Tailgaiting on the Motorway

[foxsasha]

SpeedMattersNot said:

Again, it could be must be in front of the Jazz syndrome but it's common for me to be keeping it at 70mph in L1, approaching a car doing 65mph in L2, move over two lanes to pass only for them to wake up and floor it up to 70mph + In the mean time, mr flashy lights behind me thinks it is my fault for holding him up. Now I either have to speed, or drop back to allow mr flashy lights through...only to have the L2 guy doze off again a couple of miles later.

I thought is was legal for you to stay in L1 and go past the dawdler in L2 on the inside?

[DavidJG]

foxsasha said:

SpeedMattersNot said:

Again, it could be must be in front of the Jazz syndrome but it's common for me to be keeping it at 70mph in L1, approaching a car doing 65mph in L2, move over two lanes to pass only for them to wake up and floor it up to 70mph + In the mean time, mr flashy lights behind me thinks it is my fault for holding him up. Now I either have to speed, or drop back to allow mr flashy lights through...only to have the L2 guy doze off again a couple of miles later.

I thought is was legal for you to stay in L1 and go past the dawdler in L2 on the inside?

Legal or not, it's what I do most of the time now. Usually on motorways I observe folks driving way too close in L3, morons dawdling in L2, and me and a few others maintaining 70 (ish) in L1. I'm not going to let the muppets wind me up, just pass them. If the road is near empty, I'll do the L1 - L3, overtake, L3 - L1 move, but if busy I'll just stay in L1.

[Gary C]

Pete317 said:

Gary C said:

Pete317 said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Lots of people just don't get it. They thing the outside lane is a "fast" lane. I'm often in the outside lane doing 65, overtaking someone in the middle lane doing 60 who in turn is passing a lorry doing 56. Nothing wrong with that. Then you get people coming up behind and flashing. Can they not see that you are overtaking. Bloody tw@s.

So you're so reluctant to drop your speed slightly to the speed of the L2 traffic for a short period that you simply have to overtake, but, in doing so, you're forcing those who were about to pass you down to 65 for as long as you choose to stay in L3

The words inconsiderate and hypocrite spring to mind.

So are you saying, if you want to do 65, then you are not allowed to overtake ? (Which I don't think you are),

Surely it's all a bit live and let live.

Always be aware of other traffic and adjust your speed to make things as smooth as possible. Sometimes I slow slightly if a faster car is approaching then pull out afterwards, some times I may speed up a little to complete a manoeuvre without inconveniencing another road user, but sometimes a faster driver has to wait a little for a slower vehicle to complete its overtake, just life.

In 30 years of driving it does seem that people are more impatient now. in the past on an mway, if you were held up for a short time, you could make it up by peddling a bit quicker, but now with camera's and traffic, people seem to explode when they loose 2 minutes.

If there's nobody about to pass you then by all means, knock yourself out.
But because you want to go 65, and you don't want to slow down to 62 for a few seconds, don't expect others to be happy when they want to do 70 and you force them to slow down simply because you couldn't wait a few seconds?
What makes your choice of speed more important than their choice?

You know, it used to be the case that if you collected a queue of cars behind you, you might have thought, "Gee, I might be going a bit on the slow side - perhaps I should speed up a bit".

But that was many years ago.

Nowadays, people are far more likely to take the attitude of "fk you, this is my speed, so like it or lump it"

Edited by Pete317 on Sunday 14th February 13:55

Firstly, you don't know me and I don't do 65 on the mway

Secondly, I will trim my speed up or down to smooth flow.

But if I catch up with a slower vehicle overtaking a string of slower cars, I don't blow a gasket either.

However, I do agree that some drivers just pull into l3 with no regard to others, and yes a good driver would adjust their speed to minimise the effect. If you mean these drivers then I agree they need to wake up, but tailgating is a fools game (by which I mean driving really close, say <1m) and dangerous.

However, equally a faster driver can trim their speed down a couple of mph, to allow a slower driver ahead to complete a pass.

Self entitled prats and unaware drivers need to wake up.

[Skodaku]

Jimboka said:

The best driver in the world must get tailgated too.
Just ignore.
Cleaning windscreen with a generous squirt also helps !

I'm sure I've seen Schumacher at al being tailgated...or would that be spoilergated? Happens to everyone.

