Tailgaters who can easily overtake

fricatus

Has anyone else ever experienced this?

I drive the M9 every day and I usually keep around the 65 mph /110 kph mark so as not to get points, plus with an eye to fuel and wear and tear - so I'm doing a fairly average speed. I don't think this should bother anyone, since the motorway is free-flowing all the time and there's only the occasional slow overtaker to interrupt the flow of anyone who's happily flying along.

However I regularly get cars gaining on me and then just hanging on my rear bumper. Bear in mind that the overtaking lane is free and there isn't an exit immediately up ahead. Sometimes they sit right behind me for 10 minutes and then suddenly overtake.

Sometimes I get nervous, like in that film where the guy is being pursued by the big black truck with blacked-out windows.

It's a regular enough occurrence, and I don't think it's the same guy each time... :pac:

So WTF like?

MugMugs

Are they driving in close proximity to the rear of your car? In a dangerous manner?

Where To

Slipstreaming to save fuel.

mickdw

Could be just day dreaming drivers, I think the speed is a little too high for the hypermile gang.

GE90

Do what I do, Stick on your rear fogs and dim your rear view mirror. Just don't forget to turn off your fog lights when the offender has passed.

antodeco

Pull the handbrake, turn violently, slam it into reverse and face them while going backwards. I always find that works

creedp

These are probably the same people who create unpassable road trains on single lane roads becasue they seem incapable of avertaking anyone but in doing so choose to make it impossible for anybody else to do so by clinging on the the ass of the person in front of them for miles on end.

dgt

fricatus wrote: »

Has anyone else ever experienced this?

I drive the M9 every day and I usually keep around the 65 mph /110 kph mark so as not to get points, plus with an eye to fuel and wear and tear - so I'm doing a fairly average speed. I don't think this should bother anyone, since the motorway is free-flowing all the time and there's only the occasional slow overtaker to interrupt the flow of anyone who's happily flying along.

However I regularly get cars gaining on me and then just hanging on my rear bumper. Bear in mind that the overtaking lane is free and there isn't an exit immediately up ahead. Sometimes they sit right behind me for 10 minutes and then suddenly overtake.

Sometimes I get nervous, like in that film where the guy is being pursued by the big black truck with blacked-out windows.

It's a regular enough occurrence, and I don't think it's the same guy each time... :pac:

So WTF like?

Absolutely gutless, miserable hateful people is what they are. No will to overtake, piss off everyone behind on a beautiful clear road.

Ought to have their licences and cars taken off them

charlemont

fricatus wrote: »

Has anyone else ever experienced this?

I drive the M9 every day and I usually keep around the 65 mph /110 kph mark so as not to get points, plus with an eye to fuel and wear and tear - so I'm doing a fairly average speed. I don't think this should bother anyone, since the motorway is free-flowing all the time and there's only the occasional slow overtaker to interrupt the flow of anyone who's happily flying along.

However I regularly get cars gaining on me and then just hanging on my rear bumper. Bear in mind that the overtaking lane is free and there isn't an exit immediately up ahead. Sometimes they sit right behind me for 10 minutes and then suddenly overtake.

Sometimes I get nervous, like in that film where the guy is being pursued by the big black truck with blacked-out windows.

It's a regular enough occurrence, and I don't think it's the same guy each time... :pac:

So WTF like?

That is one of the greatest movies ever, Duel.


Its a special type of person that refuses to overtake, Probably too afraid to rev up.

franer1970

I've often wondered if there's a central control room coordinating tailgaters, vectoring them to intercept people like me who have the temerity to drive at only 10km/hr over the speed limit on roads with an 80 limit...

I think it's often down to laziness. Too much effort to think for yourself while driving. Just sit behind someone else and speed up and slow down as they do.

lway

mickdw wrote: »

Could be just day dreaming drivers, I think the speed is a little too high for the hypermile gang.

Agree with this, sometimes on long motorway trips I find myself doing this. It's easier to just drive behind someone and let them worry about watching the speed or looking out for danger/Guards, i'd often pass these little convoys driving along .

