Strange motorway stalker

[Dog Star]

So I'm driving along the motorway - M180 so bugger all traffic around. I overtake a bloke in a Focus, he's doing about 65 and I'm going a little quicker, nothing mad, nothing I'd get a pull for. So I indicate left and pull in after I've gone past.

This geezer then moves out into the middle lane speeds up and plonks himself about ten yards back to my right. I slow down to let him past - I don't like someone being there. So he holds station. I eventually drop to about 40mph. No joy. So I speed up. So does he, and reassumes the same road position. So I speed up to the lepton plus area. HE STILL DOES IT WTF? I slow back down, wind the window down and wave him past. Nope.

In the end I got rid of him by getting to about .8 leptons and absolutely jamming the brakes on as hard as I could in a Top Gun "brake and he'll fly right by" style and then as he shot past flooring it moving into lane 3 and hammering back past him. He just looked confused, but seemed to have got the message as he never came near me again when I slowed back down.

Very odd behavior - it was like a moving version of people who insist on parking next to you in deserted car parks. He didn't look particularly odd, just a bloke wearing a shirt and glasses, so not some nutter that wanted a fight or anything.

[TheEnd]

What was his reg?
DFENS?

[tyranical]

And yet you acted like an idiot and humored him, he was probably sat laughing at you waving him past.

As for slamming your brakes on on a motorway regardless of if it was an empty motorway or not... its not some police evasion chase you know did you do a J turn in the process and speed off the other way?

[Rawwr]

I spotted two counts of odd behaviour.

[ian_c_uk]

I often do 200mile journeys, and you pretty quickly identify vehicles you are going to see a lot of. I set cruise, and some constantly overtake, slow, be overtaken, speed up, overtake, etc. Likewise those that just sit on rear 3qtr as you approach back of a wagon thinking "either back off or get past ffs"

I blame lack of cruise control / inability to hold a set speed without a reference point.

[Baz Tench]

About 10 yards back to your right you say.....

[Dog Star]

tyranical said:

And yet you acted like an idiot and humored him, he was probably sat laughing at you waving him past.

Well what was I meant to do? I figured that maybe he didn't really realise he was sitting near enough in my blind spot (or what would have been if I didn't have curvy mirrors) so to wave him past might wake him up.

I wouldn't have minded if he was just sat on my tail, but it really is a bit disconcerting to have someone in that position for mile after mile.

[Ari]

I've had a similar situation one Sunday evening years ago on a quiet motorway. Overtook a Volvo estate (oldish chap with his presumably wife) at about 70ish on cruise, 5 mins later Volvo overtakes, gets in front, slows. I (still on cruise) have to pull out and pass, 5 mins later Volvo drifts past and then slows. And I genuinely don't think he knew he was doing it, he seemed oblivious. I think with a car in front he instinctively sped up, with nothing in front he slowed. Bloody annoying.

in the end I just went for it, wound my car upto "ahem"MPH and got myself over his horizon and out of sight before re-engaging cruise and carrying on as before.

Ten minutes later he want past again...

[richyb]

ian_c_uk said:

I often do 200mile journeys, and you pretty quickly identify vehicles you are going to see a lot of. I set cruise, and some constantly overtake, slow, be overtaken, speed up, overtake, etc.

My E38 is the first car I've owned with cruise control and noticed what you mentioned within a few weeks.

[otherman]

ian_c_uk said:

I often do 200mile journeys, and you pretty quickly identify vehicles you are going to see a lot of. I set cruise, and some constantly overtake, slow, be overtaken, speed up, overtake, etc. Likewise those that just sit on rear 3qtr as you approach back of a wagon thinking "either back off or get past ffs"

I blame lack of cruise control / inability to hold a set speed without a reference point.

Ford Focus drivers. They want to do 90 but they don't have the power to hold it and they slow down on the all uphills.

[checkmate91]

Mine seems to manage ok.

[Johnnytheboy]

Dog Star said:

Well what was I meant to do?

Nothing? That's what I would've done. If he wants to drive a bit oddly, let him.

[Silver]

Johnnytheboy said:

Dog Star said:

Well what was I meant to do?

Nothing? That's what I would've done. If he wants to drive a bit oddly, let him.

This.

I don't really think entering into a willy-waving contest with another driver whose driving is little more than vaguely irritating is worth the bother.

[BonzoG]

Dog Star said:

I figured that maybe he didn't really realise he was sitting near enough in my blind spot (or what would have been if I didn't have curvy mirrors) so to wave him past might wake him up.

I wouldn't have minded if he was just sat on my tail, but it really is a bit disconcerting to have someone in that position for mile after mile.

In other words you took it upon yourself to "teach him a lesson" because he potentially hadn't considered something that wasn't even an issue given the fancy mirrors you've got. Even without them, you knew he was there anyways, so even if he was sitting in a fking stupid place all you had to do was take a bit more care when changing lanes - drive around the problem.


I feel like such a hypocrite for saying it (who hasn't given a tailgater the extra long skoosh of the washers?) but god I do wish people would stop trying to "educate" each other at speed - stop being confrontational/holier than thou and leave it to the rozzers/Darwin!

[anonymous-user]

ian_c_uk said:

I often do 200mile journeys, and you pretty quickly identify vehicles you are going to see a lot of. I set cruise, and some constantly overtake, slow, be overtaken, speed up, overtake, etc. Likewise those that just sit on rear 3qtr as you approach back of a wagon thinking "either back off or get past ffs"

I blame lack of cruise control / inability to hold a set speed without a reference point.

I do variable driving speed just to keep me interested on those long runs, I hate the thought of just cruising at a set speed..

[uncinquesei]

TheEnd said:

What was his reg?
DFENS?

to be fair to OP i sympathise. it's very disconcerting and once you are aware of it, it becomes difficult to just do nothing. Add the fact that he varied his speed by a large amount (ie not just +/- 10mph) and he still persisted with the oddness, i think i might have done the same...

I think it's unfair to accuse OP of trying to "educate" the odd one - it seems to me he was just trying to break the "connection".

Edited by uncinquesei on Thursday 7th April 22:15

[Steamer]

Baz Tench said:

About 10 yards back to your right you say.....

Since the price of fuel has rocketed 'Duel' has had to down grade a bit

[XDA]

BonzoG said:

In other words you took it upon yourself to "teach him a lesson" because he potentially hadn't considered something that wasn't even an issue given the fancy mirrors you've got. Even without them, you knew he was there anyways, so even if he was sitting in a fking stupid place all you had to do was take a bit more care when changing lanes - drive around the problem.


I feel like such a hypocrite for saying it (who hasn't given a tailgater the extra long skoosh of the washers?) but god I do wish people would stop trying to "educate" each other at speed - stop being confrontational/holier than thou and leave it to the rozzers/Darwin!

Who mentioned anything about "teaching him a lesson"?

The OP didn't fancy someone sitting in his blindspot and wanted well away from him, after giving up on trying to get rid of blindspot moron.

You'd be happy having someone sitting in your blindspot for miles on end?

[Ari]

Absolutely! Sometimes you just have to shake these idiots off, no matter how oblivious they are.

[Google [bot]]

Rawwr said:

I spotted two counts of odd behaviour.

Yea but he started it mister