Ignored Gardai- what to expect?

gurramok

A friend of a friend(yes friend not me!) had a motorist tailgating her on a southside road.

She was pressured to speed up by the driver behind her instead of keeping her cool in a 60km/hr zone.

Anyway, a garda emerged from a bush with possibly a radar gun and/or a camera(she not 100% sure on camera but certain he had one) and waved her to pull in when both were going about 80km/hr in daylight conditions.

She didn't pull in and kept going with the garda left standing there with hands on his hips. The car tailgating her didn't stop either.

Question is, what happens here. Will it be a straightforward speeding fine with possible points within weeks or is there a traffic offence for failing to stop for a garda and could result in a summons in about 6 months?

Only would like opinions on likely outcome, not about 'take your punishment type stuff as she admits guilt' ...just would like to know on her behalf which way a case like this could end up as, usual speeding fine or end up in court on a specific driving offence?

Thx in advance

Anan1

When did this happen? My guess is she'll hear no more about it. And tell your friend for future reference that using her hazard lights will make most tailgaters back off.

Dave!

Anan1 wrote: »

When did this happen? My guess is she'll hear no more about it. And tell your friend for future reference that using her hazard lights will make most tailgaters back off.

So will slamming on the brakes.

I hate tailgaters.

Amtmann

Anan1 wrote: »

When did this happen? My guess is she'll hear no more about it. And tell your friend for future reference that using her hazard lights will make most tailgaters back off.

It can do - it can also make some of them flash their lights at you.

What is it with tailgaters? They really sicken me.

Rowley Birkin QC

gurramok wrote:

She was pressured to speed up by the driver behind her

Doesn't really cut it as an excuse, does it?

Surprised they didn't give chase tbh. I live on the N8 right next to a known speed trap and there always seems to be a pursuit car ready and waiting for anyone that doesn't pull over when instructed to do so.

IMO she is either in an awful lot of trouble or none at all. i.e. they will take it up at a later date if the guard got a reg number or he just got her speed and not her registration details, in which case it's nothing to be worried about.

UrbanFox

If she gets away with it she will have learned a free but valuable lesson about refusing to be intimidated by some little git.

If she had stopped she would have been done for sure as she would have committed the offence and the real "offender" would have driven on and away from any trouble.

Ironically, if the tailgater was very close he may have obscured the Garda's view of your GF's registration plate.

On the downside, if she is identified she will probably be done for speeding and refusing to stop for a Garda when directed to do so. In that event it is a court appearance.

Time will tell. Hopefully, she is in the clear but will not make the same mistake.

mikemac

I prefer to quickly tap the brakes a few times to get tailgaters to back off.

Anan1

micmclo wrote: »

I prefer to quickly tap the brakes a few times to get tailgaters to back off.

The hazards are safer. Brake lights can give the tailgater a fright, which is clearly dangerous. Plus the fright can make them angry, again dangerous.

mikemac

I'm on a motorbike so a tailgater is even more dangerous.
Oh and I don't have hazards

(yes, I know this is the motors forum so carry on)

gurramok

Anan1 wrote: »

When did this happen? My guess is she'll hear no more about it. And tell your friend for future reference that using her hazard lights will make most tailgaters back off.

Happened midweek in afternoon on suburban route, would rather not say exact time in case that garda is reading

Good idea about hazard lights, never thought of that one myself and i never give in to tailgaters.

Urbanfox, she not my GF!
On the rest of your post, thats the problem, one just does not know what would happen, its alot of worry for her!

bigkev49, if the garda had a camera, surely he would of got reg details and didn't have to rely on reading the obscured(due to 2nd car) rear reg?

Also, she nearly always obeys the speed limit on this particular road and has had umpteen incidents with drivers trying to overtake and giving her the 2 fingers including polite exchange of words!

She had reported these incidents to gardai and RSA themselves before as she felt intimidated. They had said they look into it back then.
As a bloke i can understand how some women can feel intimidated on the roads with tailgaters and speedsters.

So to sum up, it depends on the mood of the garda to prosecute? :eek:

Anan1

gurramok wrote: »

Also, she nearly always obeys the speed limit on this particular road and has had umpteen incidents with drivers trying to overtake and giving her the 2 fingers including polite exchange of words!

