Tailgate and speed

Iceweasel

smashingyour... wrote: »

Is that the old black and white one or the newer book?

It changed about 95 and included things such as red mist.

Mine is a 2004 copy - 9th impression.

I don't think there is a newer version.

I try to keep up but to my embarrassment in a recent discussion with a young relative I discovered that my Highway Code was long ago superseded.

The bang up to date on-line version is all well and good - but we 'old-school' types like to have something that we can literally 'get to grips with'.

smashingyour...

Iceweasel wrote: »

Mine is a 2004 copy - 9th impression.

I don't think there is a newer version.

I try to keep up but to my embarrassment in a recent discussion with a young relative I discovered that my Highway Code was long ago superseded.

The bang up to date on-line version is all well and good - but we 'old-school' types like to have something that we can literally 'get to grips with'.

I didn't know they did an online version but I remember the old black and white drawings.

'The driver having seen the hazard decides on his line of approach, he looks in his mirrors.'

Seemed like more time was spent looking in the mirrors than down the road.

All what had to be learned and car control before any blue light training took place.

Prothet_of_Doom

On the subject of straight lining corners : Please look in your mirror.

I was just about to overtake you as we can both see around the bend, and my overtake includes the point where you intend to veer across in front of me.

On the subject of experience, it was experience which told me to either get the overtaking done before that bend, or wait until after. Lucky to be alive. ? Yes indeed.

Iceweasel

smashingyour... wrote: »

I didn't know they did an online version but I remember the old black and white drawings.

'The driver having seen the hazard decides on his line of approach, he looks in his mirrors.'

Seemed like more time was spent looking in the mirrors than down the road.

All what had to be learned and car control before any blue light training took place.

Sorry - I didn't make my post clear enough.

There isn't an on-line Roadcraft that I know of - I was meaning the on-line Highway Code in that post.

My 2004 RoadCraft is with colour diagrams and there is a fair bit about attitudes and 'red-mist' etc.

smashingyour...

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

On the subject of straight lining corners : Please look in your mirror.

I was just about to overtake you as we can both see around the bend, and my overtake includes the point where you intend to veer across in front of me.

On the subject of experience, it was experience which told me to either get the overtaking done before that bend, or wait until after. Lucky to be alive. ? Yes indeed.

It'll end in tears doing that.

Mrs_Imp

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Correct use of your mirrors would mean that you would have been aware of the tailgater approaching you, long before he was in your blind spot.

At the time I was concentrating on the road ahead. I check my mirrors regularly, especially in a works vehicle with no rear view mirror, but I still couldn't say when he snuck up behind me. He could've pulled out of a side road while I was negotiating a corner.

Just because I don't know when he appeared doesn't mean he should be tailgating me.

Jamie_Carter

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

At the time I was concentrating on the road ahead. I check my mirrors regularly, especially in a works vehicle with no rear view mirror, but I still couldn't say when he snuck up behind me. He could've pulled out of a side road while I was negotiating a corner.

Just because I don't know when he appeared doesn't mean he should be tailgating me.

I wasn't suggesting for a second that he had any excuse to tailgate you.

I know it is more difficult in a van. But this does show the importance of correctly adjusted mirrors, and a good driving position. If all these are correct then you should be able to check your mirrors with only a movement of the eyeballs. And in many cases you should even notice other vehicle appearing in your peripheral view of the mirrors.

However, as women in general tend to be shorter than men, and also tend to sit closer to the steering wheel, this widens the angle, meaning that a head turn is sometimes required.

davidjwest

If anyone tailgates me then I gradually slow down until they decide to overtake. I'd rather be shunted from behind at 40 than 60 - maybe I should rephrase that?

I usually find tailgaters get the message if you do this and if they don't overtake they tend to fall back a bit allowing the previous speed to be resumed. A quick dab on the brakes can also help, just enough to make the lights come on momentarily, not enough to cause a collision!

smashingyour...

davidjwest wrote: »

If anyone tailgates me then I gradually slow down until they decide to overtake. I'd rather be shunted from behind at 40 than 60 - maybe I should rephrase that?

I usually find tailgaters get the message if you do this and if they don't overtake they tend to fall back a bit allowing the previous speed to be resumed. A quick dab on the brakes can also help, just enough to make the lights come on momentarily, not enough to cause a collision!

By dabing the brakes you have no control of what happens behind on a busy motorway.

davidjwest

smashingyour... wrote: »

By dabing the brakes you have no control of what happens behind on a busy motorway.

In my experience most tailgaters will drop back in such conditions, if only by a few feet. If they don't then I drop back from the car in front further to give us both a bit more room in case there is the need to stop suddenly.

It can be a problem in very busy conditions as people tend to try to get into the gap ahead, sometimes there is no solution.