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Original poster

Tailgating. Pull over or keep driving?

200 replies

Staffielove23 · 21/02/2023 22:01

I was driving on a country road this morning. It’s national speed limit so 60mph, and I drove at this speed for the straight bits slowing right down for the corners as it’s so bendy and I don’t want to end up over my line with a tractor oncoming or something like that. I had someone behind me, I think they must drive that road everyday, as they were getting right up my ass even on the bends. I mean I couldn’t even see their bumper and I had my kid in the back. So I indicated and pulled over to let them past as they were making me feel nervous. They lean on their horn and make some kind of hand gesture as they pass me. Was I being unreasonable to pull over?

OP posts:
MaybeSmaller · 23/02/2023 10:52

I would always pull over in this scenario if safe to do so. Firstly, I don't want an idiot like that up my arse for longer than necessary, and secondly, I don't want the idiot to attempt a dangerous overtake to pass me instead.

I mean, they're probably going to overtake dangerously regardless, further up the road, but I'd rather it didn't happen on my watch.

Anyone who enjoys deliberately antagonising drivers like this is frankly not a safe driver and is as bad as the tailgater themselves.

PurpleButterflyWings · 23/02/2023 10:53

Like hell am I gonna pull over. I keep driving, except I drive very, very, very fucking slow... Grin Just to annoy them ya know! (AND because it will be much less damage to cars and people, if they crash into the back of me if I suddenly have to stop!!!)

And when they get to a point where they could overtake, I speed up again. Grin But I don't do say, 15-20 miles an hour in a 40 zone... not THAT slow.. If it's a 40 zone, I'll do 30. If it's a 30 zone, I'll do 20 to 25.

I really enjoy pissing off tailgaters. I toy with them for MILES sometimes. It's one of my favourite hobbies. 😆

Sidge · 23/02/2023 10:56

@PurpleButterflyWings driving like a dickhead because someone behind you is driving like a dickhead doesn’t make you a better person. It makes you a pillock.

Blossomtoes · 23/02/2023 10:57

PurpleButterflyWings · 23/02/2023 10:53

Like hell am I gonna pull over. I keep driving, except I drive very, very, very fucking slow... Grin Just to annoy them ya know! (AND because it will be much less damage to cars and people, if they crash into the back of me if I suddenly have to stop!!!)

And when they get to a point where they could overtake, I speed up again. Grin But I don't do say, 15-20 miles an hour in a 40 zone... not THAT slow.. If it's a 40 zone, I'll do 30. If it's a 30 zone, I'll do 20 to 25.

I really enjoy pissing off tailgaters. I toy with them for MILES sometimes. It's one of my favourite hobbies. 😆

Utterly childish and pathetic. I’m surprised you’re old enough to have a driving licence.

SmurfingGoodTime · 23/02/2023 10:57

Not that they should of honked or anything, but they probably did it because you didn't turn out sooner.

Obviously, they should have just showed down and either waited for an opportunity to pass or for you to turnout. I hate having locals behind me that are tailgating because it makes it harder to turn out. Believe me, I want these drivers ahead of me!

SmurfingGoodTime · 23/02/2023 10:58

*slowed not showed

Oakbeam · 23/02/2023 11:19

Some on this thread could do with reading the Highway Code..

Rule 168
Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass.

www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203

Katkinsgreyy · 23/02/2023 11:58

You did what you felt was best to get out of that situation. I've pulled over before when I felt bothered by the person behind. I would much rather have them in front of me than driving aggressively behind me.

Most of the time now I think if they are that desperate to go faster than me, then they need to overtake me. It's their problem!
I will continue to do what I'm doing and they can go around me.

StarlightLady · 23/02/2023 12:08

If it is daylight and you flash your lights, the driver behind often thinks it's your break lights. This can encourage them to pull back.

purpleboy · 23/02/2023 13:30

PurpleButterflyWings · 23/02/2023 10:53

Like hell am I gonna pull over. I keep driving, except I drive very, very, very fucking slow... Grin Just to annoy them ya know! (AND because it will be much less damage to cars and people, if they crash into the back of me if I suddenly have to stop!!!)

And when they get to a point where they could overtake, I speed up again. Grin But I don't do say, 15-20 miles an hour in a 40 zone... not THAT slow.. If it's a 40 zone, I'll do 30. If it's a 30 zone, I'll do 20 to 25.

I really enjoy pissing off tailgaters. I toy with them for MILES sometimes. It's one of my favourite hobbies. 😆

What do you gain from doing that?
I don't really understand, surely it just going to make them even more dangerous and irrational?

I'd worry we would have to stop at lights or something and they would get out and do me some damage. It's just not worth the agro.
Recommend a dash cam and send the footage to the police if they are that dangerous.

OhNoNotThatAgain · 23/02/2023 14:35

StarlightLady · 23/02/2023 12:08

If it is daylight and you flash your lights, the driver behind often thinks it's your break lights. This can encourage them to pull back.

