going to slow for the road conditions. The reason being, if you're fully laden it's a right pain in the arse to keep dropping a gear or 2 because the git in front is driving too slow because they either can't drive properly/they're lost/faffing about/on the mobile/putting make-up on/reading a map/being a git.

Hi Caveman

I do see your point regarding the inconvenience of ditherers and faffers being annoying and painful , although do you not consider that if you are driving a fully laden lorry or van that will inevitably take longer to stop wouldnt you therefore be better keeping a greater distance , however annoying the person in front is?

[159john]

I always remember when I had a Vauxhall Cavalier back in the mid 90's. Vauxhall had the foresight to fit ABS to a mainstream family car, when at the time it was the sole preserve of luxury cars. It always troubled me on wet motorways, that I knew without any doubt at all, that I could stop quicker than the car behind, even if they were only 'mildly' tailgating me.

Perhaps the problem nowadays is that braking distances have improved so much that people are over confident in their car's ability. Of course, what hasn't changed is the 'thinking distance'.

My strategy for tailgaters is to touch the brake pedal with my left foot to show my brake lights, without slowing at all. Not something I would ever do on a motorway though - another of my pet hates is people who keep using their brakes on the motorway simply because they are tailgating the car in front. That annoys me more than being tailgated myself. I'm sure some motorway pile-up are caused by the ripple effect, started by a tailgater showing their brake lights.

[kebab10]

To accompany the Middle Lane Owners Club members I encountered this week, I also had a tailgater!

Just got onto the M5 north of Exeter and driving along in the middle lane passing traffic correctly and literally out of nowhere came this Pug 307/308.

Just breezed right up to the bumper and "latched" on. Next thing he puts his very badly aimed headlights on and I am getting somewhat blinded. The self dimming mirror didnt know waht to do no doubt because it was still fairly light; so I took my foot off the loud pedal and slowed down a bit. He drops right back and then about a minute later, right up my chough again.

He then passed and I glanced over and gave him a "small willy wave" and he disappeared. Beggar, blessed beggar. Worse than drunks some people.

[volvorocks]

Ive often wondered if one (or even 2 or 3 maybe) of those triangular stickers warning of explosive gas cannisters, corrosive chemicals, flammable liquids on board or even nuclear waste being placed on the rear of my vehicle would stop people tailgating..!!!

The only reason I havent is that in the event of an RTA the Emergency Services would have to deal with the incident in a totally different manner as they would think dangerous gases and chemicals were on board!

[weble]

Ive often wondered if one (or even 2 or 3 maybe) of those triangular stickers warning of explosive gas cannisters, corrosive chemicals, flammable liquids on board or even nuclear waste being placed on the rear of my vehicle would stop people tailgating..!!!

The only reason I havent is that in the event of an RTA the Emergency Services would have to deal with the incident in a totally different manner as they would think dangerous gases and chemicals were on board!


Nah, they cant see further than the end of their own bonnets they aint gonna see them lol

[david philips]

i am like kebab10 i slow down a bit i hate it when someone tailgates me more so in the dark when they dazel with there lights,but i find that if i slow down a bit just 5mph they soon flyby,:stormy:

[crankie]

i once did somthing very silly when being tailgated by two yobs in a very loud escort for quite a long way when they could off passed,i waited at the green lights until they went back to red and then shot off leaving them to get honked at by the line off traffic behind them.it was a bit stupid but i was younger and a bit hot headed

[RUTV70]

Yep...pet hate of mine....particularly at night when all you get is a rear view mirror full of headlights.! (and have to dip it)..and they seem to have no real intention, or opportunity, of overtaking you.?
If I'm THAT close behind...it's because I'm just about to overtake you.!!!.LOL

Neil

[caveman_returns]

Hi Caveman

I do see your point regarding the inconvenience of ditherers and faffers being annoying and painful , although do you not consider that if you are driving a fully laden lorry or van that will inevitably take longer to stop wouldnt you therefore be better keeping a greater distance , however annoying the person in front is?

Yes it is ideal to keep a safe distance behind them, I did endeavour to do so but sometimes it is very frustrating when it's A, the 5th car to do so in a 30 minute time frame and B, they actually overtake you and pull right in front of you.
Thankfully, I don't drive for a living anymore. The companies I have worked for in the past are trying their hardest to get the drivers to deliver items within a shorter time frame, they are constantly on the 'phone or radio wanting to know where you are and how long until the next drop. I told my wife that if I carried on driving like I was (I was working for a courier at the time) that I would end up killing myself or someone else as the time limits between each drop were getting shorter and shorter and I was taking more risks to get the job done.

[volvorocks]

Yes it is ideal to keep a safe distance behind them, I did endeavour to do so but sometimes it is very frustrating when it's A, the 5th car to do so in a 30 minute time frame and B, they actually overtake you and pull right in front of you.
Thankfully, I don't drive for a living anymore. The companies I have worked for in the past are trying their hardest to get the drivers to deliver items within a shorter time frame, they are constantly on the 'phone or radio wanting to know where you are and how long until the next drop. I told my wife that if I carried on driving like I was (I was working for a courier at the time) that I would end up killing myself or someone else as the time limits between each drop were getting shorter and shorter and I was taking more risks to get the job done.

Thanks for your response Caveman

Yes indeed, I do understand the pressure people operate under nowadays trying to squeeze more into a shorter time frame especially perhaps couriers under instruction from their bosses.

Taking your experience as an example,I have,in the past advised certain companies, that, by acting in the manner you so describe ,could result in them being culpable and that a more sensible approach would be to relieve pressure from their employees whilst at the same time doing so in a manner that ensures that such relief is not a carte blanche for doing little.
If there is rapport understanding and respect between employer and employee in such instances then a similar amount of work gets completed with the added bonus that such work will be of a much higher quality.

I must admit this approach may not always work - it is very much dependent upon each parties attitude towards the problem

Regards

ps I bet you feel a new person now you are no longer a courier..??..!!

[bigbadee]

thanks volvorocks another thing that i hate the worst thing about tailgaters is that when on the motorway which is most weekends i have the wife the daughter and dog all in the car at 75 which is the speed that i try to sit at when possible i find that i am amazed how many cars are so close i cant see there number plate now the volvo can be replaced has forced me to fit a tow bar every little helps and yes sometimes leftfoot on brakes just to show the light wrong maybe dangerous but if only people knew how long it takes to stop maybe they woulnt do it

[caveman_returns]

Thanks for your response Caveman

Yes indeed, I do understand the pressure people operate under nowadays trying to squeeze more into a shorter time frame especially perhaps couriers under instruction from their bosses.

Taking your experience as an example,I have,in the past advised certain companies, that, by acting in the manner you so describe ,could result in them being culpable and that a more sensible approach would be to relieve pressure from their employees whilst at the same time doing so in a manner that ensures that such relief is not a carte blanche for doing little.
If there is rapport understanding and respect between employer and employee in such instances then a similar amount of work gets completed with the added bonus that such work will be of a much higher quality.

