Apparently excessive tailgating
Apparently excessive tailgating
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Discussion

Mk6gee

Original Poster:

151 posts

191 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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So last night I was pulled over by unmarked police for excessive tailgating and racing up to 70mph. I’m not even sure I hit 70mph tbh. But the video shows me leaving a little side road and gaining speed as I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way. I follow an vw Amerok. I then got followed to a petrol station and an unmarked car pulled in and had a right go at me. Issued me a section 59 and gave me a ticket with an offence code of rt88576 and told me to expect a court summons. I’m keeping evidence of my view but this is petty. Would you class this as excessive tailgating.

ShinyPsyduck

216 posts

131 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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I've been accused of this before but no offence was given. I was just as confused as you about being pulled.

It looks like a 1-2 car gap and I don't see any aggressive driving.

Good luck.

donkmeister

11,662 posts

123 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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For the most part you are just under 1 second from the Amarok, that's too close, certainly not safe but I see worse. However...

1) during the braking for the roundabout, you got way closer - I'd estimate 5-6m between you both. That's WAY too close, especially when the car you are following is already braking.
2) coming off the roundabout where you cut the video you appear to be driving up his bum.

So I'd say that is excessive tailgating, yes. A ticket seems a bit much though, I'd have expected words of advice to be given.

Dog Star

17,305 posts

191 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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WTF - if that is the section of road on which the police car followed you and is basing his S59 on then that’s just bks.

The acceleration looks perfectly normal and I can’t say that the distance you are following the Amorak at is anything to get agitated about either, even allowing for the wet road - and I say that as someone who is very particular about keeping my distance. I was expecting a few feet.

Either the copper is being a dick or this is not what he is basing his judgement upon. Was there another factor? We’re you driving something with a loud exhaust or something?

LosingGrip

8,636 posts

182 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Mk6gee said:
So last night I was pulled over by unmarked police for excessive tailgating and racing up to 70mph. I’m not even sure I hit 70mph tbh. But the video shows me leaving a little side road and gaining speed as I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way. I follow an vw Amerok. I then got followed to a petrol station and an unmarked car pulled in and had a right go at me. Issued me a section 59 and gave me a ticket with an offence code of rt88576 and told me to expect a court summons. I’m keeping evidence of my view but this is petty. Would you class this as excessive tailgating.
It’s tricky with it being dark, but when the VW passes the road side in the offside and you say only a fool breaks to two second rule. You pass the same sign before you finish saying it.

What are the road conditions like? I can’t work out if it’s raining or not? If it’s raining or damp roads then you are too close in my opinion.

Court seems a bit harsh. You should be able to get a course for that. It’s low level. Unless you’ve done one before (or in Scotland?).

Unreal

9,014 posts

48 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Just looks like everyday driving to me. If was in the Ewok I wouldn't think you were too close given that it looked like there was fair bit of traffic about and everyone usually closes up nearing a roundabout.

Puzzles

3,236 posts

134 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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did you attach the right video??

Torquey

1,944 posts

251 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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I wouldn't say there is anything wrong with it. You seem about the same distance to the car in front as the blue Mondeo is when passing.

I think what you're supposed to do these days is pull out in front of people and make no effort to get up to the speed of other traffic. Police may have preferred that. 🤔

dundarach

5,972 posts

251 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Why does the video cut off there?

No can't see anything wrong from what you posted.


FNG

4,621 posts

247 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Policeman unhappy with your faster-than-doris rate of acceleration and so has stuck you on for the only thing he can get you for?

Just as well you didn’t drive on any cracks in the road or in the hours of daylight.

RichA35

145 posts

77 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Blimey, if you can get in trouble for that I’m surprised I’m not banned from driving for a hundred years and in prison.

I can’t see anything wrong at all.

CoolHands

22,198 posts

218 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Looks like bks to me. The police in your area obviously haven’t got much to keep them busy.

Mr Miata

1,219 posts

73 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Could be worse.

I once had a police car behind me, then I genuinely got lost and took the wrong exit on a roundabout (where the Trafford Golf Centre is). So After exiting the roundabout I turned into the very first side road. The police car then stopped stationary in the middle of the dual carriageway to wait for me.

I didn’t know getting lost was a crime? And everyones viewed with suspicion and assumed guilty.

Grumps.

17,082 posts

59 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Puzzles said:
did you attach the right video??
That’s just what I was thinking

fatjon

2,298 posts

236 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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I cannot abide tailgaters but from that footage you are not one of them. Nothing wrong there at all.

Funk

27,322 posts

232 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Barmy, and great that you have dashcam footage to refute it in court. I wouldn't say you were tailgating but you were a little closer than I would've been.

In contrast I was tailgated by a chav in a typical white 1-series coupe as I passed a marked police car in the nearside lane on the A23 on Saturday. I was doing an indicated 75, 72 on the GPS. I couldn't see the chav's reg plate or lights in my rear-view mirror and I wasn't about to go hoofing it past the cop. As I pulled back in the chav came past and gave me a variety of hand-signals to which I responded in kind. He then started playing the tt in front of me - I've never wanted to PIT manoeuvre someone so much in my life...

The cop was clearly oblivious to the tailgating and subsequent fkery by 1-series chav.

Driver101

14,451 posts

144 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Mk6gee said:
So last night I was pulled over by unmarked police for excessive tailgating and racing up to 70mph. I’m not even sure I hit 70mph tbh. But the video shows me leaving a little side road and gaining speed as I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way. I follow an vw Amerok. I then got followed to a petrol station and an unmarked car pulled in and had a right go at me. Issued me a section 59 and gave me a ticket with an offence code of rt88576 and told me to expect a court summons. I’m keeping evidence of my view but this is petty. Would you class this as excessive tailgating.
You are too close to the VW.

The VW also braked early and held their brakes on in an attempt to make you pull back.


Golfgtimk28v

2,797 posts

42 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Seen loads worse, the a50 is really bad for tailgating.

Mk6gee

Original Poster:

151 posts

191 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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donkmeister said:
For the most part you are just under 1 second from the Amarok, that's too close, certainly not safe but I see worse. However...

1) during the braking for the roundabout, you got way closer - I'd estimate 5-6m between you both. That's WAY too close, especially when the car you are following is already braking.
2) coming off the roundabout where you cut the video you appear to be driving up his bum.

So I'd say that is excessive tailgating, yes. A ticket seems a bit much though, I'd have expected words of advice to be given.

Sash cam records 1min videos at a time annoying i know but it’s only cheap one. As soon as we come off roundabout he pulls to side and I just sail past with unmarked still behind me who even said them selfs I wasn’t speeding all the time they followed me.

LosingGrip

8,636 posts

182 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Mk6gee said:

Sash cam records 1min videos at a time annoying i know but it’s only cheap one. As soon as we come off roundabout he pulls to side and I just sail past with unmarked still behind me who even said them selfs I wasn’t speeding all the time they followed me.
Which is why you got a ticket for due care and not speeding.