[Skodaku]

Sump said:

This is exactly why we need lane 1 and 2 to be for any driver and lane 3 to be turned into a VIP type lane at a charge of something like £10k P/A. This way you just won't have any of the usual trolls going into lane 3. They can do their 65 mph BS stuff in lane 1 and 2.

We really need to start having VIP lanes or something in this country, it's unreasonable that a 1.2L Clio with 60 BHP can be allowed to join a lane which is shared with someone running 5.0L and 450bhp.

.......and still with a legal max of 70mph.

[TazLondon]

I find that HGVs are the worst tailgaters on the motorway - particularly in roadworks with 50mph average speed detection.

[Pete317]

Gary C said:

Pete317 said:

Gary C said:

Pete317 said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Lots of people just don't get it. They thing the outside lane is a "fast" lane. I'm often in the outside lane doing 65, overtaking someone in the middle lane doing 60 who in turn is passing a lorry doing 56. Nothing wrong with that. Then you get people coming up behind and flashing. Can they not see that you are overtaking. Bloody tw@s.

So you're so reluctant to drop your speed slightly to the speed of the L2 traffic for a short period that you simply have to overtake, but, in doing so, you're forcing those who were about to pass you down to 65 for as long as you choose to stay in L3

The words inconsiderate and hypocrite spring to mind.

So are you saying, if you want to do 65, then you are not allowed to overtake ? (Which I don't think you are),

Surely it's all a bit live and let live.

Always be aware of other traffic and adjust your speed to make things as smooth as possible. Sometimes I slow slightly if a faster car is approaching then pull out afterwards, some times I may speed up a little to complete a manoeuvre without inconveniencing another road user, but sometimes a faster driver has to wait a little for a slower vehicle to complete its overtake, just life.

In 30 years of driving it does seem that people are more impatient now. in the past on an mway, if you were held up for a short time, you could make it up by peddling a bit quicker, but now with camera's and traffic, people seem to explode when they loose 2 minutes.

If there's nobody about to pass you then by all means, knock yourself out.
But because you want to go 65, and you don't want to slow down to 62 for a few seconds, don't expect others to be happy when they want to do 70 and you force them to slow down simply because you couldn't wait a few seconds?
What makes your choice of speed more important than their choice?

You know, it used to be the case that if you collected a queue of cars behind you, you might have thought, "Gee, I might be going a bit on the slow side - perhaps I should speed up a bit".

But that was many years ago.

Nowadays, people are far more likely to take the attitude of "fk you, this is my speed, so like it or lump it"

Edited by Pete317 on Sunday 14th February 13:55

Firstly, you don't know me and I don't do 65 on the mway

Secondly, I will trim my speed up or down to smooth flow.

But if I catch up with a slower vehicle overtaking a string of slower cars, I don't blow a gasket either.

However, I do agree that some drivers just pull into l3 with no regard to others, and yes a good driver would adjust their speed to minimise the effect. If you mean these drivers then I agree they need to wake up, but tailgating is a fools game (by which I mean driving really close, say <1m) and dangerous.

However, equally a faster driver can trim their speed down a couple of mph, to allow a slower driver ahead to complete a pass.

Self entitled prats and unaware drivers need to wake up.

Sorry if I came across a bit personal, but that unfortunately comes with the territory - when someone opens up with a loaded question I tend to think that it's yet another smart-alecky post.

[CrgT16]

Tail gating is a very poor attitude and it shows no respect for other road users. However....

It drives me crazy that someone just sticks the cruise on 70mph and stays on L3 even when not overtaking!! Just WHY???

With L1 and L2 free what would you do with such a dick? Undertake? I find the self righteous attitude quite poor. In single lane roads I have no issue with whatever speed people want to do. I will quite happy sit doing 40 on a NSL behind anyone who chooses to do so. I am very patient but on the motorway I feel people actually don't know how to use the overtaking lane (clue is in the name) do your overtake and then revert to L1 or L1. Quite basic concept! Unfortunately most are just selfish and have no regard for other road users.

Also regarding the one on L3 overtaking at 65mph a car doing 60 on L2... I find this situation a bit strange. Off course he is entitled to but if he only wants to drive 5mph than the car in front why is he overtaking anyway? He is obviously not in a rush and a 5mph speed difference means he only arrives 4 - 5 minutes earlier over 60 miles trip than the car he is overtaking at 60. For someone not in a rush that sounds a bit illogical move...

