Being tailgated (new driver)

There are plenty of 30mph roads which you can go down at 30mph (but no you shouldn't be aiming for more than that...), but you can can't assume it's safe for every tiny residential road with double parked cars. Maybe best not to generalise.

Never mind dashcams what about the 2x20mm cannon remote operated turrets from a Shackleton?

Update with voice operated controls

White Van 6 O'clock 200 rounds NOW!

It’s also what they advise on the speeding courses. If you’re distracted by them (which the OP is) and can pull over, it’s the right thing to do.

Lol I thought they were all near me

Arseholes are everywhere. Went out with DD tonight. She is a learner but fairly confident and is well versed at driving in all the variable 40/50 speed limits in our rural area. As she turned onto the dual carriageway a wanker drove past sounding his horn. However, as a young female driver she is going to have to learn to deal with it, cos Arseholes are everywhere.

I'm an experienced driver and find it very stressful on 40mph plus roads. I don’t get too bothered if it’s 20/30 limit but being tailgated at 60mph on an a-road you know is dangerous, with nowhere to pull over, is scary.

Agree with others re the dash cam, and well done for passing your test!

In my younger years i used to instinctively speed up to try to appease them. You quickly find that it won't be enough for them no matter how fast you go, and they'll be an inch off your bumper regardless.

If a tailgater is really bothering me I just temporarily tilt the rear view mirror away so I can't see them, then I don't really care what they're getting up to back there. Tilt the mirror back again once they've fucked off.

I disagree. Pulling over is the only sensible thing to do. It’s a strategy that’s worked for me for 40 odd years.

You are only meant to be in that lane for overtaking anyway

She says she’s doing 29, not 25

it happens to me daily on my commute, it’s not me, it’s that others want to break the speed limit. I can’t risk being done for speeding

If somebody tailgates me I just slow down a few mph. If they don’t back off I’ll go even slower. I don’t brake, just lift my foot off the accelerator a bit. 99% of the time it works. I find van drivers are definitely one of the worst

Saw a tailgater get their comeuppance once. Was on motorway going on holiday with DH driving. We were going quite fast in the outside lane and noticed a car tailgating the car behind us which then pulled over to let them past. The same car then proceeded to do the same to us so DH also pulled over. We watched as they did the same to the car which was then in front of them which also pulled over, then as the tailgating car went past a blue light appeared on the top of the car which had just pulled over, it pulled straight back out again - was an unmarked police car!! We were nearly crying with laughter. I don't know what the outcome was of course but presumably they got a ticking off at the very least.

What car are you driving? Do you not have a speed display.

Dickhead tailgating does happen. No matter what you do you will occasionally meet someone on a bad day. But if this is a regular occurrence it is likely you.

In a 30 you go 30. 25 in a 30 is insanely low and utterly frustrating.
You can do 33 in a 30 across the country and not get a ticket.

Its speed + 10% + 0,1,2 or 3 miles an hour depending on the county.

I get tailgated sometimes my car is typically a male driven car but also one that people want to race ( male and female).
I put my foot down if they are up my arse,
I have tailgated, I drive loads, motorways and dual carriageways and the amount of people who are in the wrong lane drives me insane ... no you don't have to be in the right hand lane if you are turning right in 3 miles, no the middle lane is not for tootling along in when the bloody 1st lane is empty!
There is no need to overtake when you are doing the same speed as the person in the other lane... I could go on!

I had to do a cross country drive last week, lots of country lanes. I’m a very confident driver but not on country roads I’ve not done before. It was so windy and bendy, no way I could stick to the 60 that was allowed, I was more 50. Yes it was likely annoying but I wasn’t putting my safety at risk

I stick to speed limits and never speed. Tailgaters (always men) don’t bother me at all. In fact I enjoy the thought of them getting furious that I’m doing 40 in a 40…

Are you actually going 29/30!though? If that's what your speedo says it's more likely 25/6

There are some people out there who mock P plates and dash cams.

Do not listen to those smart-asses.

Absolutely, but the general rule that it's not a target still applies, and that's not the reason for people joining the motorway at 40.

You can be charged with dangerous or careless driving if you go too slow as well.

indeed. But advising someone “drive at the speed you’re comfortable with” could be extremely dangerous. Eg 40 on a motorway.

But joining a motorway or dual carriage way at 40 when every vehicle on there is doing 60mph is how you get killed.

Theres constantly accidents on the dual carriageway near me because of idiots joining too slowly and lorry’s, unable to break in time, slamming into the back of them. Monthly at least. Often more.

At least 60% of the sdrivers around here have no idea what the speed limit is, as evidenced by the clueless wombats who do 37-40mph on a 60mph NSL dual carriageway. They then flash their lights and wave their hands if you dare to (safely) overtake them but some of us have lives to live.

This is the best advice, you must try not to let them bother you. I have been flustered by it in the past but it's distracting so now I just concentrate on trying to ignore as much as possible. I hate it when it's lorries doing it on the motorway though.