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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tailgating drivers everywhere

187 replies

mag2305 · 12/06/2021 17:20

I'm sure this isn't really something new and I might be totally wrong but since the pandemic, I feel like there's always cars sitting really close behind and often kind of agrressive, like swerving out slightly to created pressure I guess or some overtake. Has driving become more aggressive? Is it because people are frustrated? Is it just this area (busy area in Essex)?
Maybe it's just me noticing it more. I'm not a slow or fast driver, just stick to the speed limit. I've got a toddler and one of those baby in board stickers which might piss people off and make them tailgate even more, I don't know. I was always quite a confident driver as I used to drive in Central London regularly which can be interesting, lol! So I was never easily intimidated by other drivers. But the tailgating and overtaking is every day round here and I'm more nervous now on the road which I never felt before. Maybe it's also being a mum now too, just feeling more protective. Don't know.
Anyone else feel this?

OP posts:
Original poster
mag2305 · 12/06/2021 23:00

@mumwon oh gosh, doesn't surprise me.

OP posts:
Somanysocks · 12/06/2021 23:00

It's daily, every time I drive. I make a point of leaving an enormous gap in front of me if I'm tailgated. I drive the speed limit but tailgaters make me stick religiously to the limit.

Van drivers are the worst, they intimidate purposely which can be frightening as I drive a smallish car. I'm seriously considering a dashcam.

Hashtagforaname · 12/06/2021 23:02

I'm miles away from Essex.

Once had a woman start driving straight towards me on my side of the road. I had to do an emergency stop, and she tontled into her parking space inches from my bonnet.

I was walking the dog today on a road that is a 40 zone, but might as well be part of Silverstone. There was a parked car on the left, a car flying down the road and one flying up. I genuinely feared for my life at that moment in case they crashed.

echt · 12/06/2021 23:03

I'm in Melbourne and noticed this after the big lockdown last year. Things seem to have calmed down now. Tailgating isn't massively an issue, just impatience.

I reserve my greatest ire for those behind when you're waiting to turn right into traffic, no traffic lights, and beep you for not taking the gap they seem to think is OK. Tossers.

Hawkins001 · 12/06/2021 23:03

It's the same with motorways , people.getting very close to each other, without any perspectives on what if the car in front breaks down or has to emergency stop ect.

EL8888 · 12/06/2021 23:03

@Rainbowx yep the standard of driving in Essex is woeful. It’s interesting going elsewhere, where the standard is usually better

29ac · 12/06/2021 23:03

I haven’t noticed tailgaters but I’ve done a fair bit of motorway driving recently and there certainly seems to be a lot more middle lane sitters than there used to be.

I’ve also had my fair share of people not giving way at roundabouts, including a man this week who looked directly at me then continued to pull out even though it was my right of way and I was already on the roundabout so I had to slam the brakes on to avoid a collision.

I’m in London so the standard of driving is already pretty poor, it constantly feels like a race!

BogRollBOGOF · 12/06/2021 23:20

There is a special place in hell reserved for the type of tailgater that impatiently lurks by your rear bumper until it's safe to pull back to lane 1 where you anticipate letting a few cars pass before rejoining lane 2 to pass the vehicle ahead... but no, instead of whizzing ahead and passing with the utmost urgency that they were implying, they go 1.5mph faster, build up a line of traffic and block you in lane 1 where you now have to brake behind the lorry that you anticipated being able to pass. Bastards.

Around here, the post-lockdown traffic seems to be stabilising, but there was a disparity between people who'd got complacent about doing their own thing on empty roads and emerging drivers who had lost confidence.

Dustyhedge · 12/06/2021 23:22

I had a bizarre tailgating episode earlier. Was in a 40 speed limit doing 40 and a man was right up behind me and looking a bit angsty and being a bit of a knob and looking like he was trying to overtake. I then went into a national speed limit bit of road and he didn’t speed up at all.