That's odd. She's hardly driving in the overtaking lane of a dual carriageway, is she?

Wishbone Ash

I can never understand the mentality of those who complain about tailgaters and then try to deal with then by braking hard which is much more dangerous than that which they complain.

The best and safest way to deal with them is to take one's foot off the accelerator and gradually allow the car to slow down. They will then usually back off or overtake.

gurramok

Anan1 wrote: »

That's odd. She's hardly driving in the overtaking lane of a dual carriageway, is she?

Yes most times, obeying the speed limit at 60 in this particular section of the dual carraigeway.

Thing is this road(not M50!) has extremely heavy traffic where its nearly impossible to move lanes at peak hour when at 60 plus when your right hand turn is one to two junctions up, you have to be in the correct lane or be screwed, a pressurising situation in itself

There does be no space for manoeuvre to 'speed up', its that tight. To have speedsters behind you breaking the limit flashing their lights and giving two fingers in your rear mirror can be intimidating to anyone who chooses to not to ignore them.

So in essence, the idea of the dual carraigeway is forgotten as it becomes 2 lanes at same speed due to heavy traffic if that makes sense!

So do you reckon its either a summons or a fine in the post or an ignore by the garda?

Pherekydes

gurramok wrote: »

A friend of a friend(yes friend not me!) had a motorist tailgating her on a southside road.

She was pressured to speed up by the driver behind her instead of keeping her cool in a 60km/hr zone.

How was she pressured? Was the tailgater nudging her rear bumper? In future, tell her to ignore tailgaters. If a guy (it's usually guys, isn't it?) is stuck up her arse then she needn't worry about looking in her rearview mirror, coz all she can see are his tobacco stained teeth. Just concentrate on driving correctly and keep calm. If an opportunity presents itself for overtaking then let him at it...

Wishbone Ash

gurramok wrote: »

Thing is this road(not M50!) has extremely heavy traffic where its nearly impossible to move lanes at peak hour when at 60 plus when your right hand turn is one to two junctions up, you have to be in the correct lane or be screwed, a pressurising situation in itself

Has to be the Stillorgan Road!

gurramok wrote:

So do you reckon its either a summons or a fine in the post or an ignore by the garda?

When did it happen?

Anan1

gurramok wrote: »

Yes most times, obeying the speed limit at 60 in this particular section of the dual carraigeway.

Thing is this road(not M50!) has extremely heavy traffic where its nearly impossible to move lanes at peak hour when at 60 plus when your right hand turn is one to two junctions up, you have to be in the correct lane or be screwed, a pressurising situation in itself

There does be no space for manoeuvre to 'speed up', its that tight. To have speedsters behind you breaking the limit flashing their lights and giving two fingers in your rear mirror can be intimidating to anyone who chooses to not to ignore them.

So in essence, the idea of the dual carraigeway is forgotten as it becomes 2 lanes at same speed due to heavy traffic if that makes sense!

I'm sorry, and please don't take what i'm about to say personally, but it doesn't. Going on what you've said, your friend is not fit to be driving. The best thing you can do for her (and for other road users) is to encourage her to get professional tuition.

Seth Brundle

Use the windscreen washer jets to slow the tailgaiter down!

UrbanFox wrote: »

If she gets away with it she will have learned a free but valuable lesson about refusing to be intimidated by some little git.

erm, she was intimidated...

gurramok wrote: »

She was pressured to speed up by the driver behind her instead of keeping her cool in a 60km/hr zone.

gurramok wrote: »

Yes most times, obeying the speed limit at 60 in this particular section of the dual carraigeway.

Thing is this road(not M50!) has extremely heavy traffic where its nearly impossible to move lanes at peak hour when at 60 plus when your right hand turn is one to two junctions up, you have to be in the correct lane or be screwed, a pressurising situation in itself

There does be no space for manoeuvre to 'speed up', its that tight. To have speedsters behind you breaking the limit flashing their lights and giving two fingers in your rear mirror can be intimidating to anyone who chooses to not to ignore them.

So in essence, the idea of the dual carraigeway is forgotten as it becomes 2 lanes at same speed due to heavy traffic if that makes sense!

