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Original poster

Warning for tailgating - just curious

238 replies

Jimdandy · 29/12/2020 21:45

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.

Warning for tailgating - just curious
Warning for tailgating - just curious
OP posts:
DappledThings · 30/12/2020 16:24

I don't find it odd, but I would be a bit concerned that I might have to wait for ages for a suitable gap in traffic in the outside lane, especially if they're all travelling rather faster than me stuck behind the middle lane car
Indeed. Which is why middle lane hoggers are selfish idiots and also being clamped down on.

1940s · 30/12/2020 16:29

So so glad you got a ticket! I hate tailgaters

oneglassandpuzzled · 30/12/2020 16:33

@AnyFucker

Christ, you are brave putting that on here
Like putting a bloody toe into a pond filled with piranhas.
KatherineJaneway · 30/12/2020 16:53

Why is it odd? If you are travelling faster than someone you overtake. You can only overtake on the right so if someone is moving slower than you on your right you need to move even further right to overtake. Pretty straightforward really.

Of course it's odd. What don't you get? I am doing the right thing travelling in the inside lane. How is it my fault that some middle lane hogger isn't moving into the inside lane when they should and over time I undertake them. It is not a deliberate move, but they sit in the middle lane while I am driving on the inside lane correctly. I have done nothing wrong.

BubblyBarbara · 30/12/2020 16:55

How is it my fault that some middle lane hogger isn't moving into the inside lane when they should and over time I undertake them. It is not a deliberate move, but they sit in the middle lane while I am driving on the inside lane correctly. I have done nothing wrong

Correct. People should read the actual law rather than rely on old wives tales they heard. Undertaking is not in and of itself illegal. Driving in a manner that other drivers would not expect is. So as long as you take due care and attention and aren’t unreasonably bombing down the inside of loads of traffic, your actions are defensible.

DappledThings · 30/12/2020 16:56

I have done nothing wrong
If you undertake you have done something wrong. Yes it's nloody annoying but part of driving is having to adapt to other road users even if said other road user is being a twat. It's not your fault they are pissing about doing 60 in the middle lane but if you fail to manoeuvre correctly around them, by overtaking not undertaking, then you are then at fault.

DappledThings · 30/12/2020 16:58

Undertaking is not in and of itself illegal. Driving in a manner that other drivers would not expect is. So as long as you take due care and attention and aren’t unreasonably bombing down the inside of loads of traffic, your actions are defensible
Undertaking is only allowed in congested conditions. One MLH does not constitute congestion.

chomalungma · 30/12/2020 16:58

It is not a deliberate move, but they sit in the middle lane while I am driving on the inside lane correctly. I have done nothing wrong

If you are driving on the inside lane and you undertake the slow person in the outside lane (or middle lane) depending on what road you are on, then it's potentially dangerous as that person could move to the inside lane without checking and hit you.

BubblyBarbara · 30/12/2020 16:59

Only allowed in specific circs - see excerpt from Highway Code below

Those are situations where undertaking is specially allowed but the very same screenshot says there is no specific offence for undertaking but that you may be committing a careless driving offence if you do it. Careless driving has a rather complicated definition but if you read up on it, it is certainly possible to undertake without indulging in it.

annevonkleve · 30/12/2020 16:59

Of course it's odd. What don't you get? I am doing the right thing travelling in the inside lane. How is it my fault that some middle lane hogger isn't moving into the inside lane when they should and over time I undertake them. It is not a deliberate move, but they sit in the middle lane while I am driving on the inside lane correctly. I have done nothing wrong

You should either hang back in the inside lane. Or move over to the outside lane to overtake, if there is one. If there's no outside lane you have to wait.

I don't find it odd, but I would be a bit concerned that I might have to wait for ages for a suitable gap in traffic in the outside lane, especially if they're all travelling rather faster than me stuck behind the middle lane car

Well this is sort of the reason that some so-called "middle lane sitters" go in the middle lane for longer than some would like. Because they see eg a lorry up ahead, see a stream of traffic behind them, and think now is a good time to move out, because otherwise they won't be able to. To me, that's not middle lane sitting (as long as they move back in after the lorry) but a lot of people think it is.

SimonJT · 30/12/2020 17:00

How is accelerating to undertake someone not a deliberate move? Who else but you the driver is pressing the accelerator?

BubblyBarbara · 30/12/2020 17:01

Undertaking is only allowed in congested conditions.

