BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Ed T
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 09:50 AM

Oops, meant " the link you provided "does not" indicate...

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Ed T
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 09:48 AM

The (KIA) link does not you provided does seem to indicate what you stated in your last post, dtg....unless I missed something?

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 09:33 AM

... and time to recommend "Devil's Bridge" DVD...

A recent low budget indie Welsh [English Language] nasty brutal rural thriller
regarding a bonkers beserk Welsh farmer tailgating & stalking arrogant Essex boy visitors
to his isolated agricultural hunting ground.....

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 09:29 AM

Incidentally, Advanced Driving UK do not recommend stopping. See here

Good tips for all I think.

D.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 09:23 AM

It won't be long before you can find somewhere to stop or pull in for a second.

That is probably true in most cases, Steve, but there are exceptions. Someone already mentioned driving in the dark and not seeing a suitable place until it is too late. Surely to slow down so you may see somewhere would only make matter worse? There is also the fear that the tailgater may be a nutter waiting for you to stop so they can continue their nefarious pursuits! If you were on a lonely road, by yourself and a the someone was trying to put a tinted windscreen of a 'gangsta truck' in your boot, would you honestly stop with no thought of your own safety? What if you are in a queue behind a slow moving vehicle and being tailgated? It has happened to me a few times on the Colne to Keighley road. Do you pull in and let the whole queue past, because you can guarantee that once you pull in, no-one in the queue will let you back in again!

Still, yes, I concede that these are corner cases and for most of the time, yes, somewhere will appear within 5 minutes or so. Trouble is, 5 minutes of aggressive tailgating is just as dangerous as 15 minutes of it.

Anyway - Careful out there :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 08:12 AM

I'm a cyclist...


but if I did drive, it'd be a fast engined, mechanically sound large vehicle
with noticably battle scarred bodywork,
which I wouldn't care if it aquired any more new scrapes, minor dents or scratches..
[a bit like my guitars]

Something anybody tailgating in a pristine shiny showroom condition car
ought to take into consideration whilst contemplating clinging to my arse
and risking my safety in an intimidating bullying fashion.


Lets just say I'd be a very 'assertive' driver...


Fortunately, both times I took driving lessions, I was too skint to complete the course and pay for a test..

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 06:39 AM

Ah, I forgot about that recent law change concerning the middle lane. However, the point still stands in that anyone behind the 70mph-you in that middle lane who is hassling you is wanting to break another law, i.e., exceeding the speed limit. Are you doing anyone a favour by stopping him from doing so? I don't think so. And, despite the law, middle-lane hogs are abundant and universal and I've yet to hear of one being prosecuted.

This is always an issue that attracts its fair and hefty share of sanctimony. The thing is, you can always let someone pass. It won't be long before you can find somewhere to stop or pull in for a second. It won't bugger up your life so to do. So do it. The roads are crowded, slow drivers are a pain in the arse and they need to ditch their devilish control-freakery, use their mirrors a bit more, stop arguing with the kids in the back, leave the bloody dog at home and put the burger down on the dashboard. Driving is a gig unto itself. I'd ban for life anyone who cuts the corner on a right turn (sorry, yanks, not you).

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Midchuck
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 06:33 AM

The Highway Code is quite clear, you should drive in the furthest left lane that is safe.

We must have more new immigration from Britain than I ever realized. Because we get quite a few drivers who follow that rule in the US.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 06:06 AM

The legal limit on single carriageways is never more than 60

Indeed, Richard. But it is amazing how accurate the old 10% + 2MPH is when I compare my speedo to the SatNav. The speedo is generaly about 10% more than the SatNav. Speedo is on a 9 year old car, built in Dagenham, with 120K on the clock. SatNav relies on 21st century technology constantly being updated by National Defense organisations and it agrees with those signs that flash your speed at you.