So do you reckon its either a summons or a fine in the post or an ignore by the garda?

I don't follow this. There is no room to manouvre but she still managed to go from her comfortable 60 (I assume this is in km/h) to whatever speed she was doing. Still, the garda on the side of the road expected her to pull across the left (driving) lane. TBH, sounds like she was in the wrong lane for no reason except that she was going to turn right way up the road!

Jeapy

If the traffic was that heavy and changing lanes difficult, its kind of strange to be able to drive at 80km. I hope that doesnt sound bitchy, because its not meant to. On the other side of things, i can see how the person behind might have got frustrated, it can be annoying when you think somebody is just driving in the right hand lane but not going anywhere! They didnt know she was going to turn! Ive no idea about the speeding thing but i hope it all goes well! Good luck.

Gauge

I really don't see how someone can be 'pressured' into speeding by a tailgater

Barlow07

DaveMcG wrote: »

So will slamming on the brakes.

I hate tailgaters.

I was driving down the N7 late on a Friday night and I was behind some stupid girl driving a Fiat stilo I think and she thought I was to close as she kept slamming on the breaks. I was at least at two car lents back, anyway she was so busy slamming on the breaks she didnt see the red lights and hit the car in front.

My advice is to simply slow down and they soon get the message or they will over take you.

I doubt if your friend will get anymore then a fine in the post and a couple of points on her licence, if the garda was that interested, I’m sure he would have chased her in a car or on the bike.

gurramok

kbannon wrote: »

I don't follow this. There is no room to manouvre but she still managed to go from her comfortable 60 (I assume this is in km/h) to whatever speed she was doing. Still, the garda on the side of the road expected her to pull across the left (driving) lane. TBH, sounds like she was in the wrong lane for no reason except that she was going to turn right way up the road!

It was a blip in the road speed, ther eis not much difference in between 60 and 80 and the traffic got an opportunity to speed faster due to a gap further ahead.
The garda was in middle of the dual carriageway, not on the left.

Anan1, oh yes it does become pressurising on any driver.
I'm not as frequent on the road in question but when i am, i do have some arsehole behind me flashing me to get out of the way despite me doing speed limit.
Of course in my situation, i dont give a flying F**k what the person behinds think, if they wanna undertake, go ahead, i ain't moving faster and gettinf my speeding fine.

Wishbone Ash..no comment on road:)..it happened late afternoon in peak hour.

Slow coach, no not tipping bumper like in Mad Max!...the driver was extremely close at that speed, the type where you'd worry yourself if they would hit you at that type of speed with any breaking even though it was 80.
I've experienced it myself and it does cross my mind with an eejit tailgater behind me and i do be careful to slow gently if needs be.

Gauge& Jeapy..believe me, if your obeying the speed limit in right hand lane on any dual carriageway there will always be an aggressive driver behind you flashing his lights to get you out of the way not just once but many times and even honking their horns, this is intimidating to drivers, ye must of experienced it before, i certainly have myself.

Jeapy, it was too early to signal right when in right hand lane, when i mean early i mean about 2 junctions/traffic lights back.

Wishbone Ash

Barlow07 wrote: »

I was driving down the N7 late on a Friday night and I was behind some stupid girl driving a Fiat stilo I think and she thought I was to close as she kept slamming on the breaks. I was at least at two car lents back

Are you for real? :eek:

Two car lengths?

Were you travelling at 5kph?



*shakes head in disbelief*

Wishbone Ash

gurramok wrote: »

Gauge& Jeapy..believe me, if your obeying the speed limit in right hand lane on any dual carriageway there will always be an aggressive driver behind you flashing his lights to get you out of the way not just once but many times and even honking their horns, this is intimidating to drivers, ye must of experienced it before, i certainly have myself.

It doesn't matter if you are doing the posted speed limit while travelling on the right lane. The right lane is for overtaking or turning right. A motorist does not have the authority to regulate the speed limit for other drivers.

Barlow07

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Are you for real? :eek:

Two car lengths?

Were you travelling at 5kph?



