about tailgaters on country roads...

[ShorthandLongnose]

Visited a friend this weekend in a part of the country I don't know. I'm a city/suburbs driver normally and admit I find the prospect of hurtling along bendy country roads at 60mph slightly unnverving, but I know it's irritating to be stuck behind someone doing a lot less than the speed limit so everywhere I went I tried to keep up with the limit (varied from 30 through villages to 60 - all single carriageways).

I am a bit Captain Sensible about 30mph limits and always keep to those quite strictly.

everywhere I went I was tailgated by (I assume) local drivers who know the roads and who seemed to think I should be doing 70 minimum, especially on the single carriageways. (No place for safely overtaking on these roads - blind bends galore).

Along the way I came across a really nasty crash - car completely overturned, someone still trapped inside, two fire engines and an air ambulance. (I think everyone was OK in the end although not completely sure.)

AIBU to think that people who try to force other drivers to go faster than the speed limit on roads they don't know should be strung up by their hair until they can recite the Highway Code blindfold?

Isn't there some sort of tailgating scam thing going on?

crash for cash www.theguardian.com/business/2014/nov/06/crash-for-cash-incidents-all-time-high-aviva

The scams need the innocent party to be behind the scammer; if they crash into you from the rear they will usually be held responsible. They want you to tailgate them.

special if you don't have enough gap behind to pull over safely, then indicate! They won't continue to tailgate when they realise you are pulling over. So long as you indicate well before you apply any brakes they will have enough time to react.

I admire your faith....some of the buggers are so close they probably can't see the indicators!

er...of course I would indicate before pulling in. But I can't pull in with someone in my boot, so I can't signal to warn I will do it.

I don't follow your logic. Of course you can signal to warn of your intentions- you don't have to follow through with the manoeuvre if it's still not safe. A signal is to warn other road users that you are going to perform a manoeuvre if it's safe to do so.

Though if they are really that close that they can't see your indicators, I think I'd be tempted to just take my foot off the accelerator so you decelerate very very gently. There's a good chance they'll clip your bumper- but at least if you haven't got your foot on the brakes then it should be a gentle nudge, causing them to emergency stop and giving you some room! That seems less risky to me than the possibility of you needing to brake for whatever reason, at which point they will go hard into the back of you.

I like to pretend to tailgaters that I am a scammer. I'll keep tapping my brakes and scaring them. Usually works.

We drove to the Lakes a few days ago and were saying this too- so many tailgaters but we didn't let them pressure us. To be honest though 60mph feels far too fast on tight country roads with blind bends so we weren't always going as fast as we could be..

I want a sign that says:
'I don't let my husband that far up my arse so back the fuck off'
Preferably one that flips up in my rear window by the touch of a button.

wicksend I like that idea id love one of them myself lol I usually shout at then do they need a tin opener to get into my boot or I sometimes press on my breaks soon back off then

I live rurally and many see it as a specific skill to drive right to the safe limit on roads to scare others.

We many roads that are two way but look/really are single track 60mph roads with passing places. You can just about get cars side by side or use the verge. Most locals will do 60 right up to the oncoming car then tip the car onto the verge as the norm. Also because of potholes they will drive on the opposite side and then scoot over after the other car has panicked and stopped.

Local van drives are the worst for tailgating and trying to force you to carry on driving when this is happening in front. I stop but feel pressured to continue. I hate vans driving behind me and have lived in the countryside all my life.

There are many methods to get the message across to tailgaters, some sensible, some serve to wind them up, some are downright dangerous.
First, and textbook, is to manage the gap between you and the car in front: at the end of the day, that is all you can really control. Give yourself that little bit more room so that if something happens ahead, you have time and space to react without an emergency stop (thus avoiding the crunch from behind).
Second, facilitate their overtake - allow them to pass at the earliest opportunity. Better to have the cock in front of you than behind.
Some to get the message across / potentially annoy.
Stick your hazards on.
Give a good long spray of screen wash.
If your car has a bit of poke, lift off to slow, drop a gear or two, then floor it back up to the limit.
I've done all of the above.
One I've never done, is brake-test... Really can't see how anyone would see that as a clever move.