After a while you get tired of looking at the back of the car in front and realise you can go a bit faster and get where you are going sooner so just overtake.

dgt

franer1970 wrote: »

I think it's often down to laziness. Too much effort to think for yourself while driving. Just sit behind someone else and speed up and slow down as they do.

This is a regular occurrence when in the van and more so with the trailer.

"Oh I have to stay behind this van, they'll do my thinking for me" People get thick because they're made go by

• We don't want an arsehole tailgating 3+ tonnes of van and trailer
• It's our fault if they crash into us

Muppets :rolleyes:

GE90

I think their is a difference between people who tailgate on the motorway when they could easily overtake like the OP described (which is completely unacceptable) and people who don't overtake on a single lane roads. I drive a 1.3 petrol and I can rarely overtake any car safely I would need at least 300 meters of clear road preferably down hill with the wind behind me!

renofan

dgt wrote: »

Absolutely gutless, miserable hateful people is what they are. No will to overtake, piss off everyone behind on a beautiful clear road.

Ought to have their licences and cars taken off them

I was the third car on a road with an 80kph speed limit, car in front hovered between 40 and 50kph and the Focus in front of me would not pass at safe times she could have. So the next time we came to a straight I was ready to pass the two. 1st car was an elderly woman being over cautious but the biddy in the second car lost the plot, sat on the horn as I passed and then, after I got by her, pulled out half way across the road an flashed and flashed her lights. Fcuking idiot.

hi5

They're lonely, they crave company:D

Pat Mustard

dgt wrote: »

"Oh I have to stay behind this van, they'll do my thinking for me" People get thick because they're made go by

• We don't want an arsehole tailgating 3+ tonnes of van and trailer
• It's our fault if they crash into us

Muppets :rolleyes:

It's a kind of mental cruise control for some drivers. They just copy what you do and go into autopilot, especially if you are driving at a nice, steady pace.

It happened to me a few times. Once, this lady followed me in her car for about 100 miles. Didn't bother me, but then again, she wasn't tailgating.

I reckon she was attempting to use me as her speedtrap dectector.

On a long journey, it can be fun to change speed and see if they adjust accordingly.

2ndcoming

When it's clear, pull into the overtaking lane, reduce your speed, then get in behind them and see how they like it for 5 minutes. With your heads and front fogs on.

corktina

this is a phenomena I notice in the UK. There you see a car coming up behimd you for miles in lane two and when they reach another car in lane two, they slow down and stay behind them. I reckon they are scared to go into lane three... could be similar to your experience OP

creedp

GE90 wrote: »

I think their is a difference between people who tailgate on the motorway when they could easily overtake like the OP described (which is completely unacceptable) and people who don't overtake on a single lane roads. I drive a 1.3 petrol and I can rarely overtake any car safely I would need at least 300 meters of clear road preferably down hill with the wind behind me!

No problem with people who can't/won't overtake for whatever reason .. just leave a gap in front of you to allow someone to overtake safetly. This is why I have little difficulty with people driving slowly its the gimps behind who for what ever reason (mostly safety!!) won't overtake but feel the need to stick to the slow guy's backside that I have real problems with.

Mycroft H

A light light touch of the brakes, just enough not to slow but enough to light the brake lights. It usually sends the message across.

dar83

BX 19 wrote: »

A light light touch of the brakes, just enough not to slow but enough to light the brake lights. It usually sends the message across.

Uh-oh, now you've gone and done it...

Mycroft H

dar83 wrote: »

Uh-oh, now you've gone and done it...

I don't give a damn anymore. It's about the only thing that gets the message across. Standing on the brakes and seeing how quick you can stop is a silly idea and is going to get someone hurt. Lightly pressing them until the lights come on, isn't. That or pull in.

Ronnie Beck

I don't mind as long as there head lights aren't annoying me. If they are I usually just put the boot down. Not into that touching the brakes stuff:p.

ahnowbrowncow

GE90 wrote: »

I think their is a difference between people who tailgate on the motorway when they could easily overtake like the OP described (which is completely unacceptable) and people who don't overtake on a single lane roads. I drive a 1.3 petrol and I can rarely overtake any car safely I would need at least 300 meters of clear road preferably down hill with the wind behind me!

