Tailgating

15 Nov 2008

That is true in that slowing down is a technique for coping with a tailgater but much of the discussion has been about drivers who are too slow generally. I have seen it said that a slow driver is as dangerous as a fast one. That is only so if one blames them for the dangerous reactions and driving techniques of other drivers which seems odd to me.
I speak as someone who often splutters at the slow pace of a driver ahead of me but he isn't forcing me to drive dangerously or aggressively. I may fume quietly but I keep my distance.

15 Nov 2008

Quote by kentswingers777
The topic of tailgating is usually done when somebody will not pull over, and the driver behind gets frustrated.

I fail to see why anyone should pull over if they are travelling at a reasonable speed and making due progress....
We all pay handsomely for the privilage of using the roads and I for one wont be told that if I am not willing to travel at the maximum speed limit for the road I am using then I should take the train......

15 Nov 2008

So is frustration adequate reason to come close to murdering someone? Just to get somewhere quicker?

15 Nov 2008

Quote by ToshUK
So is frustration adequate reason to come close to murdering someone? Just to get somewhere quicker?

No it isn't....

15 Nov 2008

Quote by Steve

The topic of tailgating is usually done when somebody will not pull over, and the driver behind gets frustrated.

I fail to see why anyone should pull over if they are travelling at a reasonable speed and making due progress....
We all pay handsomely for the privilage of using the roads and I for one wont be told that if I am not willing to travel at the maximum speed limit for the road I am using then I should take the train......
So take this as an example that I witnessed this year. A 50mph road, about 50 plus cars sitting behind an old dodgy bloke doing less than 30mph, on a single road.
With drivers behind getting very frustrated. Cars trying to overtake as soon as a spot becomes available to do so. I sat behind this car and could not believe that he was going this slow.
I think on that occasion it was dangerous and the cars behind were so close to each other. Try being in that situation but the 30th car back, doing by now 20mph on a 50mph road. I wonder if you would be adopting the same attitude as you are now? dunno

I know you can be prosecuted for driving too slow, as it is dangerous.

15 Nov 2008

Yes I would. Of course I would be irritated by a slow driver but why should that translate into driving up close to the car ahead? Will that help?

15 Nov 2008

Quote by kentswingers777

I fail to see why anyone should pull over if they are travelling at a reasonable speed and making due progress....

So take this as an example that I witnessed this year. A 50mph road, about 50 plus cars sitting behind an old dodgy bloke doing less than 30mph, on a single road.

Yes but in your example, the driver was neither travelling at a reasonable speed, nor making due progress.

15 Nov 2008

Thats true but a lot of tailgating is done because the driver in front is not keeping to the limits of that road, and others get annoyed by that.

15 Nov 2008

Quote by Cherrytree

I fail to see why anyone should pull over if they are travelling at a reasonable speed and making due progress....

So take this as an example that I witnessed this year. A 50mph road, about 50 plus cars sitting behind an old dodgy bloke doing less than 30mph, on a single road.

Yes but in your example, the driver was neither travelling at a reasonable speed, nor making due progress.
Precisely Cherry kiss

And Kent you have also stated

Quote by kentswingers777
I do not agree that going 50mph on a single carriageway road that carries a 60mph speed limit, is safe.

So even then travelling at 5/6ths of the maximum permitted speed is not enough for you....
Regarding your prior example of doing 30,ph on a 50mph road I consider that to be too slow and the driver would most likely fail their test for not making due progress but to travel at 10mph less than the limit and still be considered to be unsafe beggars belief really.....

15 Nov 2008

Where does it require a driver to drive up to the speed limit? It is not a duty. It is a maximum. I tend to drive a fraction above it and confessed it as a fault but I still get my share of drivers racing up behind me from nowhere and hanging a few feet behind me. There is nothing wrong in driving a decent speed below the speed limit.
Tailgating is dangerous!

