People driving up your ar$e grrrr!
Discussion
Sorry to interrupt but,
speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
I could stop behind you with or without your “fun” brake checking in time to have a cup of tea, so the joke is manifestly upon you. Just get a GPS speedo and do the speed limit and then maybe, just maybe I can get out of second gear and we can all cruise along comfortably.
And no, you don’t need to brake to turn off the main road THAT much. You were barely moving in the first bloody place.
Thanks, please continue.
speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
I could stop behind you with or without your “fun” brake checking in time to have a cup of tea, so the joke is manifestly upon you. Just get a GPS speedo and do the speed limit and then maybe, just maybe I can get out of second gear and we can all cruise along comfortably.
And no, you don’t need to brake to turn off the main road THAT much. You were barely moving in the first bloody place.
Thanks, please continue.
Julian Thompson said:
Sorry to interrupt but,
speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
I could stop behind you with or without your “fun” brake checking in time to have a cup of tea, so the joke is manifestly upon you. Just get a GPS speedo and do the speed limit and then maybe, just maybe I can get out of second gear and we can all cruise along comfortably.
And no, you don’t need to brake to turn off the main road THAT much. You were barely moving in the first bloody place.
Thanks, please continue.
speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
I could stop behind you with or without your “fun” brake checking in time to have a cup of tea, so the joke is manifestly upon you. Just get a GPS speedo and do the speed limit and then maybe, just maybe I can get out of second gear and we can all cruise along comfortably.
And no, you don’t need to brake to turn off the main road THAT much. You were barely moving in the first bloody place.
Thanks, please continue.
Some hyperbole but you're not wrong either. I swear some drivers have just given up all hope, and the others are on their phone.
Julian Thompson said:
Sorry to interrupt but,
speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
I could stop behind you with or without your “fun” brake checking in time to have a cup of tea, so the joke is manifestly upon you. Just get a GPS speedo and do the speed limit and then maybe, just maybe I can get out of second gear and we can all cruise along comfortably.
And no, you don’t need to brake to turn off the main road THAT much. You were barely moving in the first bloody place.
Thanks, please continue.
And how does your tailgating improve things?speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
I could stop behind you with or without your “fun” brake checking in time to have a cup of tea, so the joke is manifestly upon you. Just get a GPS speedo and do the speed limit and then maybe, just maybe I can get out of second gear and we can all cruise along comfortably.
And no, you don’t need to brake to turn off the main road THAT much. You were barely moving in the first bloody place.
Thanks, please continue.
A lot of tailgating seems to me to be an attempt to punish the car in front, which just leads to more pointless aggression.
lost in espace said:
Had a corker today, young female in some kind of small Fiat suddenly appears 3ft behind me in a 30. I was going over the speed limit as was everyone in the queue ahead but no chance of an overtake. Lost her on a mini roundabout, but she is back on my bumper again so I slowed to the limit. As we go to the 40 I pulled away and sat at the limit, so she is 3ft away again. I start slowing up and picking up speed, as I drive a Leaf no brake lights. She starts shaking her head but continues to drive very closely, so we continue this fiasco. Finally she goes right, and I had great pleasure in slowing before the junction to inconvenience her which was petty but I could not understand why she would want to drive so close when it could not gain her any time at all.
it's a bully tactict, brought on by ignorance in the belief that you will speed up to her speed. Forget brake testing, that is dangerous. I'm an old driver, but on open roads I can often loose this type of brake pedal driver. But in built up areas I prefer to stick to the limits or below as safety predicts. I've found that after the first tries at bullying, they take notice of a drop inspeed, meaning that they have to brake, then back up to a safe speed,. Back on tail- reduce speed once more, and so on till they get the message .Once they've got th message, I will increase my speed to what I consider is safe .Sadly I think a fair bit also depends on their perception of your vehicle. I'm usually on one of two motorbikes, and when on the smaller 500cc one which looks like a 125cc bike from behind, I get tailgated FAR more often than on the bigger one with the fat rear tyre when doing the limit in built-up areas. I don't get tailgated out on open roads because I'm the one catching up on people not vice versa!