I must admit this approach may not always work - it is very much dependent upon each parties attitude towards the problem

Regards

ps I bet you feel a new person now you are no longer a courier..??..!!

I do in a way as it was a very stressful job-van driving was worse as you don't need a tacho so you could theoretically drive 24/7! I used to have to start work at 5:30, load my own van and be out delivering for 7:30. I finished work when I had finished delivering and collecting-no set hours-which more often than not was gone past 19:00!
Regards,
Robert

[volvorocks]

thanks volvorocks another thing that i hate the worst thing about tailgaters is that when on the motorway which is most weekends i have the wife the daughter and dog all in the car at 75 which is the speed that i try to sit at when possible i find that i am amazed how many cars are so close i cant see there number plate now the volvo can be replaced has forced me to fit a tow bar every little helps and yes sometimes leftfoot on brakes just to show the light wrong maybe dangerous but if only people knew how long it takes to stop maybe they woulnt do it

Yes indeed it is very frustrating.

I tend to sit at 75mph as this is generally a true 70mph although I do always pull over when my overtaking manouvre has finished.

If you have AMG M3 S4 V12 Porsche Maserati GTR on the back of your vehicle..lol...I am of the opinion that tailgating is less of an issue.

The following scenario is rather babyish and made up ..lol....although I will put it forward :lol:

Imagine you are on a road (unrestricted in speed limit I hasten to add) and you are overtaking slower moving traffic that is on an inside lane at say 75mph and someone starts to tailgate. Simply reduce speed without using brake lights to say 67mph (whilst still overtaking of course). When your overtaking manouvre is complete and ensuring the inside lane is clear pull over to allow the tailgater to "overtake" you. When the tailgater is about level with you in his or her overtaking manouvre simply accelerate using the full power of your glorious 500bhp engine and then slow down and allow the tailgater to actually overtake.

You will feel the tension and stress that has been placed upon you ebbing away and back onto the tailgater as he or she passes with increased blood pressure..!!

Ps this only works if your car is faster than the tailgaters...!!

[Rowton]

I dunno about anyone else. I get the feeling about 7/10 cars that tailgate me. Are not doing it to "Bully" me. Most the time i think they simply dont realise they're way too close to be safe!


Agree with you there

I remember coming home down a busy dual carriageway last year, probably just over 2 seconds behind a Fiesta which was tailgating the car in front, when all of a sudden the brake lights came on up ahead.

It was a pretty hasty stop to miss the Fiesta which completely panicked and widly swerved into the inside lane to miss the car in front of it. Interesting and mildly amusing to see the two-second rule being observed by that driver once the speed picked up again!

[volvorocks]

Agree with you there

I remember coming home down a busy dual carriageway last year, probably just over 2 seconds behind a Fiesta which was tailgating the car in front, when all of a sudden the brake lights came on up ahead.

It was a pretty hasty stop to miss the Fiesta which completely panicked and widly swerved into the inside lane to miss the car in front of it. Interesting and mildly amusing to see the two-second rule being observed by that driver once the speed picked up again!

Exactly.

It is from experience that one learns such as the Fiesta

Yes I think many people may not do it to "bully" just simply being unaware of the dangers.

Education may be the order of the day.

Regards

[Rowton]

Example being a girl who I car share with (extremely necessary evil it's like sharing a car with Forrest Gump but it saves money!)

Down the same bit of dual carriageway she often travels waaay to close behind the car in front because quite frankly she isn't the sharpest.

Always tempted to tell her to ease off a little but doubt it would really sink in!

[princepugh]

Example being a girl who I car share with (extremely necessary evil it's like sharing a car with Forrest Gump but it saves money!)

Down the same bit of dual carriageway she often travels waaay to close behind the car in front because quite frankly she isn't the sharpest.

Always tempted to tell her to ease off a little but doubt it would really sink in!

You should find a way to tell her, it might save her life one day, or the life of some rear passengers in the car in front..

Honestly, it is just plain ignorance in most cases, I'm convinced.

[stevo48]

By 'eck there must be some perfect drivers frequenting these forums, I think I might have said this before, we are ALL guilty of breaking the rules or of p#ss#ing someone off whilst behind the wheel, non of us are perfect and I will be the first to admit I have been guilty of hogging the middle lane of the motorway and probably at some time or other i have tailgated another driver....................................there now I feel better already :)
Anybody else want to "come out" and spill the beans.

Stevo48, NOT Mr perfect.

[stephend]

I do try to use lanes correctly - but (a) if I'm generally travelling quicker than traffic in lane 1, I'll stay in lane 2 rather than swapping lanes all the time; (b) I'll stay out in lane 2 if I'm passing a slip road with traffic joining or likely to join; and (c) sometimes, usually at peak times, the whole lane system breaks down, with all the lanes at about the same speed, so I'll stay in whatever lane I'm in and just go with the flow.

The other thing is that I've been trying out cruise control now that I've got a car that has it fitted, and the whole business of blending with other traffic seems to be different when the speed's being regulated by the vehicle. If traffic is any more than very light, I seem to end up having to tweak it, or over-ride it, or cancel it to the point that it's hardly worth the bother. Also, I normally speed up a bit when I overtake to make it decisive, whereas with cruise on, you end up drifting past quite slowly, which I don't really like.

[volvorocks]

By 'eck there must be some perfect drivers frequenting these forums, I think I might have said this before, we are ALL guilty of breaking the rules or of p#ss#ing someone off whilst behind the wheel, non of us are perfect and I will be the first to admit I have been guilty of hogging the middle lane of the motorway and probably at some time or other i have tailgated another driver....................................there now I feel better already :)
Anybody else want to "come out" and spill the beans.

Stevo48, NOT Mr perfect.

Hi Stevo48

Yes indeed what you say is correct.I for one am certainly not perfect.

I believe we are all "guilty" of certain misdemeanours behind the wheel,myself included.

However should any alleged inadequacies be pointed out to me in a short but sharp and friendly manner such as a quick flash or a "both hands to one side in an upward movement" then I take appropriate action. If the method of notification is aggressive and bullying I would ignore it.However if the method of notification is friendly and valid I always oblige maybe sometimes with a friendly wave to acknowledge that I may be in the wrong. This is always a good procedure to follow.If my driving may be considered not in accordance - which I hasten to add never happens as I always respect others that respect me and drive in a manner as conversant with the Law and the Highwaycode as is possible.

Another may laugh at this comment.

However my licence is extremely important to me and I respect the fact that I have one. I earned it and I drive in a a manner in order to retain it. I value my licence.

regards

[tt82]

By 'eck there must be some perfect drivers frequenting these forums, I think I might have said this before, we are ALL guilty of breaking the rules or of p#ss#ing someone off whilst behind the wheel, non of us are perfect and I will be the first to admit I have been guilty of hogging the middle lane of the motorway and probably at some time or other i have tailgated another driver....................................there now I feel better already :)
Anybody else want to "come out" and spill the beans.