15 Nov 2008

My opinion....is that not what this forum is all about? dunno

Because I dont agree with you my comments begger belief? Try seeing some of the people out there who drive too slow, when I am on me motorbike.
I see it all and after driving for over 30 years without one accident, I feel I have a right to an opinion....or dont you think I have? :dunno:

15 Nov 2008

Quote by kentswingers777
My opinion....is that not what this forum is all about?
Because I dont agree with you my comments begger belief? Try seeing some of the people out there who drive too slow, when I am on me motorbike.
I see it all and after driving for over 30 years without one accident, I feel I have a right to an opinion....or dont you think I have? :dunno:

I didn't say that you weren't entitled to an opinion :dunno:
If its flawed its not my fault ;-)
And if you see,regularly, people who are driving too slow perhaps you may be driving too fast :dunno:
Anyway....
It seems an impass has been reached so I'll leave you all to it :-)

15 Nov 2008

Well I have said all I am going to say on this subject.
Out on me bike tom...speed limits observed of course. wink

Have a good weekend Steve.

15 Nov 2008

Kent, we are all entitled to our opinions, of course we are - but I don't understand how you can be annoyed at Steve saying your opinion "beggars belief", when earlier in the thread you wrote this

Quote by kentswingers777
I cannot believe that you go 50mph on a motorway and then use an excuse as it saves fuel fgs. :shock:

15 Nov 2008

put a few house bricks on your passenger seat.
Next time someone is intimidating you on the road, wind down the window and lob one out.
if you get the windscreen job done.
Its that or marbles,nails,flour or anything that will send out the OFF!

15 Nov 2008

Many times, i drive a 1.2 8 valve. I cant help it if it takes a bit of time to reach the desisgnated speed limit lol

But honestly, I can't stand it. I hate them ppl when u overtake lorries and ur going 70 mph and they fel the need to drive towards the central reservation and want to flash their lights at you. Howay! Im overtaking, I can hardly get in the left lane grrrrr. Really can't stand it!!!
I could winge a lot more but I'll not, but it's one of my pet hates is tailgating mad

:x :x
Miss Cream xxx
Ps Actaully in edit. When u learn to drive, ur told if ur tailgated to put ur brakelights on, which I do. I cannot stand it. And yes, as sum2 said up there. it IS dangerous!

15 Nov 2008

Quote by creampie123
>>>>But honestly, I can't stand it. I hate them ppl when u overtake lorries and ur going 70 mph and they fel the need to drive towards the central reservation and want to flash their lights at you. Howay! Im overtaking, I can hardly get in the left lane grrrrr. Really can't stand it!!!<<<<

I hate that too mad

Whats needed is a rear windscreen brake light in the shape of a finger doing the bird.
flipa

then just hang back for a few mins.
Obviously I am kidding - I did experience once in the early 90's doing the hanging back thingy following it as I pulled into a service station the guy followed me got out of his car and started hurling physical and verbal abuse. I got out and gave him a darned good :kick: ing! Not something I would advocate usually.
I think that one has to go with patience and fortitude and grin and bear things mostimes. If not, then the resulting road rage or change in temper could result in a change in ability to drive adequately when you most need it. net result = not good

15 Nov 2008

If someone tailgates me I move out off the way for them, I can't be bothered with a row. I will NOT speed up for them though.
I was behind a car tonight doing about 15mph, passenger looking at a map and driver totally unaware that I was there, I flashed my lights a few times but still no joy so I sounded my horn, I was greeted with the middle finger from the passenger but they still drove at 15mph!
I then did something really stupid and which I regret, I drove into the back of them(gently), they pulled over and off I went!
The red mist got the better of me.

15 Nov 2008

If a bigger, faster car is behind you, just move over and let it pass, what's the problem? If he/she is breaking the speed limit that's their lookout. Taigaiting IS dangerous but so is being bloody minded and adopting a "they shall not pass" mentality.

15 Nov 2008

I think that 'tailgaiters' need to bear in mind that in getting that close to the car in front puts themselves in danger, and correct me if I'm wrong, if the car in front has cause to slam their brakes on, isn't it the tailgaiter's fault it they crash for being so close?

15 Nov 2008

someone wanted to tailgate me once but I don't bat for that side...... rolleyes

15 Nov 2008

Quote by jaymar
I think that 'tailgaiters' need to bear in mind that in getting that close to the car in front puts themselves in danger, and correct me if I'm wrong, if the car in front has cause to slam their brakes on, isn't it the tailgaiter's fault it they crash for being so close?

:thumbup: My brother in his boy racer days was done for this

15 Nov 2008

Quote by ToshUK
Yes I would. Of course I would be irritated by a slow driver but why should that translate into driving up close to the car ahead? Will that help?

Nope, it won't. And any ensuing accidents will be due to other cars getting too close to one another, not to the person at the front of the line travelling slowly.