When driving my wife's Honda Jazz, again tailgating seems to happen much more than when I'm in the work van, but I drive in exactly the same way in both vehicles.
I think this point has been made before on here though, perhaps actually including in this thread.
When driving my wife's Honda Jazz, again tailgating seems to happen much more than when I'm in the work van, but I drive in exactly the same way in both vehicles.
I think this point has been made before on here though, perhaps actually including in this thread.
Edited by jchesh on Friday 14th February 23:17
I get your point. In town/built up areas, I'm erring on the side of safety, which a lot of younger drivers do not get. On the open road ,although I might drive what could be seen as an old blokes car , thay forget that although it's only a low powered car, it grips like s
t to a blanket and I can outperform a lot of the boy racer specials on a tight road. Add to that, I come from an area of bad roads and with 50 years of tight road experience, my ass is better tuned to drive faster than theirs.
t to a blanket and I can outperform a lot of the boy racer specials on a tight road. Add to that, I come from an area of bad roads and with 50 years of tight road experience, my ass is better tuned to drive faster than theirs. AW111 said:
Julian Thompson said:
Sorry to interrupt but,
speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
I could stop behind you with or without your “fun” brake checking in time to have a cup of tea, so the joke is manifestly upon you. Just get a GPS speedo and do the speed limit and then maybe, just maybe I can get out of second gear and we can all cruise along comfortably.
And no, you don’t need to brake to turn off the main road THAT much. You were barely moving in the first bloody place.
Thanks, please continue.
And how does your tailgating improve things?speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
I could stop behind you with or without your “fun” brake checking in time to have a cup of tea, so the joke is manifestly upon you. Just get a GPS speedo and do the speed limit and then maybe, just maybe I can get out of second gear and we can all cruise along comfortably.
And no, you don’t need to brake to turn off the main road THAT much. You were barely moving in the first bloody place.
Thanks, please continue.
A lot of tailgating seems to me to be an attempt to punish the car in front, which just leads to more pointless aggression.
If I wasn’t going to get flashed by 38 cameras and thrown in prison for it I’d overtake. But it’s too risky so mostly I just sit there and remember what it felt like to drive.
One advantage I feel when on a bike is that if I half turn my head (whilst keeping eyes forward but giving the appearance of possibly glancing behind to say 'wtf are you tailgating me for?'), half the time they immediately back off. I can't do this in the car. Well I can but it has no effect. The other big one of course is the ability to easily (500) or effortlessly (1000) overtake all the ditherers on fast roads, sometimes, when reasonably safe, long swathes of them, and also pull off overtakes that I'd never consider in even a fast car.
Some drivers such as myself and Who me ? will find themselves repeatedly tailgated in 20–40 mph limits but not on faster roads, other people vice versa, and still other people all the time if they drive slowly everywhere. And there are those who speed ridiculously everywhere and so presumably are rarely tailgated (except when stuck behind someone which is probably most of the time). Really I think the overall problem is that the roads are too crowded, not that anything can really be done about that, and nevertheless not that it's ever excusable to tailgate. Some people will always do it, and as I've said I can't say I've never done it myself when someone's failing to keep left on a DC or motorway, or otherwise dawdling, despite knowing full well how stupid it is.
Some drivers such as myself and Who me ? will find themselves repeatedly tailgated in 20–40 mph limits but not on faster roads, other people vice versa, and still other people all the time if they drive slowly everywhere. And there are those who speed ridiculously everywhere and so presumably are rarely tailgated (except when stuck behind someone which is probably most of the time). Really I think the overall problem is that the roads are too crowded, not that anything can really be done about that, and nevertheless not that it's ever excusable to tailgate. Some people will always do it, and as I've said I can't say I've never done it myself when someone's failing to keep left on a DC or motorway, or otherwise dawdling, despite knowing full well how stupid it is.
