Drivers following too close to you. Noticed any pattern?
Discussion
When I posted a topic here recently, I only expected a couple of replies, but so far it has entertained you all for 14 pages.
See how you get on with this one.
During recent years (town driving) I have noticed when a vehicle is following too close to me, that the driver is almost always a young woman. Might be a young lady, but cannot tell by just looking in the mirror. -
We constantly hear now about equal rights, so why don't I see a broader mix of men and women of all ages following too close? -
When this does occur, I reduce speed to minimise the chance of me having to brake sharply. If the road conditions ahead happen to become safe, I might slow a little more and invite an overtake. In the 1970s that was easy. A few flashes with the left hand indicator on a straight road, was a widely understood unofficial signal. Now though, the young women just want to follow, but not overtake. On one occasion, with no oncoming traffic in sight and after indicating left, we both came to a halt beside the kerb (road wide enough for three vehicles). Presumably the young lady was only paying attention to the rear of my car, and not observing any of the road conditions into the distance ahead.
So if your experience is the same as mine, the question is, why is it mostly young women who are driving in this hazardous way?
Edited by Jon39 on Saturday 10th August 17:34
Like Nelly the Elephant they just follow the tail of the one in front.
The driving too close stops after the first time they run in the back of someone. Young men think they are driving gods and just overtake with frequently even more disastrous consequences.
If only everyone was taught how to overtake properly.
On my regular commute I usually catch the tail of a queue behind the no 28 bus, it almost always stops to pick up the same lady half way along a clear sighted wide road, it indicates early and yet the car immediately behind still slows and frequently stops so close behind that it struggles to come out to pass.
They tend to be the same ones doing 65 in lane 2 of a motorway 30 feet behind the car in front and 30 feet in front of the car behind, with nothing in lane 1.
The driving too close stops after the first time they run in the back of someone. Young men think they are driving gods and just overtake with frequently even more disastrous consequences.
If only everyone was taught how to overtake properly.
On my regular commute I usually catch the tail of a queue behind the no 28 bus, it almost always stops to pick up the same lady half way along a clear sighted wide road, it indicates early and yet the car immediately behind still slows and frequently stops so close behind that it struggles to come out to pass.
They tend to be the same ones doing 65 in lane 2 of a motorway 30 feet behind the car in front and 30 feet in front of the car behind, with nothing in lane 1.
Edited by Dixy on Saturday 10th August 21:30
RSTurboPaul said:
I have also found that people behind following closely have no idea what to do when you signal left to indicate they can overtake - they seem to slow down and back off rather than be looking for the overtake already and nipping past.
Au contraire! On a week away in Kent, driving down a winding country lane, a motorbike approached rapidly, and he held back a suitable distance. On the next straight stretch, I gave a quick left flick of the indicator, he opened up, went past, raised a left hand in thanks. All very civilised and co-operative.
) type van doing 65ish in lane 3 of 4 on an otherwise deserted M60 the other evening. And a red Insignia seemingly clamped to its back bumper... 
Probably get a better range of examples from observing others being tailgated rather than looking in one's own mirror... Based on one 20-minute journey last week along predominantly single-carriageway roads with varying speed limits:
- several vans (small CDVs through to large-ish transit-style) tailgating cars doing the speed limit, often through 40 limits with lots of hazards, and just as often before darting off left into a side-turning
- an 8-year-old Audi A5 with two stick-on vinyl quattro badges on the tailgate (either side of the Audi rings) in a 30 behind a car doing the speed limit. Must have been one of the rare 8x8 Audis.
- several vans (small CDVs through to large-ish transit-style) tailgating cars doing the speed limit, often through 40 limits with lots of hazards, and just as often before darting off left into a side-turning
- an 8-year-old Audi A5 with two stick-on vinyl quattro badges on the tailgate (either side of the Audi rings) in a 30 behind a car doing the speed limit. Must have been one of the rare 8x8 Audis.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Actually, the closer you get to the vehicle in front, the WORSE your view is around and underneath that vehicle - hanging back gives you a clearer view and shifting your position within your lane will help even more. Try standing right behind your car then standing several car lengths behind it and noticing the difference.Equally, in a lower-powered car, it's far safer to overtake with an existing speed differential as you pull out to pass the vehicle in front rather than be closer and only starting to create a speed differential after you pull out - it also makes you less vulnerable to the car being overtaken starting to accelerate at the same point you do. So hanging back, waiting until it's clear, starting to accelerate and then pulling out with a speed differential is the way to go.
GW65 said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Actually, the closer you get to the vehicle in front, the WORSE your view is around and underneath that vehicle - hanging back gives you a clearer view and shifting your position within your lane will help even more. Try standing right behind your car then standing several car lengths behind it and noticing the difference.Equally, in a lower-powered car, it's far safer to overtake with an existing speed differential as you pull out to pass the vehicle in front rather than be closer and only starting to create a speed differential after you pull out - it also makes you less vulnerable to the car being overtaken starting to accelerate at the same point you do. So hanging back, waiting until it's clear, starting to accelerate and then pulling out with a speed differential is the way to go.