I know which I believe :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 04:43 AM

The "middle lane" on a 3-lane motorway is for overtaking drivers who are in the left hand (UK) lane. And so on. The Highway Code is quite clear, you should drive in the furthest left lane that is safe. In theory it would be possible for a member of the middle lane owners' club to be fined for driving without due care and consideration, if he were obstructing other traffic (who should NOT overtake on his inside) but if he were driving at the speed limit it is hard to envisage it occurring.

The legal limit on single carriageways is never more than 60.

Having said that I am pretty much a press-on driver so rarely get tailgated, although if I have the caravan on the back and am doing the legal limit (plus maybe a mile-an-hour or two, just for luck) I do get frustrated by drivers who are manifestly champing at the bit behind me.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 04:38 AM

Goodness, Steve, I'm not and never have been on any 'moral mission'. I like to get through life as gently and quietly as possible. And at my age, I'm not about to start any retaliation or confrontational action towards any motorist (or any other person either!) I was simply afraid, and felt rather alone in my little Fiesta. I still think the best suggestion here (from many contributors) is to turn off safely where possible and wait a few minutes, then resume the journey sans twit! I haven't mentioned, have I, that the roads were almost completely empty, which made me a bit more scared. If (God forbid) there'd been an accident or a shunt, the mobile signal is nil and one could lie there injured for ages before anyone happened along. Gulp!

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 04:23 AM

Nah, sorry Steve, the guy in the middle lane of the M5 is also breaking the law. You are not comparing like with like there. I don't think it is a question of teaching anyone a lesson either. I am happy to let anyone pass, but only when it is safe and I will not go out of my way for someone who is putting me and others in danger. I'm not that altruistic I'm afraid!

I think we will just have to agree to disagree on this and hope you don't get stuck behind me while you are driving your Mum round the little roads of Pendle at 65 MPH :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 09:40 PM

I've tried to find the right mirror angles to reflect the light into the eyes of the jerks who drive behind me with their high beams on. So far, I haven't figured it out.

Just as well you haven't figured it out. The fact that you haven't figured it out might just save a life. He may be a jerk, but he's also someone's son, husband and dad. Just pull over and let him go.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 09:32 PM

I drive fast at all times but I still get tailgated. I live in Cornwall, a place replete with narrow and twisty country roads. It is rare that I can go for more than a quarter of a mile or so without finding somewhere to pull over to let someone go past. Just let them go. It's easy. If you won't, or make excuses for why you won't, you are actually saying that what your real motive is is to sanctimoniously teach the tailgaters a lesson. Well you just won't manage that. Life's too short. Pull over, save your anxiety and quell their frustration. And the "I'm driving at the speed limit so the tailgaters can bugger off" argument doesn't wash either. In theory, extending that argument, you would be morally correct to stick yourself in the middle lane of the crowded M5 and drive at exactly 70. If you want to find out just what a twattish argument that is, just try doing it. Please report back your findings to this thread. Try to remember that driving is all about getting from A to B, not about setting out on a moral mission to teach flawed human beings in dangerous tin overcoats how to behave. Save that for this thread.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 09:11 PM

I've tried to find the right mirror angles to reflect the light into the eyes of the jerks who drive behind me with their high beams on. So far, I haven't figured it out.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Troubadour
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 07:38 PM

Showing a white light to the rear, in the UK, is an offence, but if I'm tailgated at night with headlights blazing in my mirrors, I dip the interior mirror, then raise the electrically adjustable door mirrors till they reflect the bastard's own lights straight in his eyes. I'm not showing a white light, he is. I'm simply adjusting to avoid being dazzled

It doesn't matter if he stays behind or pulls left or right, he can't get out of the beam.

It never takes more than about twenty seconds before he drops back to a safe distance.

In daytime I just slow gently till he's forced to overtake.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 07:09 PM

Complete rubbish again Stu. You apparently have no idea of the history of highway whereas I have looked at it more than a bit. Look at the FACTS. Recreational 4*4 drivers do more to preserve rights of way than anyone except the Trail Riders' Fellowship - and perhaps the legendary Pat Wilson (one of the good eggs from the Ramblers' Association - they have a lot of twunts but she was never one) at whose approach grown farmers who had ploughed a right of way would pull their own heads off in terror. I walked many a path with her, and learned the true name of "Scratchers Corner".

