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Original poster

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

93 replies

marmiters · 13/05/2019 11:05

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?

OP posts:
Onceuponacheesecake · 13/05/2019 12:18

I slow down if I get tailgated. Slow drivers do give me the rage though but I don't tailgate Grin pisses me off to have to sit behind a car doing 40 in a 60 and then follow them into a residential area and watch them be on their merry way at 40 through the 30 Hmm

funnelfanjo · 13/05/2019 12:20

It’s one thing to be observant of the speed limit. It’s another to be someone so determined and focused on the speed limit to the point of deliberately impeding other drivers they deem to be breaking the law. I find the latter type of driver tends to pay no attention to the road and traffic conditions around them and end up impeding the flow of traffic.

Honestly, if you're driving sensibly and have got a speed merchant up your boot, either ignore them or pull over - they’ll get past you one way or another and the faster you let them go, the faster the risk to your rear disappears.

Hutchismo · 13/05/2019 12:23

Makes me slow down as well, because I'm now reacting and braking for both myself and the Audi* driver.

*insert stereotype of choice.

Damntheman · 13/05/2019 12:25

I know you're right funnel, but it really gets my goat that the tailgater will then learn tailgating works and keep doing it :(

Alsohuman · 13/05/2019 12:25

I just pull over and let them past.

Everydaypeople · 13/05/2019 12:27

This should be like water off a ducks back to an advanced driver/law enforcer like yourself . As long as you don’t slow down to piss them off then just get on with it.
People think it’s ok because they are dicks but I also think people who slow down deliberately to annoy them are also dicks.

PettyContractor · 13/05/2019 12:31

you rely on CC - which probably under reads the speed anyway

You can't assume someone is traveling under the limit just because they have said they use cruise control and most speedometers under-read. How do you know they have not adjusted for the under-read?

My current car I set cruise control 5% above the speed limit, previous one I did 10%, because I measured the under-read using GPS so I could adjust for it.

gamerchick · 13/05/2019 12:36

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

I do that usually. I don't give a fuck if it annoys people. Don't drive like a dick and you won't get frustrated when the car in front slows down. Yes it'll be on them if they go into the back of me if I had to brake suddenly but I'd rather not be inconvenienced by it.

cantfindname · 13/05/2019 12:39

I have recently totally given up driving and got rid of my car because I can no longer cope with the bullying tactics of other drivers. I also tended to drive on the limit, I don't dawdle along, but there was always someone up the rear of my car behaving like a prick. My regular route passed three schools, I don't think they ever stop to consider the fact a child could just run out.

My temper and blood pressure are hugely improved since I took to my bike!

BlackeyedGruesome · 13/05/2019 12:39

I slow down because someone rear ending me in a 30mph required a hospital trip to check the children and several months of physio for me.

someone rear ending me at higher speeds would be worse.

Also If i slow down they have more opportunity to overtake.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 13/05/2019 12:58

I'm another one that slows down if I'm being tailgated. I flip my rear view mirror too so that I don't keep looking to see how close they are.

MeMyselfAndEyes · 13/05/2019 13:01

Yawn, lets bang the anti-speeding drum again.

BertieBotts · 13/05/2019 14:05

So? You're not their parent. It's not your responsibility to teach them how to drive courteously. Your responsibility is for your own and your passengers' safety.

Alsohuman · 13/05/2019 14:15

The anti speeding drum needs to beaten continuously. Speeding is bloody dangerous, particularly when driving too close.

Strugglingtodomybest · 13/05/2019 14:20

I slow down too. I may be a dick, but it gives me enormous pleasure.

TheRedBarrows · 13/05/2019 14:27

"So? You're not their parent. It's not your responsibility to teach them how to drive courteously. Your responsibility is for your own and your passengers' safety."

Having someone on your bumper IS an issue for your own and passenger safety.

I thought the official advice for being tailgated is to gradually slow. At least then if they do go into the back of you it will be at a slower speed. Which is re-assuring if you have kids in the additional back seats in a 7 seater, for example.

b0bb1n · 13/05/2019 14:41

I also slow down when someone tailgates me. Angry

TheSerenDipitY · 13/05/2019 14:52

i got passed by a truck today... i was doing 5km faster than his legal allowable top speed... it happens

DeRigueurMortis · 13/05/2019 14:53

Tailgating is both dangerous and annoying, but deliberately slowing down as a means to teach them a lesson is also poor driving.

You're basically baiting an already impatient driver into worse behaviours.

By all means slow down to enable you to pull over and let them past, forget about them and get on with your day rather than play a game of tit for tat, but baiting people for miles on end by driving ridiculously slowly is just silly.

That said, if you're being tailgated you might want to be mindful of your own speed.

If you're doing near to the speed limit eg 55 in a 60 then they are being a poor driver.

If you're doing 45 in a 60 (assuming good weather conditions/no other hazards) then you're driving too slowly and holding up people unnecessarily.

If you're too nervous/don't like to drive above 45 (again road conditions permitting) regardless of the speed limit being higher than that then you shouldn't be on the road at all imho.

Xerxessa · 13/05/2019 15:00

I'm thinking of getting a dashcam for the back window just for recording tailgating bastards. Might it deter them?

I habitually drive at the speed limit and get tailgated.

Mind you, driving round here I think I actually need dashcams pointing in all directions just to cover all the fuckwittery I see going on around me. Wankers to the right of me, wankers to the left of me...

Disfordarkchocolate · 13/05/2019 15:07

I was tailgaited by a police car last week. The best 5 miles of driving I have done since I passed my test, it was very distracting though.

gamerchick · 13/05/2019 15:17

I was tailgaited by a police car last week. The best 5 miles of driving I have done since I passed my test, it was very distracting though

Heh I remember a while back I had police behind me on a loooong stretch of road with blind bends and a cyclist in front of me all the way down who couldn't peddle in a straight line so made it really hard to overtake. I swear my arse was sweating by the time I managed it

Frenchmom · 13/05/2019 18:37

Really crack of doom , you’ve never been tailgated in France. I live there and it is a constant problem. Now, like other posters I actually slow down when people are tailgating me. On a couple of occasions the person following me has obviously realised what I was doing and backed off.

mabelsgarden · 13/05/2019 19:06

@MeMyselfAndEyes

Yawn, lets bang the anti-speeding drum again.

Yes. LETS do that! Hmm

FGS, does it offend you that much that people are against dangerous driving?! Confused

I can't believe some stuff some people come out with on here!

mabelsgarden · 13/05/2019 19:09

After the remarks on here from a couple of drivers about how they think it's wrong, or stupid, and 'as bad as tailgating' to slow down if a driver is tailgating you; I am more determined than ever now to keep on doing it.

@DeRigueurMortis and @funnelfanjo

Do you seriously thing some people have some kind of right to drive up peoples arses, and that people should stop and pull over, or speed up for them? Confused

You do know tailgating is illegal right?! Hmm Trying to bully people by driving up their arse to try and get them to speed up, is against the law!

And if you read my post properly; I said that I slow down if someone is tailgating me, because there will be less damage and carnage if I suddenly have to stop! (As the cars will both be going slower...) The fact that it pisses off the tailgaters, is a bonus!

Don't tailgate me and I won't slow down! Hmm

The people who tailgate are the same assholes who overtake on bends, cut you up, whizz through the lights on the red, and pull out in front of you.

NOT COOL. Hmm Don't tailgate me and I won't slow down!

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