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Original poster

Is it unreasonable to beep your horn when someone is up your arse?

65 replies

Penrithtearooms · 21/02/2017 21:44

Would they get the hint?

Not that I would have the guts. But is it a thing people do?

Doesn't happen often, but it did today. I drive to the speed limit. I don't ever speed up or slow right down, just angrily flick them out of sight and glare through my rear view mirror...and seethe silently.

OP posts:
harderandharder2breathe · 21/02/2017 22:19

When I was a learner (so surely someone should keep their distance lest I do something stupid as learners often do), someone was up my ass in traffic. My instructor suggested putting it into reverse gear while stuck in traffic so the reversing lights came on. They certainly kept their distance after that

Littlechip · 21/02/2017 22:25

I do a quick double tap on the brake lights if I can.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/02/2017 22:31

Doing the 'light brake tap' is more likely to make them brake in response and you end up with a pile up of all the cars slamming on the brakes .

I was on the M80 years ago, about 3am , no other traffic except an HGV , squarely behind me on the roadworks (2 lanes, narrow, zigzagging, lorroy couldn't overtake me as too narrow) .
They were practically in my boot, I put my hazard lights on a couple of flashes and they did full blast headlights which near dazzled me in my mirror.
Unfortunately I was driving with only my DC or I'd have got the number and company name and reported them.
Bastard Angry

Original poster
Penrithtearooms · 21/02/2017 22:33

Iloveantiques

DP is a master of the slow clap. I drive a very old and obvious car in a small village, so get really embarrassed in case the bad other drivers remember/recognise me! Blush

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 21/02/2017 22:33

dont tap the brake lights just slow down naturally and then it reduces chances of a major crash

if they want to overtake let them

Original poster
Penrithtearooms · 21/02/2017 22:36

70 Nightmare. I think if I had a passenger with a cameraphone I would have asked them to very obviously photograph the HGV. When you have kids in the car, it puts a whole different perspective of safe driving doesn't it.

If you wanted to slow down without tap-breaking would you just light break or just stop accelerating then? The latter I assume

OP posts:
Original poster
Penrithtearooms · 21/02/2017 22:37

gabs Sorry I x posted you.

OP posts:
HarryPottersMagicWand · 21/02/2017 22:38

I slow down. I hate tail gaters. Like a pp, it will be my children that get hurt first.

A while ago I was doing about 60 on the dual carriageway. Had a merc lorry come right up my arse and start flashing his lights. I slowed right down because if that had gone into me, that would have been it. It must have been heavy as he had to slow down and I soon sped up again but he obviously couldn't and was left way behind.

My dad was complaining once about being behind drivers and was way too close. I pointed out to him that they were doing the speed limit and if he was doing that to me I'd be slowing down to get him off my arse. He moaned and said rubbish but he did back off.

DarthMother · 21/02/2017 22:47

Be careful of touching the brakes just so the lights show. My dad did this when someone was right up his boot but after he'd done it a few times the driver behind "got wise" to it and ignored the brake lights going on - until my dad actually had to brake for real and the guy went straight into the back of him.

onceyoupop · 21/02/2017 22:53

I use my hazards and usually they back off. If I ever feel v under pressure I pull over rather than allow a dangerous situation to develop.

PickleSarnie · 21/02/2017 22:57

I wash my windows repeatedly.

Often get home and the "fill washer fluid" light is on. Mention to DH that it needs filling and he always responds "take it there was an Audi up your arse again"? Not sure if I've ever actually used it because my windows actually needed cleaned before.

TheProblemOfSusan · 21/02/2017 22:59

I've just had this happen to me. Like lots of London the side streets and some of the main roads are 20mph. They have been for ages. Yes it's a bit slow at night but it's also really, really, really clearly marked - no way you could miss that it's 20.

Arsehole BMW driver was less than a foot from me (well it felt like it) with its big bright headlights on a narrow road where we were passing on coming cars by inches - I'm not sure 20 was slow enough, I did have to brake a few times when passing badly parked cars to avoid oncoming traffic.

Any way, the twat overtook me in a really dangerous manner. And immediately got flashed by the camera I was just about to go through. I've never been so pleased in driving situation since I passed my test.

PebbleInTheMoonlight · 21/02/2017 23:07

@Penrithtearooms terrifying

The only time I drove like an idiot. Not proud of it but very minute felt like an hour.

Every person who was in may way only glanced once at me in their mirror and moved so that's why I think you'd know it if it was an emergency.

Saltpot3 · 21/02/2017 23:12

My husband who drove professionally for many years, says you cannot possibly know why the driver behind you is in such a hurry. Could be a good or a bad reason, but regardless, the best thing is always to pull over as soon as you can and let them pass. Seems logical and solves both your and their problems.

AtlantaGinandTonic · 21/02/2017 23:16

Iloveantiques this has happened to me quite a lot in the past. I once had someone overtake me on a roundabout and fly around me simply because I was sticking to the speed limit, only for me to end up behind them at the red light. I Grin.

Original poster
Penrithtearooms · 21/02/2017 23:23

Let them overtake you and then flick them. under the steering wheel

Is cleaning back windows a thing pickle?

OP posts:
britbat23 · 21/02/2017 23:47

My husband who drove professionally for many years, says you cannot possibly know why the driver behind you is in such a hurry. Could be a good or a bad reason

There is no good reason to tailgate and driving this way gets you there no faster

khajiit13 · 22/02/2017 00:05

Watching this on motorways/dual carriage ways has me astonished. We're talking cars going 75mph+ a car length apart from each other, usually 2-3 at a time. How can they be so bloody stupid? Also infuriating when you have a safe gap between you and the car infront and the car behind you overtakes and then sits themselves right in the middle. So you drop back a little and the same happens again Hmm

MossytheMouse · 22/02/2017 00:10

I have nothing to add except I read the title as “Is it unreasonable to KEEP your horn when someone is up your arse?". I was so confused. I'm going to sleep now.

SuiteHarmony · 22/02/2017 00:13

Only time I've ever sounded the horn in this situation was when an artic was bearing down on me from behind, on the inside lane of an empty motorway. I swerved into the (clear) outer lane and he hurtled past on the inside. It was on a downward incline and I am certain he was on a collision course with me, travelling way too fast to avoid me. But my general view is, if you have time to beep, you have time to consider better and safer options. I still relive it

maggiecate · 22/02/2017 00:24

You should only use your horn as a warning so not a good idea. Gently ease off the speed. And if they're being that wanky about it and it's safe pull over and let them past. It's not worth it.

Also your subject heading made me think this was going to about nudge nudge Center Parc activities, but hey, whatever beeps your horn Wink

PickleSarnie · 22/02/2017 07:41

It's not my back windows penrith the soapy water just goes straight down when you clean those, if you squish your front windscreen washers, the water scooshes over the top of your car and hits the car behind if they're too close. So they have to put their wipers on. Usually makes them back off. Always makes me feel better.

NavyandWhite · 22/02/2017 07:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wowfudge · 22/02/2017 07:49

Someone I know had a button wired up to the brake lights so used to flick the switch when someone was up his arse. Didn't slow down but confused the hell out of the tailgater. He was a teenager btw with his first car.