As someone else stated… best thing for aggressive tailgaters is a noticeably placed rear facing camera.

 

Often, the basic reflective yellow jacket in a well placed and visible spot in the back of the car (or anything else that within perfectly legal limits might make the 'git' behind you question as to whether you're an unmarked police car) works well - the establishment of course being well known for driving around in vRS's.

 

This latter option won't of course work if your car is sporting 20 inch aftermarket rims, is slammed to the ground, or has 'Keep Back - Baby on Board / Billabong / Monster / My other car's a ?????' stickers in the back window at the same time, nor will the fur lined handcuffs that the 'lads' used to secure you naked to a lamp post on your stag night, or that you bought for the wife who 'never uses them', slung over one of the rear headrests.  

Is that bad driving? On the risk of being crucified but I do that. It's just being a bit smart/cheeky.

As for the tailgating issue, I'm with those who pull over and let them pass. It's not bothering me. I think I already drive quickly so if someone still needs to get past, be my guest...I rather still be alive at the end of the journey.

In general, the worst you can do is assume that everyone else is out for a fight. It's not going to make your journey very relaxing.

When did you last read the highway code? Positioning at roundabouts is covered. Having said that, so is signalling at roundabouts but more and more drivers are choosing to ignore that rule also, including Police cars and other "professional" drivers such as HGVs, PSVs and taxis.

Define a long queue of traffic, slow moving vehicle then consider:

Highway Code Rule 169

Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.

:-)

When did you last read the highway code? Positioning at roundabouts is covered. Having said that, so is signalling at roundabouts but more and more drivers are choosing to ignore that rule also, including Police cars and other "professional" drivers such as HGVs, PSVs and taxis.

 

Here here! People not indicating to turn left off a roundabout when I'm at the next junction waiting to enter it annoys the hell out of me.

... signalling at roundabouts but more and more drivers are choosing to ignore that rule ...

maybe they're not ignoring it so much - maybe they just don't want to give the opposition an advantage ...

At least now I know who the numpties are that put hi viz jackets on their parcel shelves. It's a bit sad, isn't it?

At least now I know who the numpties are that put hi viz jackets on their parcel shelves. It's a bit sad, isn't it?

Very sad...mine is safe in the drawer under my seat...

When did you last read the highway code? Positioning at roundabouts is covered. Having said that, so is signalling at roundabouts but more and more drivers are choosing to ignore that rule also, including Police cars and other "professional" drivers such as HGVs, PSVs and taxis.

 

I find that "professional" drivers are by far the worst drivers, buses and taxi come top in that category.

Much more here, some in the same vein as above, but perhaps some additional thoughts.

http://www.advanced-driving.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4487&hilit=tailgating

Some interesting reading there. I can only like your post once though.

 

For myself, tailgating is when a following driver maintains contact position (or closer) when an opportunity to overtake is not likely to present itself, well except on single-track road. In that event I don't see how, other than by maintaining contact position, you can indicate to the driver ahead that you have caught them and wish to overtake.

For myself, tailgating is when a following driver maintains contact position (or closer) when an opportunity to overtake is not likely to present itself, well except on single-track road. In that event I don't see how, other than by maintaining contact position, you can indicate to the driver ahead that you have caught them and wish to overtake.

KenONeill

Getting off the original topic a bit here, but the Roadcraft theory is that you drop back once you realise an overtake isn't "on" but then move up again if you see or anticipate a further possibility. The usual way of "signalling" you wish to overtake someone who isn't seeing you or isn't co-operating (eg. HGV taking too much road for you to get by) is to move out sideways when safe and stay there for a good look even if you know that the final move past won't happen on this occasion. This should make clear your general intention. Plenty of good books on this stuff, but Roadcraft is the Bible.

KenONeill

Getting off the original topic a bit here, but the Roadcraft theory is that you drop back once you realise an overtake isn't "on" but then move up again if you see or anticipate a further possibility. The usual way of "signalling" you wish to overtake someone who isn't seeing you or isn't co-operating (eg. HGV taking too much road for you to get by) is to move out sideways when safe and stay there for a good look even if you know that the final move past won't happen on this occasion. This should make clear your general intention. Plenty of good books on this stuff, but Roadcraft is the Bible.