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 02:33 PM

New bumper sticker needed: "Your need to tailgate does not affect my accelerator. I'll get out of your way when safe to do so."
Trust me, the true arses will be close enough to read all that fine print.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Don Firth
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 01:22 PM

I believe this is the movie mentioned above:   "DUEL".

Both the original short story and the screenplay were written by Richard Matheson. I recall reading it in a magazine a few years before the movie appeared. The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg and I believe it was made for television. That's where I saw it.

Dennis Weaver starred, and the villain was a rusty old tanker truck that began to take on the character of a prehistoric monster. You never get a look at the driver of the truck, other than his left elbow leaning on the window of the truck's cab and one scene in a gas station when you see a pair of booted feet walking around the truck and kicking the tires—waiting while the protagonist finishes his lunch at a nearby lunch counter. Toward the end, when the protagonist decides he's not going to take it anymore, it begins to take on the aspects of a bull fight.

A real white-knuckle thriller!

Here is a full detailed synopsis of the story: CLICKY 2.

BEWARE. SPOILER ALERT!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: meself
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 12:39 PM

Similarly, I will deliberately slow down in a clear passing zone to make it easy for the tailgater to pass - a couple of times, anyway; if they don't take the opportunity, then it's their problem (except that they're still on my tail).

Btw, contrary to popular belief, tailgaters are actually of the crocodile family, and no relation to alligators whatsoever (notice the difference in spelling). Occasionally, tailgaters are confused with gator-tails, with embarrassing and even disastrous consequences.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 12:26 PM

In the US tailgaters can get ticketed.

I don't understand, though, why a person would not pull over and force someone to pass when going through a village? In a village there must be LOTS of places one can do so. If one doesn't want to be obvious about the feint one can pretend to stop at a petrol station.

In my own case, after giving the driver behind me a number of chances to pass me, I accepted it and drove normally the rest of the way.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 11:10 AM

Yes, and a few other watchable variations on this theme...


Murderous stalker driver / demonic posessed vehicle movies probably constitute a sparate genre of their own..

BTW.. the extended unct version of "Death Proof" is the one to look out for on discount DVD shelves..

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 11:02 AM

Wasn't there a film called 'Duel' where a poor chap was followed by a menacing-looking lorry?

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 10:15 AM

At this point I recommend viewing of Quentin Tarantino's movie "Death Proof"

A loving pastiche of 1970's style cheapo exploitation drive in B features...

Regarding a psyco stalker muscle car driver with evil intent

The hi octane car chase in the last 20 minutes should appeal to both perps and victims of tailgating..

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 10:10 AM

I used to hate it when slightly guilty pupils in my class would look at me with wide-open eyes and declare that 'they hadn't done anything wrong, miss'.. But I sincerely believe that I had done nothing whatsoever to antagonise or frustrate this lass. I was doing the speed limit the whole way. She was attached to my rear bumper the whole way. Even through two villages where there are speed cameras, I slowed to 30mph and she stuck there as if glued on. She was lucky, as my correct speed prevented her getting a fine through the post. Our narrow rural roads are all single-carriageway and mostly 60mph but sometimes the limit drops to 50 or even 40. At one point I wondered if she'd follow me right to our front door, and was glad that I knew my husband would be home. I will definitely turn off the main route next time and wait a bit before rejoining it! I have since wondered if she thought I was someone else - perhaps a lady who'd seduced her husband, or pranged her car in the past. If so, her husband must have weird tastes in stout elderly ladies!!

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 07:39 AM

If some twat is tailgating you, the solution is devastatingly simple. Pull over and let him or her pass.

Sorry, Steve, but that may be easier said than done on some roads. While I agree in principle, I have already said I will help anyone overtaking as much as safely possible it is not always easy on some of our roads. Some of the idiot tailgaters don't seem to realise that and seem to believe that if they put their radiator in your back window a place to overtake will miraculously appear. What is more, I have been in the situation where I have slowed down and pulled over to let them pass only to be given two fingers and a load of abuse from the idiot.