*shakes head in disbelief*

oops :rolleyes:

star-pants

Have to say - when I started driving I used to be intimidated a lot - one night in particular a Bus (out of service) was right up my backside driving into Ranelagh (and was so up my backside I was nervous watching it--and it's lights were high enough to be distracting) and as I came under the bridge I just about saw a stupid road barrier sticking out dangerously into the road and there was a car coming towards me too. I slowed and got around, but after that I was like 'to heck with being intimidated'. If someone is up my backside & I am in the proper lane / doing the correct speed limit, I refuse to speed up. And in fact will go slower if they continue to drive up my bumper.

People are far too impatient, I'd rather arrive a few seconds later than not at all.

Your friend needs more confidence to not be bullied into driving faster. If the gardai got a picture from the front as she came towards him - perhaps she'd be caught, but if the other car was up her bumper, they shouldn't be able to get a picture from the back (of the license) I assume.

Oilrig

1) If you're intimidated by someone driving so close, move the rear view mirror so you can't see them - its their problem to stay out of your rear end. Ideally grow balls and wear them...

2) Chances are you friend will hear nothing more - if the cop had a camera he wouldn't be trying to flag her down. Dumb Cnut trying to do it from the central margin anyway.

3) Braking while being tailgated is asking for it, and if you do get stuffed doing this you deserve it.

4) Regardless of the speed limit, the outside lane is for overtaking, if you're not overtaking "maintain the flow" or move over.

5) Barlow... where are the lights on the N7? thought they'd all been removed.

gurramok

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

It doesn't matter if you are doing the posted speed limit while travelling on the right lane. The right lane is for overtaking or turning right. A motorist does not have the authority to regulate the speed limit for other drivers.

Which it was for turning right!

We are talking about a distance of maybe a half a kilometre between the actual turn and being in the correct lane to turn right, we're not talking miles here

gyppo

kbannon wrote: »

Use the windscreen washer jets to slow the tailgaiter down!

Kbannnon, I've seen you post this tip before, and its a very effective one - I use it a lot.!:)

Wishbone Ash

This is not adding up!

gurramok wrote: »

a garda emerged from a bush with possibly a radar gun and/or a camera(she not 100% sure on camera but certain he had one) and waved her to pull in

If the Garda was on the central median, how would he expect her to pull over?

gurramok wrote: »

has had umpteen incidents with drivers trying to overtake

Me thinks your friend may be at fault!

Jeapy

gurramok wrote: »

It was a blip in the road speed, ther eis not much difference in between 60 and 80 and the traffic got an opportunity to speed faster due to a gap further ahead.
The garda was in middle of the dual carriageway, not on the left.

Anan1, oh yes it does become pressurising on any driver.
I'm not as frequent on the road in question but when i am, i do have some arsehole behind me flashing me to get out of the way despite me doing speed limit.
Of course in my situation, i dont give a flying F**k what the person behinds think, if they wanna undertake, go ahead, i ain't moving faster and gettinf my speeding fine.

Wishbone Ash..no comment on road:)..it happened late afternoon in peak hour.

Slow coach, no not tipping bumper like in Mad Max!...the driver was extremely close at that speed, the type where you'd worry yourself if they would hit you at that type of speed with any breaking even though it was 80.
I've experienced it myself and it does cross my mind with an eejit tailgater behind me and i do be careful to slow gently if needs be.

Gauge& Jeapy..believe me, if your obeying the speed limit in right hand lane on any dual carriageway there will always be an aggressive driver behind you flashing his lights to get you out of the way not just once but many times and even honking their horns, this is intimidating to drivers, ye must of experienced it before, i certainly have myself.

Jeapy, it was too early to signal right when in right hand lane, when i mean early i mean about 2 junctions/traffic lights back.

I mean just put it on for a second or two so theyd know youre intending on turning. Might stop them being so aggressive! Thats what I would do...

gurramok

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

This is not adding up!

If the Garda was on the central median, how would he expect her to pull over?

He pointed to move over to the hard shoulder of left lane ahead, have to assume there was another garda sitting over there waiting to quiz drivers pulled over.

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Me thinks your friend may be at fault!

How?..Generally she cannot speed over the limit as she would of been caught with fine/peno points as maybe in this case

Unless you mean she should of pulled into left hand lane which she couldn't do because of too much density in traffic plus her right hand turn was just up ahead(less than 2 traffic lights ahead)?

