Bloody Tail GATERS

I think you've made an excellent point there actually with such a comparison, and shows clearly that rather than being a state of mind, it's obviously a state of mindlessness that has to be seriously addressed sooner rather than later, at a top level. When all of our wonderful camera's tune in to habitual 'Up the arse of the car in front merchants' and send them a nice fine two weeks later with a few points off at Swansea to-boot, folk will mither like buggery, get used to the logic, there'll be far less accidents, and insurance company's will be crying foul ?

Fritz Von Nice point from a fresh perspective

I find that a sign in the rear window saying:

IF YOU DRIVE TOO CLOSE
I WILL STAMP ON THE BRAKE!

... tends to put such idiots off.

If drivers are doing 40mph in a 60mph limit on a dry clear day (with little traffic about) then tailgaiting is the least they deserve. In fact a friend of mine got a bollocking on his advanced driver training for doing 40 or 45 in a 60 when there was no reason for not driving near or on the limit!

Matt.

People who have taken advanced tests, as well as other courses generally do it for either, professional reasons (police etc) or confidence/ego and lower insurance reasons, and I feel they're probabyl a very small minority of the culprits of what this thread is about. Without going into it all over gain, folks like Steve or Andy (as two examples of very experienced & 'hopefully thoughtful drivers' have said over and over again on various threads (as have other old pro's too) that safe driving, speeding evn slightly over whatever liomit you decide at that particular moment to set yourself (legal or not) play no part in the practice of tailgating, which no matter what you, I may think puts people off, in the real world simply doesn't and is a MAJOR cause of serious accidents daily in the UK (many fatal) other contributary factors may arise later, but the, can't stop up thew arse factor is paramount I feel, innit.

Fritz Von Time for a pint too, it's bloody roasting in here, and we lift off soon


Ps When your in Court (hopefully never) the beak ain't intersted in the slightest bit wether your Scumacher himself, best Police Driving Instructor in the country, this and that and tom Cobbly and all, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE NOBODY ELSE:

People who dawdle should not be tailgated. They should be passed as quickly and safely as possible. Sometimes that's 10 miles up the road - which is frustrating. But indignation kills. Sometimes you just can't make the progress you want because road conditions don't allow. Could be weather, could be a high density of ADL trafic, or could even be that your cra is loaded with fragile/movable objects that'll get damaged if you sling it about. But it's the old me me me thing - 'I should be able to dictate my speed and everyone else should know how important I am....' The roads seem to be awash with people who want you to do their driving for them, plus people who want you to drive in a way that suits THEM. And there seems to be a desperate hunger to get in front of the next car. I just let 'em go, when I can. I'd rather see them in front of me than weaving about behind. And no, I don't hang about - when conditions allow.

I never hold up a driver wishing to go faster than me. I usually slow down and pull in a bit as they overtake me. I was doing 70 in a 60 once and eased off to let someone pass me at 80. It was night time so it wasn't until he'd passed me that I saw the word "POLICE" on the rear. The hazard lights (not the blue lights) came on by way of thanks.

Never hold anyone up, it's not a race. Everyone should drive at their own pace within reason, and this means allowing other vehicles to pass you quickly and safely.

Ah but it IS a race isn't it Steve? It shouldn't be, but it's all the excitment some people get in life. How sad. Like me and many others you obviously do big miles over long hours - so you'll know about average speeds, range/time and all that. I guess most people are doing comparatively short trips and in any case, can't see or plan more than 200 yards up the road. Some of us are mentally planning 100 miles ahead and put emphasis on the big picture, including not 'blocking' other road users (by, for example, holding them up when we don't need to). But theyre'll always be some thrusting prick glued to the back of you. If we let them pass (where possible) we can observe how they race up to the tail of the next car - illustrating the point that it's nothing personal and best not to get steamed up about it. Yeah, all very well in theory I know.....

Dear All,

I thought that was why all cars have impact absorbing materials on the front and rear of vehicles.

bumpers

regards David

when F1 technology reaches the humble road car the dirty air behind you will prevent tailgaiters getting too close mind you it might also mean you cant overtake slower drivers either

Looks like bloody tail gaters are widespread. Like a disease! Morons who after you let them pass will zoom up to the next car etc.

The funny side for me was when I was cruising at the speed limit, some moron oevertook me after he could not get me to break the speed limit, not more than a couple of kilometres later he was by the side of the road being given a ticket! Ha ha ha ........sadly the bastards will never learn.

Lets hope we never get shunted by these loosers who cannot see further than the tip of their nose.

quote:

Originally posted by Hawk:
when F1 technology reaches the humble road car the dirty air behind you will prevent tailgaiters getting too close mind you it might also mean you cant overtake slower drivers either

Well, that's something to look forward to then!

quote:

Originally posted by HTK:
But it's the old me me me thing - 'I should be able to dictate my speed and everyone else should know how important I am....' The roads seem to be awash with people who want you to do their driving for them, plus people who want you to drive in a way that suits THEM.

Couldn't those same comments also apply to the driver dawdling along at 40 in a 60? i.e. "I'm going to force those in the queue behind me to drive at the speed I dictate and make them overtake if they want to drive at the speed limit" - put that way, they also sound selfish.

What's even more annoying about the 40 in a 60 drivers is that they actually drive 40 everywhere including in 30 zones and therefore, if you do legally and safely overtake them in a 60, when you reach a 30 and slow down accordingly, the dawdler (who has now become a speeder without realising it) is now up your backside wondering why you overtook them and then slowed down!

If everyone drove not only down to but also up to the speed limits then it might help a bit.

Matt.

