Penalty Points For Tailgating

buzzwell

I note that one may be awarded 2 Penalty Points and an 80 euro fine for a

"Failure to leave appropriate distance between you and the vehicle in front".

Have any statistics ever been published showing the number of these offences recorded?

Colm R

Not sure. But if a Garda stood on a bridge over a motorway with only one lane open in each direction in this weather, and noted the number plate of every tail gating car, and got them off the road on the basis that they lack the basic intelligence to operate a vehicle.

I must compliment most drivers for having the basic common sense to drive properly these days. But some candidates for the darwin awards seem to think they are a special case.

buzzwell

Agreed, on all points.

ardmacha

I be more impressed with speed cameras etc if they were also programmed to identify tailgaters.

I would have double points for this offence in weather such as we have presently, as stopping distances are increased.

Colm R

The thing about tail gating in my experience is its not just confined to your sterotypical dangerous drivers.

People who tail gate can be otherwise safe drivers. They may not speed, or be aggressive. In fact more often than not, its people who for some reason see nothing wrong with doing this.

My last experience of this was a middle aged man who drove incredibly close to me for a number of miles. I tried to get away from him when I could, but he kept up with me. So I just pulled in, and let him go by. And then he continued on at a safe speed and driving fine and me behind him (at a distance) until he caught up to another car. He was just blissfully unaware that he was being dangerous.

killbillvol2

Colm R wrote: »

The thing about tail gating in my experience is its not just confined to your sterotypical dangerous drivers.

People who tail gate can be otherwise safe drivers. They may not speed, or be aggressive. In fact more often than not, its people who for some reason see nothing wrong with doing this.

My last experience of this was a middle aged man who drove incredibly close to me for a number of miles. I tried to get away from him when I could, but he kept up with me. So I just pulled in, and let him go by. And then he continued on at a safe speed and driving fine and me behind him (at a distance) until he caught up to another car. He was just blissfully unaware that he was being dangerous.

I had a friend who used to do the same. She was completely unaware of the danger and would never otherwise drive recklessly.

She was cured after tailgating a motorbike cop on the N7 some years ago. He pulled her over and read her the riot act, including the memorable phrase, "If I'd f***ing sneezed I'd have landed in your lap!".

buzzwell

Now, either I have lost the ability to read correctly or there is a different name for tailgaiting used in the following 2 publications?

(General speed obligation - stop visible distance, in the 2nd one?)

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Licensed%20Drivers/new_penpoints_chart_apl09.pdf

and

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/PenaltyPointsStats/2009/Dec/penalty%20point%20offences%20brokendown%20by%20%20type%20%20county%20-%20%20%20dec%202009.pdf

I am a bit thick-
No smart answers now, mind................

Victor

Those two documents don't seem to quite match up. I presume the charge is dangerous or careless driving

buzzwell wrote: »

General speed obligation - stop visible distance

I think that refersto being able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear, e.g. at a blind bend.

I am a bit thick-
No smart answers now, mind................

:pac: