How do you deal with tailgaters?
Discussion
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. 
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. 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.
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 f
k do you expect me to do?
I agree. Your only two options are (1) take off, or (2) dig a tunnel.k do you expect me to do?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 mostly ignore it - I drive a low/small car with no tint, people tend to drive closer all the time presumably because they can see what's in front of me.
I might even speed up temporarily if it helps me get out their way sooner.
But if I'm driving at say 10% above the speed limit, where I don't usually get problems, and someone comes flying up at silly speeds and tailgates me, I just slow down to the speed limit. If they want to treat the road like a race track when there are loads of other people around including me, I'm not going to actively help them do that!
A couple of times when the tailgating was really bad, and they looked distracted (e.g. phone/intoxicated), I just gradually slowed right down to granny speeds.
I might even speed up temporarily if it helps me get out their way sooner.
But if I'm driving at say 10% above the speed limit, where I don't usually get problems, and someone comes flying up at silly speeds and tailgates me, I just slow down to the speed limit. If they want to treat the road like a race track when there are loads of other people around including me, I'm not going to actively help them do that!
A couple of times when the tailgating was really bad, and they looked distracted (e.g. phone/intoxicated), I just gradually slowed right down to granny speeds.
Grrbang said:
I mostly ignore it - I drive a low/small car with no tint, people tend to drive closer all the time presumably because they can see what's in front of me.
I might even speed up temporarily if it helps me get out their way sooner.
But if I'm driving at say 10% above the speed limit, where I don't usually get problems, and someone comes flying up at silly speeds and tailgates me, I just slow down to the speed limit. If they want to treat the road like a race track when there are loads of other people around including me, I'm not going to actively help them do that!
A couple of times when the tailgating was really bad, and they looked distracted (e.g. phone/intoxicated), I just gradually slowed right down to granny speeds.
Username checks out!I might even speed up temporarily if it helps me get out their way sooner.
But if I'm driving at say 10% above the speed limit, where I don't usually get problems, and someone comes flying up at silly speeds and tailgates me, I just slow down to the speed limit. If they want to treat the road like a race track when there are loads of other people around including me, I'm not going to actively help them do that!
A couple of times when the tailgating was really bad, and they looked distracted (e.g. phone/intoxicated), I just gradually slowed right down to granny speeds.
I've just driven to Rugby and back (around 200 mile return trip) and there were 2 instances of tailgating:
1) BMW X5 - Cliche tailgater. Sat on my backside in a line of cars travelling along the A46 around 75mph. I moved over to let him past and he accelerated briskly to sit on the arse of the car who was originally in front of me. I suspect he was hoping to just bully his way down the road which clearly is ambitious on todays busy roads. Seems a stressful way to drive!
2) 2004 Vauxhall Corsa - This was a fairly young lady (around 20ish). She was singing and dancing along and found herself glued to my bumper. I'm sat in a modern car with far better brakes than her, so if I had to stop she would have been in my car with me. This one was totally oblivious - again I moved and let her be someone elses problem. I caught her up later down the road when things had cleared doing 60 in the outside lane.
2 very different types of tailgater there, the bully and the moron both guilty of the same thing. I suspect the X5 would have had a much better chance of stopping as he was full of testesterone and sporting good brakes but even so he would have struggled to stop if I did. The Corsa wouldn't have had any chance what so ever and by the time my brake lights had illuminated and she realised what was happening it would have been game over.
1) BMW X5 - Cliche tailgater. Sat on my backside in a line of cars travelling along the A46 around 75mph. I moved over to let him past and he accelerated briskly to sit on the arse of the car who was originally in front of me. I suspect he was hoping to just bully his way down the road which clearly is ambitious on todays busy roads. Seems a stressful way to drive!
2) 2004 Vauxhall Corsa - This was a fairly young lady (around 20ish). She was singing and dancing along and found herself glued to my bumper. I'm sat in a modern car with far better brakes than her, so if I had to stop she would have been in my car with me. This one was totally oblivious - again I moved and let her be someone elses problem. I caught her up later down the road when things had cleared doing 60 in the outside lane.
2 very different types of tailgater there, the bully and the moron both guilty of the same thing. I suspect the X5 would have had a much better chance of stopping as he was full of testesterone and sporting good brakes but even so he would have struggled to stop if I did. The Corsa wouldn't have had any chance what so ever and by the time my brake lights had illuminated and she realised what was happening it would have been game over.
After several long drives across country, it appears that BMW drivers are consistently at the top of the league of tailgaters. Usually grey/black X or M something or other. It's almost laughably predictable as another one comes along - no confirmation bias required.
I really don't know what's up with these bell-ends but they don't seem capable of interacting in any kind of normal/pleasant fashion with other road users. (obviously with the exception of all those who frequent this forum...)
Some good suggestions here though which work surprisingly well (and legally) on this particular type of moron - thanks.
I really don't know what's up with these bell-ends but they don't seem capable of interacting in any kind of normal/pleasant fashion with other road users. (obviously with the exception of all those who frequent this forum...)
Some good suggestions here though which work surprisingly well (and legally) on this particular type of moron - thanks.
Bainbridge said:
I slow down to annoy them more. When they finally get an opportunity to pass, I sit forward with my face as close to the windscreen as possible and do a massive overbite, while intently concentrating on the road ahead.
This often makes me laugh out loud, even if I'm alone in the car smile
Almost crying with laughter at this. Must try it, but somewhere no one knows me.This often makes me laugh out loud, even if I'm alone in the car smile
Until now (and probably beyond) the following gentlemen's advice would echo mine:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I always gradually reduce my speed, for three reasons.
1. The sensible reason, I increase the gap between me and the car in front, meaning I have less chance of having to brake sharply and getting hit up the rear by said tailgater.
2. The other sensible reason, the larger gap in front of me and my reducing speed hopefully makes it easier for the tailgater to pass me.
3. The less sensible reason, it winds the tailgater up a treat.
1. The sensible reason, I increase the gap between me and the car in front, meaning I have less chance of having to brake sharply and getting hit up the rear by said tailgater.
2. The other sensible reason, the larger gap in front of me and my reducing speed hopefully makes it easier for the tailgater to pass me.
3. The less sensible reason, it winds the tailgater up a treat.
Dog Star said:
If on a motorway just drift slightly onto the white line in the right - don’t be obvious about it. Tgis kicks up tons of ste and gravel all over the tailgater. Since they’re usually in some flash new thing they back off quick - I suspect those who are in a lease car will be quite alarmed.
I like this solution as it’s non-confrontational. Brake testing etc is just going to end up with bother.
I used to do a similar one to this on the motorway, just let the car drift towards the central reservation then snap it back as if you're dozing off then coming round, nearly always worked. te and gravel all over the tailgater. Since they’re usually in some flash new thing they back off quick - I suspect those who are in a lease car will be quite alarmed. I like this solution as it’s non-confrontational. Brake testing etc is just going to end up with bother.
8IKERDAVE said:
This seems to be getting worse recently. It's more frustrating when you're in a train of cars and can't go anywhere with a prick behind sat 2 feet from the bumper. If they are blatantly taking the piss I'll knock my hazard lights on a couple of times. This often works but not always. Often people are just so stupid that they creep up to the rear of your car and don't even realise how close they are until you have to brake hard.
I also do what the highway code advises and keep a bigger distance from the car in front so that I'm not having to jump on the brakes if they stop - you then get said tailgater thinking you're slowing down on purpose to piss them off so they get closer.
90% of the time though, if and when the road opens up and you're on a NSL stretch they disappear in your mirror. I think the 40mph everywhere brigade are the worst offenders.
I tried the hazards approach recently. Swiss motorway, 80 km/h zone, I was fashionably just above 80 (probably a real 82, fines can start from 84) in the right hand lane, lorry right behind me, nothing in front, occasional overtakers on the left. Got a toot of the horn, followed by a very close overtake. Probably would've been safer to just ignore them, but this driver appeared to know exactly what they were doing.I also do what the highway code advises and keep a bigger distance from the car in front so that I'm not having to jump on the brakes if they stop - you then get said tailgater thinking you're slowing down on purpose to piss them off so they get closer.
90% of the time though, if and when the road opens up and you're on a NSL stretch they disappear in your mirror. I think the 40mph everywhere brigade are the worst offenders.
I find that my cruise control does not see what is behind and anyway
https://youtu.be/AjGXn249Fc0?si=M7AyRKqSRKyLfzUj
https://youtu.be/AjGXn249Fc0?si=M7AyRKqSRKyLfzUj
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