There is simply no excuse for tailgating and by saying it is the fault of "a bit of a twat doing 44 in a 60" seems to be justifying their behaviour. Also there are many 60MPH roads near us, and as many near you I suspect, where it would be dangerous to travel at that speed. It is often not a question of being a twat but being sensible about it.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 07:22 AM

I thought we were talking narrow rural roads here. Very few places to pull over and if it's dark you're past them before you know they're there especially with a tailgate right behind you. No, the tailgater is at fault here - you shouldn't be harassing other road users. The ability to drive a motor vehicle on public road is a priviledge granted under the terms of a licence and not a right.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 07:59 PM

If some twat is tailgating you, the solution is devastatingly simple. Pull over and let him or her pass. Be rational here. You are trying to get from A to B, not proving how bloody virile you are by resisting the silly bastard. Pull over. You will get to your destination just as quickly. It's the velvet steering wheel Sunday driver over-80s club that will hold you up, not the tailgater.

The best advice is to get a bloody move on, and use your mirror. I've driven behind people who haven't looked in their mirror for twenty miles. If you're leading a convoy of more than two or three cars, pull over and let them go. I don't care whether you're driving at the bloody speed limit or, sanctimoniously, a few miles below and asserting your moral bloody right. Pull over. The people on your tail are flawed human beings, but they might have wives and kids. They don't deserve to die just because you're being a bit of a twat doing 44 in a 60. Pull over. Keep life sweet. And get your stupid 68.549mph arse out of that middle lane on the M6, otherwise I might have to have you somewhat killed, figuratively speaking of course. Jaysus, these tin overcoats...

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Stu in the ether
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 03:21 PM

Stu, you are an idiot

Seriously? After all these debates I've followed and been involved in that you have too, the best you can do is such a pathetic, unimaginative an ad hominem attack?

It's sad the subtlety if the argument eludes you. I'm well open to some good, robust and direct debate but this is simply sad. Grow up and act like a debate has some nuance beyond the codified nonsense committed to paper for the purpose of oppressing those with not as much money as you. Argue the side of law, but the law's an ass, and today his shown.

It's about respect, an understanding of history, a concern for our common heritage, even beyond our own restricted social and professional circles.

Never took you for a Clarkson.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 03:08 PM

Somebody rig up a couple of UAVs with flashlights and do a Close Encounters UFO flyover to a yummy mummy?

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 02:59 PM

I have driven a tank in my time. They tend to make 3' deep ruts.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Penny S.
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 02:58 PM

There's lots of those women in 4X4s round here. Forcing the other driver approaching them into the hedge while they keep a good foot between themselves and the one their side. Parking in a way in the Waitrose carpark that blocks others from spaces. Forcing oncoming cars to reverse for yards downhill while they cannot reverse to the space they have just passed. No eye contact. No acknowledgment of the courtesy of others. I don't think they see other drivers. And I don't think they have developed the sense of the boundaries of the car that good drivers have.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 02:07 PM

Stu, you are an idiot. A driver should never "surge forwards regardless" - but idiotic wearers of goatshair socks often choose to try to obstruct drivers precisely where they will get stuck if they stop.

You plainly know nothing about the history of "green lanes". There are, historically, three levels of rights of way. Footway, Bridleway, and Cartway. It is total rubbish to assert that "green lanes" are for walkers - unless you are talking about footpaths, where there should be no pedal cycles, no horses, and no wheeled vehicles other than hand-propelled. Bridleways are open to pedal cyclists so long as they give way to horses (I bet most mountain bikers don't know that). Byways are and RUPPS should be (depending on your view of the law) open to all traffic.

Historically bridleways and vehicular rights of way (the designations "byway" and "RUPP" are relatively modern) were churned up morasses of three feet of mud, in which people could and did drown or suffocate, in the wet season.

And you want history to be re-written so you can mince around on a nice surface.