[WJNB]

[quote=CrgT16]Tail gating is a very poor attitude and it shows no respect for other road users. However....
It drives me crazy that someone just sticks the cruise on 70mph and stays on L3 even when not overtaking!! Just WHY???
quote]

Don't wonder 'why' 'assume' which might lessen stress level, as follows:
1. Driver may well be deliberately driving that way to annoy others & to exercise power over others. He may well be one of life's non-achievers AND knows it. Adopting a driving style that communicates irritation results in achievement the one thing that is craved. The best way is to remove any indication that you are annoyed by changing lanes & let him carry on. He is REALLY the loser then having failed to achieve yet again.
2. Driver may well be distracted by radio of mobile phone & has not checked his mirrors of late. Patience is the answer as flashing headlights &/or sounding horn will merely emphasise his error & may retaliate by NOT moving over.
3. Drivers thoughts could be elsewhere, on work, personal matters & you have no idea what disasters or tragedies could be unfolding in his/her life. Again be patient.

[StottyEvo]

Pete317 said:

pinchmeimdreamin said:

Pete317 said:

I never roar up behind people and flash my lights.

I'm referring to a) those who wait until you're right behind them before pulling out in front of you, b) then proceed to sit in L3 for the next 10 miles, and c) -specifically referring to twig's post - refuse to speed up above 65 or whatever speed they happen to be doing in order to complete their overtake in good time.

Agree totally n thos who pull out in front of you to do it, however if they are already committed to the overtake then I just back off till they have completed it, I wouldn't expect them to go faster than they wanted to just because I want to go faster.

And I wouldn't expect people to go slower than they wanted to just because I want to go slower.
But if I'm in front of them then they have no choice - by being in front of them I've taken their choice away.

You must have experienced the huge tailbacks caused by two lorries "elephant racing" one another for mile after mile on a dual carriageway, so why do you apparently think it's OK for cars to dawdle past each other when they can easily speed up a bit to complete their overtake with the minimum amount of disruption?

A bit of give and take goes a long way

I'm with you on this one. Righteousness is not an excuse for lack of consideration.

[foxsasha]

DavidJG said:

foxsasha said:

SpeedMattersNot said:

Again, it could be must be in front of the Jazz syndrome but it's common for me to be keeping it at 70mph in L1, approaching a car doing 65mph in L2, move over two lanes to pass only for them to wake up and floor it up to 70mph + In the mean time, mr flashy lights behind me thinks it is my fault for holding him up. Now I either have to speed, or drop back to allow mr flashy lights through...only to have the L2 guy doze off again a couple of miles later.

I thought is was legal for you to stay in L1 and go past the dawdler in L2 on the inside?

Legal or not, it's what I do most of the time now. Usually on motorways I observe folks driving way too close in L3, morons dawdling in L2, and me and a few others maintaining 70 (ish) in L1. I'm not going to let the muppets wind me up, just pass them. If the road is near empty, I'll do the L1 - L3, overtake, L3 - L1 move, but if busy I'll just stay in L1.

I'm more inclined to pass on the inside when the motorways quiet. Steady speed in empty L1, approach car doing 10mph less in empty L2 and I'll maintain the status quo and pass in L1. I only do the L1 to L2 to L3 to L2 to L1 dance if I'm particularly bored.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

CrgT16 said:

Also regarding the one on L3 overtaking at 65mph a car doing 60 on L2... I find this situation a bit strange. Off course he is entitled to but if he only wants to drive 5mph than the car in front why is he overtaking anyway? He is obviously not in a rush and a 5mph speed difference means he only arrives 4 - 5 minutes earlier over 60 miles trip than the car he is overtaking at 60. For someone not in a rush that sounds a bit illogical move...

I drive to work on the m/way each morning. I'm in no rush but have found in my car I get the best fuel economy at about 62mph. I don't wan't to be behind someone doing 57, not do I want to be doing 67 myself.

You're right, in time it makes little difference, but it also makes little difference for the guy coming up behind me in L3 whilst I'm passing bloke in L2 to wait a few seconds for me to complete my overtake and pull back into L2/L1 rather than sit on my bumper flashing me and shaking his fist. Still, it makes no difference to me, I just bumble along quite happily, whilst his blood pressure soars!

