Page 8 | Tailgating. Pull over or keep driving?

Staffielove23 · 2023-02-21T22:01:47+00:00

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?

Tambora · 23/02/2023 20:44

gamerchick · 23/02/2023 20:15

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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Yes, it lulls them into a false sense of security and because they can see your tail lights, they have no idea what a peasouper it is in front of you.

TheRussiansAreComing · 23/02/2023 20:58

You did the right thing, and he should have put his hazards on by why of thanking you.

Oakbeam · 25/02/2023 09:32

and he should have put his hazards on by why of thanking you.

That is something I usually do if somebody has done me a favour. However, particularly on narrow rural roads, finding the hazard switch can create a hazard in itself.

HurryShadow · 27/02/2023 14:57

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.

In my experience of driving in NZ, I can say that many laws have been brought in as a result of some totally crazy drivers!

Safer to get out of the way of an idiot? Let's create a law for that.

No-one will ever let you turn right across the road? Let's create a law for that!

Not a bad way to address it, to be fair!

zingally · 27/02/2023 16:21

I hate people like this.

I was driving on the A14 on this past Friday actually - a road notorious for accidents - when a lorry tucked right in behind me, in the slow lane, right up my arse. I pulled out into the fast lane and put my foot down, just to get away from the arsehole because I felt like he was putting me in danger.

This happens to me a fair bit as well, on a road near my mums. It's about 9 miles of winding, but fairly fast country road. And as far as my journey goes, it's right at the end of a long, pretty intense drive. I need to keep my concentration for the last little bit. And if I get knobheads up my arse, there are fortunately lots of places I can pull in and let them past. It's not worth getting upset by them.

thecatsthecats · 27/02/2023 16:29

HurryShadow · 27/02/2023 14:57

In my experience of driving in NZ, I can say that many laws have been brought in as a result of some totally crazy drivers!

Safer to get out of the way of an idiot? Let's create a law for that.

No-one will ever let you turn right across the road? Let's create a law for that!

Not a bad way to address it, to be fair!

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We ended up following a car with NZ stickers all over it back home, and my dad was baffled by why they kept trying to let him pass!

He wasn't tailgating by UK standards, but I think NZ drivers get out of the way ASAP.

Like I say, allowing citizens to police a traffic rule is asking for trouble. Much better to encourage getting out of their way.

Genvonklinkerhoffen · 27/02/2023 16:34

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Genvonklinkerhoffen · 27/02/2023 16:37

zingally · 27/02/2023 16:21

I hate people like this.

I was driving on the A14 on this past Friday actually - a road notorious for accidents - when a lorry tucked right in behind me, in the slow lane, right up my arse. I pulled out into the fast lane and put my foot down, just to get away from the arsehole because I felt like he was putting me in danger.

This happens to me a fair bit as well, on a road near my mums. It's about 9 miles of winding, but fairly fast country road. And as far as my journey goes, it's right at the end of a long, pretty intense drive. I need to keep my concentration for the last little bit. And if I get knobheads up my arse, there are fortunately lots of places I can pull in and let them past. It's not worth getting upset by them.

You changed lane to speed up, were you overtaking? Why didn't you just speed up in the inside lane? This thread is bonkers with some shocking driving.

SinnerBoy · 27/02/2023 16:45

Why didn't you just speed up in the inside lane?

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that she would have soon been tail gating whoever was ahead of her.

whatfreshheck · 27/02/2023 16:48

I slow right down. It's a double positive in that it's safer for me and it really pisses them off. The closer they get the slower I go.

BlueVinca · 27/02/2023 17:21

Genvonklinkerhoffen · 27/02/2023 16:37

You changed lane to speed up, were you overtaking? Why didn't you just speed up in the inside lane? This thread is bonkers with some shocking driving.

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Yes, yours.

Genvonklinkerhoffen · 27/02/2023 17:40

BlueVinca · 27/02/2023 17:21

Yes, yours.

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just quote me an example of where I described my driving. Then you can get back to the middle lane of the M1. Ta muchly.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/02/2023 17:46

Driving on wretched 'smart' motorways, or ones with speed limits due to roadworks, I've wished for a rear facing camera to record arsehole drivers - scariest are lorries - who paste themselves incredibly close to your rear end. There's no option of speeding up, very hard to change lane to escape them - wtf do they do it?

lieselotte · 27/02/2023 18:00

Survey99 · 21/02/2023 22:38

Only idiots antagonise or play about on the road with a twat driver.

