Warning for tailgating - just curious

[Jimdandy]

I’ve been sent the attached - completely accept it and it’s worked, I’ll change my ways (I honestly don’t normally do it, but get frustrated as there's a lot of lane 2, 3 and 4 hoggers, but I still see why I shouldn’t and won’t again)

But I’m just really curious how they detect it from the cameras? Just interested in the technology and how it works.

Anyone know? I drove this route everyday so on my best behaviour now.

*urge you to

@quirkyquails I know. They missed a trick there. Could have made a fortune out of the 10,000 people they sent the letters too. All the lot holes they could have repaired for that!

Advanced driver training is actually that you should slow down if someone is tailgating you. If they're not allowing stopping distance, you need to allow double.

What do you expect to achieve by getting so close to someone who's "frustrating" you?

Tailgating is dangerous but so is lane hogging

No. Lane hogging is annoying to you, not dangerous. Going slower is not inherently dangerous. Those behind could adjust their speed down. People tailgating, speeding, weaving, cutting people off....those are all inherently dangerous chosen behaviours.

@Screwcorona thanks. The warning has served its
purpose.

I’ve realised I don’t always pay close enough attention to it, admitted this has worked for me and plan to pay much closer attention to it, since I can’t change the past you would think this was a positive change. But according to this thread I’m already condemned to hell

As a nervous learner driver, I had someone aggressively tail gate me on a busy dual carriage way on the approach to a roundabout in the absolute pissing rain. That was fun.

Driving instructor gave him the finger. 🎵 Memoreeeees.... 🎵

I got pulled over for speeding because I was being tailgated (in a 20 mph zone - I was doing 27 because someone was right up my arrrse.) The driver behind me got a ticket. I got a ticking off.

I hate it on motorways when I’m overtaking lorries at about 70ish and someone is right behind me. I find it so scary.

I think there is a lot more aggressive and careless driving at the moment. Feels like covid mental health issues and frustration is being played out on the roads.

I'm glad they're doing this. Serves you right, OP

Some twat was tailgating me today, I’m in Scotland and the weather has been awful snow and ice. I skidded going round a roundabout. It was awful, I got a right fright. Thank god the road was quiet, just the arse behind me. He had to slam on his brakes when a skidded. Coming of the roundabout he still tailgated me the 3 miles back home. I wish I’d got his number. If you’ve no patience, get off the bloody road

Tailgating actually makes it harder to pull over. Yes occasionally, I've stayed in the middle lane longer than I should. If you've got someone aggressively driving on your tail, you're expecting that they might undertake, at an aggressive speed and without warning, at any minute.

Re cameras detecting people eating, drinking or smoking at the wheel.

It's not actually illegal to do that. It may be dangerous and can cause a distraction but it's not against the law.

J16 to J15a is currently a lower speed limit, I think 50 mph, because of the works they are doing to make it a smart motorway. The lanes are narrow, the traffic is heavy and it's horrible driving along there at the moment, especially at that time in the morning. I imagine the person you were driving too close behind couldn't pull over as the traffic was heavy, so what did you expect them to do?

[quote Jimdandy]@auberginesarenottheonlyveg

nah, your opinion of what I do and what “cuts it” with whom doesn’t matter to me. [/quote]
Disgusting attitude of a tailgater.

I'm glad they're doing this. I was tailgated today on the motorway, in the snow. I'm not a middle lane hogger (because it drives me mental in others), so I suspect that they were frustrated at not being able to get into the outside lane because of snow.

Washing my rear windscreen and obviously looking in the rear view mirror made every single one of them drop back interestingly.

So, thanks to the OP supplying a QR code, how many people have filled in the survey in the way they think she should have responded???

If I look in my mirror and I cannot see the wheels of the car behind then they are too close in my book. Really annoys me when I have my very young baby and toddler in the car. I'm not lane hogging either I'm overtaking or in a flow of other cars and cannot go any faster.

"So, thanks to the OP supplying a QR code, how many people have filled in the survey in the way they think she should have responded???"

Ha! Although suspect it might be a man...

@Burnthurst187

I've read in the last week about cameras that can now detect tailgating

Another thing coming soon will be electric charging points sending an alert to traffic wardens when a non electric car is parked in an electric car space

Also, some traffic lights have cameras on them that can detect if your looking/using your phone when sat waiting at lights

Big brother is watching

Now many motorway drivers are thinking "can it also detect if I'm picking my nose?".

I had an ex who hated tailgaters. He used to put his fog lights on. It gave the momentary illusion of the brake lights going on, which sometimes scared the tailgater into backing off.
I don’t think games of any kind are worth playing on the road, but that certainly seemed to work.

OK...as to how it works...And this is very rough, I had my techie son try to explain it to me. The cameras run the raw footage through a computer which has an algorithm that figures speed and distance. The End. He went into great detail, which I attempted to take notes on, but that's what it boils down to.

As for your frustration, I get that...Try cursing loudly, or making snarky comments to yourself to release that. But don't tailgate (you've said you won't, and I will believe you, so no more preaching). People have KILLED other people over frustration when it is bottled up, so find a safer way to release it at the time.

@Catsneezies nope. I’m definitely a woman.

If I look in my mirror and I cannot see the wheels of the car behind then they are too close in my book.

It's a good rule of thumb to have.

Bloody rear view mirror in my car magnifies and things look closer than they are. It's a pain in the neck.

I’m glad you’ve taken it on board OP and will be more careful in the future.

I never drive to close to people as I am a relatively new driver and I worry about my reaction time. I also hate it when other people do it to me, I almost had an accident when a huge lorry did it to me.

And those questioning OPs fingernails are really rude and forget there are farmers, mechanics etc on here not everyone’s nails can be pristinely manicured all the time.

@Mamanyt thanks. You’re the first person who has actually answered the question! Interesting stuff.

I certainly have found something that triggers a lot of mumsnetters!

Good night all xx

@toocold54 thanks.