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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to let people who drive up your arse hit you?

179 replies

Fattynotfitty · 27/10/2020 14:38

Driving home from work, two occasions had cars driving so closely behind me that if I were to stop suddenly they would hit me no doubt about it. I drive to the speed limit occasionally slightly over and it was raining too!
Sometimes I really want to just slam on my brakes and let them hit me to show them how dangerous it is! ( Of course I wouldn't but am I being unreasonable to want to do it in theory!?) I find it so intimidating and off putting when I'm driving.

OP posts:

Nonotthisagain · 27/10/2020 14:42

It's horrible isn't it? Some drivers are so aggressive and intimidating.

Recently I was driving home, driving to speed limit most of the time except it was terrible wet weather conditions so certain parts of the road I took slower than normal where there was lots of surface water.

I had a lorry so close I couldn't see his number plate, when I slowed down he put his headlights on full beam behind me.

I was so scared I actually veered off down a side road close to home. I wish I'd been able to read what company he was from..

Meepmeeep · 27/10/2020 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

emmathedilemma · 27/10/2020 14:44

I’ve had this a few times recently too. It’s very tempting apart from the hassle it would cause with insurance and car repairs. It tends to happen on 20 mph residential streets near me, even if I’m creeping over the 20 limit. Had to laugh at the guy who did it and then overtook me last week as I caught him up at the first set of traffic lights. People who do it on the motorway absolutely freak me out, especially when you’re already doing the speed limit (or more *ahem) and the traffic is busy so there’s no option to move lanes to let them pass.

Bargebill19 · 27/10/2020 14:47

The ones which really annoy me, are those who on a country lane, decide to drive so close, their headlights over shadow mine by feet. I have a brand new car with those very bright lights, so instead to think how close to my boot they are. I hope I NEVER have to brake hard.

dontdisturbmenow · 27/10/2020 14:48

If you were driving at speed limit than totally unreasonable.

Saying that, the worse are drivers who are putting on their break every few seconds when it is absurely not required to break leading to your car constantly getting closer to the car in front.

hula008 · 27/10/2020 14:50

I've had someone go into the back of me when I've had to brake quickly on a main road. It makes me drive much more carefully now!

Dillydallyingthrough · 27/10/2020 14:54

I hate this, I don't understand why people do it! I was driving on the motorway at the weekend and it was real torrential rain with parts of it flooded. Some dickhead still drove right behind me and it was really busy and with very poor visibility (could barely see the front end of my car). I dont know why he didn't overtake me!!

Lurkingforawhile · 27/10/2020 14:57

The advice from an instructor on a speed course was the pull over and let them past. You can't drive well if you're concentrating on them. I appreciate it's (a) not always possible and (b) not fair, but when I've done it I've felt much better afterwards. On my commute home I drive on a 50mph then 60mph rural road with nowhere to pull in and I hate the tail-gaters

RelayRead · 27/10/2020 14:58

I hear ya, OP!

It is intimidating and dangerous and I find it regularly stressful.

It scary to me as it shows the number of really aggressive people out there who who have such a sense of entitlement. And for what? As you say, I often see them at the traffic lights 5 minutes up the road. Or they get home and have 5 minutes extra time to pick their noses (cos thats the neathanderal mentality of them and how they probably spend their lives when it comes down to it).

Last week, a lorry drove up so close to me it was ridiculous. Then flashing me furiously with his lights. Then deliberately tried to knock me off the road when he finally overtook. Moron. I was driving 50 mph up a hill and my van literally I couldn't go any faster. Other times I'm "driving to the conditions" e.g. winding roads, bad weather or animals (deer, red squirrels etc).

People also misunderstand that speed LIMITS and just that - limits. You don't have to drive AT that speed.

1700 people are KILLED every YEAR on British roads. Thats not even including those who have life-changing injuries.

Anyway, I'm thinking of getting video recorder for back of me - and reporting the bastards.

bravotango · 27/10/2020 14:59

This is my absolute pet peeve - just feather your brakes a bit and they'll soon swerve round you. I always yell "I can go slower if you'd like!" - to myself, as they clearly can't hear..

