Do you ever 'self-police' the roads?
Discussion
soupdragon1 said:
Toltec said:
OP, I know you have said you are going to stop doing the gap closing thing, which is good, so I'm going to suggest a slightly different logic to viewing it.
You have left a gap to the vehicle in front.
This gap is large enough so that you felt comfortable in closing it up significantly so another car cannot use it.
However you felt no need to close this gap to move yourself an extra couple of seconds along the road.
This being the case what difference does it make to you whether there is a car in that gap or not? You were not using that piece of road, why would you think it is reasonable to stop someone else from using it?
In your video the left hand lane is moving faster than the second lane anyway, why not use that, move ahead yourself and leave a gap for another car in the second lane, everyone's happy.
Yes - I'm seeing the point here. Hopefully, as I mentioned earlier, its clear that I've now recognised the errors in the OP.You have left a gap to the vehicle in front.
This gap is large enough so that you felt comfortable in closing it up significantly so another car cannot use it.
However you felt no need to close this gap to move yourself an extra couple of seconds along the road.
This being the case what difference does it make to you whether there is a car in that gap or not? You were not using that piece of road, why would you think it is reasonable to stop someone else from using it?
In your video the left hand lane is moving faster than the second lane anyway, why not use that, move ahead yourself and leave a gap for another car in the second lane, everyone's happy.
I try not to be bothered by other drivers that are not doing something which puts me or others in danger.
Of course I've not perfected that yet and I still get irritated when following a crap, slow driver for several miles, after all they are slowly consuming my life.
RobM77 said:
Self policing the roads really is completely out of order.
Ok. Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 23 May 15:43
For the bit I quoted, does that also apply to the car parked over the brow of a hill example? As that's why I created the thread. Maybe there are instances when you 'should' take some action? I genuinely think there are.
Toltec said:
soupdragon1 said:
Toltec said:
OP, I know you have said you are going to stop doing the gap closing thing, which is good, so I'm going to suggest a slightly different logic to viewing it.
You have left a gap to the vehicle in front.
This gap is large enough so that you felt comfortable in closing it up significantly so another car cannot use it.
However you felt no need to close this gap to move yourself an extra couple of seconds along the road.
This being the case what difference does it make to you whether there is a car in that gap or not? You were not using that piece of road, why would you think it is reasonable to stop someone else from using it?
In your video the left hand lane is moving faster than the second lane anyway, why not use that, move ahead yourself and leave a gap for another car in the second lane, everyone's happy.
Yes - I'm seeing the point here. Hopefully, as I mentioned earlier, its clear that I've now recognised the errors in the OP.You have left a gap to the vehicle in front.
This gap is large enough so that you felt comfortable in closing it up significantly so another car cannot use it.
However you felt no need to close this gap to move yourself an extra couple of seconds along the road.
This being the case what difference does it make to you whether there is a car in that gap or not? You were not using that piece of road, why would you think it is reasonable to stop someone else from using it?
In your video the left hand lane is moving faster than the second lane anyway, why not use that, move ahead yourself and leave a gap for another car in the second lane, everyone's happy.
I try not to be bothered by other drivers that are not doing something which puts me or others in danger.
Of course I've not perfected that yet and I still get irritated when following a crap, slow driver for several miles, after all they are slowly consuming my life.
RobM77 said:
This is a very useful piece of logic. What I do is imagine there are no cars around - your journey's speed profile for someone cutting in would be, for example, a steady 70mph for 30 minutes, then a quick drop to 65mph for one second and then back up to 70mph again. Calculate the total time for such a journey (t=d/v) and it's imperceptibly similar to a journey where one's speed didn't falter momentarily.
I totally get this (and the previous post)- its a very good guide as to what progress you 'think' you aren't making when in actually fact - it doesn't even make a difference.On the same stretch of road, there are 3 lanes later on when people are chopping and changing lanes. They maybe get 10 or 15 cars ahead of you by doing this....or 100 yards or so. But when doing 60 mph ish, you cover that 100 yards in seconds. So they've literally worked their socks off to try and get ahead and only saved a few seconds in real time. I take that sort of view when I see it happening.
