Being tailgated (new driver)

[AncientWasp]

Recently passed and got a hatchback as that's all I need. I stick to the speed limit but I'm finding a lot of people don't (I'm told some people memorise where the speed cameras are?) But what I'm getting annoyed at is almost always having someone (men) in SUVs or vans driving about an inch away from me, seen a few shaking their head, throwing their hands up etc.
I let them overtake where possible, but obviously not always safe. Is this something I just have to put up with? Highly doubt they'd be doing it if I were male and in an SUV.

Thia.
And shock horror.... women do it too!
Shocking I know

In over 20 years of driving I don’t recall it being women very often, if ever!! Some may but it’s not generally women drivers is it

I just become the politest and most courteous driver in the world and just let every body out at side roads and pedestrians cross whenever i can.
Just to piss the in-patient bully off even more.
It's great fun, particularly if they are close enough to be visible getting wound up in my rear view mirror.

I do not agree that letting them pass makes them think they can do it more often. These are drivers who will tailgate everyone regardless, it doesn’t matter who you are, how fast you drive or what you do.

If it puts you on edge and makes you very anxious then pull over and let them by, it’s the safest thing to do and they will just go and do it to someone else. There will always be drivers like this, they’re common unfortunately

How does that prove anything other than on a particular journey tour husband didn't encounter any tailgate wankers

No one except the people who do it know why they do it, imo there are simply some unpleasant people on the road, i think you attributing too much thought to them

These men target anyone. The difference is they are probably less likely to get verbally abusive and let it escalate to confrontation with a man.

Don’t brake test them. If they have a dashcam, that will go against you. Stick to the speed limit. If there is heavy traffic in front of you, slow down and put some distance between you and the car in front so it doesn’t become a multi-car accident. Keep driving and ignore them.

If you don’t feel safe, pull over when you can but honestly you’re just going to slow yourself down and let them keep getting away with it. Not official advice but you can spray them with your washer fluid. If they overtake you but only get one car ahead, they get very frustrated if you laugh at them or clap at them. You do need to be careful standing up to these pricks sometimes. I had some throw something at my window when I didn’t let them bully me. This was before dashcams and the police were useless because it was my word vs theirs.

My driving instructor gave me the most excellent advice 30 years ago when I was learning.

The tailgaters (and other idiots) are going to have an accident one day, and it’s likely to be nasty. So smile and let them pass because you don’t want to be anywhere near them when they do.

I don’t speed up, but I do let them go by when they want.

Aye. Don't let them intimidate you. I slow down a bit me.

Take your P plates off. I found I got bullied on the road with them on.

Nobody seems to want to stick to the speed limit these days. Sometimes you have to really hold your nerve.

You're paranoid.

They can't tell you're a woman.

How many times have you driven a larger car in order to make this comparison?

Terrible advice. Of course you should always be aware of whats behind you by checking your mirrors regularly!

I don't think it is because you're a woman - my husband gets this just as much and he's a big man in a mercedes estate. They're just dicks - it's not personal. You do need to grow a thicker skin unfortunately - which will come with time.

I tend to slow down slightly to make it easier for them to overtake and get past me. Also make sure you have plenty of space between yourself and the vehicle in front if the vehicle behind you is being a dickhead

Speed limiter, P plates (personally recommend these) and develop a thick skin. They are racing towards a speeding ticket. I always drive the speed limit and don't encounter this too often. Occasionally pull over if safe and let them go if they are distracting.

You are absolutely correct in that they tailgate smaller cars more.

I had a sporty car which would have typically been owned by males.
I don’t think I got tailgated once.

It went into the garage and I borrowed a little car and I was shocked by how often I was tailgated, even though I was going the same speed at my fast car.

I don’t know if it’s a sex thing or not.

I will be honest though, although I never tailgate anyone I do sometimes assume that smaller cars are going to be slower and dither more than the BMWs, Audis etc.
If I see one and I know 2 lanes are going to go into 1, then I’ll quickly overtake them so I’m not stuck behind them.

When it comes to tailgating you just need to ignore it.
Move your rear view mirror if it helps.
Never let them push you to go faster.

This sort of nonsense is the reason so many drivers try to join motorways at 40mph.

It being the maximum speed and not a target is literally in the highway code 🙄

This is the best advice, you must try not to let them bother you. I have been flustered by it in the past but it's distracting so now I just concentrate on trying to ignore as much as possible. I hate it when it's lorries doing it on the motorway though.

At least 60% of the sdrivers around here have no idea what the speed limit is, as evidenced by the clueless wombats who do 37-40mph on a 60mph NSL dual carriageway. They then flash their lights and wave their hands if you dare to (safely) overtake them but some of us have lives to live.

But joining a motorway or dual carriage way at 40 when every vehicle on there is doing 60mph is how you get killed.

Theres constantly accidents on the dual carriageway near me because of idiots joining too slowly and lorry’s, unable to break in time, slamming into the back of them. Monthly at least. Often more.

indeed. But advising someone “drive at the speed you’re comfortable with” could be extremely dangerous. Eg 40 on a motorway.

You can be charged with dangerous or careless driving if you go too slow as well.

Absolutely, but the general rule that it's not a target still applies, and that's not the reason for people joining the motorway at 40.

There are some people out there who mock P plates and dash cams.

Do not listen to those smart-asses.

Are you actually going 29/30!though? If that's what your speedo says it's more likely 25/6

I hope so, well my sat nav says im doing at least 29 mph