[RobbyJ]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I drive to work on the m/way each morning. I'm in no rush but have found in my car I get the best fuel economy at about 62mph. I don't wan't to be behind someone doing 57, not do I want to be doing 67 myself.

You're right, in time it makes little difference, but it also makes little difference for the guy coming up behind me in L3 whilst I'm passing bloke in L2 to wait a few seconds for me to complete my overtake and pull back into L2/L1 rather than sit on my bumper flashing me and shaking his fist. Still, it makes no difference to me, I just bumble along quite happily, whilst his blood pressure soars!

Yes but what gives you the right to pull into another lane and hold up someone that was approaching at a steady speed. It drives me nuts! Wait till the faster car already in the overtaking lane completes his overtake and then overtake yourself, don't delay the oncoming car out of some overblown sense of hypocritical self righteousness! You ARE the problem not the solution!

[uk_vette]

Super Slo Mo said:

I spend a lot of time on the motorways too, generally the only people I see getting properly tailgated are the ones who won't get out of the way into a clear lane to the left.

Of course it depends what you call tailgating. People do tend to travel closer than they ought in general, but its only a few I think who get silly close.

This,

when some drivers just don't move over, it is frustrating, yes, over the speed limit, but never the less.

There is different tailgating, general tailgating, and "move over" tailgating.

When its the latter, this is around the half car length, or just 3 feet behind, brake testing simply reduces the distance to sub 12 inches

[playalistic]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Still, it makes no difference to me, I just bumble along quite happily, whilst his blood pressure soars!

I hope your cock falls off in a boating accident.

[Seventy]

RobbyJ said:

Yes but what gives you the right to pull into another lane and hold up someone that was approaching at a steady speed. It drives me nuts! Wait till the faster car already in the overtaking lane completes his overtake and then overtake yourself, don't delay the oncoming car out of some overblown sense of hypocritical self righteousness! You ARE the problem not the solution!

Have a think about what you have said. What gives you the right to get angry with someone who is overtaking a slower car (just as you are doing). They will hold you up for maybe 10 seconds. In fact they won't hold you up at all, you will no doubt see they overtaking and increase your speed to tailgate them (I'll teach them a lesson!) and then once they have returned to their original lane you will give it a bit of beans as a sort of 'parting gift'. I see it all the time on the M4 heading east. Usually by the time I get to the M25 - guess what? There they are in front of you. I meanwhile have had a nice relaxing drive listening to whatever I want to listen to and they have ruined their day with stress.
Always makes me laugh when I see the L3 convoy - it seems like a white knuckle eyes ahead until I reach my destination thing.

[DonkeyApple]

RobbyJ said:

Yes but what gives you the right to pull into another lane and hold up someone that was approaching at a steady speed. It drives me nuts! Wait till the faster car already in the overtaking lane completes his overtake and then overtake yourself, don't delay the oncoming car out of some overblown sense of hypocritical self righteousness! You ARE the problem not the solution!

Sure, if it's a lone car that is clearly approaching at a speed that means you will inconvenience it but if it's a line of cars then basic etiquette would dictate that you'd let the person out, just as you would hold the door open for someone. Because you are a civilised gentleman. The trouble is that most modern road users are peasants with little manners but vast amounts of self importance.

[DoubleD]

RobbyJ said:

Yes but what gives you the right to pull into another lane and hold up someone that was approaching at a steady speed. It drives me nuts! Wait till the faster car already in the overtaking lane completes his overtake and then overtake yourself, don't delay the oncoming car out of some overblown sense of hypocritical self righteousness! You ARE the problem not the solution!

But what gives you the right to hold up the person in the middle lane?

I agree you shouldn't pull into a lane if it makes someone have to brake, but if they have to ease off for 30 seconds then so be it.

[mybrainhurts]

Orchardab said:

If you slam your brakes on, they usually get the message and stop tailgating!

Chuck it in reverse...

That really pisses them up.

[mybrainhurts]

swerni said:

mybrainhurts said:

Orchardab said:

If you slam your brakes on, they usually get the message and stop tailgating!

Chuck it in reverse...

That really pisses them up.

And throw large objects out the sunroof, always a winner.

On-demand rear facing oil sprays are the way forward.