Dealing with tailgaters (split posts)

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by Brodick

Infact some prat came flying up to the back of me today on the A9
near Auchterarder I was in the outside lane and there was traffic infront of me I was still doing around 68 mph so I just lifted my foot of the gas pedal a little and watched his face when it was safe I passed the slower traffic and let him pass ( he just stuck his foot down again -but I wasn't getting out of his way )

When an idiot does that to me I tap the break that always make them pull back and stay away

[CivPilot]

Originally Posted by Topcat

When an idiot does that to me I tap the break that always make them pull back and stay away

Something that if stopped by BIB will get you a huge slap on the wrist, large fine and points for dangerous driving. Which is far more severe then speeding as far as your insurance goes.

Try this non dangerous way to get rid of tail gaters, wash you windscreen for a few seconds longer than required. If they are too close they will end up with a nice spray that requires them to wash thier screen whilst not actually causing any danger. Nine times out of ten this will force them to drop back, if it doesnt, well simply repeat. And if all else fails, reduce your speed slightly and where you can give them time and space to overtake you. Better to have a prat like that in front of you than behind.

NEVER break test. NEVER. NEVER. NEVER.


ps. The universal term for middle lane drivers (as used by several BIB I know so semi official ) is MLM= Middle Lane Moron.

[Foggy69]

Originally Posted by CivPilot

Try this non dangerous way to get rid of tail gaters, wash you windscreen for a few seconds longer than required. If they are too close they will end up with a nice spray that requires them to wash thier screen whilst not actually causing any danger. Nine times out of ten this will force them to drop back, if it doesnt, well simply repeat.
ps. The universal term for middle lane drivers (as used by several BIB I know so semi official ) is MLM= Middle Lane Moron.

For most motorist, I don't suppose a splash of water on their windscreen matters, but somebody stupid enough to tailgate obviously doesn't care about themselves or their car. The number of cars I see with windscreen wiper rubbers hanging off is scary, especially in the UK. So if this particular moron is behind you, with a fag papers width between the cars, the LAST thing you want to do is blind him

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by CivPilot

Something that if stopped by BIB will get you a huge slap on the wrist, large fine and points for dangerous driving. Which is far more severe then speeding as far as your insurance goes.
NEVER break test. NEVER. NEVER. NEVER.

If some moron wants to speed up behind me when I am travelling at an adequate speed then its their look out if I tap the break, note I say tap and not slam on the break!! If they hit me then its their job to prove that I had no reason to break as far as I am concerned.

I was driving down a back street once going over speed bumps with my daughter in the car (she was about a month old at the time) and some stupid white van driver was almost in my boot, bear in mind my hormones were all over the place I became to angry I stopped the car got out and gave him a real earful he was really apologetic (I think he thought I was some irrational mad woman).

Yesterday I had a bus driver doing the same thing we were in a line of traffic waiting at the lights, everytime we edged forward he was inches away from the back of the car (Honda Jazz courtesy car and I really dont want it getting damaged) he did this about 4 times and it really p****d me off so the next time we were supposed to move along I sat there AND he edged up another inch

[Bungle]

Originally Posted by Topcat

If some moron wants to speed up behind me when I am travelling at an adequate speed then its their look out if I tap the break, note I say tap and not slam on the break!! If they hit me then its their job to prove that I had no reason to break as far as I am concerned.

As most of you know I'm an Approved Driving Instructor and I do try not to preach on here about driving, but this does concern me.

I full appreciate what you are saying TC, and believe me, I used to do the exact same thing in a previous life, but it really is dangerous and aggresive to tap brakes in this situation. Just say the other driver does hit you, consider the way they are driving in the first place, how sure can you be they have insurance?

Honestly, the best thing to do is just increasy the gap between you and the car in font of there is one, if not, reduce your speed slightly. Reason being you have more time to react and can therefor brake slower and reduce the chances of an accident in the form of being hit up the chuff.