If you want to walk in solitary exclusion - USE A FOOTPATH. Otherwise share with other lawful users and offer mutual consideration.

Oh - and only an idiot leaves his sounds on when offroad - he needs to hear what the vehicle is doing, and what the ground and foliage are doing.

You really have no idea at all about off-road drivers, do you? ONLY farm tractors can make those two foot deep ruts. No domestic 4*4 known on earth can do that. Some of the exotica with portal axles might manage it, but they are as common as rockinghorse shit - a bit like sense from you.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 01:55 PM

Adjusting the windshield washer nozzles so that much of the water goes over the roof. It's fun to see the tailgater running his washers, and probably blessing me.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Don Firth
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 01:49 PM

It was only a short time after "Goldfinger" went the rounds of the movie theaters, the Aston Martin went on tour of British automobile agencies. The stunt driver who did Sean Connery's driving in the more hairy scenes went with the car and gave talks about the car at British car dealerships around the country (U.S.) and it was at the Seattle dealership that a friend of mine and I went to have a look and listen.

There it sat, in the middle of the show room floor with the stunt driver (who resembled Connery a bit) standing by. The Aston Martin was surrounded by some pretty nice iron, Jaguars, both sports cars and saloons, a couple of shiny Rolls', some others I didn't recognize……   They were to drool over!

The driver said that everything in the car—with the exception of the passenger ejection seat—actually worked. The explosion of the shell that ejected the seat would have killed or seriously injured the driver as well as blowing the passenger out through the roof. The axle that extended with the tire-cutting buzz-saw also worked, but he said it was sufficiently delicate that they installed it only when they were going to use it. But he said to bring the car into the United States, they had to remove the machine guns under the front fenders.

One gizmo that they didn't use in the movies (at least by the time the car was on tour) he said was totally impractical for the stated purpose. The ram bumpers. The front and rear bumpers would extend about three feet and were intended to be used to ram another car.   But, he said, they actually would not have protected the Aston Martin that much. He went on to say that they did have one practical use, however. If you parked, just extend the bumpers (they extended about three feet, for and aft) and nobody could block you in. If they did, all you needed to do was retract the bumpers and you'd have six feet of room to maneuver in.

But progress progresses. Recently, I've seen commercials on television for a couple of new cars that have detectors and computers on board that will automatically maintain a safe distance between it and the next car ahead. Collision avoidance device. If that gets around, it should solve the tailgating problem. The driver's own car with not allow the car to tailgate.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Nasty looking old git
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 10:25 AM

Actually we're getting to a point in time now when a generation of punkrockers, bikers, skinheads and crusties,
all resplendant with facial tattoos and piercings,
are getting very close to retirement pension age...

Some of the oldest are already knocking on 70 or more.

Maybe more than a few are mudcatters ???


Now you really should think twice before looking in the rear view mirror to see the face of the driver following you.....

Be very afraid !!!!

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: PHJim
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 10:14 AM

Posted by Anonymous GUEST
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 03:37 AM
"You should have been cited.
Even if going the speed limit law enforcement had every right to pull you over for speeds so low they are dangerous or impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic.
It is old people like you that are a hazard and should have their privilege to drive revoked. I hope she noted your number and turned it over to the police. A few more notices and perhaps we can get you off the streets."

GUEST, Do you mean to say that police can ticket someone for not breaking the speed limit? What is the point of having posted speed limits if you're expected to exceed them.
I do feel that a driver who stays in the passing lane when not passing someone deserves to be ticketed, but Eliza made it clear that she was driving on a single lane road with no place to pull over.
Do you consider exceeding the speed limit to be "the normal and reasonable flow of traffic"?
I see some intolerance in your comment about, "It is old people like you..." This seems to indicate that a young person who drives at the posted speed is fine, but not old people.

Eliza, I wish that you hadn't mentioned the age, cigarette and piercings of the driver, since they should not have made a difference to the story. I'm sure the tailgating would have been just as scary if it had been a well groomed, non smoking senior citizen wearing a suit.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Stu
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 06:37 AM

"But around my neck of the woods they're usually driven by "yummy mummies" and used mainly for shopping or school runs."

