to be sick of tailgaters in the new 20 zones?

[ParmaViolet44]

Has anyone else been experiencing this since the speed limits were dropped to 20 on lots of roads?

I know it's a bit painful at times and can feel like we're crawling along, especially when the roads are clear. But it's a safety thing and I also know 2 people who've been done for speeding in a 20 zone in the last month (doing about 26/28).

Over the last few weeks I changed my normal route to avoid some big road works and had to travel along a 20mph road for quite a bit of the journey. I noticed that almost every journey I would get some prick who comes up right behind me and stays there for the whole journey, I mean so close I can't even see headlights/number plate. Obviously in a hurry and wanting me to jog along a bit.

Bloody dangerous and bullying driving, really pisses me off. Anyone else noticed this?!

Yep and I concur, they are a pain in the ass. If I have a particularly aggressive one, I pull over and let them pass. Let them get a ticket.
But you know you’re doing the right thing by keeping to the speed limit.

Yes! I actually think it's part of a bigger pattern where some people think that their own view of how reasonable the speed limit is should dictate everyone else's speed. I've had it in 50s too. I think they feel like the speed limits are only advisory if there's no speed cameras.

I am not an outstandingly cautious driver (as my insurers will confirm ) but there is good evidence that the 20 limits make the roads a lot safer where observed, so this attitude really pisses me off.

Ha yes. I was just thinking this yesterday. And my only speeding fine has been from doing 26 in a 20 zone (at 3am).

Yes I often get idiots doing this despite the road being a 20mph limit AND having speed bumps. I try to just concentrate on looking forward and ignore them. At the end of the road it becomes 2 lanes and a 40mph and they like to make a big deal of overtaking me

Oh yes, the huge rev just as they take off to get past you! I had one guy overtake me two days ago and missed a bus by literally inches.

Then I caught up to him again at the traffic lights.

I've been tooted and gesticulated at before they rev up and overtake me, activating the 20mph VAS flashing speed limit sign!

Well, that's the thing, ParmaViolet. They generally don't get much further along than you in any case.

And I don't think it does their collective blood pressure any good.

I agree, so many bullying drivers, it is annoying. They are mostly selfish and impatient people - and the relative anonymity of the road seems for them carte blanche to indulge. I agree it is part of a bigger pattern too, and makes driving so unpleasant at times. Whatever happened to the wonderful word/idea of "motoring" . Its just I gotta get where I want to get to, and if people, animals, whatever die, well thats just roadkill and too bad.

I just hope they get speeding fines till they're coming out of their ears. Plus lots of points on their licences.

I've had two overtake me in 20 zones recently, quite near schools

Oh god yes then they dangerously overtake you and end up directly in front of you at the next traffic lights.

Here 20 means 30, didn't you know that, 30 means 40 and 40mph means floor the accelerator! Unless the cameras or ramps people speed, if you are sticking to 20, good for you but expect a line of traffic behind you

I think the frustration comes from blanket speed limits not based on road engineering or safety.

I prefer the system that happens in some parts of North America. Heavily policed and signposted school/playground zones with times. So you see a big flashing sign at 8am but nothing at 3am. 50kmph at 3am and 30kmph at 8am. Safer but also the reason is nice and obvious and the dickheads feel more like dickheads.

I'm in London and it's 20 on most roads. One local one in particular seems to attract all the aggressive drivers doing this. Then I see friends on FB (elsewhere in the country) complaining about being fined for speeding in a 20pmh zone - I don't understand how you can justify complaining for being in the wrong!! Speed limits aren't there for shits and giggles.

I get really annoyed by this, the street I live on is a 20 and for good reason there's 2 schools and a play park. The number of times I've been able to stop from hitting a child, another car or a dog because I've been doing 20 is incredible. However it's a wide road with no cars parked on it (usually) so people floor it.

Not sure why these people think the rules don’t apply to them. I stick to the speed limit. If someone has a problem with that then it’s up to them. I’m not getting an accident or getting a ticket for anyone. They can bob and gesture as much as they like.

Someone got impatient the other day. Went round a ton of cars. Right past a police car that was hidden by a bus. Karma right there

I just slow down until they increase the gap. It's what I was taught when I learned to drive and it usually works.

I have noticed people stick to 30 in the 20 limits, so if that was the intention, they worked. As a pp said, blanket limits are annoying when you get a wide urban road with a 20 and then a narrow lane with no passing places with a 50 (I find aggressive tailgating is more of a problem on the latter as you can't pull in to let them by).

It happens to me every day.

I have had a speed awareness course for doing 35 in a 30 area. I believe in road safety and was driving faster cos of intimidation on the road down to woolwich.....like serious intimidation....pulling up on one side real close and then the other, then back to tailgating...all because I stick to speed limits. I'm annoyed with myself because I let other drivers push me to break the limit so Iam really strict about limits now . Some other drivers are just awful. Coming home from Sidcup today someone was tailgating me and dodging right and back because I was only going at 30 on a 30 road!!!!
Driving has become so much more stressful.