Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that tailgating is a fool's game?

62 replies

smudgethepuppydog · 07/04/2009 15:34

Especially when the driver that you are tailgating is displaying 'L' plates. I have a good mind to phone the company of the white van woman and complain. DS was driving within the speed limit and conditions, we were on a single carriageway road in a national speed limit zone, he was doing 60mph but I couldn't even see the front bumper of the van because it was so far up his arse, poor lad. is it only me that gives learner drivers a bit more space and some leeway as I am aware they may well feel very nervous and hassled if I sit too close to them?

OP posts:
VinegarTitsTheVirginNun · 07/04/2009 15:37

I hate tagtailers, farking hate them, they should be banded, they are fuckwits

MarlaSinger · 07/04/2009 15:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MarlaSinger · 07/04/2009 15:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ponders · 07/04/2009 15:44

This happened to us when my DD was learning, only in our case it was an enormous lorry about 6' away going downhill at 60

I took his registration & reported him to the police. I hope he got bollocked (but doubt it )

jumpingbeans · 07/04/2009 15:45

Just tap on you brakes a few times, it's enough to get to pull back a bit, but your right they are are twats of the first order

Original poster
smudgethepuppydog · 07/04/2009 16:01

Jumpingbeans-that easier for an experineced driver to do than it is for a learner driver. I was very tempted to sign 'fuck off' at the driver but kept my dignity.

MarlaSinger-I often wonder what motivates those who feel the need to intimidate learners. Did those peopel never learn to drive, did they never stall at a roundabout or did someone die and make them God of the roads?

OP posts:
ABetaDad · 07/04/2009 16:05

I am not a driver (gave up 25 years ago) but my Dad sorts out tailgaters by flicking on his rear fog lamps as if he is dabbing his brakes. They are red just like a brake light but of course his car is not slowed down at all (as it would be by actual braking) so is safe to do.

However, the flash of a red light causes a brief moment of panic in the tailgater and it makes them back off. Works a treat.

VinegarTitsTheVirginNun · 07/04/2009 16:06

Marla I am pretty sure that if you braked and the tagtailer hit the back of you, you would not be at fault

You are supposed to drive within a safe breaking distance from the vehicle in from of you, if you crash into the back of someone who breaked suddenly, then YOU are at fault

MarlaSinger · 07/04/2009 16:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mistlethrush · 07/04/2009 16:34

I got tailgated last night - I was driving a safe distance behind the vehicle in front, close to the national speed limit. I tried the left foot on the brakes - that worked for a short while - then stupid driver was back close behind. It took going up a hill (so slowing naturually, throwing the car into 3rd (so slowing more) and THEN braking on top of all of that to make him back off.

MsSparkle · 07/04/2009 16:46

My question is; does anyone really think that tailgating someone makes them go faster?

boogiewoogie · 07/04/2009 16:50

Absolutely spot on OP.

I had an accident the other week because of this and I had only left the start of the roundabout at 2cm an hour for goodness sake! Luckily, other driver did admit liability and it was sorted very quickly.

Sorry, gone off a tangent.

AMumInScotland · 07/04/2009 16:53

Since I saw a report on "defensive driving" my reaction to tailgaters is now to slow down so as to increase the distance between me and the car in front. That means that if the car in front stops or slows suddenly, meaning that I have to stop, I have a choice of doing it slightly less suddenly so that the tailgater has more time to stop as well and won't hit me. Of course that does "protect" the tailgater from the results of his actions a bit, but it makes it less likely that I have to go through all the hassle of claiming against his insurance, which is a slow process even when he's clearly in the wrong. Oh and it pisses them off too, which is nice .

Nancy66 · 07/04/2009 16:56

Funny how so many of them drive white vans too...

onepieceofcremeegg · 07/04/2009 16:58

Hate them.

They are also bad in areas where there is a 20 or even 30 limit.

Hordes of schoolchildren round here, and people overtaking recklessly because you dare to drive at 19mph or 29mph.

MadamDeathstare · 07/04/2009 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MarmadukeScarlet · 07/04/2009 17:01

I drive at the speed limit and am regularly tailgated.

I drive a big farm vehicle with a massive tow bar on it, I know who would come off worse if someone rear-ended me.

I flick my hazard lights on briefly, to make them aware that I am there.

I used to drive a 71 VW beetle and reported a massive lorry for tailgating me for miles, so close I couldn't see his front bumper. I only got his plate when I pulled over to let him past. He got put on yard duties for 4 weeks.

Knobs of the first order.

nappyzonecannotcycleuphill · 07/04/2009 17:04

only a fool breaks the 2 second rule. I too slow down considerably.

brettgirl2 · 07/04/2009 17:18

One day on the ice over the winter I was driving at 20 in a 30mph (it hadn't been gritted) with some arsehole up my boot.

My mother once had a brilliant result when being tailgated by a large lorry. She slowed him right down to about 20mph and then left him at the bottom of a really big hill. We all turned round and waved!

Original poster
smudgethepuppydog · 07/04/2009 17:19

By nappyzonecannotcycleuphill on Tue 07-Apr-09 17:04:18

only a fool breaks the 2 second rule

A mantra often recited in our car, The kids both grew up testing my braking distance with that saying. DS has a really good sense of breaking distances, I'm only hoping that he doesn't lose it once he's out on his own.

I was tail-ended at a roundabout a few years ago by a tailgater, luckily I'd done as AMumInScotland suggested and increased my stopping distance which meant I avoided the car in front of me but it was still not an experience I'd want to repeat as we were due to be driving to the airport that same week. My car was undrivable and the hire car couldn't be left at the airport.

OP posts:
OrmIrian · 07/04/2009 17:19

I didn't realise it was a game. I thought it was simple fuckwittery

CountessDracula · 07/04/2009 17:21

i touch my brake pedal too
not enough to slow down
but enough to shit them up

wotulookinat · 07/04/2009 17:24

Someone I once worked with said that instead of braking, put your lights on and off - to the tailgater it'll look like you are braking.

pinkmagic1 · 07/04/2009 17:35

just learning to drive myself, failed first test and got my next very soon! Have also noticed how inconsiderate many drivers are to learners, tailgateing, cutting up etc. Not sure if everyone experiences it or whether the L plates are like a red rag to a bull!

brettgirl2 · 07/04/2009 17:36

Well it him off our tail, no real need for the . Being tailgated in a car by a juggernaut is extremely dangerous.