Why should she give in to speeding drivers ?

Jeapy

I agree with wishbone ash that she was wrong for a few reasons...
If her turn is two junctions ahead, she really shouldnt have been in the right hand lane. She should be competent enough to change lanes, even in heavy traffic.
Some parts of the story just dont add up. Like the traffic is so heavy that she cant change lane, but can drive 20km over the limit?
Ive never seen or heard of a Garda in the central median. Its pretty unbelievable, but some Gardai would do anything on a power trip.
But ultimately, she increased her speed, who else is to blame? The tailgater might have pressured her, but did they put a gun to her head?
I hope nothing will come of it and she will just learn a valuable lesson!

Wishbone Ash

gurramok wrote: »

Unless you mean she should of pulled into left hand lane which she couldn't do because of too much density in traffic....
.....Why should she give in to speeding drivers ?

If the traffic was "of too much density" I can't understand how your friend could have been intimidated to go faster. Surely the general speed of the dense traffic would have governed the maximum speed possible?


EDIT: and I've never seen Gardai doing speed checks on very heavy urban traffic!

gurramok

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

If the traffic was "of too much density" I can't understand how your friend could have been intimidated to go faster. Surely the general speed of the dense traffic would have governed the maximum speed possible?

EDIT: and I've never seen Gardai doing speed checks on very heavy urban traffic!

Jeapy, it can happen at that speed, we're talking very dense where when you look in your mirrors for that gap while indicating, that never appears within maybe a minute or two before your junction to turn hence getting into that right hand lane quickly with much time beforehand.

The 80 part occurred as there was a gap in traffic ahead which allowed it for a short while and then they go back to 60, it does happen but not alot on this road she mentioned.

Same explanation to Wishbone, i've seen gardai doing speedchecks in heavy traffic on the Finglas Road, Ballymun road, Navan rd as i'm a northsider for example

Yeh, she should have learnt a valuable lesson to never go over the limit especially on a road thats notorious for speedchecks and withstand any pressure from drivers behind her(learners especially should know this! No she ain't a learner! )

BustyMikeyB

I love tailgater I stood on brakes and let one of drive into the back of me..got ninety grand for me trouble.:D

testicle

DaveMcG wrote: »

So will slamming on the brakes.

That is illegal. Please desist.

Fog lights are more effective.

Anan1

BustyMikeyB wrote: »

I love tailgater I stood on brakes and let one of drive into the back of me..got ninety grand for me trouble.:D

I would have thought your disabilities would be worth more, TBH.

Gauge

gurramok wrote: »

Gauge& Jeapy..believe me, if your obeying the speed limit in right hand lane on any dual carriageway there will always be an aggressive driver behind you flashing his lights to get you out of the way not just once but many times and even honking their horns, this is intimidating to drivers, ye must of experienced it before, i certainly have myself.

Of course I have, everyone has at one stage. And I feel for your friend because I've been there (aggressive tailgaters flashing me) but at the end of the day, the story doesn't add up...

What was stopping her pulling into the left lane? From the sounds of it she didn't really have a reason to be in the right hand lane in the first place? The traffic was light enough for her to speed but too dense to pull into another lane?

Why didn't she stop for the garda?

What I get from the story is that your friend basically panicked and made a series of bad judgments (speeding, not stopping for the garda) which is understandable but still... her fault, pretty much. Not trying to troll or anything, it's just the impression I've gotten. She's probably learned her lesson now and will know better next time!

colm_mcm

If I notice in my rear view mirror that a car is coming up behind me on the horizon and Im in the outside lane. If the car gets closer and closer, I pull into the inside lane. similarly you're in the ouside lane of a dual carrigeway doing whatever speed, if there's a couple of cars behind you, it usually means you should get out of the way. It's common courtesy and common sense. Drivers with this "I'm doing the speed limit, why should I pull over?" attitude really bug me, along with drivers who use the outside lane and go at the same speed as those in the inside lane.

eringobragh

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

EDIT: and I've never seen Gardai doing speed checks on very heavy urban traffic!