Tail gaters - if it is safe to do so I will put a little bit of distance between them and me, otherwise pull over and let them past. Playing the brake light game is dangerous. Been there a long time back and was on the receiving end of a mild road rage incident when I did that to a tail gater.

Agree Mike. I try to let them pass. Better the fool you can see than not!

The down side, there quickly will be another one no sooner has the last one passed. All these people, rushing, why?

I have seen the most mild manered person turn into the devil driver. How come?

quote:

Originally posted by Matt F:

quote:

Originally posted by HTK:
But it's the old me me me thing - 'I should be able to dictate my speed and everyone else should know how important I am....' The roads seem to be awash with people who want you to do their driving for them, plus people who want you to drive in a way that suits THEM.

Couldn't those same comments also apply to the driver dawdling along at 40 in a 60? i.e. "I'm going to force those in the queue behind me to drive at the speed I dictate and make them overtake if they want to drive at the speed limit" - put that way, they also sound selfish.

What's even more annoying about the 40 in a 60 drivers is that they actually drive 40 everywhere including in 30 zones and therefore, if you do legally and safely overtake them in a 60, when you reach a 30 and slow down accordingly, the dawdler (who has now become a speeder without realising it) is now up your backside wondering why you overtook them and then slowed down!

If everyone drove not only down to but also up to the speed limits then it might help a bit.

Matt.

Yes.

As a daytime driver it is interesting to contrast going out on our first run 08:00-0815 start and the second and later runs. The first run usually means avoiding tailgaters / "cut ins" the I'll just pull out from the side street the nice man WILL let me outs, (mainly school run cars).Around 09:30 its wooly coats,caps and driving gloves on for the "slow down Min we are doing 15 MPH" types.
Some old fart today(probably only a couple of years older than me) on the M25 middle lane 45 mph . No amount of flashing and hooting by others had any effect. Not sure if they are not more dangerous than speeders. At least the speeders look like they are awake.
Don't start me on lane hoppers/undertakers.

Howard

Is it not an offence to drive too slowly on a motorway without good reason ?


Fritz Von Not including other Public Highways ?

quote:

Originally posted by Berlin Fritz:
Is it not an offence to drive too slowly on a motorway without good reason ?

I seem to remember (but I may be wrong) that there is actually a minimum speed limit on UK motorways of 30mph. Fat lot of use that is.

I can't see any reason why there shouldn't be minimum speed limits on all roads of say 10mph under the speed limit, obviously with a grown up approach to policing it i.e. you don't get nicked for failing to take a 90deg bend at 50mph in a 60mph zone or for doing less than 50mph in a 60mph zone in thick fog, snow, ice etc.

Matt.

Just like to add, going slightly off topic, that IMO the best thing the government could do to improve overall standards would be to ‘incentivise’ people to take the advanced driving test.

They could get all the motor insurers together to ensure that anyone who passes the test gets a substantial reduction in their premium. They could maybe even subsidise the advanced driving lessons (or pay for the first one or two) – yes this would cost money but presumably it would also save money by reducing accidents. You could even allow people to reduce the points on their licence by passing the advanced test.

I would have thought this kind of approach i.e. actually improving driving standards, as opposed to gradually reducing speed limits and enforcing them more i.e. reducing the impact of accidents/treating the effect not the cause, would make a lot more sense – logically if not financially.

Matt.

quote:

I can't see any reason why there shouldn't be minimum speed limits on all roads of say 10mph under the speed limit, obviously with a grown up approach to policing it i.e. you don't get nicked for failing to take a 90deg bend at 50mph in a 60mph zone or for doing less than 50mph in a 60mph zone in thick fog, snow, ice etc.

You can't do this because certain classes of vehicle (HGV's, cars towing caravans and other trailers) are only allowed to go so fast for safety reasons.

What you suggest would be un-policeable, because of the numerous defences you imply, one of which you describe. Purist thinking again, but the speed limit is just that (here we go again steve!), but common sence and, dare I say it, a bit of patience and understanding, re driver behavior from all drivers would not go amiss sometimes.

andy c!

Common sense and understanding? In a car? Oh please.....

quote:

Originally posted by andy c:

You can't do this because certain classes of vehicle (HGV's, cars towing caravans and other trailers) are only allowed to go so fast for safety reasons.

What you suggest would be un-policeable, because of the numerous defences you imply, one of which you describe. Purist thinking again, but the speed limit is just that (here we go again steve!), but common sence and, dare I say it, a bit of patience and understanding, re driver behavior from all drivers would not go amiss sometimes.

andy c!

That's why I said a common sense approach Andy. You don't pull over an HGV driver for struggling to do 50 up a steep hill.

What you do do though is pull over someone driving a car at the front of a long queue who is doing 35mph in a 60 zone (in good conditions) and tell them to bloody well speed up as they are causing congestion and uneccessary overtaking.

Matt.
Matt.

Would Steve Toy, Matt F and BigH47 please post your registration numbers so we can all give you a wide berth.


Thank you.

Is claiming to drive at illegal speeds on an online forum an admission of guilt under British or European law?

"Oi wuz only doin' 83 guv. But ya got me bang to rites, innit?"

quote:

Is claiming to drive at illegal speeds on an online forum an admission of guilt under British or European law?

Nope.

To convict for speeding requires corroboration that can be evidentially used, and in the correct format.

Just had a bloody tailgater on way to work today. Heavy trraffic on motorway 50kmh, so no point speeding up to another vehicle in front 25 metres, but the idiot following when given the opportunity overtook from the inside and tried to swipe me off, got up to the tail of the vehicle infront and tailgated the vehicle infront with me following at a sensible distance till the end. So all that effort for a 25 metre gain?