Should I change my driving style for other road users?

deaston

I posted on here the other day and enjoyed hearing others' opinions, so thought I'd ask this on here, too.

I was driving through a village at about 5.30am this morning. A car appeared behind me and seemed frustrated I was doing the 30mph limit and demonstrated this but trying to see how close he could get to my rear bumper.

After a couple of miles, I entered a national speed limit and the road straightened, so I accelerated. It was at this point that the car decided this was the perfect moment to overtake, even though we were going up a hill.

Headlights appeared in the distance and he was forced to pull back. As the car passed there was a lot of beeping, as it was uncomfortably close.

I was then subjected to a lot of flashing from my friend and he spent the next couple of miles seeing if he could get even closer to my rear bumper.

Should I have changed my driving style to accommodate his desire to overtake?

kathrynha

He is the one with a problem not you, but I would probably moved over to allow him to pass if there was somewhere safe, as I feel safer having idiots in front of me where it is easier for me to control my own safety, rather than behind.

thescouselander

I'd have let them past. Maybe they were driving like an idiot but on the other hand what of they had some sort of genuine emergency and had to get moving.

As above probably safest to stay out of the way whatever the reason was.

Richard53

I'd say drive your own drive, and don't worry about the other idiots. In this case, I would guess that the other driver interpreted your initial slowness as your being obstinate, and your acceleration as being a challenge, even though both were strictly complying with the law. He's a mutton-headed numpty - let him past as soon as possible so he can have his accident elsewhere.

martinthebandit

deaston wrote: »

Should I have changed my driving style to accommodate his desire to overtake?

Of course you should!

deaston

thescouselander wrote: »

I'd have let them past. Maybe they were driving like an idiot but on the other hand what of they had some sort of genuine emergency and had to get moving.

As above probably safest to stay out of the way whatever the reason was.

A similar thing happened last week (on the same 30mph road) except the person behind took a chance and overtook me on a blind bend.

But once I entered the 60mph limit I soon met him again as he clearly thought it was ok to do 45mph in a 30 only to carry on doing 45mph in a 60. I was then stuck behind him for several miles.

Joe_Horner

martinthebandit wrote: »

Of course you should!

Why? The "rabidly anti-MLM" brigade make a big thing about people doing the limit shouldn't be making those wishing to speed alter their course or direction (as it says you should avoid in the HC).

But that cuts both ways:

The person wishing to speed in the 30 / overtake when (possibly) not safe shouldn't drive in a way to force the OP change his course or direction either.

That said, as earlier posters have suggested, allowing him to get in front is usually safer because it's not going to be you he hits once he's there.

Gloomendoom

I would have let him pass too. Best in front of you and out of your way.

Plus, as somebody else said, he may have had some sort of emergency. You never know.

Stevie_Palimo

I find a quick tap of the brakes normally suffices in these situations.

If you are driving at the limits and with due care ignore others as best you can as they will carry on with the reckless ways they choose to drive in.

BeenThroughItAll

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

I find a quick tap of the brakes normally suffices in these situations.

Mm, nothing like provoking an accident to regain the moral high ground.

Aylesbury_Duck

Just let him past when sensible to do so, in this case, when the national speed limit applied and the road straightened.

What's the cost to you?

A few seconds' lost acceleration or at worst, he's an additional car in front of you in the inevitable queue at the next junction.

If the answer to the question is "pride", then swallow it and move on.