I appreciate my OP sounds a bit nuts, no denying that. My standpoint was from a 'I'll teach them a lesson' type of view, rather than trying to save myself some time. As you've described, it literally means nothing to the overall journey so there is real no value to trying to stop people getting in front of you.
Nanook said:
Go and put out your warning triangle at the brow of the hill. Get your passenger to stand there and indicate to passing motorists to slow down, or that there is something going on they need to be aware of. Park your car somewhere visible to all, and leave your hazards on.
but jesus f
king christ don't abandon it right in the middle of the fking road, blocking it both ways.
That's a better idea. Never thought of using a warning triangle. Obviously, you're trusting the next person coming along to stop at the triangle and not just come out past it. I guess if they did, you've done all you reasonably could. but jesus f
king christ don't abandon it right in the middle of the fking road, blocking it both ways.Reminds me of a time when close to our house, it was like pure ice on the road, a bad patch of black ice and a couple of cars already had been caught out. Someone was there, doing a good turn, waving at people to slow down. Person in front of me slowed by slamming the brakes and then power slided off the road. The guy done his best, fair play to him, thankfully I was able to stop on that occasion - saved me a big repair bill no doubt.
soupdragon1 said:
I'm ignoring people who swear at me now, no need for it.
Respectfully, what did you expect when writing on a public forum about appointing yourself as a holier-than-thou self Police officer for the roads?I know you've since edited your first post but you made this thread to get reactions and responses. It's clear to see that it's completely back-fired on you and yet you're still here somehow defending yourself. Stick your head in a lion's mouth and what do you honestly expect to happen?
Do yourself and everyone else a favour, just pack it in and delete the topic.
soupdragon1 said:
I totally get this (and the previous post)- its a very good guide as to what progress you 'think' you aren't making when in actually fact - it doesn't even make a difference.
On the same stretch of road, there are 3 lanes later on when people are chopping and changing lanes. They maybe get 10 or 15 cars ahead of you by doing this....or 100 yards or so. But when doing 60 mph ish, you cover that 100 yards in seconds. So they've literally worked their socks off to try and get ahead and only saved a few seconds in real time. I take that sort of view when I see it happening.
I appreciate my OP sounds a bit nuts, no denying that. My standpoint was from a 'I'll teach them a lesson' type of view, rather than trying to save myself some time. As you've described, it literally means nothing to the overall journey so there is real no value to trying to stop people getting in front of you.
aaaannnnd breathe On the same stretch of road, there are 3 lanes later on when people are chopping and changing lanes. They maybe get 10 or 15 cars ahead of you by doing this....or 100 yards or so. But when doing 60 mph ish, you cover that 100 yards in seconds. So they've literally worked their socks off to try and get ahead and only saved a few seconds in real time. I take that sort of view when I see it happening.
I appreciate my OP sounds a bit nuts, no denying that. My standpoint was from a 'I'll teach them a lesson' type of view, rather than trying to save myself some time. As you've described, it literally means nothing to the overall journey so there is real no value to trying to stop people getting in front of you.
Tomorrow's discussion, how to deal with drivers that don't know how to use a roundabout
If you can find a copy of this you might find it interesting-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mind-Driving-Skills-Stayi...
soupdragon1 said:
superlightr said:
Yes you didn't say you stopped in the middle of this train track but you did say you stopped and you are still on the tracks.
fancy doing some Rospa training? It can only help and improve your driving I promise.
Yes that's right. Interpretation of the written word maybe. I just moved forward like a few car lengths approx. and then the traffic all stopped again, which I wasn't expecting - so I had to stop. I didn't forsee that so got caught out. Difference being I didn't 'choose' to stop, like was previously suggested. fancy doing some Rospa training? It can only help and improve your driving I promise.
I'm familiar with Rospa, I know some Lorry Drivers - they do it annually and I'm sure its a great session. I'm sure I could learn a thing or 2 from that - every day is a school day as the saying goes.
If you chose to drive forward without your exit clear then that's still your error if you then stop on the tracks if your exit is blocked. You chose to move forward without your exit clear.
Come on don't weezle your way out of this - I'm pleased you agree some of your errors but the track thing was also a poor choice you made. if you said "my exit was clear of the tracks and I went forward but then suddenly an elephant fell from the sky and blocked my exit" then I would agree you did not "choose" to stop on the tracks.
