to think I'm allowed to drive the speed limit...

[marmiters]

I've noticed that a lot of people get really frustrated and start tailgating when you're driving at the speed limit. Yesterday I was driving on a single carriageway, doing 60mph and had my cruise control set to this so I didn't speed. There are also at least 3 speed cameras on this road so obviously speeding wouldn't be wise even if I did want to! Had two cars overtake me at dangerous places and one tailgating me to the point that I couldn't see their numberplate.

I work in law enforcement and if I got caught speeding would potentially not be allowed to use my advanced driving skills at work.

Why do people think this is ok? It's so common and so dangerous. Am I really that awful for not wanting to break the speed limit?

Am I really that awful for not wanting to break the speed limit?

Yes, yes you are the worst person in the whole entire world!
Not wanting to exceed speed limits is the actions of a madwoman.

(In other words, what a weird question. Although the fact you rely on CC - which probably under reads the speed anyway - and also have "advanced driving skills"?)

Agree - it seems to be getting more common. I usually drive at or just slightly over the speed limit and constantly get tailgated and overtaken. Police need to clamp down on tailgating and speeding. I have been done for speeding four times myself so it's not as if I'm an excessively cautious driver either.

I hate tailgating! I only passed my test a few months ago and it's crazy the number of people who are constantly up my arse, even though I'm driving at the speed limit.

I just let them get irritated and overtake me. If they wanna risk their license and their life, then that's on them. But it does make me really uncomfortable when they're so close that there's hardly any gap between us. It's like if I suddenly had to break for whatever reason, I know they'd be straight into the back of me.

@BuzzShitbagBobbly when I'm on this specific 19 mile stretch with cameras and often police cameras I use my cruise control as it's easy to be caught speeding. Yes I have advanced driving skills.

well, if you're an advanced driver you'll know you shouldn't always drive at the speed limit (but never over it) depending on road conditions

Ignore them and make sure you're driving ok, nothing else to do, really.

Cruise control is only likely to under-read by 1-3 mph apparently so hardly like I was doing 40 in a 60...

Hehe op - the very first reply confirms your thoughts exactly - they have assumed the car speedo reads under! (their reply doesn't really make sense but I think that's the gist)

Nonsense Buzzshitbag - cruise control is an excellent tool for sticking within the speed limit especially on long stretches of road with a consistent speed limit. It is far superior to constantly having to take your eyes off the road to check that your speed hasn't inadvertently crept up beyond the maximum

People can be utter dicks while driving, I make sure i drive safetly but other than that I do my best to ignore the crazy that goes on around me. If someone wants to get all stressed out about the speed I'm driving it is entirely their problem.

eightoclock Hehe op - the very first reply confirms your thoughts exactly - they have assumed the car speedo reads under! (their reply doesn't really make sense but I think that's the gist)

My reply was tongue in cheek, to the OP's (perhaps accidentally) quite martyrish "Am I really that awful..." comment.

I find that briefly putting on your hazard warming lights embarrasses all but the most idiotic tail gaters into dropping back a little

Is it possible to be an accidental martyr?

marmiters I don't know! Just read that way to me and amused me on a boring Monday!

As for the actual issue, if I am ever tailgated I simply ease off the accelerator a bit. None of that stupid flashing my brake lights. As soon as I get safe space, I add speed back on again.

Yep put your hazards on they soon fuck off

I found it very relaxing to drive in France, where I didn't get tailgated at all when driving at the speed limit (10km under was a different story though ). I suspect that this is because there are actually still highway police manning speed traps on a regular basis over there.

Imagine my glee when I was tailgated and overtaken by another British tourist, only to see them pulled over by the flics 20km down the road.....

I use CC, especially if I'm in one of those motorway average speed areas

@marmiters

YANBU it is very annoying. I generally tend to stick to the speed limit (or 5 miles under it,) and I am tailgated EVERY DAY (usually by a van driver, or someone in a German car, or a 4WD.)

Pisses me right off. The closer they get, the slower I drive. Firstly, so if I have to suddenly stop, and they crash into me (coz they're so close!) the damage to cars (and humans and animals,) will be minimal, and secondly, it pisses them off!

Exactly, mabels. The closer they are to you, the slower you have to drive in order to maintain a safe braking distance between the 2 of you.

Not at all - as someone once pointed out to me - the speed limit is a guide, not a target!

Ugh tailgaters... I'm always incredibly tempted to slow down whenever someone starts tailgating me.

Haha! Mabel beat me to it :D Maybe I should start giving in to temptation!

.

I don't see why people tailgate. Does it ever make the person in front speed up?

I imagine it might make some people speed up, the more nervous drivers that is who then get very stressed about having someone up their arse. What it also does is make those nervous drivers very unsafe and creates dangerous driving conditions for everyone around. It's stupid AF.

I don't see why people tailgate. Does it ever make the person in front speed up?

makes me slow down, and same for most people I know.

Urgh yes, I hate this too. I will not break the law and risk my job so some dickhead can get somewhere a tad quicker. I save my speeding for when I am at work where I can claim speed exceptions