The 2 second rule as draconian as it sounds is there for a reason. Your "reactions" are certainly not sufficient to be sitting on someones arse and be able to respond to a hazard in a safe manner and so I can understand why the person in front feels uncomfortable as well as your wife. I fully understand the lack of power, but causing your passengers to feel uncomfortable isn't exactly pleasant driving and putting the children at risk isnt great either. It wouldn't exactly tick any of the advanced driving badges. (Sorry for the condescending approach)
As for better view up the nearside, not sure why? Other than approaching a right hand bend is the only time you should pull up close to the vehicle ahead, otherwise you are just hiding your view of junctions, cyclists etc etc.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
It's late and so you're going to have to excuse me, but what does that mean?I'm going to have a stab at 'you've been unable to reduce your speed from 40mph to 30mph to comply with the speed limit'
How does that happen?
...perhaps because you're an advanced driver, is that what you mean?
Or have I stayed up past my bed time and missed something?
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I don't think I'm going to get very far with this am I?It is too easy for you to post your own 'suite the situation' wriggle room.
Break the law, "well, yes, I was, but he was too and he's not an advanced driver" "I'm an AD so I'm in a position to decide when the law applies to me"
I would say, without knowing your actual driving style, as opposed to your perceived driving style, that you, perhaps, would fall into the category of "a certain type of driver"
If you are in fact an 'advanced driver', I think maybe your driving style, as posted, might bring into question the validity of any such "qualification"
Perhaps your standards have slipped and you need a refresher course. Isn't there something like this meted out to persistant offenders?
Just to give this some added perspective, I've been driving for many many years. Apart from short journeys around town in built up areas, or situations where it's impossible, I think I'm able to say with some certainty that every single significant journey I have ever made has resulted in me breaking a speed limit, somewhere, by whatever margin.
Arrogance and ignorance personified. Sorry.
You merely demonstrate an inveterate desire to continue your poor practices.
Overtaking is a mugs game, sure go for it for pleasure "because you can" and it's obviously safe to do so but it won't necessarily get you to your destination any sooner. It is probably a nugatory exercise.
As for putting your passengers at risk with your continual assesment of the minutiae of an anticipated overtake, give me a break.
If you're in a situation where you're willing to place anyone at the kind of risk where those minute calls of judgement are necessary, you shouldn't be on the road, tailgating or otherwise. Save it for the track. You're putting other peoples lives at risk, despite your perceived driving prowess.
Hey ho, I only hope you don't spend too many hours of your life behind the wheel. And none glued to my bumper.
Heaven help us if you drive for a living. (Uber?) I'm sure you know best though
You merely demonstrate an inveterate desire to continue your poor practices.
Overtaking is a mugs game, sure go for it for pleasure "because you can" and it's obviously safe to do so but it won't necessarily get you to your destination any sooner. It is probably a nugatory exercise.
As for putting your passengers at risk with your continual assesment of the minutiae of an anticipated overtake, give me a break.
If you're in a situation where you're willing to place anyone at the kind of risk where those minute calls of judgement are necessary, you shouldn't be on the road, tailgating or otherwise. Save it for the track. You're putting other peoples lives at risk, despite your perceived driving prowess.
Hey ho, I only hope you don't spend too many hours of your life behind the wheel. And none glued to my bumper.
Heaven help us if you drive for a living. (Uber?) I'm sure you know best though
If I know there is a good straight bit of road ahead and can overtake, will close up behind the car just a little, but in a lower gear to allow engine braking to control and helps if need to do emergency action.
If the road ahead does not present a safe overtaking situation, will then reduce back to a safe distance.
It does make me laugh when you see a driver in front say behind a HGV, 2 feet from it then peering in and out of the lane to see oncoming, when if they held back would have a better and safer view anyway. Especially with modern turbo diesels you can squeeze on effortlessly, without having to follow so close.
Although with alot of torque sometimes you feel can do an overtake when maybe should not, guess is about spacial awareness and capability of your car. If doing 60 and choose to overtake, can quickly be doing 80+ by the end of it. Which cannot be safe as cars are only crash tested at 40mph.
But yes unless you behind a tractor, generally there is no need to overtake as will catch the traffic up later on anyway, I think alot of drivers overtake just to feel the thrill of dropping a few gears and flooring it. Many a time they are coming the other way, and if you were not concentrating without input could have been an accident.
Especially on a B road, nothing wrong with lowering the speed, and being in correct gear, not so much trying to improve your own driving style, but being in a responsive state to manage the idiot coming the other way. Something you become more in tune with after driving for so many years.
If the road ahead does not present a safe overtaking situation, will then reduce back to a safe distance.
It does make me laugh when you see a driver in front say behind a HGV, 2 feet from it then peering in and out of the lane to see oncoming, when if they held back would have a better and safer view anyway. Especially with modern turbo diesels you can squeeze on effortlessly, without having to follow so close.
Although with alot of torque sometimes you feel can do an overtake when maybe should not, guess is about spacial awareness and capability of your car. If doing 60 and choose to overtake, can quickly be doing 80+ by the end of it. Which cannot be safe as cars are only crash tested at 40mph.
But yes unless you behind a tractor, generally there is no need to overtake as will catch the traffic up later on anyway, I think alot of drivers overtake just to feel the thrill of dropping a few gears and flooring it. Many a time they are coming the other way, and if you were not concentrating without input could have been an accident.
Especially on a B road, nothing wrong with lowering the speed, and being in correct gear, not so much trying to improve your own driving style, but being in a responsive state to manage the idiot coming the other way. Something you become more in tune with after driving for so many years.
Edited by freddie2020 on Monday 19th August 00:06
Edited by freddie2020 on Monday 19th August 00:14
Edited by freddie2020 on Monday 19th August 00:19
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