Why do so few drivers indicate these days?

Strider590

GabbaGabbaHey wrote: »

Yes - just ignore them (and, if necessary, increase the distance between yourself and the vehicle in front so that there's less chance that you may need to brake sharply).

I've never understood why people get so het up about "tailgaters". I really don't care whether the car behind me is 2 car lengths or 6 inches behind me - it's their responsibility to avoid hitting me, and the actual risk of a tailgater driving in to the back of me is minuscule. There are far more important hazards on the road which I'd rather give my attention to.

Because when they hit you, your insurance premium is going to shoot up regardless of who was at fault.

The insurance will also likely suspend your no claims and then drag out the whole thing until past your next renewal date, where your premium will double.

Then on top of that a no fault accident is going to put around £50-£100 on your premium for the next 5 years, because a driver who is involved in an accident is statistically more likely to be involved in more.

Car_54

GabbaGabbaHey wrote: »

If you genuinely think that the car behind is dangerously close (and I'd like to see some statistics for how many rear-end collisions are caused by tailgating),

What other reason can there be for a rear-end? The driver behind hasn't left a safe distance for the speed, road conditions and his own competence.

Strider590

Car_54 wrote: »

What other reason can there be for a rear-end? The driver behind hasn't left a safe distance for the speed, road conditions and his own competence.

Car overtakes and then slams on the anchors directly in front?

Saying that it can only be the driver behind at fault, is very misinformed.

bigadaj

GabbaGabbaHey wrote: »

If you genuinely think that the car behind is dangerously close (and I'd like to see some statistics for how many rear-end collisions are caused by tailgating), then the only sensible option is, as soon as it is safe to do so, to indicate and pull over, allowing the tailgater to pass.

Any other action (slowing down, flashing your brake lights, switching on your rear fog lights, using your windscreen washers, etc) is just making the situation worse by deflecting your attention from the myriad other hazards on the road.

Oh - and I'd suggest that you never try driving in France. Their idea of an acceptable distance from the car in front is significantly shorter than in the UK. I'm not aware or rear-end collisions being any more prevalent in France than in the UK, though.

By definition around 90%+ of rear end collisions are caused by tailgating.

French accident statistics are far worse than the uk, just look him up.

What other hazards are you actually talking about, people too close are one of the very biggest hazards on any journey?

bouicca21

It's bad car design. How can a driver be expected to hold the steering wheel, hold their phone AND turn the indicator on all at once?

You forgot the coffee and the ciggie. People just don't understand the complexities of modern day driving.

Strider590

bouicca21 wrote: »

You forgot the coffee and the ciggie. People just don't understand the complexities of modern day driving.

Complexities? It's not complex at all, you've got countless "driver aids", hell the ECU even holds the RPMs up to make gear changes easier, cars even park themselves now.

Driving is so easy now, that people treat cars as mobile living rooms and as a result people don't pay attention to what they're doing.

What isn't easy is dealing with all the crazy people.