Stevo48, NOT Mr perfect.

Steve, there are no perfect drivers.

From a personal point of view, I think what is being talked about is not when people break the rules or do something wrong deliberately, but when their general driving skill and awarness is so poor that they don't know they've broken the rules or done something wrong.

I feel for Rowton as I shared his example. A female driver who always drove about 10 feet away from the vehicle in front, regardless of the type of road or speed. They are constantly moving from brake to accelerator and to be in that car is extremely terrfying. Yet its not an aggressive thing, its just simply how they drove.

[XC60MY12]

The other thing is that I've been trying out cruise control now that I've got a car that has it fitted, and the whole business of blending with other traffic seems to be different when the speed's being regulated by the vehicle. If traffic is any more than very light, I seem to end up having to tweak it, or over-ride it, or cancel it to the point that it's hardly worth the bother. Also, I normally speed up a bit when I overtake to make it decisive, whereas with cruise on, you end up drifting past quite slowly, which I don't really like.

Absolutely right, which makes those who decry such advances as cruise control for making drivers lazy look a bit silly. Things get even more interesting with adaptive cruise control, where your speed is determined by that of the vehicle in front as well. F'rinstance following a vehicle in lane 2 of motorway waiting for a break in lane 3 traffic so you can overtake. Vehicle in front returns to lane 1. If you're not careful you speed up to the annoyance of those trying to overtake you. If anything you need to be more on the ball with CC and to learn when it is appropriate to use it and that it's not infallible.

[Rowton]

This is why I almost always have the lights on when I'm driving on motorways/dual carriageways.

I think a lot of people just dawdle along blissfully unaware of traffic around them, I find with the lights on people notice me and move in a lot sooner, without the need to tailgate or bully them.

[weble]

This is why I almost always have the lights on when I'm driving on motorways/dual carriageways.





I dont have a choice! lol

[XC60MY12]

This is why I almost always have the lights on when I'm driving on motorways/dual carriageways.

I think a lot of people just dawdle along blissfully unaware of traffic around them, I find with the lights on people notice me and move in a lot sooner, without the need to tailgate or bully them.

It's now law for all new cars to have running lights so, a few years down the line, you won't be so noticeable. Then what? A klaxon?

There is never any need to tailgate or bully other motorists, it's called road rage and is totally counter-productive. Any activity involving other people can be stressful and annoying (well almost :)). Why aggravate things unnecessarily by descending to their level and increasing the likelihood of an accident?

[t5_monkey]

Lights do seem to make a difference... people notice you.

[Bill Edmondson]

By 'eck there must be some perfect drivers frequenting these forums, I think I might have said this before, we are ALL guilty of breaking the rules or of p#ss#ing someone off whilst behind the wheel, non of us are perfect and I will be the first to admit I have been guilty of hogging the middle lane of the motorway and probably at some time or other i have tailgated another driver....................................there now I feel better already :)
Anybody else want to "come out" and spill the beans.

Stevo48, NOT Mr perfect.
Haha very wise words, I am with you mate?

[christheancient]

OK. So what can we realistically do about tailgaters? Flashings of brake lights and/or slowing down can exacerbate the situation if the person following is an aggressive style driver in that they may well become even more impatient and do something even more impatient (good for their blood pressure and stomach acid levels which will only be reduced by arriving at their destination one whole minute quicker!).

Simplez. Double the space in front of you. That way you have more time for any reactions that might be needed and you don't have to react in a panic. I call it "allowing for the braking distance of the idiot behind me as well as mine."

[DesertDog]

Tailgating in this end of the world is part of the daily drive. Here, it's become aggressively stupid when 3 tonnes of American heavy metal is sitting less than 6ft from your tailpipe with lights flashing furiously at 120kph.

These idiots are invariably local Emiratis who either don't care about traffic fines (what's 200 Dirhams....) or a wrecked front end (he'll be bored with it in 6 months anyway).

On the way into Abu Dhabi earlier today, I witnessed the results of a 3 car shunt and heard on the radio of two separate incidents involving 5 cars and 2 cars. You can guarantee that all of these incidents resulted from driving too close to the car in front.

But what really gets my goat are the idiots who drive in fog at near to or above the speed limit using the "Force Field" of hazard lights to somehow protect them from being hit! Absolute madness!

[volvorocks]

OK. So what can we realistically do about tailgaters? Flashings of brake lights and/or slowing down can exacerbate the situation if the person following is an aggressive style driver in that they may well become even more impatient and do something even more impatient (good for their blood pressure and stomach acid levels which will only be reduced by arriving at their destination one whole minute quicker!).

Simplez. Double the space in front of you. That way you have more time for any reactions that might be needed and you don't have to react in a panic. I call it "allowing for the braking distance of the idiot behind me as well as mine."

Hi Christheancient

Yes tend to agree with you on doubling the space although surely to double the space in front of you on the assumption that the car you are following remains at the same speed he was doing would mean that you have to slow down

I tend to slow down if someone tailgates and totally ignore them as if they werent there. I think in the highway code as well it states slow down if someone tailgates you although its a while since I read that!!

Regards

[weble]

I found my self, two weekends ago (First trip out in the Volvo infact) being tailgated so close i found the need to actually pull over and let them past. They were so close even tho i indicated and gave enough warning they STILL struggled to get around my back end as they were too close!

[volvorocks]

A very good reason not to tailgate can be seen here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzgmAgzpldU)

Contains strong language and a bit of violence

....!!!!

[christheancient]

Hi Christheancient

I tend to slow down if someone tailgates and totally ignore them as if they werent there. I think in the highway code as well it states slow down if someone tailgates you although its a while since I read that!!

Regards

That could be a solution... but it is not an effective one. The driver behind gets more frustrated, likely to try to push you harder and becomes an even bigger danger on the road.

I would be interested to see where you find your thoughts in the Highway Code, though. The most 'official' guidance takes the form of return to the left-hand side of the road as soon as possible to let the other vehicle past (after all, it may be a plain-clothes fuzz buggy on a 'silent approach' to some other instance and it does not want to advertise its presence - thus warning the miscreant they are trying to approach).

[XC60MY12]

That could be a solution... but it is not an effective one. The driver behind gets more frustrated, likely to try to push you harder and becomes an even bigger danger on the road.

Increasing the gap between you and the vehicle in front allows you more time to take evasive action should they have to stop suddenly. Allowing the car behind to pressure you into doing something unwise would be counter-productive. You are not trying to influence the behaviour of the tailgater, which would be a lost cause. This technique is taught to learner drivers and is known as "defensive" driving.