Edited by jchesh on Friday 14th February 23:55
WJNB said:
At high speed on motorways they are indeed a real danger & I have no worries about taking the view that discretion is the better part of valour, casting ego aside & having nothing to prove, happy to let them by at the first opportunity.
However sometimes you can have fun with them such as:
Stopping at an empty roundabout.
Letting in every possible vehicle out from side turnings.
Always allowing hesitant pedestrians to cross the road, whether they are waiting at a pedestrian crossing or not.
In a queue as already suggested leave an excessive gap between the car in front.
If dark & wet ensure foot is ALWAYS resting on the brake pedal, lovely & dazzling.
On dual-carriageways taking a VERY long time to overtake something & leaving a huge gap before returning to the inside lane.
Slowing down well before traffic lights & then waiting a second or so after the green before moving off SLOWLY. Ditto at any junction whether its a requirement to stop or not.
Just slowing down on the basis that 'the nearer they come the slower I go'. Idea for a bumper sticker? THE NEARER YOU COME THE SLOWER I GO used in conjunction with the existing STAY BACK - I KEEP TO SPEED LIMIT as displayed on many a Honda Jazz & old model Civic driven by the half-dead.
When 'they' do get past I always anticipate their cutting across my bow in retribution & thus brake slightly as they are alongside thus leaving a massive gap & spoiling there desire to punish. This makes them look silly cutting across something that's no longer there.
Sometimes but rarely those up your ar.e. get these message & back off.
Damn it, now I owe a mate an apology. I've argued for years that some people are just not good at driving,they lack confidence and awareness, where he argued that they were just dicks and they deliberately do all the things you've listed. Now you've posted I'm going to have to tell him he is right.However sometimes you can have fun with them such as:
Stopping at an empty roundabout.
Letting in every possible vehicle out from side turnings.
Always allowing hesitant pedestrians to cross the road, whether they are waiting at a pedestrian crossing or not.
In a queue as already suggested leave an excessive gap between the car in front.
If dark & wet ensure foot is ALWAYS resting on the brake pedal, lovely & dazzling.
On dual-carriageways taking a VERY long time to overtake something & leaving a huge gap before returning to the inside lane.
Slowing down well before traffic lights & then waiting a second or so after the green before moving off SLOWLY. Ditto at any junction whether its a requirement to stop or not.
Just slowing down on the basis that 'the nearer they come the slower I go'. Idea for a bumper sticker? THE NEARER YOU COME THE SLOWER I GO used in conjunction with the existing STAY BACK - I KEEP TO SPEED LIMIT as displayed on many a Honda Jazz & old model Civic driven by the half-dead.
When 'they' do get past I always anticipate their cutting across my bow in retribution & thus brake slightly as they are alongside thus leaving a massive gap & spoiling there desire to punish. This makes them look silly cutting across something that's no longer there.
Sometimes but rarely those up your ar.e. get these message & back off.
What you charitably don't realise or more probably don't care about is they you are not just punishing the person you perceive as tailgating you, you are punishing everyone else behind that person as well, just so you can score your points.
You are more suited to being a passenger.
NWTony said:
WJNB said:
At high speed on motorways they are indeed a real danger & I have no worries about taking the view that discretion is the better part of valour, casting ego aside & having nothing to prove, happy to let them by at the first opportunity.
However sometimes you can have fun with them such as:
Stopping at an empty roundabout.
Letting in every possible vehicle out from side turnings.
Always allowing hesitant pedestrians to cross the road, whether they are waiting at a pedestrian crossing or not.
In a queue as already suggested leave an excessive gap between the car in front.
If dark & wet ensure foot is ALWAYS resting on the brake pedal, lovely & dazzling.
On dual-carriageways taking a VERY long time to overtake something & leaving a huge gap before returning to the inside lane.
