Being tailgated (new driver)

Which is deliberately programmed to be up to 10% out so that they can’t be sued if you get done for speeding.

I’ll admit I don’t alway stick religiously to speed limits but i definitely don’t tailgate. When it happens to me I ease off the accelerator and drive even slower, hopefully when it’s somewhere they can’t pass and I just watch them work themselves into a frenzy. This morning coming home from work was a prime example, the young guy behind was almost purple with anger by the time he got passed me after about 15 mins. He quickly went from shouting and gesticulating at the traffic light to staring straight ahead when he saw my work uniform. (It looks like police but it’s not)
DON’T brake check them. You run the risk of them crashing into the back of you that’s just a whole load of inconvenience you just don’t need.

i drive a pretty quick, bigger sporty looking car and also drive DPS large suv so it’s not just little cars this happens to arsehole driver are everywhere.
dont let them wind you up and just concentrate on what’s in front of you,

This is such bad advice, you absolutely need to be aware of what’s coming up behind you as well as what’s ahead.

Tailgating is extremely dangerous - these people are playing with lives.

I've regularly encountered articulated lorries so close to the back of my car I can't see the cab or number plate.

This is while driving at 60mph when the max speed limit for HGVs is 50mph.

I know it's difficult OP, but try to stay calm, reduce your speed and report the offending driver where possible.

Me and DH get this from white van drivers, so definitely not only a woman experience, but definitely a problem caused by male van drivers. Might be useful for you to get a dashcam and one that records out the rear.

That is terrible advice from a driving instructor.

True. I don't think I could tell. But I think the car can have an effect. My ex said people treated him better once he sold the small hatchback. Which is pathetic, but there you are. I suppose if they're being sexist they can just stereotype the Chelsea tractors as driven by women too. I'd actually be interested in who's driving what demographically. I suspect the SUV everywhere thing has shifted things.

Nope. I drive a huge car, they tailgate me, they also tailgate my husband. They are just dickheads.

In town I maintain my speed, but on faster roads I slow down. Not to piss them off, but if they hit me I’d rather it be at a slower speed, and it gives them more of a chance to overtake.

The only thing I’d add is, if cars are always tailgating you, just check there isn’t something you are doing that is causing frustration in a lot of other drivers. If it is only happening where you are sticking to the speed limit, then you’re just unlucky to come across so many arsehole drivers. But if you’re finding you’re hesitant and dropping well below the speed limit at times, is there a confidence issue?

You still want to be aware of who is behind you, hence why your eyes should be flicking round your mirrors. But ultimately it's their job not to crash into the car in front. And not to make that easier by tailgating, but...

OP, all you can do is drive defensively. Make sure you are anticipating issues up front so that you can break slowly and in good time.

Annoying as it it, signal you are pulling in to the kerb/layby and let them go past. You get them out of your bubble asap and carry on with your life.

You will get better at ignoring them. When I was a new driver years ago this behaviour used to get me in a tizz and then I thought " sod 'em". Let them overtake if they want to. They're the dickheads.

Sounds like you're doing everything safely, legally and that you can be expected to do.

I'd also suggest a dashcam so that on the occasions when you don't pull over to let them pass, and they cross over onto the other side of the road to pass you in excess of the speed limit, you can submit the footage here:

https://nextbase.co.uk/national-dash-cam-safety-portal/

I find that incredibly satisfying 😏

Out of interest I looked at the cars in front of me on my drive to work and due to headrests I couldn't tell whether any drivers were men or women

Why would she need P plates if she’s doing the speed limit?
This pisses me off too, if the speed limit is 30, then I drive at 30. If the person behind me thinks it doesn’t apply to them, that’s their problem.

Sometimes country roads are very windy and 60 miles an hour seems to fast in some parts. You can’t possibly know what’s around that bend even if you generally know the road so going at 50 at times makes sense and it really doesn’t make a huge amount of difference to journey times as it’s only in some stretches of road.

I'm an experienced driver in a small SUV and also get the occasional tailgater. You find dick drivers everywhere.

Having had a couple of speeding tickets over the years and the fact that there are speed cameras everywhere, I drive no higher than the speed limit, and if it pisses off the driver behind me so be it.

I love the screenwash idea @NewGoldFox 😁

Inidicated speed on Sat nav is more accurate than the speedo....generally to within 0.1 mph

I am tail gated at least once a week in 20, 30 and 40 mile zones despite being at the limit or slightly over in some cases. I always get up to speed ASAP because it was drummed into me during my driving lessons to not slow others down and get up to speed.

In my experience, about 90% of the time its male drivers. The other 10% is women SUV drivers without fail and this is increasing where I live. They also like to ignore who has right of way on the regular and try to intimidate me because they have bigger cars. I normally refuse to move so they have to reverse and follow the rules.

OP, just ignore and do you. Occasionally I might slow down a tad for fun if its tail gating. Fuck 'em I say!

If you get a dash cam, let your insurance company know. They may reduce premiums. If not on installation but when renewing.

Im ex navy and when I drove on weekend leave, I'd put my white topped cap in the back shelf. Same colour as traffic cop and with my uniform jacket being very dark blue/black, the number of drivers racing up behind my girlie car then slamming on brakes thinking I was a traffic cop.

Think of them as inadequate losers racing to work as shit sweepers on a slaughterhouse afraid of being "quartered" on the time clock. Apologies to any shit sweepers at slaughterhouses who are safe drivers.

Don't rely on your sat nav for your speed, use the actual speed dial in your car.

Insurers like them as well you may get a reduction on your insurance.

yes but you also have to try and match the speed the others are doing on the road, which is also in the highway code. Joining a motorway at 40mph is a disaster waiting to happen.

Or hire them!

I would love there to be a list of tailgaiters so we know not to date them or work for them

I've been driving nearly 20 years and someone yesterday decided to be a dick and tailgate me off the motorway onto the slip road. I just went to the left and let him go, then he had to stop at the lights only a few metres ahead of me.