slow drivers

Strider590

warehouse wrote: »

If I have someone aggressively tailgating me I'll slow down and stick at the slower speed. By the way the OP has behaved in this thread I'd suggest that is a distinct possibility.

The OP appeared to be describing a self appointed traffic cop. The one's that don't know the highway code, drive by the "My way code" and try to enforce this on other drivers.

A tip for the OP, these people want to annoy you, they want you to do something irrational, because when you do they can sit there all smug calling themselves a great driver.

Best thing is to sit back, don't let them get at you, give them lots of space and then blast past them as soon as the conditions allow.
There's a good chance that if they know your going to overtake, they'll try to stop you.

Joe_Horner

custardy wrote: »

So what difference wold a car in font make to that scenario?

The idea is that, if you have someone tailgating, you can offset their dangerous driving by allowing your own safety bubble to increase because it means you're less likely to have to brake suddenly in response to something the car in front does. Having slowed enough to let the gap open, you can continue at the same speed as you were at before, maintaining the bigger gap.

Of course, the !!!!!! behind will take the first chance to get past and into your new improved safety gap, but that's no problem becaue he's now tailgating the car ahead instead of you

custardy

Joe_Horner wrote: »

The idea is that, if you have someone tailgating, you can offset their dangerous driving by allowing your own safety bubble to increase because it means you're less likely to have to brake suddenly in response to something the car in front does. Having slowed enough to let the gap open, you can continue at the same speed as you were at before, maintaining the bigger gap.

Of course, the !!!!!! behind will take the first chance to get past and into your new improved safety gap, but that's no problem because he's now tailgating the car ahead instead of you

so how would that change the distance of the car behind you?
with no car in front,they already had/have the option to overtake

brat

custardy wrote: »

So what difference wold a car in font make to that scenario?

Seems like you need some help.

If you are following a car, you should increase the gap between yourself and it to accommodate the reaction time that the tailgater is sacrificing.

Give the tailgater the opportunity to pass when it's safe, by slowing down where safe, perhaps indicating left if it's safe. Don't slow down antagonistically. It's never a good idea.

But often the tailgater has their mind elsewhere, and has absolutely no plans to overtake, and is not in any hurry. In those circumstances, it's important to maintain the increased safety gap ahead of you.

Joe_Horner

custardy wrote: »

so how would that change the distance of the car behind you?
with no car in front,they already had/have the option to overtake

It doesn't change the distance of the car behind, but it makes it less dangerous for them to be too close because you're less likely to have to do anything sudden that they can't react to.

If you have a "standard" 2 second gap to the car in front and they stop suddenly you'll have to brake hard to avoid them If you've increased your gap to double that you'll stop easily by braking normally, which gives the tailgating moron more time to react as well without rearranging your !!!!.

Years ago when I was learning to drive my dad drummed into me that any accident you're involved in is partly your fault. That may not be strictly true in an "insurance blame" way, but it's a good attitude to take on the road because it encourages you to compensate for the stupidity of others.

custardy

brat wrote: »

Seems like you need some help.

If you are following a car, you should increase the gap between yourself and it to accommodate the reaction time that the tailgater is sacrificing.

Give the tailgater the opportunity to pass when it's safe, by slowing down where safe, perhaps indicating left if it's safe. Don't slow down antagonistically. It's never a good idea.

But often the tailgater has their mind elsewhere, and has absolutely no plans to overtake, and is not in any hurry. In those circumstances, it's important to maintain the increased safety gap ahead of you.

I need no help
the tailgater in my scenario is there despite a clear road in front
with a car in front,i will already have a safe distance
by slowing down as I said I already do(see the post tis relates to)
so the gap would increase if there was a car in front
bearing in mind I'm likely to be near the speed limit,I simply will not be bullied into speeding

custardy

Joe_Horner wrote: »

It doesn't change the distance of the car behind, but it makes it less dangerous for them to be too close because you're less likely to have to do anything sudden that they can't react to.

If you have a "standard" 2 second gap to the car in front and they stop suddenly you'll have to brake hard to avoid them If you've increased your gap to double that you'll stop easily by braking normally, which gives the tailgating moron more time to react as well without rearranging your !!!!.

Years ago when I was learning to drive my dad drummed into me that any accident you're involved in is partly your fault. That may not be strictly true in an "insurance blame" way, but it's a good attitude to take on the road because it encourages you to compensate for the stupidity of others.

and given my default action is to slow down. the gap increases naturally
so your point towards me is?

arcon5

A couple of other things that annoy me:

- Elderly people walking slowing through town

- People taking ages to choose and pickup whatever brand of pasta sauce they want

Selfish morons, clearly have no consideration to others - who do in fact know what brand they like and can maintain a much higher walking speed!

I'm an experienced driver (drive for a living), and although I generally keep up to the speed limit there are a few situations which I would happily sit at 45-50 in a 60:

- If you are tailgating me, don't expect me to reach the NSL.

- If i'm unfamiliar with the road at night and wish to take additional precautions (yes, not everybody knows the road you may off the back of their hand).

- If I have passengers or children in my car.

Cknocker

I'm amazed the OP has such a high opinion of his own driving skills to post this!

Who does he think he is to be able to tell someone else that their judgement of the conditions is wrong and his judgement is somehow superior? There are lots of drivers like him who end up needing an ambulance each day!

Unfortunately in this country there is no reassessment of driving skills, there are a lot of drivers who would be unsafe doing more than 45mph on any road and to be frank they should not be driving - but to tell them they are safe doing 60 is just arrogance.

45mph in a 60 can be an inconvenience, but it is a NSL not a NST, there are lots of roads where the NSL applies, where 30mph is dangerous in perfect driving conditions.

martinthebandit

martinthebandit wrote: »

OK it seems some posters are getting hung up on parts of my original question that are not really relevant, let me rephrase it.

If you do not drive at, or close to the speed limit, WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO, would you care explain why?

I think I have to repost this.

....... and would the posters who appear to be under the impression that I am condoning tailgating, speeding etc please point out where I have?

Thanks.