It's habitual with a lot of people, they just can't help sitting 1 sec behind the car in front. They just doesn't register that this is poor driving and that if anything were to happen it's the other persons fault.

I used to 'brake test' the buggers but now I'd try the brake lights only or failing that I'll lift off the throttle and let the car slow down a lot. Let them know that if they choose to sit on my *** they're going to get held up a lot more.

So what do you do with lane hogs who will not shift out the right lane? I'll flash, then honk, then undertake.

Stamp on brakes hard -> swap details -> claim off their insurance and don't forget the whiplash and all those extra passenger's whiplash

Oh ok, don't do that really - even though it would help the idiots learn, it would obviously be wrong. But in the OP's situation, if I felt that unsafe, I think it may be best not to feel pushed and to slow down, which will at least give you more braking distance should anything unexpected happen to help prevent being rear-ended, and give them more opportunity to get past you and get lost. If they can't get past they won't get anywhere any faster being an inch off your bumper. At least if you slow down there's less risk of an accident. Whatever the idiots behind you do is up to them.

Only other things I can think of is rigging up a switch to bring on the reverse lights, or some sort of smoke screen (oh ok those last 2 are not sensible suggestions)

you can now actually get done yourself if found guilty of slamming the brakes on for no apparent reason.

Either way still shouldn't be following closely enough to make it an issue, and doesn't seem to have stopped all the scamsters. Plus how could the tailgater see that deer running straight out in front of you when they're so close

you can now actually get done yourself if found guilty of slamming the brakes on for no apparent reason.

Source?

I'd say it was a given; it's driving without due care.

I'd say it was a given; it's driving without due care.

Which is a criminal matter? Insurance looks and says the tailgaters went into the back of your car so they're at fault.

Which is a criminal matter? Insurance looks and says the tailgaters went into the back of your car so they're at fault.

If you deliberately brake hard and without warning in order to "scare someone" or to provoke a crash, yes it's a criminal matter that you did so.

the source was the mail shot at work from our transport manager after a driver at another depot was prosecuted for slamming his brakes on hard after someone tailgated him.

I think part of the tailgating thing like mentioned above is down to drivers feeling too secure inside their cars thinking they driving a protective bubble. Noticed today whilst following someone doing the speed limit a woman approach behind quite fast and follow at 50 mph at about 4 metres behind. Went into the 30 limit and she got closer so i made more space in front of me, at the speed camera she jams on her brakes down to about 15-20 mph and shortly later we go back into a 50 limit where i then over take the car in front (1 mile staight clear stretch) and the car that was up my backside is now up the backside of the car i was behind and makes no attempt to over take.

Maybe more education is needed, i remember at school the police use to come in to do road safety and did the speeding car in the car park that fired a chalk mark on the floor when the passenger pressed the button, another when the police driver reacts and another when the car finally stops showing the distance between spotting hazzard and finally stopping. Certainly was a great way to educate.

I think part of the tailgating thing like mentioned above is down to drivers feeling too secure inside their cars thinking they driving a protective bubble.

IMHO, I also don't think the packaging of modern cars helps. Generally seating positions seem to be higher and the slope of the bonnets makes the front-end less visible to the driver. The height of the seating position reduces the perception of speed, and the lack of visibility of the bonnet reduces the constant awareness of where the front of the car is.

As such, I think a lot of drivers rely on subconcious to decide on the spacing around their car - if they perceive they're going slower and aren't thinking about how long the front of their car is, the spacing will get shorter.

I also back this up with anecdotal evidence that it tends to be van drivers that seem to tailgate the most...

Rob.

Ive had this problem a few times.

If they are sitting right up my bumper i usually tap the brakes.

If that doesnt work, i slow down a bit, say to 50.

If that doesnt work i usually slow down to about 30 to annoy them.

Then when they go to overtake, i put the foot down!

Im probs one of the worst people you want to be tailgating! :rofl:

Its bad, but funny as anything.

Keeps me ammused on the backroads.

The height of the seating position reduces the perception of speed, and the lack of visibility of the bonnet reduces the constant awareness of where the front of the car is.

I think part of the cause of tailgating in lorries and vans *is* the fact they can see the end of their bonnet and can see they're leaving a "safe" distance....

Chris

If possible, I let the moron past. Otherwise I'll gently slow (no brakes), then boot it.

As regards shifting people out of the outside lane- wait, flash, wait, flash, wait,flash, wait, undertake if safe and plenty of room. The wait/flash cycle will typically be at least a mile or two.

I deliberately slow down. If they don't want to leave the correct distance for the speed, I will adjust the speed to match the distance! A few times I have been on a de-restricted road doing 15 MPH because someone was too close. And they couldn't overtake because when the road wasn't winding, there was traffic coming the opposite way. Oh dear!

I hate the twots that pull a suicidal overtaking manouvre to get past then slow down. I usually slow down enough to let them pass where safe, but continue at my usual speed if there's no chance to get past.

I think part of the tailgating thing like mentioned above is down to drivers feeling too secure inside their cars thinking they driving a protective bubble. Noticed today whilst following someone doing the speed limit a woman approach behind quite fast and follow at 50 mph at about 4 metres behind. Went into the 30 limit and she got closer so i made more space in front of me, at the speed camera she jams on her brakes down to about 15-20 mph and shortly later we go back into a 50 limit where i then over take the car in front (1 mile staight clear stretch) and the car that was up my backside is now up the backside of the car i was behind and makes no attempt to over take.

I reckon you're right, and it's amazing how many do that.

ill look for an observation tomorrow and post it

What you mustn't do (but is very hard) is allow them to pressure you into driving badly yourself, or putting pressure on somebody in front because you feel pressured from behind. I've done that, and got the lecture that goes with it

Easing off and looking for somewhere to let them past is probably the safest plan. Any techniques to show them "you're not to be messed with" come under the heading of racing on the public road really, even if in your mind you're not doing anything wrong. Also to be avoided.

On a serious note my advice would be:

What would you do if the car was a policeman not responding to an emergency (Ie possibly *cough* trying to force you to commit an offence)

Funny you should say that, but a few months ago I was driving in a 30 limit out of Guildford with an Audi A3 right up my chuff. In a 40 limit the Audi passed me on some hatchings for a right turn. A quarter of a mile down the road I cruised up behind him in a line of traffic, He then turned into the Police station staff car park in Godalming, so is one rule for them and one rule for us?

On a serious note my advice would be:

What would you do if the car was a policeman not responding to an emergency (Ie possibly *cough* trying to force you to commit an offence)

Drive within the speed limit, turn off/pull in when possible.

Funny you should say that, but a few months ago I was driving in a 30 limit out of Guildford with an Audi A3 right up my chuff. In a 40 limit the Audi passed me on some hatchings for a right turn.

Audi drivers, eh! What sort of speed did he go past you in the 40 zone? Unbroken hatchings can be a great place for overtaking, provided they're well swept

Chris

I do miss my old remapped GPS for this, used to dab the brakes to ward them off, if they persisted i would slow to say 50, wait for them to overtake and boot it in 3rd (would hit 80 suprisingly quickly if attention wasnt being paid) good fun, they would normally get the message.

Well I was doing spot on forty and he had about fifty yards of hatchings to pass me in, I don't think he was a real Audi driver because he used his indicators!

I do miss my old remapped GPS for this, used to dab the brakes to ward them off, if they persisted i would slow to say 50, wait for them to overtake and boot it in 3rd (would hit 80 suprisingly quickly if attention wasnt being paid) good fun, they would normally get the message.

I'd rather let them go in front and p155 off myself. Plus accelerating when someone is attempting an overtake probably isn't the best of things to do.