[Bill_56]

There is sometimes, in fact, a safety argument in favour of (gently) slowing right down when you are being tailgated, and it is simply that in the event of an accident being caused by the tailgater, both vehicles will be moving more slowly, and therefor injuries would be reduced. That needs to be balanced against the fact the the tailgater will probably get very angry, which may in turn increase the chances of an accident in the first place. And even if there's not an accident, you may experience 'road rage', which can also result in injury.

Safest of all is, if possible, to pull over and let the tailgater past to go and have an accident with somebody else. But that's not always possible and there have been occasions where I've judged the safest overall course of action is to risk the road-rage, and simply to slow right down until I am able to let them past.

[Bill Edmondson]

Anyone that drives above the speed limit, whatever the value cannot comment on another speeders speed.
If a car aproaches you, clearly wishing travel faster than you, pull over, don't play games, just pull over and don't delay the inevitable, namely you pull over eventually.
Don't look at them, don't give them that side glance satisfaction.
If you are in essentially a que of traffic were pulling will only cause you to loose time, just move your rear view mirror to it's second position, but let them see you do it, it works they get bored when they don't have an audience.

[XC60MY12]

There is sometimes, in fact, a safety argument in favour of (gently) slowing right down when you are being tailgated

"Slowing right down" is not helpful, especially if you are on a motorway or other major road. That will not only aggravate the tailgater, but will have a cumulative effect on other traffic and could well cause an accident.

All that is required is to lift the foot off the accelerator until the gap between you and the vehicle ahead is increased. By how much will depend on the speed at which you are travelling. Once a safer gap has been achieved, the original speed can be reverted to. This gradual slight and temporary reduction in speed is not designed to influence the following driver's behaviour, but to reduce the likelihood of an accident if the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly. By doing so, you are putting yourself in control of the situation rather than it controlling you.

[XC60MY12]

If you are in essentially a que of traffic were pulling will only cause you to loose time, just move your rear view mirror to it's second position, but let them see you do it, it works they get bored when they don't have an audience.

How is that not playing games?

[Bill_56]

"Slowing right down" is not helpful, especially if you are on a motorway or other major road. That will not only aggravate the tailgater, but will have a cumulative effect on other traffic and could well cause an accident.


If you are on a motorway or other major road you can simply pull over a lane, even if it involves sacrificing your own progress, to allow the tailgater to pass. From a safe-driving approach, it is difficult to defend any other course of action.

Where it is not possible to pull over and allow the tailgater to pass (ie minor roads, or motorways with stationary queues in other lanes) you need to re-assess the safe speed at which you should be driving, taking into consideration all other factors including weather, visibility, traffic density etc, and specifically including the fact that a car is following rather too close behind you. That reassessment, in consideration of the tailgater, may well lead to a substantial reduction of what you consider to be a safe speed.

But as said, include in that assessment the fact the that the tailgater may become angry and hence more accident-prone, or may even express road-rage and inflict physical injury upon you. It's all a case of balancing risks, and adopting the 'lowest risk' compromise.

[Bill Edmondson]

How is that not playing games?

Ok right end of, answers for everything.

[volvorocks]

That could be a solution... but it is not an effective one. The driver behind gets more frustrated, likely to try to push you harder and becomes an even bigger danger on the road.

I would be interested to see where you find your thoughts in the Highway Code, though. The most 'official' guidance takes the form of return to the left-hand side of the road as soon as possible to let the other vehicle past (after all, it may be a plain-clothes fuzz buggy on a 'silent approach' to some other instance and it does not want to advertise its presence - thus warning the miscreant they are trying to approach).

Christheancient

hi

Yes indeed slowing down may be a solution although as you say could irritate the tailgater more.Its a similar thing with road rage in so far as if you ignore the road rager ,they can in certain instances become even more aggressive when if instead the victim of road rage became more aggressive themselves than the road rager, the road rager may calm down. When talking about a road rager I am talking about when they are actually out of their vehicle and next to you in person and they realise they are not as powerful as their intended victim

See this video here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzgmAgzpldU) (its a mini film and contains strong language and violence I must warn)

Regards the Highway Code and slowing down , I am pretty sure I read it sometime although as I say it was a long time ago - at a time when it was recommended " to consider passengers when smoking a cigar" or something similar to that. Smoking wouldnt go down well now in todays Highway Code!!

Regards "plain clothes fuzz buggy" irrespective of whether they were in a rush and trying to be discrete they should not tailgate either.! - no point causing another accident whilst attending another accident or situation.

regards

[volvorocks]

There is sometimes, in fact, a safety argument in favour of (gently) slowing right down when you are being tailgated, and it is simply that in the event of an accident being caused by the tailgater, both vehicles will be moving more slowly, and therefor injuries would be reduced. That needs to be balanced against the fact the the tailgater will probably get very angry, which may in turn increase the chances of an accident in the first place. And even if there's not an accident, you may experience 'road rage', which can also result in injury.

Safest of all is, if possible, to pull over and let the tailgater past to go and have an accident with somebody else. But that's not always possible and there have been occasions where I've judged the safest overall course of action is to risk the road-rage, and simply to slow right down until I am able to let them past.

Bill

I do agree with what you say and yes it may not be possible to pull over.
Any action one takes may not have the intended result. I suppose we have to decide at the time.

regards

[volvorocks]

I think there maybe needs a clarification between tailgating and driving too close.

Whilst they are effectively the same thing , and each describes the other, it is the thought process behind each action which can be defining.

Tailgating is an act of aggression and bullying by way of driving too close possibly with the intention to force ones way past or alter the behaviour of the victim for ones own selfish satisfaction

Driving too close may simply be just that - not purposeful nor aggressive simply driving too close due to lack of knowledge and understanding of the implications.

We may at times confuse the two and act incorrectly.

Each action someone takes when being tailgated or noticing a driver driving too close should be based on their judgement of the situation always having due regard to ones and others own safety the rules of the road and based on courtesy and respect. The base line is courtesy and respect and it is when these two things are lacking that issues of road rage may occur.

Many factors come into play when we are driving such as what we are driving , the type of person we are , our emotional state at that time and our perception of the surroundings.

Some people in powerful cars feel the need to show others how powerful their car is and drive in a manner that they think shows this in order to boost their ego and feelings of self worth eg speeding or driving too close or bullying. This I feel may be down to their own insecurities.

On the other hand if one drives a low powered vehicle,they may feel the need to show others “hey Mr 3.0 litre I am keeping up with you on this long stretch of motorway in my 1.3 litre” .Again this may be down to their own insecurities and lower self esteem

For many years I myself have driven powerful cars and I really feel that I have no need to display such power to other road users. Conversely I have and do drive lower power cars as well and also do not feel it necessary to show possible driving ability.

However having said this,I am aware I am not “holier than thou” and if we are all honest ,we all,at times have driven in a manner that is,well,perhaps not too good or saintly eh?

Change for the better occurs when we look at why we drive in the manner we do,accept it may not be the best,and alter accordingly.

