How should you react if someone is tailgating me?
Discussion
Freddy88FM said:
A friend of mine redirected his rear windscreen washer to spray straight back in to the windscreen of a tailgater. Honest truth, the one time he used it he was chased for the next 20 mins by an irate van driver. Not good.
Tailgating is reflective of a combination of one or more personality traits and scenarios:
1) the driver is genuinely in a life or death rush
2) the driver is not paying attention or does not understand stopping distances
3) the driver is naturally agressive
Now, in my opinion, I'd rather not have any of the above behind me. So I try to let them by.
I hope that chap had a car which was very responsive in the mid range to get away from said van driver?Tailgating is reflective of a combination of one or more personality traits and scenarios:
1) the driver is genuinely in a life or death rush
2) the driver is not paying attention or does not understand stopping distances
3) the driver is naturally agressive
Now, in my opinion, I'd rather not have any of the above behind me. So I try to let them by.
I have two techniques to deal with these bumper lovers...
First, if you have a passenger, get them to get their phone out, turn on the flash and photograph the tailgaiter, funnily enough they seem to become very camera shy at that moment and disappear.
Second, if you feel threatened, do not accelerate, because your adrenalin will be kicking in and you probably wont notice what's in front of you. If you need to; stop - not by standing on the brakes, because you will be prosecuted if he hits you, instead just take your foot off the gas and let the car slow right down - bring it to a complete halt if thats what's needed - then they lose interest and pass or you can get out and ask them what part of your car they're actually wanting...
First, if you have a passenger, get them to get their phone out, turn on the flash and photograph the tailgaiter, funnily enough they seem to become very camera shy at that moment and disappear.
Second, if you feel threatened, do not accelerate, because your adrenalin will be kicking in and you probably wont notice what's in front of you. If you need to; stop - not by standing on the brakes, because you will be prosecuted if he hits you, instead just take your foot off the gas and let the car slow right down - bring it to a complete halt if thats what's needed - then they lose interest and pass or you can get out and ask them what part of your car they're actually wanting...
a) If they are tailgating on a country B road? pull over at next farm entrance, and then keep up with them at a reasonable and safe distance, thus proving to them that they had no need to tail gate.
b) If they are tailgating on the motorway, and you actually want to go faster, but the traffic ahead denies it, gradually increase the gap between you are the car in front, whilst putting your wash wipe on. Then when you come up next to a lorry, slow down to 56. until they are right on your tail, and stick your car into 3rd and spray diesel fumes over them.
Move to middle lane and let them overtake and when they start tailgating the car in front of you, you will find it is almost impossible not to undertake them, due to their panic braking.
Why is it that the car behind will reduce speed when attacked with wash wipe? It's like they can't keep one foot on the accelerator pedal, and operate their own wash wipe.
b) If they are tailgating on the motorway, and you actually want to go faster, but the traffic ahead denies it, gradually increase the gap between you are the car in front, whilst putting your wash wipe on. Then when you come up next to a lorry, slow down to 56. until they are right on your tail, and stick your car into 3rd and spray diesel fumes over them.
Move to middle lane and let them overtake and when they start tailgating the car in front of you, you will find it is almost impossible not to undertake them, due to their panic braking.
Why is it that the car behind will reduce speed when attacked with wash wipe? It's like they can't keep one foot on the accelerator pedal, and operate their own wash wipe.
GuitarPlayer63 said:
I have two techniques to deal with these bumper lovers...
First, if you have a passenger, get them to get their phone out, turn on the flash and photograph the tailgaiter, funnily enough they seem to become very camera shy at that moment and disappear.
No, it's because they think you're a fFirst, if you have a passenger, get them to get their phone out, turn on the flash and photograph the tailgaiter, funnily enough they seem to become very camera shy at that moment and disappear.
king lunatic. HTH.carreauchompeur said:
GuitarPlayer63 said:
I have two techniques to deal with these bumper lovers...
First, if you have a passenger, get them to get their phone out, turn on the flash and photograph the tailgaiter, funnily enough they seem to become very camera shy at that moment and disappear.
No, it's because they think you're a fFirst, if you have a passenger, get them to get their phone out, turn on the flash and photograph the tailgaiter, funnily enough they seem to become very camera shy at that moment and disappear.
king lunatic. HTH.king loony. Crippo said:
What constitutes tailgating? Obviously preparing an overtake might seem like tailgating to some people.
I say this because as far as I am concerned I never tailgate. However I have had soem idiots flash their brake lights at me whilst I am lining up for an overtake.
Why do you need to close up on the car in front in order to overtake? Surely you can pull out to overtake while still maintaining a safe distance from the car you're about to pass? I say this because as far as I am concerned I never tailgate. However I have had soem idiots flash their brake lights at me whilst I am lining up for an overtake.
Usually with tailgaters I gently lose speed and I find they generally drop back. No need to slam on brakes or act aggressive.
ch108 said:
Crippo said:
What constitutes tailgating? Obviously preparing an overtake might seem like tailgating to some people.
I say this because as far as I am concerned I never tailgate. However I have had soem idiots flash their brake lights at me whilst I am lining up for an overtake.