Looubylou · 12/06/2021 23:59

I have definately noticed an increase in dangerous driving in last 2 month. Enough to make me wonder if covid has affected people's brains

Bessica1970 · 13/06/2021 09:29

@mag2305

It’s confirmation bias - people who aren’t noticing a change, aren’t bothering to reply, so you only see replies that reinforce your belief. There could have been 50 drivers from Southend who just scrolled past because they didn’t recognise the increased driving aggression you’re describing!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/06/2021 09:34

I have been known to put my hazard lights on when some idiot is driving right up my bum on a busy road and I can’t pull over to let him (always a him) pass.

notanothertakeaway · 13/06/2021 09:36

I sometimes put my hazard lights on, if the car behind is too close. That usually dies the trick

I also hate baby on board stickers

Puzzled47 · 13/06/2021 09:39

I agree, so many inpatient drivers around. I have horses and towing a trailer can be terrifying. Drivers see me coming along a road and hurry to pull out in front of me with no awareness of the fact that you cannot slam on your brakes when towing as the trailer (plus 3/4 tonne of horse) will end up in the car with you. They seem to think it’s perfectly ok to do this, drives me mad!

Was on a duel carriageway a few days ago and some idiot flew past me and pulled in inches from my front bumper. There was hardly any cars on the road and no exit coming up so they literally just did it to ‘make a point’, how dare I be on the road with a horse trailer!

ThePlantsitter · 13/06/2021 09:46

People are really horrible drivers at the moment. I've found slowing down a bit makes them back off, weirdly.

The car thing is totally true. When I drove a Hyundai people used to get v impatient with me but now I drive an Audi they behave as if I'm definitely going to be a cock. I'm not a cock though, I always make a concerted effort to drive defensively and be patient and uncompetitive.

the80sweregreat · 13/06/2021 09:48

Just slow down a bit. It usually makes the wankers back off a bit!
I hate driving because if this attitude behind the wheel. No need.

DoubleTweenQueen · 13/06/2021 09:49

Not too bad up here in Cambs/Herts/Beds, and haven't noticed it on M25 or in London either - well, not an increase in selfish driving anyway :)

I do get treated differently when driving the civic compared to my Audi estate! Deffo a prejudice thing.

Everyone has the right to use the road and get to where they're going safely. I will drive more carefully when I have my young dog in the car - slow down more for junctions, corners, roundabouts - similar with a baby on board - so the sticker is a useful heads up for other drivers.

Travellor · 13/06/2021 09:52

One answer for some tailgaters is a rear facing dashcam. Was being pressured by a car on the M11, until the front seat passenger saw the camera. I could see her pointing it out to the driver who suddenly dropped back. They overtook from a long way back a bit later.

JudgeRindersMinder · 13/06/2021 09:54

I haven’t noticed it where I live, but although it’s a city we’re not densely populated.

However I’m joining in the disdain for baby on board signs-they serve no purpose other than being a distraction for other drivers…possibly other drivers are coming close to see what it says?

Lots of love, ex-Audi, now Mercedes driver 🤣

NC276 · 13/06/2021 09:58

Was also going to say, really recommend getting a rear facing dashcam. If they're close it's pretty easy to spot. And yes, there's definitely a prejudice on the car you're driving. When I had my Citroen C1, people were constantly driving up my arse and pulling out on me. Now I have an Audi no one does haha (also not all Audi drivers are twats but yes a lot are).

Aqua55 · 13/06/2021 09:58

Mumsnet: The only place where you can't judge someone by what they wear, but you can judge by what they drive Grin

LindaEllen · 13/06/2021 10:06

@Ihavehadenoughalready

Also I roll my eyes at baby on board signs.
To you, and to everyone who has commented on 'baby on board' signs.

The reasons for these signs is so that if you're in an accident, the emergency services know to look for a baby (could easily be missed in a crash when the car is a bit mangled).

It's not to show off that they can breed, or to make other drivers drive more carefully around them.

It's simply so that in case of emergency, the baby has the best possible chance of being saved.

LindaEllen · 13/06/2021 10:08

@Shade17

Baby on board signs can also be used for a more serious reason: so that first responders are aware that there is a baby/child in the car who is potentially incapable of freeing themselves in the case of an accident, or should be in the car (as in hasn't been ejected). Apparently you really should remove it from the car when baby is not in the car. I'm not sure that's why they were originally created but I believe emergency services do take them seriously.

That’s a complete myth.

As someone with emergency response training I can tell you that no, it absolutely isn't 'a complete myth'.
megletthesecond · 13/06/2021 10:08

A lot of drivers are idiots.
I used to think it was my bad driving causing people to tailgate. Then I did an advanced driving course and they said I was in the right and to ignore what was going on behind me.

TailFeatherz · 13/06/2021 10:09

You all need to try this;

Next time you get tailgated just slow down 5-10mph. Don't brake

99% of the time I find that they get the message and back off. I won't be bullied