BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 04:19 AM

Penny, did you not look in your mirror before overtaking, and did you not see a car coming up fast? I remember once long ago on the M2 (2 lane motorway) I was in the outside lane in a Daf 66 estate, fully loaded with a PA rig, and there was a queue of us waiting for one lorry to get past another: we all wanted to overtake both.

The faster truck cleared, and pulled in, leaving a small but slowly growing gap between itself and the slower truck. The cars ahead of me accelerated through, past both trucks, and I put my foot down and waited to gather way. A car appeared behind me, but I had started my overtaking manoeuvre and was already alongside the slow lorry. I finished overtaking both lorries and the plainclothes police car behind me put his flashing lights on, pulled me over, and tried to tell me that I should either have aborted the overtaking manoeuvre completely, or pulled in behind the faster lorry, to let him by.

I wasn't going to argue because if he'd taken me to a weighbridge I was probably well overloaded - but I thought then that he was wrong and I still do. Until he lit up, the fact that he was a plod was indiscernible. But if he was right you too should have let the faster car through.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 06:31 AM

Until he lit up, the fact that he was a plod was indiscernible. But if he was right you too should have let the faster car through.

If he had switched his lights on during your passing manoeuvre then, yes, you should have made an effort to get out of the way, abandoning your overtake if necessary. As he was not showing any light or sounding a siren until after you had completed the pass then he was just another road user. He was not right - he should have allowed you to complete your legal move and then taken his turn.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 07:55 AM

I agree with Doug. If there is sufficient time to pull out and start overtaking at the legal speed limit, without causing the car behind to brake sharply then that person will have to do what the rest of us have to do when sitting behind slower moving vehicles that are overtaking the slow ones and that is bring the speed down to avoid collision.

I've been in Penny's situation on that same road - quite often the tailgater is a fair way up the road before I start overtaking, far enough away for me to make my move and get back in lane, at the legal limit, without inconveniencing them, and it's purely the fact that they are going well above the limit that puts them on my tail while I'm still in the overtaking lane.

Sounds like, in your case Richard, that the plod were using their status to excuse their own wrongdoing.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 06:47 PM

If you're absolutely intent on not exceeding 70, and you wish to overtake traffic travelling at, say, 68, then you are are going to take a very long time to overtake. This is not a safe situation to be in for several reasons. First, the vehicle you are overtaking may not be aware of your presence in his blind spot, in which you will be lingering for an awfully long time. Second, vehicles behind you who, understandably, want to overtake far more decisively than you appear to want to, will be frustrated by the fact that your tardy manoeuvre may actually prevent their overtaking at all. Third, you are taking far too long over a move that is full of potential hazards. If you wish to overtake, do it quickly and decisively. If you can overtake only by taking ages over it because of your speed limit obsession, then stay back and don't overtake. Otherwise, you're a bloody menace to other road-users.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: kendall
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 08:10 PM

In this country, road rage can get you killed.
I have a motto: I drive my car, you drive yours, and never the twain shall meet.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: kendall
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 08:13 PM

Everyone has a cell phone these days, and we are encouraged to report aggressive drivers to the police.

The windshield washer stunt works.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Troubadour
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 08:26 PM

"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."

It's not about teaching any lessons, but rather about persuading the perpetrator to drop back to a safe position, and remember, there are places where pulling over isn't an option.

Try it on a motorway like M25 when you are in a three lane 60mph traffic jam and the prick behind is trying to force you, and everyone else, to get out of his way. If the guy in front of you sneezes, you're going to have chummy in your boot.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Ed T
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 08:40 PM

There clearly seems to be different circumstances that warrant different actions. That being considered, acting like "a tough guy", and taking these people on in an emotionally charged situation has the potential of making a bad situation even worse.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: HuwG
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 10:33 PM

My two penn'orth. In January, I started a new job on the far side of Sheffield, which makes it necessary to drive over two of the most notorious road in Britain daily - the A57 (Snake Pass) and A628 (Woodhead). The Snake is especially nasty; between the outskirts of Sheffield and the environs of Glossop at the other end of the pass, there are perhaps four places where overtaking at speed is possible.

I know both roads well and have a set of pace notes running in my head. I can usually spot those unfamiliar with the road, as they usually brake hard for approaching bends not knowing how sharp or otherwise they may be. I invariably keep my distance. If need be, I can always pounce, on one of the overtaking stretches. That doesn't stop some impatient idiots tailgating first me, then the dawdler in front when I have let the idiot past.

