Feature: Tailgating, it isn't big, it isn't clever, but it IS dangerous

[Bob]

My latest Huffington Post column, on tailgating and it's increase:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/bob-..._b_966771.html

Hope you find interesting.

Thanks,

Bob

[PrincessBandit]

No surprises in there - only that something so obvious needs to spelt out to road idjits. Sure, the frustration of sitting behind someone doing 85 on the open road in good conditions (i.e. no noticeable reason why they shouldn't be doing 100) is one of my pet hates. Cop it all the time heading out to Pukekohe from Manure-wa. And the bar-stardos have taken away one of the two passing lanes (the first one which was just a couple of k's after the Drury offramp) so there is only the one longer passing lane up by the golf course to get past the local snails...

Tailgating though has got to be one of the most dangerous and rude offences motorists can commit. I've had it several times when already somewhat exceeding the speed limit. If I can pull over to let them past, fine. If there is nowhere to do that - tough shit. One of the first things I taught my kids when they were driving is not to be intimidated by bullies on the road, but also the discretion to remove themselves as early as possible from a potentially dangerous situation if need be.

[slofox]

If I'm in a car, I just slow down to increase the clear space in front of me - so that if the shit hits the fan, I have room to make a stop in a manner that forestalls the idiot behind crashing into me. Given a chance, I will let idiotface pass and give him (or her) the evils as he (or she) does so.

If I'm on the bike, I usually just drag the bastard off. Only exception is if the bike is cold (I live right on the edge of town). If this is the case, I move left and wave the follower through.

[oneofsix]

Good point regarding the details regarding speed and distance not really working when on the road but the 2/4 second rule and seeing the mirrors does. I remember the hassle having to remember different stopping distances at different speeds to answer the question but stuffed if I could have judged the distances involved. The questions would have been better in the form of how many seconds and why, I think people don't realise how long it takes to react.

[Bob]

The problem here in the UK is that it is becoming more and more common for this to happen when you are in the inside lane already. So there is nowhere to go.

If you're pootering in the outside lane (or middle/outside lanes on a motorway), then you should move over. But if you're already in the inside (slow) lane, what are you supposed to do?

Of course, we are talking about a country with speed cameras all over the roads. These cameras are always marked clearly, with the speed limit clearly shown. But you can guarantee that no matter how far inside the speed limit the driver is, he will ALWAYS slow down as there is a camera!

What needs to happen is for the car driving test to be made harder. But the government that tries that will be an ex-government at the next election.

[oneofsix]

The problem here in the UK is that it is becoming more and more common for this to happen when you are in the inside lane already. So there is nowhere to go.

If you're pootering in the outside lane (or middle/outside lanes on a motorway), then you should move over. But if you're already in the inside (slow) lane, what are you supposed to do?

Of course, we are talking about a country with speed cameras all over the roads. These cameras are always marked clearly, with the speed limit clearly shown. But you can guarantee that no matter how far inside the speed limit the driver is, he will ALWAYS slow down as there is a camera!

What needs to happen is for the car driving test to be made harder. But the government that tries that will be an ex-government at the next election.

We see the same. I remember about 30 yrs ago the driver of a car "pushing" the guy in front even though the right lane was empty, seems he just habitually drove too close.
I am not sure if the harder test is the answer. I think people put on the act for the test anyhow. We have to renew ours licenses every 10 years and I would like to see a once over lightly resit involved along the lines of a computer game so it doesn't take long or cost much. It could programmed to target the mistakes common for the demographics of the applicant, open highway with passing lane and then urban with round about for older drivers, slow driving or kids situation for the young males etc.

[shrub]

It's one of my pet irritations, and I hate to say it, but the worst culprits are women. If I'm on my bike I pull over, wave them past and shake my head as the overtake, but in the car I am a little less conciliatory. I tap the brakes to flash the lights, and if the drop back, all good, but if they don't drop back I tap again, only this time actually brake, then hit the gas before they hit me. Usually scares the crap out of them when they realise how close to a crash they are.

