Tail gateing! or not?
Discussion
The location: Aylesbury
The Time: 01:30am
The story: I was driving home from my girlfriends house last night, and i followed a marked patrol car, which was driving painfully close to the car in front. I followed behind at what i would class as a safe distance, for a bout 2-3 miles. Then all of a sudden the blue lights came on and i thought it must of been the car in front, but NO he pulled me over!!!
"do you know that tail gateing is the single biggest cause of car accidents?" was his opening line and then following 10 minutes consisted of "BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH" but it was so condisending, proberably because im young. The point is that i wasnt tail gateing and he(the copper) was following then car in front of he very closely, im not sure if he was trying to intimidate him in to speeding so than he could nick him or not but it was so so annoying!
The Moral: One rule for one, one rule for another!!!
>>> Edited by richie_few on Thursday 18th November 11:23
The Time: 01:30am
The story: I was driving home from my girlfriends house last night, and i followed a marked patrol car, which was driving painfully close to the car in front. I followed behind at what i would class as a safe distance, for a bout 2-3 miles. Then all of a sudden the blue lights came on and i thought it must of been the car in front, but NO he pulled me over!!!
"do you know that tail gateing is the single biggest cause of car accidents?" was his opening line and then following 10 minutes consisted of "BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH" but it was so condisending, proberably because im young. The point is that i wasnt tail gateing and he(the copper) was following then car in front of he very closely, im not sure if he was trying to intimidate him in to speeding so than he could nick him or not but it was so so annoying!
The Moral: One rule for one, one rule for another!!!
>>> Edited by richie_few on Thursday 18th November 11:23
richie_few said:
The location: Aylesbury
The Time: 01:30am
The story: I was driving home from my girlfriends house last night, and i followed a marked patrol car, which was driving painfully close to the car in front. I followed behind at what i would class as a safe distance, for a bout 2-3 miles. Then all of a sudden the blue lights came on and i thought it must of been the car in front, but NO he pulled me over!!!
"do you know that tail gateing is the single biggest cause of car accidents?" was his opening line and then following 10 minutes consisted of "BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH" but it was so condisending, proberably because im young. The point is that i wasnt tail gateing and he(the copper) was following then car in front of he very closely, im not sure if he was trying to intimidate him in to speeding so than he could nick him or not but i was so so annoying!
The Moral: One rule for one, one rule for another!!!
I think the issue of tail-gating isn't as straight forward as it seems. When looking for an overtake it is essential to move up on the car in front so that if an overtaking opportunity prevents itself, the distance to be travelled is as short as possible.
You walked into that ... ca092003 said:
When looking for an overtake it is essential to move up on the car in front so that if an overtaking opportunity prevents itself, the distance to be travelled is as short as possible.
I disagree. It’s not about the exposed distance relative to the car in front, but is actually the absolute exposed distance/time.
As well as unnerving the driver in front, you will likely increase your overtaking distance/time as you would have to pull out, then start to accelerate. It’s better to drop back, get a clearer view past the car in front and accelerate as soon as (or maybe before) the way ahead is clear.
ca092003 said:
I think the issue of tail-gating isn't as straight forward as it seems. When looking for an overtake it is essential to move up on the car in front so that if an overtaking opportunity prevents itself, the distance to be travelled is as short as possible.
Certainly not how I was taught to overtake. If you need to be on the arse of the car in front to make it past in the gap, then the gap isn't big enough.
supraman2954 said:
When looking for an overtake it is essential to move up on the car in front so that if an overtaking opportunity prevents itself, the distance to be travelled is as short as possible.
I disagree. It’s not about the exposed distance relative to the car in front, but is actually the absolute exposed distance/time.
As well as unnerving the driver in front, you will likely increase your overtaking distance/time as you would have to pull out, then start to accelerate. It’s better to drop back, get a clearer view past the car in front and accelerate as soon as (or maybe before) the way ahead is clear.
No. You move up on the car in front. You sense an overtaking opportunity and you go out for a look. If clear, you accelerate briskly to complete the overtake. If not, you drift left and then reinstate your safety margin.
When a suitable opportunity again presents itself you repeat the process.
The time actually spent very closely to the car in front is as short as possible.
supraman2954 said:Don't let the advanced drivers on the forum hear you say that! Think - most overtaking on single-carriageways happens after following the car in front for a short distance, due to either traffic or sight-lines.
As well as unnerving the driver in front, you will likely increase your overtaking distance/time as you would have to pull out, then start to accelerate. It’s better to drop back, get a clearer view past the car in front and accelerate as soon as (or maybe before) the way ahead is clear.
If traffic, then what you suggest makes some sense. BUT - you then leave yourself vulnerable to "unusual" manoeuvres by either the car in front or the oncoming traffic you're waiting to "get out of the way".
(e.g. you spot a large gap, you accelerate to pull out into the other lane just as the last oncoming car is out of the way. All of a sudden, the guy in front brakes (dog run out / turning on the left / dropped his coffee in his lap, whatever!!!). You are accelerating, closing on him, and he has just braked. You are in deep S**t!!! You no longer have enough braking room to slow down enough, so you either hit him, or steer right (into oncoming car!!!) or left (into verge / tree / wall...) Your manoeuver makes sense from one perspective, but in defensive driving terms you've just lost your "safety zone". Which actually makes you more at risk.