As they say sometimes ,perception is projection and what we dislike in others we also dislike in ourselves and conversely what we like in ourselves we also like in others.

We tend to perceive other people around us being great on the days we feel great and being horrible on the days we feel horrible.

It happens to us all , have you ever merrily given way to loads of people pulling out of side juctions when you are really happy and relaxed yet when you feel tense and stressed you tend not too?

I know I have.What I tend to try and do if feeling stressed is make a conscious effort to still give way .Difficult but not impossible!!

Food for thought?

Regards

[christheancient]

Very much a lot of food for thought.

Perhaps many people have this awareness of the points raised; but the thoughts may well be buried deeply. So, some good 'wake up' points there.

[XC60MY12]

Bill

I do agree with what you say and yes it may not be possible to pull over.
Any action one takes may not have the intended result. I suppose we have to decide at the time.

regards

Quite. It's what driving's all about.

[Anadinolin]

I normaly pull over if there is space when they are too close and pull back or undertake them later if they are in a que of cars

if they are flashing me and aggressively trying to get me to move i either slow down or sped up a little because i do drive under a speed that i know im capable of, i also look and plan ahead....

In my old 2.5ltr V6 escort Q-car i wasnt so forgiving...i had a few spare bumpers, when i get a tailgaiter and brakes / slowing down didnt work i pull to oneside and let them pass, pull straight back in and push them forward, literally...ripped a bumper off a jaguar doing that once...he never tailgated again, i bet....that was when i was younger, im now tamer in my road rage :p

[volvorocks]

I normaly pull over if there is space when they are too close and pull back or undertake them later if they are in a que of cars

if they are flashing me and aggressively trying to get me to move i either slow down or sped up a little because i do drive under a speed that i know im capable of, i also look and plan ahead....

In my old 2.5ltr V6 escort Q-car i wasnt so forgiving...i had a few spare bumpers, when i get a tailgaiter and brakes / slowing down didnt work i pull to oneside and let them pass, pull straight back in and push them forward, literally...ripped a bumper off a jaguar doing that once...he never tailgated again, i bet....that was when i was younger, im now tamer in my road rage :p

Hi Anadinolin

Ah so it is you in this film here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzgmAgzpldU)

[volvorocks]

That could be a solution... but it is not an effective one. The driver behind gets more frustrated, likely to try to push you harder and becomes an even bigger danger on the road.

I would be interested to see where you find your thoughts in the Highway Code, though. The most 'official' guidance takes the form of return to the left-hand side of the road as soon as possible to let the other vehicle past (after all, it may be a plain-clothes fuzz buggy on a 'silent approach' to some other instance and it does not want to advertise its presence - thus warning the miscreant they are trying to approach).

Christheancient

Hi

Ive obtained a highway code and a theory driving test book!

You are indeed correct that there is no mention in The Highway Code of slowing down when being tailgated.I now remember where I read it.

The following question is indeed in The Theory Test

You are in a line of traffic. The driver behind is following very closely. What action should you take

A.Ignore the closely following driver and continue to travel within the speed limit.
B. Slow down,gradually increasing the gap between you and the vehicle in front.
C. Signal left and wave the following driver past.
D.Move over to a position just left of the centre line of the road

The correct answer is indeed B

Sadly peeps the below options were never mentioned

Option E. Flick the V ees
Option F. Slam your brakes on so the following driver crashes into you
Option G. Pull in let the driver pass then ram them from behind to show them the error of their ways
Option H Let them pass then chase after them breaking every rule in the book causing them to stop and removing them from the vehicle and giving them a beating (again to show them the error of their ways)

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Regards to all

Just edited and added the bottom question which does indeed appear in the theory!!

A drivers behaviour has upset you.It may help if you

A Stop and take a break
B Shout abusive language
C Gesture with your hand
D Follow their car flashing your headlights

[emmdee]

It's terrible. However, needs must when the Devil drives. Due to a huge miscalculation, I once had to get from Edinburgh to Cambridge for a gig in 4 hours (it ought to take about 6-7 with clear roads) and I drove the length of the A1 with one hand flashing lights at the cars in front, the other hand sounding the horn at the cars in front, and steering with my Menswear Department driving as fast as I could go. We made it 15 minutes before the gig was due to start, but it was a horrible experience and I felt like a total tool for having to drive that way.

m.d.

[stephend]

Many years ago, I was tailgated by an HGV driving so close that all I could see in the mirror was his radiator grille. I was on a winding single-carriageway A-road, in a stream of traffic, including a bunch of cars and a bus, all following another HGV, so was pretty much stuck where I was. The HGV ahead eventually turned off, and so did the one tailgating me. At that point, I managed to glimpse his registration number, and also saw that both HGVs belonged to a local company whose depot they were obviously heading for.

I wrote to the head of the company, setting out the facts of the incident. I later received a reply, stating that an investigation had been held and that, in the absence of mitigating circumstances, the driver had been dismissed from the company. This was only a week or two before Christmas, so I did feel something of a heel. But the guy had the choice of driving properly or not, and chose not, and therefore brought the consequences on himself. For him to have been dismissed, I think there must have been other complaints made besides mine.

Frightening and unpleasant, whichever way you look at it...

[volvorocks]

Many years ago, I was tailgated by an HGV driving so close that all I could see in the mirror was his radiator grille. I was on a winding single-carriageway A-road, in a stream of traffic, including a bunch of cars and a bus, all following another HGV, so was pretty much stuck where I was. The HGV ahead eventually turned off, and so did the one tailgating me. At that point, I managed to glimpse his registration number, and also saw that both HGVs belonged to a local company whose depot they were obviously heading for.

I wrote to the head of the company, setting out the facts of the incident. I later received a reply, stating that an investigation had been held and that, in the absence of mitigating circumstances, the driver had been dismissed from the company. This was only a week or two before Christmas, so I did feel something of a heel. But the guy had the choice of driving properly or not, and chose not, and therefore brought the consequences on himself. For him to have been dismissed, I think there must have been other complaints made besides mine.

Frightening and unpleasant, whichever way you look at it...

Harsh to lose a job although perhaps good in order to avoid the potential catastrophy and damage this HGV driver may have caused if allowed to remain driving.

As you say his choice brought on his downfall

Regards

[volvorocks]

I normaly pull over if there is space when they are too close and pull back or undertake them later if they are in a que of cars

if they are flashing me and aggressively trying to get me to move i either slow down or sped up a little because i do drive under a speed that i know im capable of, i also look and plan ahead....

In my old 2.5ltr V6 escort Q-car i wasnt so forgiving...i had a few spare bumpers, when i get a tailgaiter and brakes / slowing down didnt work i pull to oneside and let them pass, pull straight back in and push them forward, literally...ripped a bumper off a jaguar doing that once...he never tailgated again, i bet....that was when i was younger, im now tamer in my road rage :p

These drivers that you rammed from behind - what did they do when you deliberately crashed into them?