Slowing down well before traffic lights & then waiting a second or so after the green before moving off SLOWLY. Ditto at any junction whether its a requirement to stop or not.
Just slowing down on the basis that 'the nearer they come the slower I go'. Idea for a bumper sticker? THE NEARER YOU COME THE SLOWER I GO used in conjunction with the existing STAY BACK - I KEEP TO SPEED LIMIT as displayed on many a Honda Jazz & old model Civic driven by the half-dead.
When 'they' do get past I always anticipate their cutting across my bow in retribution & thus brake slightly as they are alongside thus leaving a massive gap & spoiling there desire to punish. This makes them look silly cutting across something that's no longer there.
Sometimes but rarely those up your ar.e. get these message & back off.
Damn it, now I owe a mate an apology. I've argued for years that some people are just not good at driving,they lack confidence and awareness, where he argued that they were just dicks and they deliberately do all the things you've listed. Now you've posted I'm going to have to tell him he is right.However sometimes you can have fun with them such as:
Stopping at an empty roundabout.
Letting in every possible vehicle out from side turnings.
Always allowing hesitant pedestrians to cross the road, whether they are waiting at a pedestrian crossing or not.
In a queue as already suggested leave an excessive gap between the car in front.
If dark & wet ensure foot is ALWAYS resting on the brake pedal, lovely & dazzling.
On dual-carriageways taking a VERY long time to overtake something & leaving a huge gap before returning to the inside lane.
Slowing down well before traffic lights & then waiting a second or so after the green before moving off SLOWLY. Ditto at any junction whether its a requirement to stop or not.
Just slowing down on the basis that 'the nearer they come the slower I go'. Idea for a bumper sticker? THE NEARER YOU COME THE SLOWER I GO used in conjunction with the existing STAY BACK - I KEEP TO SPEED LIMIT as displayed on many a Honda Jazz & old model Civic driven by the half-dead.
When 'they' do get past I always anticipate their cutting across my bow in retribution & thus brake slightly as they are alongside thus leaving a massive gap & spoiling there desire to punish. This makes them look silly cutting across something that's no longer there.
Sometimes but rarely those up your ar.e. get these message & back off.
What you charitably don't realise or more probably don't care about is they you are not just punishing the person you perceive as tailgating you, you are punishing everyone else behind that person as well, just so you can score your points.
You are more suited to being a passenger.
Me - “What the hell is this old duffer doing?”
You - “Hmm. Didn’t work, he’s not got the message. I know, let’s give him the ole one two and let in all these cars...what’s that? We’re going to be late? Don’t worry, it’s more important to piss this guy off behind than keep our appointment. And anyway, we’re always late because I drive so slowly. You know that already. That’s why we have to leave at six am to get to school every day”
Me - “This guy is an actual chicken nugget. What in Gods name is he doing?”
You - “Argh he’s still there and we’re in a traffic jam ourselves now. I’ll leave a massive gap to the car in front. That’ll have him steaming...”
Me - “Bloody traffic jam as well as being behind this fool. Great. Wait he’s broken down? Sorry my mistake he’s moving again.”
You - “Damn, this guys good - I can’t shake him - I’m gonna hit the brakes, he’ll fly right by... Really grandad? That sounds exciting. Let’s do it... Well no not exactly, I’m gonna rest my foot on my brake and dazzle the sheeeeyte out of him! Oh ok grandad I’ll get back to my iPad then.”
Me - “Why is this fu*kwit driving with his brakes on?”
You - “I’m so angry with this guy he’s just not getting the message. Right. When this light goes green I’m not moving...”
Me - “Now he’s fallen asleep. Or maybe he’s dead. Let’s hope so. Oh dammit he’s moving.”
I have no words...
Edited by Julian Thompson on Saturday 15th February 08:43
NWTony said:
Damn it, now I owe a mate an apology. I've argued for years that some people are just not good at driving,they lack confidence and awareness, where he argued that they were just dicks and they deliberately do all the things you've listed. Now you've posted I'm going to have to tell him he is right.