A few months ago I was driving down one of the badly damaged roads here and a woman in a white station wagon was up my arse, so I tapped the brakes and she swore at me and gave me the fingers. Just ahead was a massive pothole - a metre wide and about half a metre deep, and right in our wheeltracks. At the last minute I swerved around it, but she didn't have time. The last I saw of her was stopped in the middle of the road.

I laughed.

[Zedder]

It's one of my pet irritations, and I hate to say it, but the worst culprits are women. If I'm on my bike I pull over, wave them past and shake my head as the overtake, but in the car I am a little less conciliatory. I tap the brakes to flash the lights, and if the drop back, all good, but if they don't drop back I tap again, only this time actually brake, then hit the gas before they hit me. Usually scares the crap out of them when they realise how close to a crash they are.

A few months ago I was driving down one of the badly damaged roads here and a woman in a white station wagon was up my arse, so I tapped the brakes and she swore at me and gave me the fingers. Just ahead was a massive pothole - a metre wide and about half a metre deep, and right in our wheeltracks. At the last minute I swerved around it, but she didn't have time. The last I saw of her was stopped in the middle of the road.

I laughed.

Yep, they usually do the swearing and finger bit "How dare you tell me I'm being a f'wit and driving unsafely". Stuff em!

Great outcome!

[Shadowjack]

Tailgaters...I don't like them.
Travelling Friday afternoon in Riccarton, from Straven Road on to Clarence St and trying to negotiate the merging lanes by the mall entrance and stuff, I had a lady try a squeeze-play to merge with my left tailpipe . I looked over my left shoulder and commented, in a loud voice, that she should have sex and travel. At which point, I realised two things: that my visor was up; and that her window was down.
The result was the emergence of a 50 metre gap behind me as I continued on my journey.

[DEATH_INC.]

Hi, I'm DEATH and I'm a tailgater
And all you wankers that putt along at less than 100 and whatever I want to go and refuse to move over can get stuffed. And the last guy that tried the tap on the brakes soon learnt that doesn't work with a mad ginger with a 4wd
Oh yeh, better point out I don't tailgate bikes when I'm driving, in fact I leave a bigger gap than most do.

[Clockwork]

Oddly enough when I'm on the bike I don't let it bother me too much. I reason that as they can see past me then they have as good a view to any hazards ahead as I do. If I can stop in time for them I reason they should be able to too.

[Indiana_Jones]

Doesn't bother me so much when I'm in the car, but I hate it when I'm riding.

Tail gating only gets you into the back of the person quicker. Nothing else.

-Indy

[Zedder]

Hi, I'm DEATH and I'm a tailgater
And all you wankers that putt along at less than 100 and whatever I want to go and refuse to move over can get stuffed. And the last guy that tried the tap on the brakes soon learnt that doesn't work with a mad ginger with a 4wd
Oh yeh, better point out I don't tailgate bikes when I'm driving, in fact I leave a bigger gap than most do.

"Mad ginger with a 4wd"...... Nah, that's Te Radar.

[DrunkenMistake]

had a few people do it to me before on the bike,
I give quick slap of front brake then roll back on the throttle, gives them a good fright.

[Road kill]

Yep tailgaters suck.
If I'm in my ute I just flip the inside mirror into nighttime mode and totaly ignore my side mirrors.
In my truck,,fuck em' I wheigh up to 35 tonne,,,they can get as close as they like an it still won't be me that dies.
On my bike ,other than the odd middle aged salesman in the company car,I don't get many,,and I only put up with them as long as I have to "then just fuck when I can.
I've been on two KB rides,,who ever those clowns were,,they were the worse tailgaters I've ever come across,,,,not enough skill to go around an old fart on a twisty road,,,but total taillight fixation,,,,fucking unreal and "never" again.