Er... if you flash your lights, it is only your headlights that flash, not your brake lights.

StarlightLady · 23/02/2023 14:41

@OhNoNotThatAgain - Your tail lights also flash as well as your headlights. A driver behind you is unlikely to notice that it is your tail lights and not your break lights lighting up unless they study the car in great detail.

Sidge · 23/02/2023 15:39

@StarlightLady they don’t, if you flash your headlights it’s only the front lights that flash not your tail lights.

SinnerBoy · 23/02/2023 15:46

PurpleButterflyWings · Today 10:53

And when they get to a point where they could overtake, I speed up again.

As @Oakbeam has pointed out, it's illegal. Just let the bugger past. They may appear to have room to get past, with oncoming in the distance, go for it and then not have room to pull in.

That's going to be a head on crash, or into your back end.

StarlightLady · 23/02/2023 16:03

@Sidge - Sorry, I did not word my post very well. I sim ply meant put your lights on and turn off again. Not headlight flash. Then the car behind hopefully sees red.

blacksax · 23/02/2023 16:11

Some of the suggestions on this thread are...

... words fail me actually. 🙄

thecatsthecats · 23/02/2023 16:25

NZ has a law that you have to pull over to let someone pass you, which is very sensible IMO. You can't expect citizens to enforce speed limits, especially not when there's a tailgate involved. Far more sensible to encourage pulling over.

On my really narrow country roads, I far prefer to be a follower than a leader, because you can catch glimpses of the brakelights of the car ahead to warn you of oncoming traffic that you can't see. Helps you hang back for the almost non existent passing places, which only occasionally fit two cars.

neilyoungismyhero · 23/02/2023 16:29

Offensiveapprently · 21/02/2023 23:28

Just tap the brakes intermittently....freaks the fucker right out.

Didn't a girl in a little car do that a couple of years ago? The TGer ploughed into the back of her, spun her out and killed her friend who was a passenger.
Appalling piece of advice.

CarPoor · 23/02/2023 17:07

Only a fucking idiot antagonises a tailgater

You should pull over for several reasons

  1. speeding up on the straights and breaking significantly on the corners is annoying, and if there's a local driver who wants to go faster than you, you should allow them to overtake.

  2. it's safer for you if you allow them to pass. Don't risk them going into the back of you or making a dangerous overtaking maneuver.

An ideal scenario would be to slow down to lessen impact and then allow an overtake on a straight. If for whatever reason you can't I would pull over when safe to do so.

They were beeping because they were annoyed you held them up, not because you pulled over.

CarPoor · 23/02/2023 17:11

thecatsthecats · 23/02/2023 16:25

NZ has a law that you have to pull over to let someone pass you, which is very sensible IMO. You can't expect citizens to enforce speed limits, especially not when there's a tailgate involved. Far more sensible to encourage pulling over.

On my really narrow country roads, I far prefer to be a follower than a leader, because you can catch glimpses of the brakelights of the car ahead to warn you of oncoming traffic that you can't see. Helps you hang back for the almost non existent passing places, which only occasionally fit two cars.

This is also the highwaycode in Scotland on single track roads, pull over and allow someone to overtake

By speeding up on the straights you don't allow a faster vehicle to overtake which is antagonising the situation. I don't understand why anyone wouldn't just hang back and allow an overtake in this situation

CarPoor · 23/02/2023 17:14

StarlightLady · 23/02/2023 16:03

@Sidge - Sorry, I did not word my post very well. I sim ply meant put your lights on and turn off again. Not headlight flash. Then the car behind hopefully sees red.

Or you could just drive safely and slow down and pullover/let them overtake when appropriate?

Brakechecking or pretending to brake check can lead to a crash. If the car behind slams on their brakes they might crash or spin out and crash into you/an oncoming vehicle.

PetitPorpoise · 23/02/2023 18:19

I alwaya pull in and let them past. I usually end up roght behind them anyway because they soon realise it's far easier to follow a car than actually be the one in front on a winding country road with lots of narrow, blind bends.

TheGoogleMum · 23/02/2023 18:46

Ugh tailgaters are the worst! You did the safest thing. The tailgater is definitely unreasonable

Tambora · 23/02/2023 19:01

Some of the worst tailgaters are at night when it is foggy. Because they are following your tail lights in the fog, they can see where they are going, and don't realise that you, ahead of them, can't see anywhere near as well and the visibility is shocking.

I love letting those ones overtake at high speed and then watching as the realisation dawns... Grin

gamerchick · 23/02/2023 20:15

Tambora · 23/02/2023 19:01

Some of the worst tailgaters are at night when it is foggy. Because they are following your tail lights in the fog, they can see where they are going, and don't realise that you, ahead of them, can't see anywhere near as well and the visibility is shocking.

I love letting those ones overtake at high speed and then watching as the realisation dawns... Grin

Ah is that why they do it? That makes sense. Always have people sitting on my bumper when it's foggy.

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