To feel pissed off with tailgating drivers!

[Whenisithometime]

Hi,

I’ve never been a person who goes above the speed limits when driving, obviously I’ve had a few moments were I’ve unintentionally gone over without realising but I’m not an intentional and persistent speeder.

Anyway, nearly everyday, I’m tailgated. More so in 30mph zones. I can’t stand it. I just can’t Understand why they feel I’m not going fast enough if I’m driving right at 30 in a 30. It really annoys me so much.

I try not to allow it to intimidate me but it really does. On my way home from work I was doing 55 on a 60mph road and was tailgated the whole way. When I got to the end of the road, I had to stop because it was a junction, and I looked in my mirror and I saw the driver staring at me and he flapped his arms up in the air as if I had been too slow which obviously I wasn’t. I got pissed off and pulled the fingers at him. He then flashed his lights at me (aggressively)

Just needed a rant I guess!

@GiveHerHellFromUs and I do drive safely. At no point have I stated that I drive ridiculously slow. I drive in accordance to the road conditions.

If it’s straight and clear ahead, I’ll sure as hell drive at 60 if it is a 60mph road. I drive slightly slower on more hazardous roads for that reason, which is not difficult to understand. The tailgaters that expect people to drive at full speed on hazardous roads are the ones with the dangerous mindsets.

So no, I don’t always drive below the limit. I only do it if it is safe. And I’ve never driven ridiculously slowly like an old granny. So no, I’m cautious, but not over cautious.

@ChristmasFluff no I don’t have a queue of traffic behind me and if I do, it’s hardly my fault if they’re being aggressive for me obeying the law

"I'm a safe and competent driver as long as I'm on a straight, clear road. I'm in full control of my vehicle as long as I don't have to exceed 55mph."

Ok @Whenisithometime.

What happens when you're on a motorway that bends round a corner?

This thread is like the playground.

There is never, ever a justification for tailgating. It's dangerous. I don't care how annoyed I might get behind a slow driver, I always keep a good following distance, because I'm not a jerk. What are people trying to achieve by tailgating, other than intimidating the other driver? Some people act as if driving at/above the speed limit is a God-given right - and I say this as someone who loves nothing better than to hit the accelerator!

@GiveHerHellFromUs grow up. I’m only talking about one particular road here. I can’t say about a bend on a motorway until I encounter one again. It depends on each bend. Some are more sharp than others. You adjust your speed appropriately to the road you’re on.

By the sounds of you responses, you sound like a dangerous driver. Perhaps you should send your licence back to the DVLA immediately

I get tailgated all the time. I drive at the speed limit or a couple of mph over but I regularly get someone sat up my arse. I just think there must be more impatient arseholes knocking about than there used to be, I’ve never been a speeder but the tailgating problem is definitely getting worse.

@Whenisithometime we've already discussed my driving capabilities.

If you think you're a safe driver that's fine. It you continue getting tailgated regularly and refuse to accept that it may be something to do with your driving, that's also fine.

When something I dislike happens regularly I try to consider what different things may cause it - that includes addressing my own behaviour and seeing if I may (even without realising it) be contributing to the issue.

It might not be you at all. Or it might be. Or it might be a mix of you and other drivers.

@ScrubbyDubby thank god somebody on this thread has some common sense. Look at them all blaming me for being tailgated when I’m not driving unsafely nor too slowly. There is only one person to blame - the tailgater!

Honestly, the mind boggles. I certainly hope I don’t ever come across any of them on the road

@GiveHerHellFromUs yeah, I’m not a perfect driver. We could all do with a reality check from time to time when it comes to driving, I make mistakes on the road too you know.

What I’m trying to say is.

I’m driving within the speed limits.

In most cases I drive at the limit if it’s clear and safe to do so.

If it’s not, I adjust my speed to a reasonable speed depending on the road and it’s hazards.

I don’t drive unnecessarily slowly as I am fully aware that that is hazardous and extremely irritating

Tailgating is intimidating, annoying and more importantly, dangerous. As said before, if I had to stop suddenly, they’d be in the back of my car. And whose fault would that be? Theirs.

