Why do people tailgate?
Why do people tailgate?
Author
Discussion

ManBetterKnow

Original Poster:

103 posts

176 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
I am 19 years old and i can not believe how many middle aged people i see tailgating, i mean people well into their 30s-40's in their rep mobiles mostly, since i got my 1 series coupe the amount of these people tailgating me has increased dramatically.I don't understand how these people can still be so immature at their age!.The thought of me tailgating people when i am in my 30s or 40's makes me cringe.Are these people having mid life crisis's or something?

I really don't understand why they do it especially the ones who do it on normal roads with traffic where even if they got in front there is no where for them to go.

Although i don't personally feel intimidated by them i think its an intimidating thing to do and alot of people do feel intimidated,i know my older sister does, not only that but you could have kids in the back and they are putting them in danger by driving too close.

You can tell they are all sad misreble people just by looking at their face when they over take or pull up next to you at the lights.

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

227 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
I haven't got a bloody clue why folk tailgate

I can only think it might be the are scared someone might get in front of them which would be the end of the world

defblade

7,964 posts

236 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
Men = aggression.

Women = you have entered the area 6 inches in front of their car they look at, and so they are doing what you do for now.


There are exceptions by gender but that pretty much covers the reasons as far as I've been able to tell.

chris182

4,230 posts

176 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
Two reasons I think, firstly some don't understand the laws of physics, i.e. that they will have hit the car in front if it brakes before they've even had a chance to hit the brake pedal. Secondly, many will assume it's your fault they've hit you because you've stopped, because everyone else is wrong and they're invincible. Also, many drivers have the IQ of a carrot. These would be my guesses anyway.

kodos

242 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
I thought all people tailgated one series coupes?? Tis the law!

GreigM

6,740 posts

272 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
ManBetterKnow said:
the amount of these people tailgating me has increased dramatically
Why are they tailgating you? Are you sitting in the outer lanes unnecessarily?

0077

324 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
I hate it as much as the next driver, but you must admit it actually takes a bit of skill. I tried it once, but didn't have the balls to commit to it...

humpbackmaniac

1,898 posts

264 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
Because you are in my way!!!

(I drive a BMW smile )

M

DanDC5

19,804 posts

190 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
GreigM said:
Why are they tailgating you? Are you sitting in the outer lanes unnecessarily?
That was my first thought.

Dave Hedgehog

15,758 posts

227 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
humpbackmaniac said:
Because you are in my way!!!

(I drive a BMW smile )

M
and mine

(I drive a VAG)

wink

robmlufc

5,229 posts

209 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
Slip streaming, its like 19 year olds putting neon lights and massive spoilers on A3s, it makes you go quicker init. Martin Brundle said so.

Corpulent Tosser

5,468 posts

268 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
ManBetterKnow said:
I am 19 years old and i can not believe how many middle aged people i see tailgating, i mean people well into their 30s-40's
rofl

niall1717

155 posts

196 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
When people tailgate me I open up a gap to the car ahead of me. That way at least I shouldn't have to slam on the brakes too abruptly. The closer they get, the bigger the gap. Of course, if it's a dual carriageway/motorway, some cheeky sod then pulls into the gap you've created. It's arrogant aggression - "I'm more important than you so get out of the way" etc. I don't think age makes much different - an asshole is always an asshole.

y2blade

56,264 posts

238 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
When people tailgate me I knock 5mph off, and again, and again...they usually get the idea.


Classic Grad 98

26,114 posts

183 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
ManBetterKnow said:
Why do people tailgate?
Most of the above is fair enough, but I believe the underlying reason is that it feels like you're going to go quicker and get there sooner.

MarkRSi

5,782 posts

241 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
0077 said:
I tried it once, but didn't have the stupid to commit to it...
EFA

RJP001

1,142 posts

173 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
defblade said:
Women = you have entered the area 6 inches in front of their car they look at, and so they are doing what you do for now.
laugh

Seen it all too many times where some girls/women are following the actions of the car infront by every move, while also travelling two foot from the back of said car. It's best seen on clear motorways with few cars around, they latch onto a car and match its speed, but as soon as that car leaves the motorway they either 1. zoom off to the next one to latch onto, or 2. slow to a snail and latch onto one that passes them. rolleyes

Btw I'm not genderist. biggrin

johno333

94 posts

172 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
Why are you being tailgated - tick which applies:
- You are driving at 30 in a 50 or 60 on a warm dry sunny day.
- You are overtaking a car doing the same speed.
- You are on the phone.
- You are in deep conversation with your passenger and insist in looking at them when driving.
- ALL of the above.

Tail gating is stoopid but it is normally the result of something else.

Also there is driving so close that the person in front cannot see your lights - this is very stoopid and there is driving close enough to safely overtake.

Everyone needs to be more considerate.

tomble

28 posts

173 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
johno333 said:
Why are you being tailgated - tick which applies:
- You are driving at 30 in a 50 or 60 on a warm dry sunny day.
This happens all too often these days, it drives me absolutely insane!

kambites

70,718 posts

244 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
I think it's because it requires less thought. It's somehow much easier to maintain a half second gap than a two second one.

Tailgating someone who's driving slowly is utterly idiotic because it cuts down your vision and makes it harder to overtake.