Tailgating drivers everywhere

[mag2305]

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?

Driving round here definitely worse since the pandemic as in more tailgating and more very aggressive arseholes who beep you even when you cannot move at all and/or behave very dangerously and then beep you as like a warning that they are going to do something very dangerous and get dangerously close to you in the meantime and expecting you to somehow ensure your own safety whilst they do their dangerous thing. It's ridiculous. (NW city)

@mag2305

I think certain demographics lean towards certain cars. The classic “boy racers” for example. I’ve observed that Audi’s and BMW’s are the most commonly seen tailgating where I live, so in my mind they’re “tailgater” cars. They’re often also afflicted with the inability to indicate too. But yes, there are certain cars I associate with generally poor drivers as previously described.

I drive a Juke and as a rule never tailgate.

I would say that a lot people’s ability to drive safely and courteously has suffered since the lockdown, as though far too many got into playing GTA games and forgot what real life driving is like. I worked in a key worker industry throughout so drove daily and it’s now alarming seeing how some people are rallying around. I’m surprised an increase in car accidents hasn’t been reported.

Oh god, don't get me started on the standard of driving in this country! I'm an hgv driver (no we don't hold hands up the hills! But try to think for a second how hard it would be for a 44ton vehicle to carry momentum up a hill if they slowed down to get back in again. Believe me it's very hard!)

I see so much bad driving on an hourly basis it's unreal! Everything from tailgating (it doesn't affect me like a car driver as I'm far away from the back end of my trailer) to the people who leave it to the last minute to go from lane 3 onto the slip road. This one annoys me as most modern lorries have automatic emergency braking if something gets too close and these pollocks set it off! Did it to me on the M1 once and a whole load of 26 pallets of beer shot forward :(

But also the people who come down the slip roads at 40mph expecting the wagon ding 56mph to slow down and let them in! Not going to happen!

Then there's those who do 48mph in the middle lane of the roadworks when the left lane is empty, but won't move over as there is a car in the left lane about 1/2 a mile ahead doing 47.5mph that they might have to overtake!

Don't forget the cars that try and overtake us on roundabouts and then start beeping their horns when they realise my trailer is going to wipe them out because they thought the trailer would steer itself around the roundabout giving them the room to carry on!

And there are sooooooooo many more that I could go on with, but I think you get my point!

I think people have spent so long locked away that they've forgotten how to drive as it wasn't as bad as this. It was bad, but this does feel worse! Maybe I've been privileged to have had empty roads for a little bit, but it does seem worse

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.

This seems to be becoming increasingly common. I can only assume my car has acquired a cloak of invisibility and they cant see me!!

The absolute worst thing you can do to a male driver apparently is beep your horn at them........it must hurt their fragile feelings. The only time i ever do this is when absolutely necessary to warn someone i'm there and avoid a crash.......Do they put their hands up and admit they were wrong, no chance, i get the fingers or mouthfuls of abuse.
Motorway drivers who overtake then immediately cut in forcing you to take action.
Motorway drivers you can see bearing down on you from way back in the lane that wait until they are far too close to you before they decide to try and move out.

Drivers that change lane without warning or indicate and just pull out. Beep beep you're going to hit me.....but they carry on regardless causing you to brake to avoid a collision.

So are you suggesting that's it's the car a person chooses to have or can afford to have that makes that person a poor driver?
Talk about painting all VW up and Honda Jazz drivers with the same brush!

Much like you’ve done with Audi drivers ?🙄😂

@SemperIdem funnily enough I have been thinking of changing my car as we will need more space soon and I will likely go for a Duke or Renault Captur (which you previously mentioned ).

I digress here but... One place I've witnessed some worrying driving is a little town called Frinton-on-Sea if anyone knows it. My parents used to have a place there so I became familiar with the area. It's well known for having a fairly big elderly population, many of whom really shouldn't still be driving but do! And I mean 85+ drivers. They come out in the day. But at night, it's a different scene as boy racers zoom in from Clacton and Walton. It's pretty scary to watch them.

Most men who do this probably have an incredibly small penis.