It’s only explicitly allowed in certain situations but it is not entirely prohibited otherwise. This has been debated to the death in numerous driving forums already to be fair.

DappledThings · 30/12/2020 17:03

@BubblyBarbara

Undertaking is only allowed in congested conditions.

It’s only explicitly allowed in certain situations but it is not entirely prohibited otherwise. This has been debated to the death in numerous driving forums already to be fair.

Sounds like finding a loophole to justify doing something unnecessary and dangerous to me.
DappledThings · 30/12/2020 17:05

Plus if everyone starts undertaking the MLHs then they will think even more that they aren't causing an issue because they aren't holding people up. So you'll end up with even more MLHs and more pissed off proper drivers.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 30/12/2020 17:13

@SimonJT

How is accelerating to undertake someone not a deliberate move? Who else but you the driver is pressing the accelerator?
I think in the examples given the inside lane driver never actually accelerates. They are driving along at say 70 mph, the come across middle lane hogger who is driving at say 65 mph. They continue to drive at 70mph and remain in the inside lane and gradually they go past the MLH. They don't at any point accelerate.
KatherineJaneway · 30/12/2020 17:31

How is accelerating to undertake someone not a deliberate move? Who else but you the driver is pressing the accelerator?

Are referring to me? If so please read my posts. I was travelling at a standard speed and just happened to undertake a slow moving middle lane hogger over time. I did not accelerate, the inside lane was clear and I was doing about 70mph. It was not a deliberate move. I just drove in a responsible manner over time and moved past them on the inside lane.

nosswith · 30/12/2020 17:34

I am disappointed you have not been taken to court, but glad that you accept you have not driven in a reasonable manner.

SimonJT · 30/12/2020 17:36

@KatherineJaneway

How is accelerating to undertake someone not a deliberate move? Who else but you the driver is pressing the accelerator?

Are referring to me? If so please read my posts. I was travelling at a standard speed and just happened to undertake a slow moving middle lane hogger over time. I did not accelerate, the inside lane was clear and I was doing about 70mph. It was not a deliberate move. I just drove in a responsible manner over time and moved past them on the inside lane.

So you failed to reduce your speed.
HeartZone · 30/12/2020 17:36

Good

Arnoldthecat · 30/12/2020 17:40

have scoured the thread but couldnt spot any mention of the trigger level for the cams? Surely its dependent on speed and stopping distance? Its hard to judge distance so you might be say 60ft behind someone and the cam has a trigger level of 70 feet. Could you judge 70 ft or even many other distances?

KatherineJaneway · 30/12/2020 17:41

So you failed to reduce your speed.

Why would I? I was driving on the inside lane, within the speed limit and some middle lane hogger was going a few mph slower than me. I didn't deliberately undertake them, just was a bit wtf that they kept in the middle lane when the inside lane was clear and, over miles, I moved past them. The idea I should have to go slower than a poor driver hogging the middle lane us ridiculous.

SimonJT · 30/12/2020 17:43

@KatherineJaneway

So you failed to reduce your speed.

Why would I? I was driving on the inside lane, within the speed limit and some middle lane hogger was going a few mph slower than me. I didn't deliberately undertake them, just was a bit wtf that they kept in the middle lane when the inside lane was clear and, over miles, I moved past them. The idea I should have to go slower than a poor driver hogging the middle lane us ridiculous.

Because as a road user you have a duty not to perform a dangerous manoeuvre.
DappledThings · 30/12/2020 17:45

Why would I? I was driving on the inside lane, within the speed limit and some middle lane hogger was going a few mph slower than me
Which is indeed very annoying. But the onus is still on you to adapt to road conditions, which in this case means having to either overtake appropriately or reduce your speed to adapt to someone else. Just because the other person is driving inappropriately doesn't mean you get to as well. Two wrongs not making a right and all that.

You being in the correct lane at the correct speed is great, but you can't consider yourself in isolation.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 30/12/2020 17:48

Good!

I fucking hate tailgating twatting twattery twats.

TwelveDogsOfChristmas · 30/12/2020 18:10

@BubblyBarbara

Undertaking is only allowed in congested conditions.

It’s only explicitly allowed in certain situations but it is not entirely prohibited otherwise. This has been debated to the death in numerous driving forums already to be fair.

Against the Highway Code, not against the law. So we can ignore the Highway Code if the rule is not a specific offence. Ok then.