[friedfrog]

Gawd, I'd hate to live somewhere where theirs loads of traffic it sounds terrible.
I can't remember the last time I was tailgated. I do have a very heavy right foot tho.

ff

[Anadinolin]

These drivers that you rammed from behind - what did they do when you deliberately crashed into them?

No idea...they normally pulled to the hard shoulder as i carried on my merry way...lucky i didnt get caught...i have calmed down loads since...

[DesertDog]

Last year, a friend of my wife's (a Canadian lady) was tailgated by a local Arab idiot in an X5. Having intimidated her into pulling over, she flicked him the bird.

Bad move girl.

The Arab then literally proceeded to cut her up and force her off the road into a lay by. After blocking her car in, he gets out of his car and is on the phone.

A couple of minutes later, the scuffers arrive, there is a brief conflab in Arabic and the expat is promptly arrested.

A month in jail later followed by a brief court appearance and a 2,000 Dirham (£350) fine, she walks free.

Of course no mention of the Camel Jockey's aggressive, dangerous and reckless driving.....

[T4Rick]

I was on the A500 in stoke today in a 50mph zone over taking some artics and as im moving along passing traffic a stupid cow gets right up by ar*e end of the van leaning to the right trying to look ahead to indicate whats going on infront why am i moving so slow,not taking notice of the speed limit.So i show her my brake lights and she starts swearing i was lip reading her.She backed off but didnt like what i did.

[t5_monkey]

Last year, a friend of my wife's (a Canadian lady) was tailgated by a local Arab idiot in an X5. Having intimidated her into pulling over, she flicked him the bird.

Bad move girl.

The Arab then literally proceeded to cut her up and force her off the road into a lay by. After blocking her car in, he gets out of his car and is on the phone.

A couple of minutes later, the scuffers arrive, there is a brief conflab in Arabic and the expat is promptly arrested.

A month in jail later followed by a brief court appearance and a 2,000 Dirham (£350) fine, she walks free.

Of course no mention of the Camel Jockey's aggressive, dangerous and reckless driving.....

ouch....

never give people the bird, not worth it.

[volvorocks]

Got a letter from Grandma the other day. She wrote

The other day I went up to a local Christian book store and saw a "Honk If You Love Jesus " bumper sticker.

I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance followed by a thunderous prayer meeting so I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.

Boy, I'm glad I did!

What an uplifting experience that followed!

I was stopped at a red light at a busy junction just lost in thought about the Lord and how good he is and I didn't notice that the light had changed.
It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed!

I found that LOTS of people love Jesus!

Why while I was sitting there, the guy behind me started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, "For the love of GOD! GO! GO! JESUS CHRIST, GO!"

What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus!

Everyone started honking!

I just leaned out of my window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people.
I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!

There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a "sunny beach"... I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air.

When I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.

Well, I've never met anyone from Hawaii so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign back.

My grandson burst out laughing, why even he was enjoying this religious experience!

A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their car and started walking towards me.

I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended but this is when I noticed the light had changed so I waved to all my sisters and brothers, grinning, and drove on through the intersection.

I noticed I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared so I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.

Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!

:laughing-smiley-003

[SonyVaio]

ouch....

never give people the bird, not worth it.

Just blow them a kiss instead, and then watch their reaction. Alot of the time you'll actually get a smile and a laugh as they shake their head. It often diffuses the situation and once in a while you'll even get a kiss back (or even a finger).

:star-wars-smiley-01

[Anadinolin]

Turns out women like us men driving badly...i was driving close behind one, she pulled over and signed that she'd like to w*nk me off....dirty cow ;)

Theres a bumper sticker thats good aswell - atleast i found it funny - "if you get any closer, you're gonna need a condom"

[Andy Northface]

ouch....

never give people the bird, not worth it.

Yup,Totally agree. It took me ages to educate the wife Because she kept shouting and waving her arms about that there are some absolute head the balls out there and if someone cuts you up ,it ain't worth it.You never know who they are or what they are carrying.

[volvorocks]

Just blow them a kiss instead, and then watch their reaction. Alot of the time you'll actually get a smile and a laugh as they shake their head. It often diffuses the situation and once in a while you'll even get a kiss back (or even a finger).

:star-wars-smiley-01

Hi SonyVaio

A good point you make although open to mis-interpretation..!!....:roflmao:

[SonyVaio]

Hi SonyVaio

A good point you make although open to mis-interpretation..!!....:roflmao:

Is that as opposed the mis-interpretation of the FINGER??

Instead of being agrresive and hostile back it's just another way of saying 'WHATEVER!' that often makes the other party less angry/aggressive (but not always).

:star-wars-smiley-01

[lillia]

The rule of the road is to stay well to the left (or the right, depending on country) unless you are overtaking. So far so good. In other countries, and I am pleased to say that I have seen this in some places here as well, good manners dictate that if you are driving (or pottering along) in the middle and outside lanes and you glance in your rearview mirror and see a car coming up to/behind you, you move to the left lane (or right lane) to allow that car to pass you. The driver should not have to step on the brake, but should be able to proceed at his/her faster speed. In other countries that I have travelled through, this usually works brilliantly. It's hit or miss in the UK. Far too many people drive at slow speeds in the middle and outside lanes and then take umbrage when other drivers appear to want to pass. Indeed, many seem to have appointed themselves as moral guardians of the road (speedwise) and have been seen to park themselves in the outside lane at just under or exactly the speed limit and absolutely refuse to budge, leaving drivers who wish to pass them with no alternative but to undertake them - or tailgate.

You're right, tailgating arises from frustration. What the heck is anyone doing obstructing the flow of traffic in the outside lane? Do they not check their mirrors? Do they see it as their right to prevent other drivers from moving on? What is the point, other than to get a kick out of annoying others?

I've tailgated only once. Not with tooting horn and flashing lights, but still. I drove really, really close to the car ahead (think 1/2 to 1-second rule, rather than 2). It is not for the unskilled driver. It is dangerous. It gets the blood pumping to the head. But when you have passed the idiot who is swerving from lane to lane at low speed and being a general nuisance, you do feel that it is entirely justified. You just want to put as many miles as possible between you and that person.

Sometimes people occupy outside lanes without a thought in the world (or a glance in their rearview mirrors) and don't realise that other cars want to get by until they hear a horn or belatedly realise that there is a long line of cars behind them - or until they realise that all the cars in the middle lane are going faster than they are, and that all those drivers are giving them dirty looks as they go by. Frequently, these drivers are chatting away to the passengers in their cars and have very little of their attention on the road.

While I can see my way to condemning tailgating as described by others, I feel that under the circumstances described in the previous paragraph, it is entirely justified to drive "too closely" (how close is too close?) to a car that is dawdling in the outside lane. How else are they going to get the simple message, "move over and allow faster cars to pass?"

[christheancient]

I think back to a 2-week holiday driving in France.