Now that you say , a while ago on the N2 there was a speed check under Bridge beside finglas exit at 5ish. 2 Cops in the Bus lane armed with the Ultralyte and no high-viz jackets on :rolleyes:

It was pretty busy as well at the time.

DublinWriter

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The best and safest way to deal with them is to take one's foot off the accelerator and gradually allow the car to slow down. They will then usually back off or overtake.

Or in daylight switch main headlights off and on. Will appear as if you are using brakes to the tailgater.

Anan1

DublinWriter wrote: »

Or in daylight switch main headlights off and on. Will appear as if you are using brakes to the tailgater.

When will you people understand - giving a tailgater the impression that you are braking is dangerous!

colm_mcm

just pull. over and let them pass, how difficult is that?

sicruise

This story seemed to change alot... it was a matter of seconds, how is there so much detail from your "friend"?

Anyway it is an offense not to pull in for a guard when requested so I would expect a summons assuming that the registration was taken by the guard... obviously he wasn't too interested though if he was standing in the center median with his arms on his hips after sneaking out of a bush (Wonder what he was doing in this bush... :rolleyes:)...

What hand signal did he supply to order her to pull over into the left lane? I'm not sure there is a standard signal for this... it would be difficult to make one up on the spot anyway.

As for the tailgating... it is wrong, but it is no problem to calmly wait for an opening in the left lane where she should have been and turn in.

deman

gurramok wrote: »

Why should she give in to speeding drivers ?

Sounds to me like she did give in to speeding drivers when she felt intimidated enough to speed up herself.

BustyMikeyB wrote: »

I love tailgater I stood on brakes and let one of drive into the back of me..got ninety grand for me trouble.:D

I don't believe that for second. Bull!

tenchi-fan

I saw a stumpy little bangarda trying to stop a car using a bus lane. She made a gesture for the car to stop, then as the car flew by she made a sudden movement as if she might try to run after the car, before resuming her position at the side of the road. She was probably just out of garda college and was dropped at the side of the road by her partner who went to get in the starbucks.

gurramok

sicruise wrote: »

This story seemed to change alot... it was a matter of seconds, how is there so much detail from your "friend"?

Anyway it is an offense not to pull in for a guard when requested so I would expect a summons assuming that the registration was taken by the guard... obviously he wasn't too interested though if he was standing in the center median with his arms on his hips after sneaking out of a bush (Wonder what he was doing in this bush... :rolleyes:)...

What hand signal did he supply to order her to pull over into the left lane? I'm not sure there is a standard signal for this... it would be difficult to make one up on the spot anyway.

As for the tailgating... it is wrong, but it is no problem to calmly wait for an opening in the left lane where she should have been and turn in.

Err, thats the story that she told me, whether she's covering up any bits i don't know, i wasn't there to witness it!
She had said that the garda pointed downwards to the right to pull over ahead if that helps.
And yes, it does sound as if she panicked by driving off instead of pulling over, i'm sure she's not the only driver that panics when intimidated by tailgating.

Anyway, the point of the thread is answered, its a wait and see of either a summons or a fine/points or nothing happens...as i thought it would be.

Anan1

gurramok wrote: »

She had said that the garda pointed downwards to the right to pull over ahead if that helps.

Might the Garda just have been telling her to get out of the overtaking lane?

Our man in Havana

5) Barlow... where are the lights on the N7? thought they'd all been removed.

There are at least 3 sets of lights from the start of the N7 at the M50 to Newlands Cross. Then the next lights are in Mountrath.

Biro

BustyMikeyB wrote: »

I love tailgater I stood on brakes and let one of drive into the back of me..got ninety grand for me trouble.:D

Scum.

aphex™

Biro wrote: »

Scum.

Meh, the tailgator shouldn't put have put himself in that position.

Bit silly to slam on the brakes tho, who knows what lasting damage the whiplash would do.

I got tailgated all the time when I had a learner sticker up & was doing the speed limit (waiting ages for test). I usually put on the rear fog lights to give them a fright. People who tailgate are scum of the earth. You'd be afraid to turn left or pull in on the off-chance they're not watching closely.

I find once you stop accelerating when you reach the speed limit (eg 50km) people are more likely to do it because the sensation of speed is gone when you stop accelerating.