Tailgating - a discussion
Discussion
I was traveling west along the M4 in the middle lane when I was passed by a Range Rover up the a*s* of a Mini Cooper. It was wet and there was a lot of spray. I was doing around 55-60 that I felt to be a safe max speed in the conditions. I could hardly see the gap between the two as they went by me I would say 1 to 2 feet apart (300-600mm for the hard of imperial).
It got me thinking!
If you are going to tailgate then you are basically driving so close to the vehicle in front of you that you could not stop in an incident.
The problem would be caused by the relative speeds of the vehicles when the contact occurred.
So if you travel very close to the vehicle in front and he applies brakes then the relative speeds will be minimal.
So should the rule be: -
If you are going to tailgate then do it closely.
Discuss
It got me thinking!
If you are going to tailgate then you are basically driving so close to the vehicle in front of you that you could not stop in an incident.
The problem would be caused by the relative speeds of the vehicles when the contact occurred.
So if you travel very close to the vehicle in front and he applies brakes then the relative speeds will be minimal.
So should the rule be: -
If you are going to tailgate then do it closely.
Discuss
IMO it does not seem logical. Dont tailgate and the accident wont happen!
But if you are closer their will be less/or none time to react before hitting the car infront so you may actually hit at a higher speed differential if you are closer. I have no mathmatical proof to back that up BTW!
But if you are closer their will be less/or none time to react before hitting the car infront so you may actually hit at a higher speed differential if you are closer. I have no mathmatical proof to back that up BTW!
Tailgaters...Dickheads and Tossers 
ANY accident, where one car has hit another from behind, approaching a junction, roundabout, on the motorway , anywhere, the fault always lies with the driver behind for being too close.....
You don't need to be
Sherlock Holmes to work that one out.......
ANY accident, where one car has hit another from behind, approaching a junction, roundabout, on the motorway , anywhere, the fault always lies with the driver behind for being too close.....
You don't need to be
Sherlock Holmes to work that one out.......
Are you SURE you meant to say that?rus wood said:
I was traveling west along the M4 in the middle lane when I was passed by a Range Rover up the a*s* of a Mini Cooper. It was wet and there was a lot of spray. I was doing around 55-60 that I felt to be a safe max speed in the conditions. I could hardly see the gap between the two as they went by me I would say 1 to 2 feet apart (300-600mm for the hard of imperial).
It got me thinking!
If you are going to tailgate then you are basically driving so close to the vehicle in front of you that you could not stop in an incident.
The problem would be caused by the relative speeds of the vehicles when the contact occurred.
So if you travel very close to the vehicle in front and he applies brakes then the relative speeds will be minimal.
So should the rule be: -
If you are going to tailgate then do it closely.
Discuss
I think the answer is this.
If the car in front brakes to a stop the car behind (touching his bumper all the time) will not really impact with the front car, just get slowed by him.
But if the car at the front runs into something the impact will be much greater, as there is the weight of two cars to dissipate.
It's a long time since I did A-level Further Maths, but I still see the teacher sometimes, I could ask him.
Remember the demonstration on Fifth Gear a while back?
If the car in front were to stop suddenly the car behind would just carry straight on through.
In the case of a gradual stop - I was always taught never to drive purely by the car in front - always look at least several vehicles ahead for potential problems. If you're metaphorically up the arse of the guy in front you have no hope of seeing an incident develop further ahead, and consequently no hope of reacting to it until the car in front does, by which time it's too late anyway. Better to react BEFORE the guy immediately in front does, even if it's simply rolling out of the gas and being prepared to brake/change lanes.
As (retired) Sheriff John Bunnell is fond of saying, "always give yourself an out". Make sure you have a chance of avoiding potential problems before they develop, not after.
If the car in front were to stop suddenly the car behind would just carry straight on through.
In the case of a gradual stop - I was always taught never to drive purely by the car in front - always look at least several vehicles ahead for potential problems. If you're metaphorically up the arse of the guy in front you have no hope of seeing an incident develop further ahead, and consequently no hope of reacting to it until the car in front does, by which time it's too late anyway. Better to react BEFORE the guy immediately in front does, even if it's simply rolling out of the gas and being prepared to brake/change lanes.
As (retired) Sheriff John Bunnell is fond of saying, "always give yourself an out". Make sure you have a chance of avoiding potential problems before they develop, not after.
Don said:
Tailgating is an appalling act of stupidity.
That's it. No further need for discussion. Its simply bad. All there is to it. There you go.