A lot of the Routes Nationale are just two lanes. Nobody seemed to think twice about returning to Lane 1 when they finished an overtake. It just seemed natural. There seemed to be little in the way of bullying, tailgating or whatever.

Mind you... get on a single carriageway road, it was a different matter. The person on your tail (very much so) always seemed duty bound to overtake - whatever the consequences - and then drive in front of you at the speed you were already doing. I never did work out why!

[volvorocks]

Is that as opposed the mis-interpretation of FINGER??

:star-wars-smiley-01

Yes indeed. I wished not to be vulgar with my explanation!! Get me??..:lol:

Regards

[volvorocks]

I think back to a 2-week holiday driving in France.

A lot of the Routes Nationale are just two lanes. Nobody seemed to think twice about returning to Lane 1 when they finished an overtake. It just seemed natural. There seemed to be little in the way of bullying, tailgating or whatever.

Mind you... get on a single carriageway road, it was a different matter. The person on your tail (very much so) always seemed duty bound to overtake - whatever the consequences - and then drive in front of you at the speed you were already doing. I never did work out why!

Yes lane discipline on 2 lane motorways in France for example is good.

However it is less good on the single roads.

You are following a French lorry on a single road with Mr French glued to your tail desperate to overtake.He then overtakes and cuts in front behind the lorry causing you to apply the brakes...lol

What I found was that having a right hand drive made it hard for us to overtake say a lorry as couldnt see past , so what I did I waited for Mr French behind to overtake me on the premise that the road must indeed be clear then pulled out behind him...........................only to find that the road was not clear for him let alone me........................!!

regards
ps I never found out why either although did have some thoughts..!!

[lillia]

Just blow them a kiss instead, and then watch their reaction. Alot of the time you'll actually get a smile and a laugh as they shake their head. It often diffuses the situation and once in a while you'll even get a kiss back (or even a finger).

:star-wars-smiley-01

Tee hee, I do that! The reactions from the men are sometimes priceless! Surprise, bemusement, head-shaking, raised eyebrows. I tend to hurry on if it appears that they are taking it as a come-on signal, and give the next rest stop a wide berth. Women frequently look p*ssed off though. :)

[volvorocks]

The rule of the road is to stay well to the left (or the right, depending on country) unless you are overtaking. So far so good. In other countries, and I am pleased to say that I have seen this in some places here as well, good manners dictate that if you are driving (or pottering along) in the middle and outside lanes and you glance in your rearview mirror and see a car coming up to/behind you, you move to the left lane (or right lane) to allow that car to pass you. The driver should not have to step on the brake, but should be able to proceed at his/her faster speed. In other countries that I have travelled through, this usually works brilliantly. It's hit or miss in the UK. Far too many people drive at slow speeds in the middle and outside lanes and then take umbrage when other drivers appear to want to pass. Indeed, many seem to have appointed themselves as moral guardians of the road (speedwise) and have been seen to park themselves in the outside lane at just under or exactly the speed limit and absolutely refuse to budge, leaving drivers who wish to pass them with no alternative but to undertake them - or tailgate.

You're right, tailgating arises from frustration. What the heck is anyone doing obstructing the flow of traffic in the outside lane? Do they not check their mirrors? Do they see it as their right to prevent other drivers from moving on? What is the point, other than to get a kick out of annoying others?

I've tailgated only once. Not with tooting horn and flashing lights, but still. I drove really, really close to the car ahead (think 1/2 to 1-second rule, rather than 2). It is not for the unskilled driver. It is dangerous. It gets the blood pumping to the head. But when you have passed the idiot who is swerving from lane to lane at low speed and being a general nuisance, you do feel that it is entirely justified. You just want to put as many miles as possible between you and that person.

Sometimes people occupy outside lanes without a thought in the world (or a glance in their rearview mirrors) and don't realise that other cars want to get by until they hear a horn or belatedly realise that there is a long line of cars behind them - or until they realise that all the cars in the middle lane are going faster than they are, and that all those drivers are giving them dirty looks as they go by. Frequently, these drivers are chatting away to the passengers in their cars and have very little of their attention on the road.

While I can see my way to condemning tailgating as described by others, I feel that under the circumstances described in the previous paragraph, it is entirely justified to drive "too closely" (how close is too close?) to a car that is dawdling in the outside lane. How else are they going to get the simple message, "move over and allow faster cars to pass?"

Good points you make and if we are all honest we will agree.

Yes I have on the odd occasion driven too close due to what you describe,although certainly not at speed , whilst at the same time having my foot hovering over the brake pedal.Very stressful it is as you say hence nowadays I just drop back and suffer the fool without letting it irritate me.If I do feel irritated I just say to myself "better to be irritated than dead" .BTW if you are dead its impossible to get irritated...LOL..!!!

What you describe about people driving at exactly or under the speed limit in order to prevent another faster motorist to pass despite their having the ability to pull in,is indeed very frustrating and is actually driving without due care and consideration irrespective of the fact that they are not speeding as even holding up a motorist that is speeding is an offence.

Regards

[david philips]

caveman has a point in that lorry drivers are under a lot of pressure i worked for a wile as a class 1 driver delivering around suppermarkets the pratice was to load the frozen things last with a thermal wrap around them you then had to get it to the store if there was a delay and the items where checked for tempture at the other end the drivers tacho was checked and all sorts of problims as the food was off,the driver was allways the one to get the finger pointed at him,so if you went on a run that you had never done with frozen onboard and took a wrong turn the pressure was on and if someone pulled in on front of you and drove slowly,well i can understand why some hgv drivers try to get you to move by tailgateing ,but lives can be lost by this dangerious pratice,

[DWM]

I know only two effective responses to tailgaters:

1. (A brilliant suggestion from a member on here) chuck ball bearings out of the sunroof. I didn't say that I do it, nor that I wouldn't. You have been warned though. :)

2. (Especially on twisty single carriageways): Just slow down. My attitude is: If and when the idiot backs off, we can go faster again; but if you're going to endanger both of us by driving too close, we can both be late, as far as I'm concerned. I just wish everyone did the same thing so that this became public knowledge.

[Andy Northface]

Before I start,I do TRY to drive correctly,ie I don't tailgate or "cut the corner" at junctions,which I think is one of the most dangerous bad habits of them all. But I do make mistakes and am not a brilliant driver. However on the M6 on Friday last week whilst doing 70mph I was tailgated ( inside lane) by a woman in a 4x4 who was doing her make up and had twisted her rear view mirror so she could see her stupid face rather than the road behind.When she realised she was up my arse she jammed on the brakes and re-adjusted her mirror! That is what I call, IMO "dangerous driving" .

