Tailgating should be made a criminal offence

jumperjohn

I used to enjoy driving, less so now. The majority of folk drive well and courtiously but bad driving is on the increase. Tailgating, not indicating, undertaking, speeding etc. I make mistakes but it seems a lot of people drive badly because they're a55 holes and don't give a to ss for you or I.

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.

My advice if you're being tailgated, move over, he knows he's a pri k, let him get on with it.

Blackpool_Saver

Joe_Horner wrote: »

You evil, polar-bear-and-pregnant-nun-killing speeder! BURN THE WITCH!!!

I know, I'm a baddun, need to put that in my siggy :T

Paperbird

muckybutt wrote: »

From a different point of view here, us van drivers are not allowed to follow NSL as there are different speed limits for us, yet on a daily basis I have at least one tit up my rsend flashing headlights etc and thats because I am sticking to the speed limits.

For their benefit

A main roads cars = 60 vans = 50
Dual carriageways cars 70 vans = 60
Motorways cars = 70 vans = 70

Have you thought it's not because you are sticking to the speed limit but because they don't want to sit behind you while you spend the next mile slowly catching the lorry in lane 2.
I don't get tailgated because if I'm overtaking a line of cars and a car going faster than me comes up behind I move over, even if it means slowing and when it's passed I pull out and finish overtaking the line of cars.
I don't tailgate but I do flash my lights at the ones that think they should sit in the outside lane until there is a 500yd gap in the traffic before they move over.

Sgt_Pepper_2

pogofish wrote: »

It is, under Section 2 of the Road Traffic Act.

And the current proposals to make it a separate offence subject to a specific fixed penalty can only serve to devalue its seriousness IMO.

No its not.

mgdavid

jumperjohn wrote: »

...... 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. ..........

can I have some of what you're smoking?

Blackpool_Saver

jumperjohn wrote: »

a crash at 70 would probably snap their neck, crush their skull and probably suffer from internal decapitation.

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

pogofish

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

No its not.

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

martinthebandit

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

According to martinthebandit YOU should alter the way YOU drive so that you don't get tailgated.

Just sayin'

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.

martinthebandit

Crazy_Jamie wrote: »

Question. 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.

Now usually the speed I travel at is sufficient for me to sit in the nearside lane on motorways, moving into the middle lane to overtake HGVs and such. However, on occasion I have cause to move into the offside lane, either when the traffic is a bit slower, or larger truck is overtaking another vehicle. It is not uncommon for someone to tailgate me when I do this. To clarify, I only move into the middle and offside lanes when I am overtaking someone, and move lanes when I have completed the overtaking manoeuvre.

The question is this. As far as you are concerned, I am 'needlessly' travelling at 10mph below the speed limit, and therefore contributing to the 'frustration of drivers around me'?

So you are quite happy to move into the third lane to overtake at 60 65 mph to prevent yourself having to slow down and are not concerned at all that you will be causing anyone that is travelling at the speed limit to have to slow down?

Surely the responsible, courteous thing would be to accelerate up to the speed limit for your overtake?

martinthebandit

Crazy_Jamie wrote: »

Question. 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.

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.