STOP TAILGATING ME!
STOP TAILGATING ME!
Author
Discussion

fairclp

Original Poster:

654 posts

268 months

Sunday 28th May 2006
quotequote all
Well, the weather was a bit horrid yesterday morning with rain spoiling the final hour of my 2 hour drive home, so I took it quite gently on the A's keeping to about 1/2 to 2/3 throttle (OK, call me a wimp).

Anyway, I'd forgotten how bad "Sunday Drivers" are and:

1) I find it really annoying that they use the "constant speed theory" when driving: 45mph on Nat's and 45mph in 30's!
2) They use their "organic constant distance system" to drive 1 foot from the car in front. The organic bit being their half asleep brain.

So, they end up tailgating me and others making overtaking tricky to say the least.

Anyway, got past them, hit a 40 zone, chilled to 40mph in second, played with the throttle to get a few pops and bangs, and before you could say "Sunday Diver" they were back up my rear bumper.

I ignored them by thinking, I think I'll wind the windows down and do a gentle blast to 7K in second when the Nat arrives.

So, as I cross the Nat sign, added 2/3 throttle, listened to the wonderful scream of the SP6 and hit 7K. Nice!

Looked in the rear view and the road was empty!

I must have incinerated the cars behind!











chris watton

22,545 posts

282 months

Sunday 28th May 2006
quotequote all
I can relate to that story - they are getting worse, no doubt about it - one of these 'older' drivers smacked Chan up the backside on Friday morning, killing her MG, the 80 year old didnt see the bright red car on a straight stretch of road, so having them tailgate you is a complete nightmare - they have lost all reflexes - but they unsist on driving at 35-40 no matter what the condiditions! Madness!

Daftlad

3,324 posts

263 months

Sunday 28th May 2006
quotequote all
[quote=chris watton]they unsist on driving at 35-40 no matter what the condiditions! quote]
Now you know how the general public feel when your trying to keep the revs below 2500 till the oil reaches 40 DegC

chris watton

22,545 posts

282 months

Sunday 28th May 2006
quotequote all
Daftlad said:
[quote=chris watton]they unsist on driving at 35-40 no matter what the condiditions! quote]
Now you know how the general public feel when your trying to keep the revs below 2500 till the oil reaches 40 DegC




But I'm allowed, no-one else is!

targarama

14,715 posts

305 months

Sunday 28th May 2006
quotequote all
chris watton said:
I can relate to that story - they are getting worse, no doubt about it - one of these 'older' drivers smacked Chan up the backside on Friday morning, killing her MG, the 80 year old didnt see the bright red car on a straight stretch of road, so having them tailgate you is a complete nightmare - they have lost all reflexes - but they unsist on driving at 35-40 no matter what the condiditions! Madness!


Hope it wasn't too big a smash and Chan is OK.

sideways mostly

2,681 posts

263 months

Sunday 28th May 2006
quotequote all
targarama said:
chris watton said:
I can relate to that story - they are getting worse, no doubt about it - one of these 'older' drivers smacked Chan up the backside on Friday morning, killing her MG, the 80 year old didnt see the bright red car on a straight stretch of road, so having them tailgate you is a complete nightmare - they have lost all reflexes - but they unsist on driving at 35-40 no matter what the condiditions! Madness!


Hope it wasn't too big a smash and Chan is OK.


Seconded Chris. Sorry to hear about the demise of her MG as well but at least she is safe!

fairclp

Original Poster:

654 posts

268 months

Sunday 28th May 2006
quotequote all
At least it was the MG and not the Tam...



chris watton

22,545 posts

282 months

Monday 29th May 2006
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Cheers guys
Yes, she's fine, typical woman though, complaining about a bit of whiplash! ()I think she was more upset for the MG, she absolutley loves that car (got a feeling its gonna be written off though)
She was apparently hit, not completely full on (otherwise I don't think she'd be here!), at 50MHP! The 80 year old didn't even brake, didn't see her, on a straight piece of road! She was shunted into the middle of the road!

So, even when you're very careful and do everything right, the sods can still get you, like bl00dy homing missiles!!

Oh yes, the 80 year old was driving a Rover 25 (not that I want to encourage stereotyping )

icraigmy

1,653 posts

245 months

Tuesday 30th May 2006
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I know what you mean about tailgaters. They are really annoying. They seem to get satisfaction in keeping up with you when you are taking it easy, and I sense that I'm holding up there pathetic lifes. When you finally get fed up with the Tw*ts and put your foot down and loose them for a bit, they eventually re-attach themselves to your bumper waving rude hand signals at you - I guess this is part and parcel to owning a TVR.

GreenV8S

30,997 posts

306 months

Tuesday 30th May 2006
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I find that gentle acceleration and decelleration is a very effective way to get rid of these - if they are too close they have to overeact, and the closer they are the stronger this effect is. You can keep them very busy just by speeding up and slowing down by a few mph, staying out of phase with them as they fall back and then try to close the gap again.

targarama

14,715 posts

305 months

Tuesday 30th May 2006
quotequote all
If they're aggressive then get out of the way at the earliest safe opportunity. Leave them to have an accident with someone else further down the road (can also make handy cop bait).

If they're obviously playing and its safe then give it a bit of right foot flexing.

I tend to do both. Zoom off, let off throttle and slot into middle lane while they eventually come steaming past.

holmsie

416 posts

248 months

Tuesday 30th May 2006
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I find that a lot of people drive right up your arse cos they're trying to read the badge on the back of the car to see what it is!

julianc

1,984 posts

281 months

Wednesday 31st May 2006
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Tailgating in France was standard during the recent holiday. The French clearly wanted to get a really good look at the Tamora.......understandable, but not if it means shunting you up the backside........

orgasmicliving!!

5,964 posts

242 months

Wednesday 31st May 2006
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julianc said:
understandable, but not if it means shunting you up the backside........
Belgian specialty.

targarama

14,715 posts

305 months

Wednesday 31st May 2006
quotequote all
orgasmicliving!! said:
julianc said:
understandable, but not if it means shunting you up the backside........
Belgian specialty.


An Italian Carabinieri shunted me in his Shogun. Luckily only GRP damage to the rear panel between the lights (this particular indicent would have fooked a Chim/Griff/Tamora boot openability for sure due to the bumper/overrider height where it hit my car (each side of the rear badge)). GRP is tough!