[DaveNP]

caveman has a point in that lorry drivers are under a lot of pressure i worked for a wile as a class 1 driver delivering around suppermarkets the pratice was to load the frozen things last with a thermal wrap around them you then had to get it to the store if there was a delay and the items where checked for tempture at the other end the drivers tacho was checked and all sorts of problims as the food was off,the driver was allways the one to get the finger pointed at him,so if you went on a run that you had never done with frozen onboard and took a wrong turn the pressure was on and if someone pulled in on front of you and drove slowly,well i can understand why some hgv drivers try to get you to move by tailgateing ,but lives can be lost by this dangerious pratice,
As an HGV driver I know the joy of unrealistic timed runs, but there's really no excuse, get some balls and tell the wally in the office it aint going to happen and if they persist can they put it in writing with their signature, the operators licence is at risk if they demand unrealistic driving.
As a driver of any vehicle you are solely responsible for that vehicle on the road, if you cause an accident by your driving you'll be the one getting nicked, getting points, even spending time in jail, no one else will do your time for you.
Admittedly in my youth I was a bit more wild but 25 years and countless thousands of miles of commercial driving have taught me to slow down and chill out, if neccessary pull over and let the speed merchants hurry off to their own accident, your overall journey time is only increased by a fraction and you don't get stressed.

[XC60MY12]

I feel that under the circumstances described in the previous paragraph, it is entirely justified to drive "too closely" (how close is too close?) to a car that is dawdling in the outside lane. How else are they going to get the simple message, "move over and allow faster cars to pass?"

No it is not. One form of bad driving does not justify another, it is just an excuse. You are not the traffic police. If you do not know "how close is too close?" you are just as much a danger as they are. Perhaps surprisingly, it is acceptable to give a brief flash of your lights to warn them of your presence if you think they are unaware of it. I would not advocate use of the horn, also allowed for this purpose, as that is more likely to be interpreted as aggression. If that fails you need to maintain a safe distance (2 second rule, more if conditions require it) and exercise patience. No one can blame you for being frustrated but driving too close with "blood pumping" increases the likelihood of an accident.

[volvorocks]

I drove really, really close to the car ahead (think 1/2 to 1-second rule, rather than 2). It is not for the unskilled driver. It is dangerous. It gets the blood pumping to the head. But when you have passed the idiot who is swerving from lane to lane at low speed and being a general nuisance, you do feel that it is entirely justified. You just want to put as many miles as possible between you and that person.

Sometimes people occupy outside lanes without a thought in the world (or a glance in their rearview mirrors) and don't realise that other cars want to get by until they hear a horn or belatedly realise that there is a long line of cars behind them - or until they realise that all the cars in the middle lane are going faster than they are, and that all those drivers are giving them dirty looks as they go by. Frequently, these drivers are chatting away to the passengers in their cars and have very little of their attention on the road.

While I can see my way to condemning tailgating as described by others, I feel that under the circumstances described in the previous paragraph, it is entirely justified to drive "too closely" (how close is too close?) to a car that is dawdling in the outside lane. How else are they going to get the simple message, "move over and allow faster cars to pass?"

Lillia

I understand your frustration as we all suffer from it, myself included.

However like you say you "want to put as many miles between that person and you as possible" - I feel that way when I am behind them - eg keep my distance.I would rather be frustrated than dead!

The thing is if I reacted to every driver that frustrated me during the course of a journey in an aggressive manner , id be even later due to the amount of fights id had en route...lol

Bad drivers frustrate me.Enormously. I choose to try not to allow them to frustrate me.I try to ignore them as though they werent there which is difficult not impossible. We can only get frustrated if we allow ourselves to be.

One thing that does annoy me is when one is travelling in lane 1 at say 50mph in traffic and leaving a good gap between the car in front and an HGV thunders up 2 inches behind me ,welded to my bumper. So again I ignore and slow somewhat - I mean he cannot get any further there is heavy traffic - so what is his mindset. Hes a bully.Thats what he is.His action could kill me and my passengers.Its unacceptable.My first reaction and thought really is my wish to be standing face to with said HGV driver to explain "the error of his ways".........................................

Anyway just totally ignore and slow a bit on a hill - open your window and listen to the 4 or 5 gearchanges he has to make.Whos stressed and very frustrated now?.....not me....

Accelerate away.

Babyish?....Yes.
Satisfying?...Yes
Safe?....well its safer if he rear ends me at 40mph rather than 50mph I suppose...??...!!

BTW....how close is close...

...well I was travelling many years ago on a motorway at what I considered a good distance from the car in front at circa 70mph (say 4 car lengths).A car pulled directly off the hard shoulder at 5mph causing lane 1 to go into lane 2 and lane 2 to go into lane 3 and lane 3 to do an emergency stop.How I stopped without rear ending the car in front I do not know - I also shreded a tyre. - and that was with a great distance between me and the car in front.That was in 1991. Never driven close since. (even though I wasnt driving close at the time)

The thing is we do not realise how close we are till we have to stop.

Regards

[Brendan W]

So many variables here , don't know if there is an answer to the original question. Whenever someone does something annoying/frustrating/dangerous I imagine that it is one of my immediate family and my reaction changes completely. The road is a giant pressurised system and you're either adding to it or defusing it. Either way when it builds too high someone pays , maybe many miles away by then

[Moosejaw]

1. (A brilliant suggestion from a member on here) chuck ball bearings out of the sunroof. I didn't say that I do it, nor that I wouldn't. You have been warned though. :)

That's such a mind-bogglingly cretinous idea that it doesn't even bear repeating. I don't know what tw*t came up with that one, but can you imagine the effect of several small steel balls peppering a car doing maybe 60-70mph on a busy motorway?

I know there are a few 'string 'em up' merchants on here, but I do think causing a major high speed collision which would almost certainly result in death is taking things a bit far for a minor Highway Code infarction, isn't it?

[DWM]

That's such a mind-bogglingly cretinous idea that it doesn't even bear repeating. I don't know what tw*t came up with that one, but can you imagine the effect of several small steel balls peppering a car doing maybe 60-70mph on a busy motorway?

I know there are a few 'string 'em up' merchants on here, but I do think causing a major high speed collision which would almost certainly result in death is taking things a bit far for a minor Highway Code infarction, isn't it?

Sorry - not intended seriously but as a kind of evil fantasy. Sorry if you don't find it amusing. (I do think it would be nice if tailgaters believed that there was a chance it might happen though.)

[volvorocks]

Sorry - not intended seriously but as a kind of evil fantasy. Sorry if you don't find it amusing. (I do think it would be nice if tailgaters believed that there was a chance it might happen though.)

I believe tailgaters need not die although a broken nose may not go amiss.

ps I am not a violent person so when I say this it really is a serious matter - tailgaters need to be aware they can kill others or cause serious accidents and injury

[Moosejaw]

Sorry - not intended seriously but as a kind of evil fantasy. Sorry if you don't find it amusing.

Wasn't having a go at you mate, but I vaguely remember the original posting of that idiotic suggestion, and at the time there was no suggestion that it was at all tongue in cheek.....