If due to bends in the roads (and most fun roads ARE bendy!!!), it makes no sense either, as you'll have wasted part of the straight by not being able to see a gap as early as you could if you were driving closer to the car in front. T.E.D. may be reduced, but you will be further down the road before you pull in, if that makes sense. So you will be more at risk from unseen oncoming traffic.
The approved overtaking method IS, believe it or not, to drive SAFELY close to the car in front, then on approach to a gap or a section of road where you believe there to be a gap:-
change down to the appropriate gear,
wait for the gap,
pull out,
RE-ASSESS the suitability of the gap,
and ONLY THEN accelerate past.
There was a very well-informed discussion of overtaking technique a week or two ago.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=134940&f=10&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=134940&f=10&h=0
wik said:
"The time actually spent very closely to the car in front is as short as possible"
Personally I wouldnt do this. Sounds like you are putting you and others in danger to reduce your 'time exposed to danger'during the overtake. That doesn't make sense.
You only move up on the vehicle in front when you believe that a possible overtaking opportunity might prevent itself. As soon as it becomes clear that it isn't possible to overtake you drop back and remaintain your safe following distance.
How do you ovetake?
ca092003 said:
"The time actually spent very closely to the car in front is as short as possible"
Personally I wouldnt do this. Sounds like you are putting you and others in danger to reduce your 'time exposed to danger'during the overtake. That doesn't make sense.
You only move up on the vehicle in front when you believe that a possible overtaking opportunity might prevent itself. As soon as it becomes clear that it isn't possible to overtake you drop back and remaintain your safe following distance.
How do you ovetake?
Very quickly.
ca092003 said:...risking a clip? You don't have to pull out as far (or you get a better view) if you dont tailgate
You sense an overtaking opportunity and you go out for a look.
ca092003 said:I prefer to spend zero time tailgating the car in front....as Havoc unwittingly demonstrates....
.......The time actually spent very closely to the car in front is as short as possible.
havoc said:it is here when you wish you weren't following quite so closely. In this situation, I think I would prefer to stay on the right!
All of a sudden, the guy in front brakes
havoc said:Do you really want to tailgate on bendy roads? It's safer to waste part of the straight
If due to bends in the roads (and most fun roads ARE bendy!!!), it makes no sense either, as you'll have wasted part of the straight by not being able to see a gap as early as you could if you were driving closer to the car in front. T.E.D. may be reduced, but you will be further down the road before you pull in, if that makes sense. So you will be more at risk from unseen oncoming traffic.
My motto is 'if you can't see it, don't do it, and leave room for others like yourself coming the other way'. You can be sure that once I'm commited, it IS clear!
havoc said:So how do you 'believe' there to be a gap? Use your car's ESP
The approved overtaking method IS, believe it or not, to drive SAFELY close to the car in front, then on approach to a gap or a section of road where you believe there to be a gap:-
change down to the appropriate gear,
wait for the gap,
pull out,
RE-ASSESS the suitability of the gap,
and ONLY THEN accelerate past.
? You could perceive a gap if you hung back a bit so you had a better view.Mr E said:
How do you ovetake?
Maintain distance from car in front. Spot oppotunity. Check mirrors. Pull out. Maintain distance from car in front. Check that it's still clear and looking good. Devise escape plan if all goes wrong. Nail throttle and howl past. Pull in.
especially for the mirrors I also like to signal my intentions to all those around me. I indicate and also turn on the lights before I pull out. If it's dark, I'll switch on the main beams (after I have pulled out, unless someone is approaching).
supraman2954 said:
Thankyou sir. I should also check both my right blind spot pulling out, and my left when pulling in. I'll admit to frequently not doing the latter.
I also like to signal my intentions to all those around me. I indicate and also turn on the lights before I pull out. If it's dark, I'll switch on the main beams (after I have pulled out, unless someone is approaching).
What I hate having to do is a line of cars at once. Nobody else seems to want to overtake anymore. Or, they'll sit in the queue, and then think, "oh! I can overtake". And not look and pull out. As I'm bearing down on them at a rate of knots.
So I have a habit of switch on all six lights when passing a queue.
Oh, and fools who follow you out. So if something does go wrong you cannot abort because they're on your bootlid.
Thanks fools.
If the car in front has been going particularly slowly, I generally give them a 'rub' as i pass, which usually takes of their door mirror.
Also, going into corners etc. I find a tap on their inside rear corner sends them into a harmless spin, enabling me to pass freely.
A gentle tap with my front bumper onto their rear end also signals quite effectively my intention to overtake, and is far more attention grabbing than merely putting my lights and indicators on.
Also, going into corners etc. I find a tap on their inside rear corner sends them into a harmless spin, enabling me to pass freely.
A gentle tap with my front bumper onto their rear end also signals quite effectively my intention to overtake, and is far more attention grabbing than merely putting my lights and indicators on.
andygo said:
If the car in front has been going particularly slowly, I generally give them a 'rub' as i pass, which usually takes of their door mirror.
Also, going into corners etc. I find a tap on their inside rear corner sends them into a harmless spin, enabling me to pass freely.
A gentle tap with my front bumper onto their rear end also signals quite effectively my intention to overtake, and is far more attention grabbing than merely putting my lights and indicators on.
also known as the South Carolina Highway Patrol method I do believe based on observations the other year.
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