Why do drivers speed up and close the gap when you try and change lanes?!!

Norman_Castle

The Aston expressway has a 50 mph speed limit which some drivers do not see or choose to ignore. Better signs would help.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Tobster86 wrote: »

I'd suggest you're well within reason to make a citizens arrest by that point.

Literally just put the !!!!!! on the floor and sit on him until the police arrive. Aikido's a good martial art for that which I'd recommend to everyone.

You may find yourself in trouble if you did that.

Mobeer

interstellaflyer wrote: »

So by accelerating to close the gap aren't they bringing their braking distance down anyway, surely a good driver would just ease off and maintain a safe braking distance, what the OP is describing is just plain ignorance.

No - they can just speed up for a little while to protect their braking distance for a little while, then let the car in front gradually pull away back to a nice comfortable gap. If you slow down then the car behind as you suggest the traffic will stream in front of you and the cars behind will be climbing over the back of you.

LincolnshireYokel

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

You may find yourself in trouble if you did that.

on the other hand, as i pointed out, front and rear dashcams negate the necessity for doing that or anything else dangerous or illegal

interstellaflyer

Mobeer wrote: »

No - they can just speed up for a little while to protect their braking distance for a little while, then let the car in front gradually pull away back to a nice comfortable gap. If you slow down then the car behind as you suggest the traffic will stream in front of you and the cars behind will be climbing over the back of you.

What you say sounds good on paper, however, we all know that people do this because they are ignorant !!!!! that don't have the driving skill or intelligence to even consider things like braking distances.

arcon5

Mobeer wrote: »

No - they can just speed up for a little while to protect their braking distance for a little while, then let the car in front gradually pull away back to a nice comfortable gap. If you slow down then the car behind as you suggest the traffic will stream in front of you and the cars behind will be climbing over the back of you.

oh dear, this is just not logical! What do you do when lanes start merging or people are entering a motorway from a slip road?

The answer to this is NOT tailgate the car in front! Despite the fact the vehicle behind should also be a safe distance away, i'm sure most would prefer to be rear ended than crash in to the back of somebody - if not for safety reasons, for insurance purposes.

arcon5

interstellaflyer wrote: »

What you say sounds good on paper, however, we all know that people do this because they are ignorant !!!!! that don't have the driving skill or intelligence to even consider things like braking distances.

It really doesn't.

Next we'll be told that you should increase your speed if somebody is following you too closely!

Wongsky

Mobeer wrote: »

No - they can just speed up for a little while to protect their braking distance for a little while, then let the car in front gradually pull away back to a nice comfortable gap. If you slow down then the car behind as you suggest the traffic will stream in front of you and the cars behind will be climbing over the back of you.

Which is the most borked logic I've ever heard - but does at least go some way as to explain this !!!!!! behaviour when I see it.

I'd suggest that it's at least 50/50 that if you accelerate whilst somebody is attempting to pass you, they'll just accelerate, too - and as they were already travelling that little bit faster (given they were about to overtake) there's more chance they'll beat you to the punch, before you bottle out with your "braking distance".

I've noticed this thing about people trying to speed up whilst trying to overtake them, and figured it would be about protecting their "bubble" but had no idea they'd try and pass it off as trying to maintain a safe braking gap - 'cos that would make no sense - in order to try and maintain a safe braking gap, they'll reduce it in the forlorn hope that overtaker bottles out.

It would be easier for all concerned, if those that were being overtaken, gently eased off their throttle, momentarily, if preserving a safe following distance, was their aim - that doesn't involve anything radical, in terms of action, or speed, so shouldn't involve a stream of traffic taking advantage of them - nor following traffic climbing into their boot.

Here's the thing, though - if they don't want to be overtaken - then maintain a faster speed (ie not just when being overtaken), if not, live with the fact there will be cars passing you, then likely moving over.

And another thing, why is it, that the retards that do this always seem to be lifetime members of MLOC?

Loanranger

<---- sighing.
Aston Expressway is a 50 mph limit, always has been. It's four lanes all the way from the M6 or, alternatively in the opposite direction, it's four lanes all the way towards the M6. NB: in rush hour the central lane is used as fourth lane.
And you 'realise' that you're in the wrong lane, when exactly? And you decide to race up in the faster moving lane and try to bodge in front of the bloke in the Merc?
As someone else pointed out, the Aston Expressway is very well signed posted for the whole of its length.
You really shouldn't be on the road, should you?

wba31

Tobster86 wrote: »

I'd suggest you're well within reason to make a citizens arrest by that point.

Literally just put the !!!!!! on the floor and sit on him until the police arrive. Aikido's a good martial art for that which I'd recommend to everyone.

but for 3 reasons i just wanted him to p1ss off and let me get home. 1) the wife was pretty scared and upset by his attitude and behaviour toward me. 2) it was friday evening and it was our journey home from work - just wanted to get home. 3) we had frozen fish in the car that needed to get in the freezer... missus works for frozen seafood place and gets to bring stuff home, so although it hadnt cost us anything, she was getting it for her old man, so i was conscious he was expecting his fish, wouldnt want him missing out as i went all chuck norris on some grandad with anger issues