What you charitably don't realise or more probably don't care about is they you are not just punishing the person you perceive as tailgating you, you are punishing everyone else behind that person as well, just so you can score your points.
You are more suited to being a passenger.
Or being locked away with a mental illness with nothing better to worry about in his life.What you charitably don't realise or more probably don't care about is they you are not just punishing the person you perceive as tailgating you, you are punishing everyone else behind that person as well, just so you can score your points.
You are more suited to being a passenger.
Julian Thompson said:
It doesn’t help at all - and it’s not a punishment at all. I just join the chain of cars behind Mr Slow and focus on not falling asleep. Hopefully he will turn off soon.
If I wasn’t going to get flashed by 38 cameras and thrown in prison for it I’d overtake. But it’s too risky so mostly I just sit there and remember what it felt like to drive.
So why do it? Why not drive a reasonable distance behind, then they might speed up a bit?If I wasn’t going to get flashed by 38 cameras and thrown in prison for it I’d overtake. But it’s too risky so mostly I just sit there and remember what it felt like to drive.
rosetank said:
And to the ‘I can’t help it I tailgate’ people...how do you feel following things like tractors, horses, cyclists?
Does this produce these uncontrollable emotions as well? All points to having completely the wrong attitude.
Nope. Wait a short time and overtake.Does this produce these uncontrollable emotions as well? All points to having completely the wrong attitude.
I’m not saying I’m proud of it, but the fact is that the majority of people spend their time in a ten car snake behind one of our 45mph friends. I’m one of those snake occupiers, rather than the guy at the front.
Julian Thompson said:
Nope. Wait a short time and overtake.
I’m not saying I’m proud of it, but the fact is that the majority of people spend their time in a ten car snake behind one of our 45mph friends. I’m one of those snake occupiers, rather than the guy at the front.
But most of us manage it without tailgating.I’m not saying I’m proud of it, but the fact is that the majority of people spend their time in a ten car snake behind one of our 45mph friends. I’m one of those snake occupiers, rather than the guy at the front.
Julian Thompson said:
You - “I’m so angry with this guy he’s just not getting the message. Right. When this light goes green I’m not moving...”
Me - “Now he’s fallen asleep. Or maybe he’s dead. Let’s hope so. Oh dammit he’s moving.”
I have no words...
Be careful what you wish for, Mr Tailgating smug git...Me - “Now he’s fallen asleep. Or maybe he’s dead. Let’s hope so. Oh dammit he’s moving.”
I have no words...
Edited by Julian Thompson on Saturday 15th February 08:43
One of my mates was driving home from a meeting, and stopped at the front of a set of traffic lights.
The lights changed, and he didn't move - the guy behind sounded his horn, and he still didn't move.
The next time the lights changed, he still didn't move, and the guy behind got out to have words.
The guy who'd been looking forward to a good rant saw my mate had slumped forward, and called 999.
My mate had had a massive heart attck between stopping and the first time the lights changed, leaving behind a wife and young daughter.
So yep, play the hard case and wish people dead - sometimes it happens...
Julian Thompson said:
Sorry to interrupt but,
speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
If you could explain how tailgating resolves these problems I'm all ears.speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
LimSlip said:
Julian Thompson said:
Sorry to interrupt but,
speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
If you could explain how tailgating resolves these problems I'm all ears.speaking as someone who ends up being that guy tailgating all the time...
It’s because the speed limits are so unbelievably, ridiculously low anyway that if you can’t just, please, drive at them, then we won’t ever, ever, ever bloody get anywhere. Thirty miles a bloody hour, forty, fifty - its a snails pace anyway. Please don’t make it any worse than it needs to be. And if you can’t drive comfortably at those speeds then please just pack it in because you’re just turning the uk into a moving traffic jam.
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