You did the right thing op, dont lower yourself to their level or play dangerous games.

Exactly this. Much better to pull over (when it is safe to do so) and get rid of them!

lieselotte · 27/02/2023 18:00

ErrolTheDragon · 27/02/2023 17:46

Driving on wretched 'smart' motorways, or ones with speed limits due to roadworks, I've wished for a rear facing camera to record arsehole drivers - scariest are lorries - who paste themselves incredibly close to your rear end. There's no option of speeding up, very hard to change lane to escape them - wtf do they do it?

Can you use a rear facing "dash"cam?

lieselotte · 27/02/2023 18:03

whatfreshheck · 27/02/2023 16:48

I slow right down. It's a double positive in that it's safer for me and it really pisses them off. The closer they get the slower I go.

That is unduly antagonistic.

Also, sometimes you are driving at one speed, come around a corner and someone is in front going much more slowly. It's not good driving to slam your brakes on, so give people time to take their foot off the gas and slow down. Don't slow down and make it even more difficult for them to slow down.

It's obviously different if they've been on your tail for miles but then I'd find somewhere to move over and get rid of them.

lieselotte · 27/02/2023 18:06

hoochyhag · 22/02/2023 10:50

DH went on speed awareness course and this question was raised. Advice given by the officer was to reduce your speed.

I don't agree. Stick to the speed you feel safe doing, and if they are annoying you, let them get past when it's safe to do so.

But don't antagonise by going even more slowly.

IntentionalError · 27/02/2023 18:14

Tailgaters are idiots.

People who drive unnecessarily slowly are incredibly annoying.

I always overtake at the first opportunity, but my BMW has plenty of performance to allow me to do that safely. Most people’s cars don’t, or they don’t have the confidence to overtake so they become very frustrated. This is why, if you want to drive ridiculously slowly, you should show consideration for other drivers by pulling over & letting them pass rather than holding them up & causing queues to built up behind you.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/02/2023 18:15

Stick to the speed you feel safe doing

But if someone is driving far too close behind you, you may only feel safe - well, actually be safe - if you slow sufficiently that the gap is sufficient for them to respond if you have to slow down or stop suddenly. Of course, you should let them by when it's safe to do so, but that's often not possible for a considerable distance on a country lane.

whatfreshheck · 27/02/2023 18:28

"That is unduly antagonistic.

Also, sometimes you are driving at one speed, come around a corner and someone is in front going much more slowly. It's not good driving to slam your brakes on, so give people time to take their foot off the gas and slow down. Don't slow down and make it even more difficult for them to slow down.

It's obviously different if they've been on your tail for miles but then I'd find somewhere to move over and get rid of them."

No it's not. It's what the Highway Code tells you to do. And we are talking about tailgating. By slowing down I'm reducing the chance of injury to myself.

Spanielsarepainless · 27/02/2023 18:42

With cars I indulge in vigorous windscreen washing. Sometimes I have to repeat the exercise but not often. Mostly they drop back a bit.

Oakbeam · 27/02/2023 19:29

No it's not. It's what the Highway Code tells you to do. And we are talking about tailgating. By slowing down I'm reducing the chance of injury to myself.

As far as I am aware, the Highway Code doesn’t say to slow down when you are being tailgated.

I’m happy to be proved wrong though.

whatfreshheck · 27/02/2023 20:22

I take it back, apologies.

quinceh · 27/02/2023 20:30

Dickheads. I’d be tempted to slow down deliberately if I knew there was a roundabout or junction not too far ahead, but if I had several miles to go on the road I’d probably try and let them past to make my drive less unpleasant.

Sparklybanana · 27/02/2023 20:39

I suddenly have the urge to clean my windscreen. It works quite well.
Other than that - just let them overtake as it's not worth it. There's crazy people on the road. We had a driving instructor keep overtaking us and then slow to snail pace suddenly to force us to take evasive action. Normally I let dh know if he's driving like a twat but on this occasion, he'd done nothing wrong but to go in the wrong lane as we didn't know the road. This psycho wouldn't leave us alone until we left the dual carriageway last minute. 2 kids in the car. Terrifying.

Not worth it.