Defensive driving, which involves keeping a safety bubble around you the whole time, and looking out for potential hazards and being ready for them really does make driving less stressful and more enjoyabe

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by Bungle

Honestly, the best thing to do is just increasy the gap between you and the car in font of there is one, if not, reduce your speed slightly. Reason being you have more time to react and can therefor brake slower and reduce the chances of an accident in the form of being hit up the chuff.

if I were in a situation where someone is trying to see what I have in my boot, wouldn't reducing my speed make him/her more likely to hit me?

[Bungle]

Originally Posted by Topcat

if I were in a situation where someone is trying to see what I have in my boot, wouldn't reducing my speed make him/her more likely to hit me?

Well I gess that all depends on how you slow down. Easing off slightly to come down a couple of miles per hour is unlikely to result in a collision. Suddenly braking to reduce your speed would be dangerous, and is what we are talking about in the first place.

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by Bungle

Well I gess that all depends on how you slow down. Easing off slightly to come down a couple of miles per hour is unlikely to result in a collision. Suddenly braking to reduce your speed would be dangerous, and is what we are talking about in the first place.

But if you tap your brake light lightly the red lights alert the driver behind, if you slow down they have no warning and come closer to you.

I have been driving for 25yrs and touch wood have never caused an accident and am always on the look out for idiots that can not drive and believe me where I live there are lots of them.

I can understand why people get road rage!!

[czechplastik]

My best tactic is to slow (gently) right down and sit at an irritatingly low speed, especially if they are unable to pass, soon learns them.

[Pottsy]

Bungle speaks wise words... In case anyone missed them - "safety bubble". Anyone or anything that enters that bubble needs to be removed, regardless of who's right or wrong, or who got there first or anything like that. Simply gradually give yourself space in front, just in case everything in front slows suddenly, and when possible find a way to let the moving accident behind get out of your bubble (by letting him get past and away).

The danger of briefly lighting your brake lights is that it may either cause him to slam on (him thinking you are stopping) and causing a collision with the car behind him, or it will make him angry, causing him to drive even closer and thus be more likely to collide with you. You may feel you are in the right (and you probably are), but this feeling is not much consolation from your wheelchair.

[elfa7]

Originally Posted by Topcat

But if you tap your brake light lightly the red lights alert the driver behind, if you slow down they have no warning and come closer to you.

I have been driving for 25yrs and touch wood have never caused an accident and am always on the look out for idiots that can not drive and believe me where I live there are lots of them.

I can understand why people get road rage!!

I'm with you on this TC. The times we've had the grandchild/children on board, and some idiot comes right up to your rear bumper, I find a dab on the brakes makes them back off.
I even pull over to let them get past, but no, they just want you to speed up so that if there is a radar gun around the corner, your first in line !!.

[CivPilot]

I cannot beleive that people here think brake testing is ok??????

Read what others are saying, they are trying to help you and offer alternatives to being the potential cause of a nasty accident, or worse, a screwdriver through the neck at the next set of lights from the maniac who you just brake tested.
You may think that is harsh, but cast your mind back to Stephen Cameron, killed in a road rage incident by Kenneth Noye. If someone is aggressive enough to tail gate you, then they are agressive enough to suffer road rage. And who is to say they are not another Kenneth Noye. Stop living in a dream and acting indignant by brake testing other people.... you never know who it is in the other car.

Brake testing is the single most dangerous (and road rage inducing according to a couple of BIB mates) thing you can do when driving a car. I hardly ever see road rage incidents directed at me... but again, I don't brake test people if they do get too close..... Think there might be a link in there somewhere

If you get a tailgater, just blend out of the throttle a few mph to give yourself more room to the car in front of you and if possible, and I stress only if possible to do so safely, move slightly over to the left to give the tailgater a better view up the road. Give him every opportunity to overtake you. If they still don't get the message, wash your windscreen, they can't get angry at you for it as it is a basic function of your car and they are not to know your windscreen is not dirty. If will also cover their screen forcing them to wash thiers. Now if they still tailgate... do it again... whos to say that their isnt a nasty bit of dead fly that just won't shift... eventually they will get sick of constantly washing thier screen and drop back. In all my years of driving when I have had to resort to the screen wash tactic it has never failed, and more importantly, never incited road rage.

From now on I'm steering well clear of any "civinfo" stickered Civic's on the off change they are one of these people who think that brake testing is ok. Utterly dismayed that people are not listening to some very good advice and still think its "ok" to do such an amazingly dangerous thing.