DEFINATELY - I find it very intimidating when I am in my seven
Sometimes in traffic on a national speed limit road all I can see behind me is a grill! Don't people realise sports cars stop quicker than 4x4 off roaders plus the petrol cap on the back is a slight clue as to where the petrol tank is!
hornet said:
I was always taught never to drive purely by the car in front - always look at least several vehicles ahead for potential problems.
Is anyone else finding this more difficult to do with all the 4x4s, MPVs on road, and then adding to that it seems most car producers are making the rear of cars higher and higher, making it more difficult to see through the rear + front windscreen of the car in front?
It looks to me like the Ford/Vauxhall hatches have a very high boot line these days.
Obviously you just go to one side to get a better view ahead but looking through the car in front does help sometimes.
>> Edited by knowley on Tuesday 3rd February 23:43
I get the point about the original post, I know its not very PC to discuss it this way.
If someone was going to hit you up the ass through tailgaiting simple physics dictates that if they do it from very close the impact speed (difference in speed) will be minimal.
The worst case is where they leave a decent proper size gap and completely miss you've stopped alltogether, (on the phone etc) then you just need to pray that your in an estate car with no one in the back.
Having been shunted at at least 50mph in icy conditions, I can assure you it's not nice. We were in my old Saab 900 and the boot was level with the rear windscreen.
Assuming a 2 sec gap at 70 mph, that equates to a potential speed diff of 40 mph if the front car brakes and the rear car does'nt. At a 1 sec gap it'd only be about 20mph difference.
It is a very valid point.
If someone was going to hit you up the ass through tailgaiting simple physics dictates that if they do it from very close the impact speed (difference in speed) will be minimal.
The worst case is where they leave a decent proper size gap and completely miss you've stopped alltogether, (on the phone etc) then you just need to pray that your in an estate car with no one in the back.
Having been shunted at at least 50mph in icy conditions, I can assure you it's not nice. We were in my old Saab 900 and the boot was level with the rear windscreen.
Assuming a 2 sec gap at 70 mph, that equates to a potential speed diff of 40 mph if the front car brakes and the rear car does'nt. At a 1 sec gap it'd only be about 20mph difference.
It is a very valid point.
Don said:It does work though...as a way to get people out of the fast lane.
Tailgating is an appalling act of stupidity.
That's it. No further need for discussion. Its simply bad. All there is to it. There you go.
Hogging the outsdide lane is also an appalling act of stupidity.
Physics and morality aside, bearing down on a slowcoach in the fast lane is more likely to result in them moving over, than hanging a repsectful distance back?
In an ideal world you wouldn't need to tailgate. But I do, if only for a short while - would not hang onto the back of someone for mile after mile, it IS dangerous. If they don't realise that they should pull over, then pass them up the inside I say?
danhay said:
Physics and morality aside, bearing down on a slowcoach in the fast lane is more likely to result in them moving over, than hanging a repsectful distance back?
In an ideal world you wouldn't need to tailgate. But I do, if only for a short while - would not hang onto the back of someone for mile after mile, it IS dangerous. If they don't realise that they should pull over, then pass them up the inside I say?
Yes you do get the odd arse who insists on sitting in the outside lane simply to prevent the nice car they don't have from passing them.
I've even seen 'em veer over into the middle lane in attempt to block a pass.
Blimey that's dangerous!
I used to use the exact trick you describe of getting close to "wake 'em up" so they'd pull over. It almost used to be standard practice as a method of "signalling" to the car in front you wish to pass...but in recent years people's response has tended towards road rage rather then "oops, faster traffic behind I must pull over".
Since passing my Advanced Test I've changed my mind and do my level best never to drive close as a signal - its just not safe and people react badly to it. Its easier to just wait.
I'd only pass on the left if it seemed really safe to do so. The Highway Code says you shouldn't do it but there is the "queues of traffic" argument which sort of says you can - but I'd have to be convinced that the idiot in the outside lane isn't one of those "swerve to scare the shit out of the Porsche driver" types who want to carry their "chip-on-their-shoulder" into their driving.
All in all. I refer to first post.
Tailgaters are ignorant muppets that should be given a good bollocking!
If someone tailgates me I leave a much larger space in front to allow for more gradual braking if stop is needed!! Of course this leave you open to said muppet ducking in and undertaking which is most annoying.
It should be noted that the good gap you had left could be shut to 2sec gap quickly to box out said untertaker (argument being hazard was off my tail so i didn't need such a big gap ahead of me)
Fair?
If someone tailgates me I leave a much larger space in front to allow for more gradual braking if stop is needed!! Of course this leave you open to said muppet ducking in and undertaking which is most annoying.
It should be noted that the good gap you had left could be shut to 2sec gap quickly to box out said untertaker (argument being hazard was off my tail so i didn't need such a big gap ahead of me)
Fair?
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