What the impatient ones seem to have in common is a 2.0 TDi engine of some sorts, boasting 200+ hp. (My car had 89 hp when built in 1996 and four previous not-so-careful owners have cost it some of these horses.) I do not regard excessive speed on the Snake as proof of skilful driving, since anyone can floor a throttle.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Jun 14 - 06:00 AM

Interestingly, if you are too close behind another vehicle, it makes overtaking harder as your field of view is limited. Best way is to hang back and when you spot the approaching opportunity, accelerate before you pull out. Don't forget to leave enough room to abort the manoeuvre in case of changed circumstances!

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 29 Jun 14 - 06:19 AM

I agree, kendall, that everyone has a mobile phone these days. But here there just isn't any kind of signal. Norfolk is a notorious flat spot for phone signals and also Broadband speeds. Mine is in the car but never turned on, as it's pointless. Only in Norwich does it work.
Secondly, I don't believe this woman even wanted to overtake me. She could have done so at almost any time, as the road was completely empty. She must have been fiendishly enjoying hassling me; I can think of no other reason.
I wouldn't dream of 'teaching anyone a lesson' on the road. I merely wanted to finish my journey in safety. I never drive on a Motorway, because, as I said, there are none in Norfolk. But in the past I have done so when visiting Prisons. I've been all over England doing that, and the only problem was that my tiny car could be unseen by huge lorries, and sandwiched in between them. I'm fascinated by the number of posts on this thread. It seems many people have had similar problems with tailgating. It's an aggressive world out there on the roads apparently!

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 29 Jun 14 - 04:58 PM

the dodgy part in passing heavy trucks is when you are level with the cab , since the driver is higher up. when you are still alongside the trailer he should be able to see you very well in his mirror.
it is advisable not to get too close ,as sometimes it might stray a bit if the driver is tired. he should really turn off and have a coffee or a sleep, but unfortunately there is usually a boss on his back to deliver or load on time.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Jun 14 - 07:17 PM

There's always a way of letting the prick get past you. It requires two things, according, of course, to your gender. Use your mirror and lose your testosterone. People get so worked up about this. Your aim is to get to your destination safely. If some brainless imbecile is threatening you from behind, do all in your power to let him pass. You passed your driving test, remember? By now you should have developed sufficient resourcefulness to deal with a tailgater, and there's only one way: let him pass!

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 30 Jun 14 - 01:06 PM

Steve, in Eliza's case the tailgater had plenty of opportunity to pass (those Norfolk roads are long and straight in a lot of places) but chose not to do that. In those circumstances, and being a lone female in the car and with no mobile phone signal, I would not on any account stop to let it past as that could be exactly what the tailgater wanted her to do. Maybe, as females, we think more defensively than do most men, but there is always the thought that we could be vulnerable to attack in such a circumstance

I think Eliza did exactly the right thing in the circumstances.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Jun 14 - 02:38 PM

It's easy to let a prick pass you. It's quite difficult, on a 2-lane road, to force them to.
Lots of places here where you can't pull off the side of the road, and have to turn or pull into a driveway. And no, I don't stop at night, and might not in the day. Eliza was being tailgated by someone who exhibited irrational, aggressive behavior. I would not want to make the situation worse than having a jerk trying to get conjugal with your boot.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Aug 14 - 11:53 PM

Just adding "Highwaymen" (2004)to the list of movies.

This would make a superb double bill with "Death Proof"

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 24 Aug 14 - 07:06 AM

http://arstechnica.com/cars/2014/07/the-beauty-of-zipper-merging-or-why-you-should-drive-ruder/

Read this recently and it opened my mind about some things. The best is the comment section, which (like this one : ) really gives you a nice collection of different frames of mind/filters.

Seems like it's like all of life: it goes along better if we figure out what works best, then agree to follow the rules. But there'll always be outliers, bullies and cheats. Trick is to learn to just get out of the way and let them be, without letting them get to you. I daily work on this : )

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Aug 14 - 10:44 AM

I disagree with their ideal way of zipper merging. If you move out of the soon-to-end lane early, all the cars behind you will zoom past. The slow-down will happen regardless, but it will be slower in the merged-into lane because it's already full of early mergers in it.

Every once in a while, I've noticed a big truck move over to block the zoom-by merge lane, and if he's ahead of me, I save his space. It really does work better as a zipper and not a main-lane and a bypss-lane.

I've also let two people in in front of me when I notice the guy behind me has cut off the car that should have zipped in.

DC Beltway drives are experts in zipper merging, IMO. Not to mention skilled (most of the time) bumper riding.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Mysha
Date: 24 Aug 14 - 06:02 PM

Hi,

I do encounter the occasional slow traffic. I see no reason to stay close behind them, so I will usually be several lengths behind. Mostly, I just take the time to view whatever is there to see, and wait until we go different ways. If I'm in a hurry, which happens sometimes, I wait until I see a spot coming up where I can use the gap between us to create overtaking speed, and quickly pass.