Funny you should say that, as we were tailgated by a WAG on the same road as the other incident but going the other way and during the daytime. When we got to the main junction and shrugged our shoulders at her she was rather impolite in her reply. Same happened when I pointed out to a rather posh lady that parking her 4x4 in a disabled parking space was a tad selfish.

I have to say I'm not a big fan of cars; horrid, smelly and quite unlovely in appearance (except for Morris travellers) these days they're all plastic and samey, unless you're minted. We used to have two and didn't replace the oldest when we ran it into the ground (it had mushrooms growing on the carpet) for environmental and cash reasons, although we could afford another if we really wanted to. We live in small village a couple of miles from the local market town so I walk in some days, but there's no doubt only having one car means compromising on some 'personal freedom' and can be pretty frustrating. What the heck, you gotta do what you can and it's a small proce to pay. Our other car's a Skoda estate and we can just about get our market stall into it, although it's a squeeze.

Our real problem is the local council stopped our bus service in the evening and on Sundays, and this is a real pain in the arse. The village has a large number of old folk as there is still actual council housing here and they are now stuck at night. Also, the cost is ridiculous about £2.70 for three milestone way.

Still not getting another car though.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Ed T
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 06:11 AM

When driving a car, it is especially annoying and distracting to be tailgated at night by a vehicle with bright, highly placed, lights, such as some trucks, vans and SUVs.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Stu
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 05:14 AM

"Modern metalling did not exist 1,000 years ago"

A mistake in the way I phrased the sentence. The metalling is thought to be much later than the lane itself, which is hollowed into the landscape. There is nowhere for walkers or horse riders to get out of the way as the sides are around four feet deep of peat. Drivers can be pretty aggressive, very often they don't wait why you scrabble into the Wimberries in a panic as they surge forward regardless. To be fair, it's not just the tiny willy wagons of the moneyed aspirational middle class that are tearing up the local green lanes; those lunatics on motorbikes are as equally dangerous and destructive. Motors of any kind on green lanes, hollow roads and other ancient byways are like clouds - when they fuck off it's a nice day.


"The vast preponderance of recreational 4*4 users know that they must tread lightly."

How do you "tread lightly" in 3/4 ton of metal and plastic? Do you fit noise suppressors to your exhaust? Scrub the air clean on your way past? Get out and replace the displaced cobbles your 100's of quid-a-pop tyres have dislodged? Do you turn the stereo down? Can you hear the Curlews over the engine?

"You seem to wish only to sanitise and Disneyfy it."

Yeah right. You have no idea where I'm even talking about, and the landscape I walk in is far from Disneyfied. Green lanes were meant for walkers and not for lumbering, unsightly and noisy great 4x4s. I would suggest staying off them in motors would be the way to show respect and understanding for these ancient routes and the people that use them. Is there nowhere we can walk without a fucking car chugging into view and imposing it's soul-sapping noise and fume on us?

Aren't there bits of land put aside for wannabe Clarksons to get their yah-yahs without making the rest of us scramble for safety every time their air-conditioned-cut-off-from-the-environment-they're-wrecking boxy frames hove into view?

Each to his own, and although it's not my thing I can see the temptation in having a mighty car called "Warrior" or "Thunder" to enable you to rise above the rest of the great unwashed. Having used them in the US on dinosaur digs as utility vehicles I can understand their worth. Heck, it is fun being off road in one as I can attest. Thing is, once it's gone it's gone, something the Top Gear crowd seem unwilling or unable to appreciate. Our green lanes and hollow tracks are not the place for these monsters.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 03:26 AM

I realise that some folk become very annoyed when tailgated, but I have to say I was more frightened than angry. After I'd safely reached home I was a bit trembly. I reckon it was the woman's expression and strange face-piercings. I've since wondered if she's one of those numpties who think the speed limit on a single carriageway is 70mph, whereas it most definitely is not, it's 60mph.
I've been looking up various motoring sites online, and most say not to do anything provocative, and not to touch the brakes etc. or slow down to annoying levels. They advise moving over to let the twit past, or turning off temporarily (a bit of a nuisance, but defensive driving is never easy!) My husband said he'd take the line of least resistance, with the aim of ending up with the stupid thing in front, not behind.
But fantasy is always amusing. I've imagined owning a Bond car and letting rip with rear-mounted guns, oil fountains and H2S gas. Then zoom off with a nasty satisfied smirk... Ha!