Just drop a gear and you're sorted*

*I do not condone any dangerous overtaking maneuvers and absolve myself of all responsibility should you partake in any such maneuvers

Mycroft H

Something that I found that works well also...

GE90

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

Just drop a gear and you're sorted*

*I do not condone any dangerous overtaking maneuvers and absolve myself of all responsibility should you partake in any such maneuvers

If you drop a gear in my car it just makes more noise . I will overtake when the conditions are right do and I will always leave a nice gap in front between me and the other car for others to overtake if I can't.

Thankfully I have been driving long enough now that I can afford to insure a car with a reasonable amount of power. This idea of putting young drivers into under powered cars because their safer is extremely flawed. Sometimes you need power to get you out of trouble.

Prime example : I was driving along a fairly straight road with a 80 km/h speed limit on Sunday. Came across a 12 astra doing about 40 km/h, their was a nice straight stretch in the road so I went for the over take got alongside the astra and the driver started to speed up and match my speed I just didn't have the power to pass him and with a bend coming up I had to break and slot back in behind him. Thankfully the driver behind me saw what was going on and left space.

The astra then slowed back down to 40 km/h I wasn't going to risk it again so i left a space between me and him. The driver behind over took me and went in behind the astra. He was driving a beautiful 335i and as he went to overtake the astra it speed up again. The bmw driver toyed with him for a few seconds before flooring in and leaving the astra for dust. It was a magnificent moment

_Kaiser_

antodeco wrote: »

Pull the handbrake, turn violently, slam it into reverse and face them while going backwards. I always find that works

Like this ya mean (possibly NSFW due to language etc)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snb_7scbDic

Saruman

I often find overtaking lane hoggers just plain strange. I often find myself on an empty motorway. I'm on the left hand lane with nothing in front and nothing really behind me either. I will have cruise control set to 120KPH or as near as my MPH dash allows. Eventually I see headlights in my rear view and the driver is driving along in the overtaking lane and is slowly gaining on me. Just as I expect them to go past, they stop gaining and are just hanging somewhat beside me but still behind. Eventually after a few minutes they overtake but why sit there for 3 or 4 minutes when they had been going faster. They can't think a red honda accord is possibly a Garda car and I certainly did not change speed since I'm using cruise control....

And then of course I eventually catch up with them because they slow down again further on?

ahnowbrowncow

GE90 wrote: »

If you drop a gear in my car it just makes more noise . I will overtake when the conditions are right do and I will always leave a nice gap in front between me and the other car for others to overtake if I can't.

Thankfully I have been driving long enough now that I can afford to insure a car with a reasonable amount of power. This idea of putting young drivers into under powered cars because their safer is extremely flawed. Sometimes you need power to get you out of trouble.

Prime example : I was driving along a fairly straight road with a 80 km/h speed limit on Sunday. Came across a 12 astra doing about 40 km/h, their was a nice straight stretch in the road so I went for the over take got alongside the astra and the driver started to speed up and match my speed I just didn't have the power to pass him and with a bend coming up I had to break and slot back in behind him. Thankfully the driver behind me saw what was going on and left space.

The astra then slowed back down to 40 km/h I wasn't going to risk it again so i left a space between me and him. The driver behind over took me and went in behind the astra. He was driving a beautiful 335i and as he went to overtake the astra it speed up again. The bmw driver toyed with him for a few seconds before flooring in and leaving the astra for dust. It was a magnificent moment

Dropping a gear makes more noise in all cars I would have thought, it's just higher revs, no?
In that situation and I wanted to overtake I probably would have dropped to 3rd gear then up to 4th between 50-60kph and then 5th at 70-80kph. That's in a 1.4l astra.

But I can see how you need a lot of space to pass out if you're staying in 5th gear.

fricatus

MugMugs wrote: »

Are they driving in close proximity to the rear of your car? In a dangerous manner?