On the other hand, I often have cars hanging behind me, and usually I let them pass as soon as I can, even if there may be an opportunity for them to do so on their own later on. Gets me a fair amount of thank-you waves.

But some people have minds that are geared differently, and I'd say that's the reason not to challenge them with lights and things like that: Not too long ago, a car stayed behind me; I could not slow down drastically, to use some escape off the road, as they would have driven into me. I would make as much room as I could but even with no other traffic present they would not pass. Where my speed went down as I went uphill, theirs would go down as far as mine.

Eventually, having lost some speed - don't recall through what road feature - I steered into the grass, put down one foot, and pivoted while pulling my bicycle from the road. They drove passed and accelerated.

Fortunately, there was no need to continue the manoeuvre by cycling the other way while they stopped. I did decide to take an early lunch break to calm down a bit, though. Now, obviously, someone who stays behind my bicycle like that, does it to displease me; there's no other explanation. There must be something in their minds that tells them to do so, but I don't know what. But since their minds work differently, it's probably wisest not to challenge them.

Bye
                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Aug 14 - 08:38 PM

Like Jeri, I have driven on the Wash.DC beltway (I-495) and experienced the merging issue. I tend to merge IF I see easy access, but in heavy traffic, getting someone to allow you in may be chancy. I then maintain the basic speed of the thru lane until there is an opening- or until I reach the final merge point, where someone will always allow you a turn.
Sounds fair & reasonable, hmmm? But all too often the cars behind me in the lane do not see it that way. They consider this the opportunity to pass 30-40 cars and bull their way in near the merge point. I have on two occasions been in a backup where there was no blockage in the main lanes, and only a breakdown lane to my right... and here came the daring ones,roaring up the illegal lane, and crowding in somewhere up ahead!
One day, I finally got tired of it and pulled my VW van into the breakdown lane just enough to keep them from passing. Oh my! Interfering with their God-given right to be greedy! Interestingly enough, the driver behind me in the legal lane approved, and left me space, so that when I saw flashing lights of emergency vehicles coming to deal with the accident up ahead (which is what that lane was supposed to be kept free for), I could merge left and let them pass.... of course, a few scofflaws also got by. Then I moved back to the right. When we came to an exit road, I moved back into my lane and watched *2* out of 20-30 cars actually exit. The rest did their zoom & crowd number and I just gave up for the next ten minutes or so till we passed the accident.
Yes, I know, I could have been bumped from the rear... and car # 17 'might' have had someone with a weak bladder & too much beer acting in desperation ... but it all worked out, thanks to the guy behind who cooperated with my efforts.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Aug 14 - 04:23 PM

Attach a very powerful generator to your alternator belt and run a ten gauge wire to your back bumper where your hidden electro magnet resides. If a tailgater gets within a foot, hit the ON button.

You may now drive to the nearest police station, bar, whorehouse or destination of your choice and drop off your tailgater who now most likely has an electrically challenged engine that just won't start.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Aug 14 - 04:53 PM

Oh right! I can just see the trick becoming widespread and lines of 47 vehicles appearing at a police station..*grin*

My personal scary story: I was sent by an employer around the beltway to pick up some sheets of specially cut glass for a project. I drove a VW van, and the glass was packed carefully and flat on the rear deck.. above the engine.
On the way home, it began to rain, and became moderately heavy. The beltway was 4 lanes wide, and I was in the 2nd lane from the shoulder, lights on as required. Speed limit was 55MPH, but even that seemed excessive with the amount of traffic and the rain. Up behind me came a semi...(truck with 40 ft, trailer)... he evidently did not approve of my speed (right near the 55 limit) and came up close to me and flashed his lights. With the gloom & spray I simply could not see to change lanes safely, and cars were fairly close in all lanes. Because he was so close, it was even harder to see past HIM in either mirror! He would back off a bit, then speed up, trying to bully me into getting out of his way. I tried slowing gradually, hoping he would pass, but then he blew his horn!
After a very tense several minutes I was coming to my exit and HAD to move to the right, so I sped up to what was NOT a safe speed, and found one small space to get over.
   Typing this does NOT convey the sheer panic I had, wondering what he was capable of.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: bbc
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 03:56 AM

Trying to drive safely & responsibly & being made to feel vulnerable like that is awful, Bill! I'm glad things turned out ok! So many folks become insulated, within their cars, & lose sight of the humanity of their fellow drivers. Very scary! Wish there was a way to turn that around.

Best,

Barbara