Thanks, but that agrred advice applies to dual track road, that is when there is one or more running lane in each direction. My comment applies specifically to single-track road, which only has one running lane although it carries 2-way traffic.

At least now I know who the numpties are that put hi viz jackets on their parcel shelves. It's a bit sad, isn't it?

If with you on this one, Never once i have i thought that a car with a hi-viz in it was a police car. I would love to know how this all started, considering that most police i see are all in black and dont have the hi-viz on when driving the car.

Defo got worse for me when I purchased the Octy vRS, and one of the main reasons I got rid of it..

Just seemd to bring the worst out in other moronic motorists. Obviousl;y saw it as a bit of a challenge.

Most tiresome.

Defo got worse for me when I purchased the Octy vRS, and one of the main reasons I got rid of it..

Just seemd to bring the worst out in other moronic motorists. Obviousl;y saw it as a bit of a challenge.

Most tiresome.

 

I also found this when I had mine, not sure if it was my imagination but I felt like people were always wanting to race me, or there are just a lot of idiots that drive around here, 

Thanks, but that agrred advice applies to dual track road, that is when there is one or more running lane in each direction. My comment applies specifically to single-track road, which only has one running lane although it carries 2-way traffic.

KenONeill

To avoid diverting this thread again, I've PM'ed you.

I also found this when I had mine, not sure if it was my imagination but I felt like people were always wanting to race me, or there are just a lot of idiots that drive around here, 

It's been suggested that it was soley because it was race Blue?

Yours?

 

It wasn't just on the road I notice increased weird behaviour either.

Had on instance of a very unsavoury looking pair of 20 years somethings that came crawling past in an old Audi estate glaring at me and the car whilst I was washing it.

I immidiately thought of imminent night time break in for the keys, especially as that is exactly what happened to me over the Fabia vRS just 28 months ago.

 

Gladly nothing happened this time, but it did put me on edge a bit.

 

Glad but also sad to see the back of it tbh.

What a ruddy world we live in now ey?

Edited 27 March, 201412 yr by Mr Ree

It's been suggested that it was soley because it was race Blue?

Yours?

 

Na mine was the fastest colour - black 

I lifetime ago, mum had a Hillman Hunter with the reverse lights on a switch. Flipping the switch for a few seconds tended to get people to back off quite considerably.

Try driving a "Classic" car at the speed limit,  a large number of the driving community think because mine's over 40 yrs old their speedometers are wrong and I must be driving slowly, so they have to climb all over me to make me speed up. I think they get so close they cannot see the V8 badge in the bottom right hand corner of my boot lid.  

(Don't get me started on the "Classic car approaching, I'll pull out in front of it because it will slow me dow... OH SHHIII !......" brigade.)

I had that whilst borrowing my uncles tr6

I had that whilst borrowing my uncles tr6

I get it all the time whilst driving the Fiesta.

Does my head in.

Don't get me started on the "Classic car approaching, I'll pull out in front of it because it will slow me dow... OH SHHIII !......" brigade.

 

When that happens to me, i always say to the passenger "he wouldn't do that if he knew how **** my brakes are" !

When that happens to me, i always say to the passenger "he wouldn't do that if he knew how **** my brakes are" !

As someone that ran a P5B for a number of years I know exactly what you mean.

V8 torque, weight of a tank, brakes of a moped.

I recently swapped my 2.0T Saab 9-3 for an Octavia VRS, after a couple of months and about 2500 miles in the Skoda I've noticed people are way more aggressive towards me. The cars were pretty similar in terms of performance, size etc. so I'm assuming they see the VRS badge and the combination of red and green colouring in the letters makes them very angry?

 

I'm considering getting the badges taken off!

The most disconcerting thing is that we're essentially on our own out there. There is never a police car around when you need one and the police are only interested in taking action if they get two separate complaints about a particular driver / vehicle. I agree that video evidence is a good idea but obviously it's an extra hassle and expense most of is don't want to consider whilst we're saving up for the next car.

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I'm considering getting the badges taken off!

its spoiler, more than the badges

I ran an Octavia mk1 vRS for a while alongside my mk1 4x4 - both debadged, only external difference being the spoiler vs a little lip spoiler on the 4x4

In the vRS you'd encounter more attitude, very noticably so