Tailgating should be made a criminal offence

passatrider

I've come to the conclusion that after several incidents of tailgating over recent weeks, that it should be seen as serious as drink driving/texting at the wheel etc.

I'm not a sunday driver by any means nor a bad driver - I'm not perfect either but I do consider myself to be a safe one no the less. Yet, people still feel the need to tailgate you just because you drive to the conditions and speed of the road. I follow the tips given about not retaliating, pulling over to let them pass etc but still it continues. What is one supposed to do drive around like Lewis Hamilton everywhere?

Tailgating someone is aggressive, dangerous and down right selfish in my eyes. I know we have laws for dangerous driving but this should now be classed as an offence on it's own.:(

[Deleted User]

Always happens when I on the dual carriageway in the 2nd lane doing 80 while 1st lane is full of 60mph drivers. Why should I slow down and squeeze back in to let a tailgater past when I'm making good progress in lane 2.

cubegame

Easily solved by wiring an extra switch in your dashboard to control your brake lights.

passatrider

cubegame wrote: »

Easily solved by wiring an extra switch in your dashboard to control your brake lights.

I like your style! However, doing this only goes to intimidate the tailgater which is not encouraged.;)

daveyjp

Closer they get slower I get. Use wash wipe on motorways.

pogofish

passatrider wrote: »

I've come to the conclusion that after several incidents of tailgating over recent weeks, that it should be seen as serious as drink driving/texting at the wheel etc.

Unh....???

Tailgating is already a criminal offence that is fully on a par with drunk driving and driving without due care and attention.

So instead of ranting about something that already is, maybe you should be asking yourself some hard questions about your own fitness to drive?

wba31

daveyjp wrote: »

Closer they get slower I get. Use wash wipe on motorways.

I often do this if it's someone being a pr1ck. not braking, just easing up off the accelerator a little.

If im in lane 2 of 2 doing 61 overtaking someone at 60 though, i go a little quicker instead, only if im doing reasonable speed to start with would i ease up...

martinthebandit

Deleted_User wrote: »

Always happens when I on the dual carriageway in the 2nd lane doing 80 while 1st lane is full of 60mph drivers. Why should I slow down and squeeze back in to let a tailgater past when I'm making good progress in lane 2.

Aye, why should you be a courteous driver when others aren't?

passatrider

pogofish wrote: »

Unh....???

Tailgating is already a criminal offence that is fully on a par with drunk driving and driving without due care and attention.

So instead of ranting about something that already is, maybe you should be asking yourself some hard questions about your own fitness to drive?

Yes, but it's not classed as an offence on it's own though? I'm not talking about 'driving without due care and attention' as this covers a multitude of offences.

NB: I drive for a living by the way

martinthebandit

wba31 wrote: »

I often do this if it's someone being a pr1ck. not braking, just easing up off the accelerator a little.

If im in lane 2 of 2 doing 61 overtaking someone at 60 though, i go a little quicker instead, only if im doing reasonable speed to start with would i ease up...

You are aware that on a national speed limit dual carriageway, if your driving a car, that would be a fail on your driving test aren't you?

Sgt_Pepper_2

pogofish wrote: »

Unh....???

Tailgating is already a criminal offence that is fully on a par with drunk driving and driving without due care and attention.

So instead of ranting about something that already is, maybe you should be asking yourself some hard questions about your own fitness to drive?

Is it?

Can you give us the summons heading for it. I wasn't aware it was an offence in its own right.