[elfa7]

CivPilot, I hope you've taken a tablet now . I agree with all the road safety stuff you and others mention, but there are circumstances where for example your in a 30 limit, and a HGV is on your bumper. What use is it to put your washers on ?. They are in a different world.
I did say I pull over to the nearside to let the nutters pass, but they are more interested in trying to make you speed up. Its called intimidation, and its a very dangerous style of driving. Fortunately, I'm not of a nervous disposition.
And I would hope that the members of Civinfo wouldn't get onto anyones tail anyway !.

[Topcat]

I hear what you are all saying and when I can I move out the way of any car behind me but if its not possible then I will tap my brake to get my message across, if they brake hard and cause an accident thats their look out!! Supposing I had to brake for a geniune reason the car behind has to allow for that and if it doesnt - tough!

I have had people on the back of my car in country lanes also not just on motorways where it is impossible to pull over, slowing down winds them up even more and they get closer, I am not a nervous driver either and will not be intimidated by anyone on the road.

[Hartside]

cast your mind back to Stephen Cameron, killed in a road rage incident by Kenneth Noye. If someone is aggressive enough to tail gate you, then they are agressive enough to suffer road rage. And who is to say they are not another Kenneth Noye. Stop living in a dream and acting indignant by brake testing other people.... you never know who it is in the other car.

Wise words CivPilot - I came to a similar conclusion years ago and now try not to react. One of my mates (who is a BIB) brake tested someone a year or two back and ended up getting involved in a fight as the loony overtook him and then stopped in front of him and confronted him over it- all in front of his wife and children! Never mind not getting intimidated - don't put yourself in a position where you could at best ruin your day, or at worst end up in a wooden box!

I'm sure CZ could tell you some horror stories about the type of scum that wouldn't think twice about doing you over.

[elfa7]

I think we're crossing over from "happy motoring" to Law & Order, or lack of !.
Its a sad sign of the times, when you read of a pensioner, veteran of the 2nd World War, being punched to the ground and robbed of a few pounds.

When & how are we going to remove these thugs from the street permanantly --- because slowly but surely, we're losing it.

[Bungle]

Originally Posted by Topcat

I...I will tap my brake to get my message across, if they brake hard and cause an accident thats their look out!! Supposing I had to brake for a geniune reason the car behind has to allow for that and if it doesnt - tough!

Nobody here can tell what you can or can't do, so carry on as you wish. But what iff the accident that may well be caused by your teaching them a lesson involves an innocent person and they get injured or killed.

But it would be all the other persons' fault, wouldn't it?

This thread is getting nowhere and has gotten horribly off topic. We can either steer it back on track or close it...

[Obo]

Originally Posted by cp794

Call me old fashioned, but motorway driving isn't part of the driving test is it?

Or has it changed since I went to driving school?

If it isn't it should be made compulsory

This is EXACTLY why many people dont know how to use a motorway! There is no test or even compulsory lesson once you pass your test you can drive on a motorway with no instruction, lets face it motorway driving is completely different experience!

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by Obo

This is EXACTLY why many people dont know how to use a motorway! There is no test or even compulsory lesson once you pass your test you can drive on a motorway with no instruction, lets face it motorway driving is completely different experience!

I totally agree with you on that one. When I learnt to drive, parking the car wasnt part of the tuition either (I think it is now, Bungle will know) yet it is something that is needed every day.

[Bungle]

Re: motorway training, I and most other instructors will always recommend a lesson after they have passed their test, even in the pupil's car. Not all (or many, for that matter) accept.
However, learners are trained and tested on DCs, which for all intents and purposes are pretty similar. I will not let a pupil go for a test until they had a fair amount of motorway-like driving and I was happy they can drive unsupervised in any situation. Examiners are also a pretty good judge of this. Until the government change the law, this is all we can do. They are thining of changing the test, but it won't be for a long time, yet. It is also worth noting that our test is amongst the most challengin and of one of the highest standards in the world. Basically, all learners are given all the skills they need on major A-roads to enable them to drive on M-roads, and certainly do know the rules.