Why do you need to close up on the car in front in order to overtake? Surely you can pull out to overtake while still maintaining a safe distance from the car you're about to pass? I say this because as far as I am concerned I never tailgate. However I have had soem idiots flash their brake lights at me whilst I am lining up for an overtake.
Usually with tailgaters I gently lose speed and I find they generally drop back. No need to slam on brakes or act aggressive.
It’s all about control, yourself or the tailgater. Whom would you rather be in control?
Yourself: calm, measured, more aware of conditions ahead than t’gater is, and you don’t know if they are drunk/angry/map reading.
Or t’gater: impatient, can’t see ahead of you, drunk/angry/map reading.
While t’gater is behind you, you are in control. When you are sure that there is sufficient clear road ahead for overtake, signal left, slow gradually, pull as close to left verge as is safe, maintain slower but constant speed. As t’gater passes you, a gentle wave of the hand in acknowledgement (one that can’t be mistaken for anything else) should avoid disappointment.
Yourself: calm, measured, more aware of conditions ahead than t’gater is, and you don’t know if they are drunk/angry/map reading.
Or t’gater: impatient, can’t see ahead of you, drunk/angry/map reading.
While t’gater is behind you, you are in control. When you are sure that there is sufficient clear road ahead for overtake, signal left, slow gradually, pull as close to left verge as is safe, maintain slower but constant speed. As t’gater passes you, a gentle wave of the hand in acknowledgement (one that can’t be mistaken for anything else) should avoid disappointment.
If the road is suitable and the tailgater seems to be someone who just habitually follows too close, rather than being especially aggressive, I sometimes omit the braking phase before a well sighted corner and drive around it rather more quickly than the following driver was likely to have been expecting. I find that that tends to open up the gap in a rather satisfying manner!
I had one the other day, young idiot in a 5 series sport, after I overtook him on an A road, when I was temporarily sitting behind the lorry he was following. He didn't like me overtaking him so he decided to get as close to my rear clam as possible.
I flashed the brake lights to make him back off.
First he gave me hand gestures, I gave him some back, then he backed off.
People really don't like being passed by faster moving cars.
I flashed the brake lights to make him back off.
First he gave me hand gestures, I gave him some back, then he backed off.
People really don't like being passed by faster moving cars.
ch108 said:
Crippo said:
What constitutes tailgating? Obviously preparing an overtake might seem like tailgating to some people.
I say this because as far as I am concerned I never tailgate. However I have had soem idiots flash their brake lights at me whilst I am lining up for an overtake.
Why do you need to close up on the car in front in order to overtake? Surely you can pull out to overtake while still maintaining a safe distance from the car you're about to pass? I say this because as far as I am concerned I never tailgate. However I have had soem idiots flash their brake lights at me whilst I am lining up for an overtake.
Usually with tailgaters I gently lose speed and I find they generally drop back. No need to slam on brakes or act aggressive.
I learned to drive in 1989/90. The instructor taught me how the controls work and all the usual necessary stuff (even if he did subsequently get banned for dangerous driving, but that's another story) but this was the heyday of BTCC on the Beeb with messrs Cleland, Hoy, Soper, Rouse et al banging doors. Obviously the sensible thing to do when overtaking is to give yourself the clearest line of sight. But somehow it feels much more fun, much more rewarding to get up close and personal and dive out. Stupid on a public road, yes, but when you've seen those rear facing camera shots from the racing that many times it leaves a lasting impression!
Yes, I have neither the talent of Cleland nor someone to pay for damage.
TheInternet said:
This was covered in the film Lost Highway:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0G66aOUzOc
tailgating is one thing i cant tolleratehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0G66aOUzOc
gdaybruce said:
If the road is suitable and the tailgater seems to be someone who just habitually follows too close, rather than being especially aggressive, I sometimes omit the braking phase before a well sighted corner and drive around it rather more quickly than the following driver was likely to have been expecting. I find that that tends to open up the gap in a rather satisfying manner!
Yeah that works for me too, would rather do that than slow down loads or speed up too much.Seems to make people realise they couldn't see what was ahead because they were too close.
It's quite simple. Unless the vehicle behind you is some sort of emergency service, don't let the behaviour of anyone behind you effect how you drive. They are either going to have a chance to pass you or not, neither of which should make any difference to your driving.
All this talk of brake-checking, slowing down, blasting off, convoluted hand signals, taking photographs, etc is madness. Concentrate on the road ahead and doing what you should be doing.
If its at the point you feel under duress and genuinely unsafe then pull over and/or phone the police.
All this talk of brake-checking, slowing down, blasting off, convoluted hand signals, taking photographs, etc is madness. Concentrate on the road ahead and doing what you should be doing.
If its at the point you feel under duress and genuinely unsafe then pull over and/or phone the police.
Much to my shame, I had an annoying tailgateing fuk follow me for 5 miles in a 30.
Saw a large flatbed trailer parked up on the left curb... I Only pulled out at the very last min.... Said tailgater shat himself as he nearly hit it and had to take emergency avoiding manoeuvre.
He stayed well back after that but I don't feel good about it and wouldn't do it again.
Saw a large flatbed trailer parked up on the left curb... I Only pulled out at the very last min.... Said tailgater shat himself as he nearly hit it and had to take emergency avoiding manoeuvre.
He stayed well back after that but I don't feel good about it and wouldn't do it again.
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