Tailgating should be made a criminal offence

Gordon_Hose

martinthebandit wrote: »

Actually what I said was that you should examine your own driving to see if it is contributing to the bad driving you see around you.

....... and I am quite surprised at how many people on here feel they shouldn't

But you are quite correct that, as a careful, responsible driver then, yes you should adapt your driving if it is contributing to being tailgated.

No, the tailgaters should examine their own driving. If I'm driving within the speed limit it doesn't mean I deserve to be tailgated, and it CERTAINLY doesn't mean I should question my own driving skills because I'm being tailgated. It's a ridiculous suggestion to make.

Gordon_Hose

martinthebandit wrote: »

I hope you realise that intentionally or otherwise you have decided to use a speed guaranteed to cause most inconvenience to other drivers?

Plus, you know those occasions when traffic comes to a complete standstill for no apparent reason? If the conditions are right and you insist on going no faster than 60 65 in the outside lane then your inconsiderate driving is one of the causes.

Really? How do HGV's cope being restricted to 56mph?

You don't half talk some sh*t :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

interstellaflyer

Crazy_Jamie wrote: »

I drive a lot as part of my job. I usually leave plenty of time to get to where I need to go, and spend a lot of time driving on motorways. My speed is normally around the 60mph mark, ranging between about 60mph and 65mph. The reason why I drive at such speeds is because it saves me a significant amount of money on petrol, and it is more relaxing than doing 80mph.

Exactly, more and more people are slowing down to these sorts of speeds, I am quite happy sitting at 60mph though I will happily sit behind a HGV doing a steady 56mph, why do I do this, simple, unlike the knob ends doing 90 in their company BMWs, Audis, Mondeos and Insignias, I have to pay for my own fuel to get to work and back, in my case this can be between 40 and 60 miles round trip per days, 6 days a week. Plus what's the point of doing 80 - 90 only to be slowed down to 56-60 because a HGV pulls out into lane 2 of a dual carriageway. I used to tear @rse around and found myself getting stressed out by those going slower than me, however I found the answer was not to be aggressive, but instead slow down, stay in the inside lane and chill, if I get behind a HGV doing a steady 56 then I'll hit cruise control and be quite happy and relaxed staying in the inside lane, if I do need to overtake I will always go to 70 mph, so anyone that tailgates me at 70 is a complete pratt and is the one in the wrong anyway.

wba31

supermanjo wrote: »

My theory on 3 lanes have always been...

Left: 60+
Middle: 70+
Right: 80+

I usually stick in the middle lane @ 70, it saves me from having to cut in and out every time I want to overtake. On occasion when I'm taking it easy or simply tired, I move over on the left lane, stick the cruise control on at 62 and relax.

4am in the morning joining the M25, the right lane is always empty, along with the rest of the motorway, so I go down it comfortably @ 90-100.

I hate tailgating and have never done it, I simply overtake.

To me, you theory is what causes so many unneccessary problems on British motorways. The speed limit for each lane of the motorway is 70, but obviously people go quicker than that, and lorries slower. If you are not overtaking anything PULL OVER TO LANE 1!! by sitting in lane 2 if not overtaking anything as lane 1 is empty, when i am driving at 75, i have to pull into lane 3 to overtake you, which means those wishing to do 80 or more have to slow down, which is rediculous when there is a big empty lane to the left of us all.
you are a middle lane hogger.

and at 4am in the morning when you can do 90mph on an empty road, just do it in lane 1. if the road is empty why do you need to be in lane 3? when you do approach another vehicle, pass it in lane 2, then move back.

Sgt_Pepper_2

pogofish wrote: »

Sorry, it's section 2a that covers it amply. :T

Maybe you can explain why.

Paperbird

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

No, the tailgaters should examine their own driving. If I'm driving within the speed limit it doesn't mean I deserve to be tailgated, and it CERTAINLY doesn't mean I should question my own driving skills because I'm being tailgated. It's a ridiculous suggestion to make.

It's not ridiculous, if you don't want to be tailgated stop putting yourself in a position where you will be tailgated.
If I'm overtaking and a faster car comes up behind me I move over and let it past even if it means slowing slightly to the speed of the ones I'm overtaking.
If I'm in heavy traffic with all three lanes full and I get someone wanting to get their bonnet into my boot I move lanes and let them sit on someone elses ar5e.
By doing this I don't get tailgated
You might not like to hear this but if you are tailgated the only way to stop it is for you to move over, slowing down or using your washers will not make them go away it will only annoy them and make a bad driver even worse.

jumperjohn

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

surely only people who have their head up their ars* could suffer from internal decapitation?

Ignorance is bliss. What do you think would happen, a slight bruising, perhaps a little scratch. Read up boy, educate yourself, maybe your driving would improve.

harveybobbles

I think the problem with lots of todays (bad) driving is the amount of power that modern diesels have. The driver knows if they put their foot down they can get into that small gap and pull away.

Alll cars should be fitted with black boxes and cameras - yes this would be expensive, but it could/would improve peoples driving and lower the cost of insurance perhaps?

Gordon_Hose

Paperbird wrote: »

It's not ridiculous, if you don't want to be tailgated stop putting yourself in a position where you will be tailgated.
If I'm overtaking and a faster car comes up behind me I move over and let it past even if it means slowing slightly to the speed of the ones I'm overtaking.
If I'm in heavy traffic with all three lanes full and I get someone wanting to get their bonnet into my boot I move lanes and let them sit on someone elses ar5e.
By doing this I don't get tailgated
You might not like to hear this but if you are tailgated the only way to stop it is for you to move over, slowing down or using your washers will not make them go away it will only annoy them and make a bad driver even worse.

Wow.

If you executing an overtake correctly why would you ever let a tailgater dictate to you where you should be on the road or how fast you should be going??

If you're half way through an overtaking maneuver you're not going to be able to "just move over", or if you're over taking a long line of lorries on a dual carriageway you're not going to be able to "just move over"... so are you saying if you're being tailgated you should speed up just to "get out of the way"?? Ridiculous. What happens if you speed up and you're still getting tailgated? Speed up more? Do 90, 100, 110?

Utter lunacy. Also, I've never advocated slowing down or using my washer to annoy a tailgater.

Crabman

jumperjohn wrote: »

I think the reason for bad (dangerous) driving is that people don't realise the forces involved in a crash. People feel safe in their quiet car unaware that a crash at 70 would probably snap their neck, crush their skull and probably suffer from internal decapitation. Humans are soft, people forget this.

mgdavid wrote: »

can I have some of what you're smoking?

Why? What's so wrong with what jumperjohn posted? Do you even know how many drivers die or are seriously injured each day on the UK's roads?

Unless you have the sort of crumple structures and restraint systems used in motor racing you will not survive an impact at motorway speeds.

Sadly people don't simply walk away from high speed crashes like they do in F1.