How do you deal with tailgaters?

[Mr Miata]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

If they are right on your rear bumper, slowing down increases the gap between you and the car in front of you. That means you're less likely to have to brake sharply and therefore less likely to get hit up the jacksy by said tailgater.

Except those who insist on driving ridiculously slow don’t have a car in front of them, but 12 cars behind them.

[Solocle]

M4cruiser said:

I agree. Your only two options are (1) take off, or (2) dig a tunnel.
Happens to me in Lane 1 as well. Can't overtake due to lane 2 being full of cars only 0.8 second apart.

Well, I guess there is (3).

Slow down until you can find a nice big gap in the left lane.

[donkmeister]

Mr Miata said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

If they are right on your rear bumper, slowing down increases the gap between you and the car in front of you. That means you're less likely to have to brake sharply and therefore less likely to get hit up the jacksy by said tailgater.

Except those who insist on driving ridiculously slow don’t have a car in front of them, but 12 cars behind them.

Depends on the reason why they are driving ridiculously slowly. We've had people on here whingeing about people not speeding in built-up areas, so unfair because they think the limit is too low.

Trying to push someone to speed is never on, if you want to go faster it's better to keep a respectful distance and overtake when the opportunity arises.

[donkmeister]

M4cruiser said:

matchmaker said:

The type of tailgater that really pisses me off is the type that sits on your arse when you're in a line of cars in L2 of a two lane dual carriageway or motorway. I can't physically go faster than the vehicle in front. What the fk do you expect me to do?

I agree. Your only two options are (1) take off, or (2) dig a tunnel.
Happens to me in Lane 1 as well. Can't overtake due to lane 2 being full of cars only 0.8 second apart.

I fear this is a feedback loop situation. When you drive properly, using both lanes, any attempts to move back out to L2 to overtake a lorry are baulked by the car that was behind you and several cars behind them. So they learn "just sit in L2".