I had someone tailgating me at 30 in a 30. I spotted an ambulance so signalled and pulled in, he obviously wasn't looking behind and thought I was pulling over for him. So he made to overtake me. Very narrowly avoided a crash with the speeding ambulance. Very scary.

Tailgating is dangerous and stupid.

But you're overly cautious. It's very clear from your posts. And that in itself can be dangerous. But if it bothers you that much continue to drive as you have been and avoid the rear view mirror or move it so you can't see them tailgating you.

@LaStreng I agree but I’m cautious, not overly cautious. I slow down when I need to slow down

whenisithometime yeah there’s a been a few idiot comments. FWIW I don’t think 55 in a 60 is too slow but I would expect someone impatient sat up my arse if I did that. I drive the same 30 & 40mph roads every day, always on the speed limit and get tailgated, even when there’s traffic in front of me too so even if I wanted to break the limit it would be impossible.

Yep there are more inpatient dickheads around op. Going 5mph under on a bendy road is not overly cautious. I bet the 3 dickheads who have overturned in the last couple of weeks round here wished they had! I've always got someone up my arse and I hardly ever go below the speed limit. Country , bendy roads which I know. Arseholes who come tearing up behind doing dangerous overtaking... ridiculous. I've seen so many close calls it's unreal. There's a lot of aggression on the roads, that's for sure.

@LadyLimpet that’s so true! I’ve been thinking do people actually stick to speed limits anymore? I can’t believe how often I’m tailgated for obeying the limit. It’s not even every once in a while, there must be at least two times a day I’m tailgated

Are you saying you will only drive above 50mph on a completely straight, flat road with no bumps or bends or anything?

Yes. If I'm transporting animals, people who get car sick, people returning from hospital, fragile items such as a fish tank etc.

I drive pretty speedy when it's just me in the car but if I am transporting something or someone that would be more comfy if I slowed down, I do so. I don't think it takes genius mental skill to imagine a world in which the car in front might have a genuine reasons for believing their speed is appropriate for them.

If that irritates someone behind me then so be it.

Tail gating is not ok but neither is driving well below the speed limit.
A clear nice day if all the traffic goes at the same speed it flows much better. If one car decides to go 5 mph lower then everyone who is capable of driving at the limit has to slow down. Also my biggest annoyance is when people from side roads pull out onto the main road and then drive 5-10mph less than the speed limit when everyone was going perfectly nicely.

55 on a 60 road is slow as you are proably going even slower. You are probably doing nearer 50.

That would annoy me but I would not tailgate.

I can understand why someone in a hurry and with an aggressive personality would tailgate. Its bloody annoying when people go too slow.

@flirtygirl I can’t because where exactly does tailgating get an individual? Anytime I’m tailgated, I will just go slower!

Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they actually are.

I tell myself that when I get a tailgater and it stops me getting all stressed.

I also hate tailgating. It doesn’t often happen to me though. When it does I notice and slow down. However, I’m usually driving to the limit of the road if traffic allows.

I think you need to admit that driving 20 below the speed limit (even only on corners) is going to annoy others and if you did your test on that road you probably would have failed. You say you’re not a nervous driver but your actions say different.

Ugh I hate tailgaters. I usually drive on or just over the speed limit in all honesty, but if I'm tailgated I go a little slower than speed limit (not much maybe 5mph slower maximum) just to make a point. There's so many rude impatient drivers around. Recently I made the mistake of braking on a narrow bit of road because car in next lane was slowing right down to turn (their lane had parked cars so they were driving on the line so I felt I couldn't speed past safely due to insufficient space) and the guy behind me went nuts at me flashing away and sped past me gesturing and swearing as we got to a clearer bit of road :/

Had to laugh. DS’ driving instructor said if you’re tailgated switch on the side lights which makes it look like the brake lights are illuminated

By saying I’m over cautious and that there is a mythical cyclist on the other side of the bend is basically saying that I’m being silly and that I over react at every single thing, it’s not.

Really? 🙄 OP I think this sums you up quite nicely. Maybe take the bus?