Tailgaters behind someone doing the speed limit? Yep, impatient.
However people who are doing like 40 in a 60 zone with no traffic in front are asking for it really. So many accidents occur because of impatient drivers trying to get past unreasonably slow drivers.
I'm not saying it's right, but slow drivers are as dangerous as fast drivers at times.

People who have a baby on board sign think they're more important because they're fertile, really 🙄. Sounds like a bitter comment, typically made by someone taking out their frustrations on others.

@mag2305 my opinion on Capturs is totally biased and based on 3 in my street (all on street parking) who are owned by the most selfish/incompetent parkers I have ever seen!

Jukes are an easy drive and just big enough to stop the truly big cars trying to bully you. I really noticed having gone from an original Hyundai i-10 so not dissimilar in size to your Up.

Most men who do this probably have an incredibly small penis.

And the women?

I regularly drive through a village that is 30 mph which I always observe, What irritates me is the tailgater behind who a) apparently wants me to break the speed limit (regardless of the fact that there’s often a speed camera car round the bend!) and b) don’t think for a second that I might speed up when the road reverts to NSL but try to pull out to overtake as soon as we come in sight of the NSL sign. Luckily I drive one of the most powerful Minis and leave them standing.

@coogee

Massive fannies

@SemperIdem that's useful to know about the Duke. Thank you

Today's example was my husband doing the speed limit approaching some traffic lights ahead. A small white van was tailgating him and swerving to the left a little to create pressure. The van then decided to overtake on the right in a bus lane and he got one in front of us at the red lights. So ridiculous!

@mag2305 Yep. Pathetic!

If it was you doing 65 in the outside lane on the M5 northbound yesterday, refusing to move then YABU.

Or if you were the person texting, while doing 40mph in the inside lane, then again, YABU

Ask yourself what you are doing to provoke this (still wrong) behaviour

Ask yourself what you are doing to provoke this (still wrong) behaviour

I haven’t really noticed an increase in tailgating drivers. If I get one, I try and make it as easy as possible for them to pass. I prefer the easy life.

And my car is quicker than the quickest Mini.

I always stick to the speed limit - my dad was high up in the traffic police division when I was younger and when I first passed my test and got points for speeding.... I don't want to endure another rollicking like that ever again.... anyway, I digress, one time I had just picked up a new car and was driving through my town when this twat overtook me in a 30 mph zone outside a school during, over took me and the island and had the cheek to try break test me - done this a lot up the road kept speeding off then slamming the breaks on. I have a dash cam and sent the footage to the police. Turned out she does it a lot and wasn't local and with my footage, she got charged with dangerous driving!

The a road I drive to/from work is a 60mph and has lots of left turns for farms, it is quite a wide road but on a daily basis you get the twat who will overtake about 5-6 cars in one go, pass the roundabout and continue to do the same! The cars on the other side all do have to move back to the left! And they tailgate too and weave in and out as to intimidate you to move!!

Last week there was an accident where a car got hit pulling out a junction, the traffic was backed up and not moving, yet the idiot behind me was revving his engine and as I had my roof down, I could hear him shouting "aww ffs, f'in move, f'in stupid c**ts holding me up" and just going on and on and on. I'm currently pregnant and my car makes me feel very sick when driving it as it's suspension is quite hard, anyway, sat in this traffic and I knew I was going to be sick! Managed to get out my door, round to the back of the car but spewed all the lovely bile down behind my car and right in front of him! Pretty sure he got splash back on the front of his car. I sheepishly apologised to him, said pregnant and he just sat there, put his window up and went quiet 🤣🤣 might just start spewing on all the assholes on the road!

Baby on Board signs were invented because of arsehole drivers who are incapable of driving without aggression

I thought it was so if there was an accident, the emergency services knew to look for a baby/toddler in the car.

@poppycat10

Baby on Board signs were invented because of arsehole drivers who are incapable of driving without aggression

I thought it was so if there was an accident, the emergency services knew to look for a baby/toddler in the car.

I have just text my dad and asked about this and he confirmed that yes while it is true to alert emergency services to the possibility of a child being in a car which requires assistance, it's main production purpose is for aesthetics.

Another thing which bugs me is people cutting corners! 2 LANES people!