RelayRead · 27/10/2020 14:59

I meant to say speed limits ARE just that - limits.

RelayRead · 27/10/2020 15:00

luv it, bravo

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 27/10/2020 15:02

I hate this. To get home, I have to turn off a 50mph road. It's a sharp turn, so you have to slow down a lot for it. I indicate early, and brake gradually... And have had near misses from impatient drivers. The scariest ones are those who try to get around you... Cars appear over the crest of the hill while they are the wrong side, so they swerve back onto the left, missing your front by inches. Junction is well signposted. All to save a few seconds.

nosswith · 27/10/2020 15:02

Does a dash cam cover behind you or can it? So those drivers can be reported to the police with evidence.

GettingUntrapped · 27/10/2020 15:03

Yes, I pull in if I can as well. I want the aggressive arsehole out of my life and that's the fastest way to do it, and I take action and control. I do hate it though. I'm in London and don't always have time to pull over, or there isn't space.

PompomDahlia · 27/10/2020 15:04

I hate this. Where I live, a lot of the roads have gone to 20 zones. I don't want points or fines so I stick to the rules and go around 22. But I get people - usually older men - right up behind me pushing me to go faster. They then usually do some risky overtaking manouvre

MaxedCat · 27/10/2020 15:04

You can get a dash camera facing AND behind you. You can use it to report unsafe / intimidating drivers. Only I think is it would be an extra part-time job for me as there are so many. I have considered it though.

BeigeFoodLover · 27/10/2020 15:07

Oh I witnessed some brilliant karma in this situation. I was driving at (and sometimes slightly over!) the speed limit, guy right behind me, really agressive right up the back of my car. Got really cross when I dropped into 30 from 60 as per speed limit.. the eventually he overtook way over the speed limit.. just as he happened to pass two police with traffic guns.

I laughed for about an hour after.

flaviaritt · 27/10/2020 15:10

I generally go as quickly as I think is safe, so someone driving like this won’t cause me to speed up. If anything I will slow down.

ladybee28 · 27/10/2020 15:13

I have this thought EVERY time. If there was a way to do it without risking injury, I'd absolutely have done it by now. You're not alone, OP!

Hoppinggreen · 27/10/2020 15:16

I know what you mean but just because you are in the right won’t make it hurt any less when they hit you or cause any less inconvenience to sort things out.

Shinyletsbebadguys · 27/10/2020 15:16

Oh I've been really tempted. I am really not a slow driver but there is a particular piece of road near me that is 40 for a long way with multiple speed cameras and it is very much 40 for a reason. We are a seaside town and in summer you always get some git riding your bumper because it looks like a dual carriageway (I mean it is but you know what I mean).

Particularly there is a bit that you have to VR in the right hand lane for me to turn to go home , and you always get (mainly men I have to say) people riding your bumper really close because they think they should be allowed to overtake.

If I'm feeling particularly mean I pull over for a tiny bit and let them get flashed by a speed camera (several of which are not obvious). Then I laugh as I pass them still going 40 (they always panic and slow down to really low after they have been caught ).

If I didn't like my car I'd be tempted to hit my brakes and let them hit me. I won't of course but would serve them right.

Ineverdidmind · 27/10/2020 15:19

I slow right down when anyone does this to me because:

it'll be safer if they do end up going into the back of me if they're going slow
they deserve to be delayed

Milksheik · 27/10/2020 15:20

@dontdisturbmenow

If you were driving at speed limit than totally unreasonable.

Saying that, the worse are drivers who are putting on their break every few seconds when it is absurely not required to break leading to your car constantly getting closer to the car in front.

Not saying this is right or wrong but it's possible they're trying to indicate to you that you're too close to them.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 27/10/2020 15:23

If I can I just pull over and let them pass, especially if my kids are in the back because they're the ones who will be hurt if the dickhead goes into the back of me.

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