It is good that the OP has seen the error of his ways. Some advice to those who encounter the "un-reformed" road policemen - you can send them absolutely apoplectic by compounding your crime in merge situations.
I encountered one on the J10 exit of the M4 where 2 lanes merged into 1. It was a merge in turn, but Mr Road Captain didn't appreciate that, and did his level best to not let me in. Given that I was driving a very battered Land-Rover, he didn't have a great deal of choice. So he was beeping the horn and generally getting on. The response? Next time a gap opened in front of me, I allowed about 10 cars from the LH lane to merge in. He was trying to get out of the car, but was being restrained by the passenger. By utter luck, rather than good judgement, I rolled forward, only to catch him not paying attention, and car 11 slotted in in front of him.
Wonderful.
I encountered one on the J10 exit of the M4 where 2 lanes merged into 1. It was a merge in turn, but Mr Road Captain didn't appreciate that, and did his level best to not let me in. Given that I was driving a very battered Land-Rover, he didn't have a great deal of choice. So he was beeping the horn and generally getting on. The response? Next time a gap opened in front of me, I allowed about 10 cars from the LH lane to merge in. He was trying to get out of the car, but was being restrained by the passenger. By utter luck, rather than good judgement, I rolled forward, only to catch him not paying attention, and car 11 slotted in in front of him.
Wonderful.
Normally the only bit of self policing i am guilty of is gunning it when someone pulls up at the lights in the wrong lane and you know full well they plan on just cutting across you because they can’t be bothered waiting 1 or 2 cars behind you. Normally self entitled women or angry middle aged men in 150bhp diesels that think they have enough power to just barge there way in front of anyone 
you wouldn’t just push in front of someone while queuing in a shop or cafe so why do it in your car?
you wouldn’t just push in front of someone while queuing in a shop or cafe so why do it in your car? Toltec said:
Europa1 said:
superlightr said:
Sorry English is my first language
Come on don't weezle your way out of this -)
Are you quite sure on the language thing? Come on don't weezle your way out of this -)
a wink is good as smile to a blind man. ST Ford said:
Normally the only bit of self policing i am guilty of is gunning it when someone pulls up at the lights in the wrong lane and you know full well they plan on just cutting across you because they can’t be bothered waiting 1 or 2 cars behind you. Normally self entitled women or angry middle aged men in 150bhp diesels that think they have enough power to just barge there way in front of anyone you wouldn’t just push in front of someone while queuing in a shop or cafe so why do it in your car?
When it is more a case of 2 to 1 rather than wrong lane I give them half a second on green before I start to move, if they gun it I'll take the space behind, thank you, if they dawdle I get on with it and take the space in front. When it is a wrong lane thing I go right at the end of amber* so I cross the line on green, but only at a normal acceleration, if they are awake and give it the beans I just let them get on with it and slot in behind, not like they are going to hold me up in a 30mph limit, though the soot might smell a bit. If they a napping I'll just use enough throttle so they are not going to crash into the side of me and they have a nice big slot behind to use. you wouldn’t just push in front of someone while queuing in a shop or cafe so why do it in your car? * Standard traffic light technique, I live in London.
superlightr said:
Sorry English is my first language but I don't understand - if you stopped between the train barriers or on the tracks then you are on the tracks are you not?
If you chose to drive forward without your exit clear then that's still your error if you then stop on the tracks if your exit is blocked. You chose to move forward without your exit clear.
Come on don't weezle your way out of this - I'm pleased you agree some of your errors but the track thing was also a poor choice you made. if you said "my exit was clear of the tracks and I went forward but then suddenly an elephant fell from the sky and blocked my exit" then I would agree you did not "choose" to stop on the tracks.
That's was kind of my point though. I made a mistake by assuming that the traffic would flow once the barrier went up, but it came to an abrupt standstill in a matter of seconds. As I described, it only ever happened once. That was an error. And it was in the same discussion as the gentleman who let lots of cars turn right at this particular crossing for no apparent reason....the self appointed traffic light. But as I discovered, he was just managing the traffic flow to ensure that 'gridlock' on the crossing didn't happen. An example of self-policing.If you chose to drive forward without your exit clear then that's still your error if you then stop on the tracks if your exit is blocked. You chose to move forward without your exit clear.