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: JennieG
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 01:13 AM

I've been waiting for the "Goldfinger" car to make an appearance! I would love one of those, it would be such fun......

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Don Firth
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 01:01 AM

Anybody remember the James Bond movie "Goldfinger?"

Q issued Bond a rather neat automobile, an Aston Martin DB5 with some very useful accessories. Among other things, at the touch of a button, a couple of vents would open on the rear of the car and spray either an oil slick or a rain of caltrops (little gizmos with spikes that would do a number on the tires of any car following—first designed centuries ago to injure the hooves of horses ridden by charging knights—nasty!).

It also had two .30 cal. machine guns, mounted under the front fenders.

Several nice things that would come in handy when the traffic gets a bit to hectic.

The car became a movie star in its own right. It appeared in several of the James Bond movies, even outlasting Sean Connery.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Amos
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 10:47 PM

THe brake pedal usually will turn the brake lights on BEFORE it engages the actual brakes, so one option is to flash your brake lights at the tailgater, which (if he is rational) would induce him to slow down a bit--if you accelerate at the same time you can get away from the jerk until you get to a safe layby.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 10:33 PM

Rubbish Stu. The AWDC do far more to protect preserve and repair green lanes (byways and RUPPS) than the Ramblers and local councils combined. I know because I've been out on the work parties. AWDC members know perfectly well that others have prior right of passage - I've often pulled over and turned off (when I had a 4*4) to let horses or walkers past. It's hardly ever the owners of expensive flash 4*4s who use them off road. Most damage is done by farmers. The vast preponderance of recreational 4*4 users know that they must tread lightly. Your ignorance is compounded by your reference to an alleged 1,000 year old METALLED green lane. I don't believe it. Modern metalling did not exist 1,000 years ago. Historic rights of way are being lost to the exclusive use of lords and farmers. The AWDC preserves heritage. You seem to wish only to sanitise and Disneyfy it.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 09:51 PM

In at least a couple of provinces in Canada (and I would expect in other jurisdictions too) there are at least 2 laws governing speed, and the one that wins in court is not necessarily the maximum speed law. I cannot cite chapter and verse but there are folks who've been ticketed for misuse of the passing lane when said drivers were going the posted maximum speed while traffic backed up behind them. Recently there has been a police campaign (I forget in which province) to warn and ticket drivers who use the left lane for other than passing. Even if going the speed limit. It would seem that blocking traffic is more illegal than speeding. That said, if you decide to speed and then have an accident, of course the law will be against you.
Conclusion: There is no perfect way to balance practicality with safety and with the vagaries of human nature.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: LadyJean
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 09:45 PM

A friend of a friend rigged up his trunk (boot in British) so it would open, and a tube that wasn't a cannon, but certainly looked like one, came out. It had quite an effect on tailgaters. I only wish I had one.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Ed T
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 09:40 PM

"Im not tailgating I'm just tring to keep my bumper on."
 

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 09:37 PM

I just remembered one occasion when I understood the reason for my being tailgated.

On my way home to the Oregon Coast from the Willamette Valley on a dark rainy night- this was before they made the changes to the road, straightening many parts and taking out many curves altogether - I came down a slope to standing water. My car went into a slide, gliding over the pool. I immediately took my foot off the gas and went slower from then on.

The car behind me stayed followed me the rest of the way. When I got to the lit areas I saw it was a young woman. Obviously she had decided to let the car in front of her test the waters. :)

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 08:37 PM

For firing H2S capsules, consider a shrunk-down spud gun tapped off the exhaust.