15 Nov 2008

Quote by Max777
If a bigger, faster car is behind you, just move over and let it pass, what's the problem? If he/she is breaking the speed limit that's their lookout. Taigaiting IS dangerous but so is being bloody minded and adopting a "they shall not pass" mentality.

That's fine if you have space to move over safely - but if I was driving safely within the speed limit, then I'm afraid said tailgater would have to wait - I won't speed up just because someone is driving too close.

15 Nov 2008

Quote by Freckledbird
If a bigger, faster car is behind you, just move over and let it pass, what's the problem? If he/she is breaking the speed limit that's their lookout. Taigaiting IS dangerous but so is being bloody minded and adopting a "they shall not pass" mentality.

That's fine if you have space to move over safely - but if I was driving safely within the speed limit, then I'm afraid said tailgater would have to wait - I won't speed up just because someone is driving too close.
No one was advocating for you to speed up, I was referring to those who say they will deliberatley slow down. What a lot of people forget is that on a dual carriage way or motorway, the outside lanes are for overtaking. Too many drivers just sit in the outside lane(s) and think that it is their right to sit there. A good driver will be considerate of all others on the road, fast or slow.

16 Nov 2008

Quote by Aristophanes
I don't consider 50 mph too slow on a 60mph speed limit road.
And any tailgating at that speed displays stupidity on the part of the tailgater.

Sorry to ruin your belif system, but most roads are limited by the 85% rule ie the speed limit is set at 85% of what the road is designed for using car data from a few yrs ago (quite a few yrs ago if memory serves me correctly).
As such the speed limit is designed to be an optimum safe speed for that road in good condition.
By delieberatly driving at slower speeds you are causing a hazard and being dangerous. There has been some interesting research on driving speeds, and again if memory serves me correctly crashs caused by driver not maintaing average sped were significant in number and outcome of crashs.
Slow drivers also force lorries to over take this can slow down the motorway/road and creates phantom traffic jams causing significant decreased speed of other cars at some point distance to the over take. And we all know cars slowing for a traffic jam are one of the most vunerable groups on the motorway (after those on the hard shoulder).
So by doing 50mph in good conditons and not keeping up with the flow on the motor way you are endangering everyone else that is on the road. Saying you are doing it for eco mpg saving reasons is noble but means you have no concept of the danger being caused.
Speed doesnt kill, people being selfish/unskilled/ignorant while driving a car kills.
As for tailgating exceptionally dangerous, I agree, and shouldnt happen at any speed. But if someone is tailgating the first question is am I safe the second is am I drving for the conditons and 3rd what can I do to make this safe? Sometimes you are going slow you've been distracted so let them past they might have a good reason for wanting to be ahead of you or equally thought they could be an impatient tit!

16 Nov 2008

Quote by Max777
If a bigger, faster car is behind you, just move over and let it pass, what's the problem? If he/she is breaking the speed limit that's their lookout. Taigaiting IS dangerous but so is being bloody minded and adopting a "they shall not pass" mentality.

That's fine if you have space to move over safely - but if I was driving safely within the speed limit, then I'm afraid said tailgater would have to wait - I won't speed up just because someone is driving too close.
No one was advocating for you to speed up, I was referring to those who say they will deliberatley slow down. What a lot of people forget is that on a dual carriage way or motorway, the outside lanes are for overtaking. Too many drivers just sit in the outside lane(s) and think that it is their right to sit there. A good driver will be considerate of all others on the road, fast or slow.
Yep, and if all drivers were considerate, there would be no tailgaters in the first place.

16 Nov 2008

Quote by Freckledbird
I won't speed up just because someone is driving too close.

They usually can't keep up!! :giggle:
.

16 Nov 2008

Quote by westerross

I won't speed up just because someone is driving too close.

They usually can't keep up!! :giggle:
.
lol

shurrup you! Pot and kettle?

16 Nov 2008

Quote by cavemansi

I don't consider 50 mph too slow on a 60mph speed limit road.
And any tailgating at that speed displays stupidity on the part of the tailgater.

Sorry to ruin your belif system, but most roads are limited by the 85% rule ie the speed limit is set at 85% of what the road is designed for using car data from a few yrs ago (quite a few yrs ago if memory serves me correctly).

So 51mph would be considered ok then, according to this calculation?