Come on don't weezle your way out of this - I'm pleased you agree some of your errors but the track thing was also a poor choice you made. if you said "my exit was clear of the tracks and I went forward but then suddenly an elephant fell from the sky and blocked my exit" then I would agree you did not "choose" to stop on the tracks.
culpz said:
Respectfully, what did you expect when writing on a public forum about appointing yourself as a holier-than-thou self Police officer for the roads?
I know you've since edited your first post but you made this thread to get reactions and responses. It's clear to see that it's completely back-fired on you and yet you're still here somehow defending yourself. Stick your head in a lion's mouth and what do you honestly expect to happen?
Do yourself and everyone else a favour, just pack it in and delete the topic.
Im not defending myself, just having a discussion about it. I know you've since edited your first post but you made this thread to get reactions and responses. It's clear to see that it's completely back-fired on you and yet you're still here somehow defending yourself. Stick your head in a lion's mouth and what do you honestly expect to happen?
Do yourself and everyone else a favour, just pack it in and delete the topic.
I don't see the need to delete, unless a moderator thinks it should, it's not doing anyone any harm really.
Can someone tell me how to "self-police"a tailgater?
I've noticed this is getting much worse and it drives me mad, no matter how much I try and ignore it!
I think the women that do it are just thick/entitled princesses , whilst men do it for more aggressive reasons.
Although I would like to stop my car and firebomb theirs , I realise this might be frowned upon- so what to do?
I find that sometimes even when they could overtake safely, they wont- just want to ride my shiny arse!!
Sometimes , i'll just floor it and unless they're pretty mad or driving something pretty quick, they wont be behind for long but this makes me break the law then and risk a collision etc?? Or just keep to the speed limit and put up with it- or pull over and let them past but I don't want to be stopping that much because of some retard behind me!
I've noticed this is getting much worse and it drives me mad, no matter how much I try and ignore it!
I think the women that do it are just thick/entitled princesses , whilst men do it for more aggressive reasons.
Although I would like to stop my car and firebomb theirs , I realise this might be frowned upon- so what to do?
I find that sometimes even when they could overtake safely, they wont- just want to ride my shiny arse!!
Sometimes , i'll just floor it and unless they're pretty mad or driving something pretty quick, they wont be behind for long but this makes me break the law then and risk a collision etc?? Or just keep to the speed limit and put up with it- or pull over and let them past but I don't want to be stopping that much because of some retard behind me!
I agree tailgating seems to be getting far worse as drivers seem to be getting more agressive and self entitled. Especially on the motorway people seem to think it’s acceptable to leave 1 car length gap doing 70+. You can’t even cruise along in the inside/slow lane now without some idiot glued to your bumper.
I would love to drive around in a big old truck or tough 4x4 with a big tow bar on the back and not care less if they drive into the back of me while doing maximum damage to there shiny leased German car.
You can see why crash for cash is bigger than ever when all they have to do is tap there brakes and most idiots will drive into the back of them. I go out of my way most of the time to brake or slow down progressively etc to avoid a collision when being tailgated when I could just think fk it I’ll let you go in the back of me and get a nice payday like some people do.
I would love to drive around in a big old truck or tough 4x4 with a big tow bar on the back and not care less if they drive into the back of me while doing maximum damage to there shiny leased German car.
You can see why crash for cash is bigger than ever when all they have to do is tap there brakes and most idiots will drive into the back of them. I go out of my way most of the time to brake or slow down progressively etc to avoid a collision when being tailgated when I could just think f
k it I’ll let you go in the back of me and get a nice payday like some people do. Edited by ST Ford on Wednesday 23 May 18:20
soupdragon1 said:
Blakewater said:
The problem is, when a queue stretches for miles in one lane up to a junction it can extend beyond the first signs telling you which lane you need. You can't see the road markings for the traffic covering them. People passing a queue and then trying to move in might seem like queue jumpers to those who use the stretch of road everyday and know they need to get in the correct lane a long way back. They might in fact be people unfamiliar with the road and the quirks of where the traffic builds up locally trying to get into the correct lane at the earliest point. If going a different way because they're in the incorrect lane is obviously going to take a long detour they'll be keen to correct their error.
Very good point.[\devilesadvocate]
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