Very often someone will drive so close that they definitely wouldn't be able to stop from hitting me if I jammed on the brakes, so yes.

Where To wrote: »

Slipstreaming to save fuel.

Yeah, others have mentioned a sort of mental cruise control, which makes sense in a funny sort of way, but I've often wondered if they are deliberately slipstreaming like you say, to save fuel. Someone on "mental cruise control" would hang back surely, but someone saving fuel would defintely want to sit dangerously close, road-train style.

Still though, it seems like a crazy risk to take to save a few cents in diesel...

R.O.R

Some people are just @ssholes.

I think you'll find that explains quite a lot of the happenings on the roads (and elsewhere, to be honest)

Sam Kade

The Mustard wrote: »

It's a kind of mental cruise control for some drivers. They just copy what you do and go into autopilot, especially if you are driving at a nice, steady pace.

It happened to me a few times. Once, this lady followed me in her car for about 100 miles. Didn't bother me, but then again, she wasn't tailgating.

I reckon she was attempting to use me as her speedtrap dectector.

On a long journey, it can be fun to change speed and see if they adjust accordingly.

Mind readers is what I call them.

slimjimmc

Saruman wrote: »

I often find overtaking lane hoggers just plain strange. I often find myself on an empty motorway. I'm on the left hand lane with nothing in front and nothing really behind me either. I will have cruise control set to 120KPH or as near as my MPH dash allows. Eventually I see headlights in my rear view and the driver is driving along in the overtaking lane and is slowly gaining on me. Just as I expect them to go past, they stop gaining and are just hanging somewhat beside me but still behind. Eventually after a few minutes they overtake but why sit there for 3 or 4 minutes when they had been going faster. They can't think a red honda accord is possibly a Garda car and I certainly did not change speed since I'm using cruise control....

And then of course I eventually catch up with them because they slow down again further on?

I reckon it's due to the airflow going around (not over) your car. If the overtaking car is only going slightly faster than you then the drag from the wake of your car is enough to slow the overtaking car so that it is almost matching speed, that is until the overtaker either accelerates or gradually breaks free and is in clean air again.
I've occasionally noticed this very effect myself when overtaking a slightly slower car.

http://youtu.be/gHFFZ1ru0Pk

Altreab

BX 19 wrote: »

A light light touch of the brakes, just enough not to slow but enough to light the brake lights. It usually sends the message across.

An equally effective way to stop them is to turn on the cruise control and wash the wind screen Maybe take a couple of cleanings but they always back off

biko

It's a psychological thing. It takes less concentration to just follow you than to drive alone. If you slowly slow down they will too until they realise their mistake and overtake.

fricatus

Altreab wrote: »

An equally effective way to stop them is to turn on the cruise control and wash the wind screen Maybe take a couple of cleanings but they always back off

Yeah I sometimes wash the windscreen just to remind people they're too close on the motorway. Brake lights: naah, too much can go wrong, even if you only tap them to light up the rear.

The water tends to rouse people from their stupor!

staker

Adaptive cruise control is gonna piss off more and more people here as it gets more widespread:D

fricatus

staker wrote: »

Adaptive cruise control is gonna piss off more and more people here as it gets more widespread:D

Hehe, true, but at least adaptive cruise will keep the trailing car out at a reasonably safe distance from the car in front.

Unless it's an Audi, in which case the default setting of the adaptive cruise will be two feet back!

H3llR4iser

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

Dropping a gear makes more noise in all cars I would have thought, it's just higher revs, no?
In that situation and I wanted to overtake I probably would have dropped to 3rd gear then up to 4th between 50-60kph and then 5th at 70-80kph. That's in a 1.4l astra.

But I can see how you need a lot of space to pass out if you're staying in 5th gear.

Eh, same with me; Mind you usually the problems start happening at slightly higher speeds, for example trying to overtake somebody doing about 80 on a 100 road. Having driven cars with adequate power for years, I often get caught by the little..."thing" I'm currently on; I approach the slower car, leave a bit of space for acceleration, drop to 4th and floor it expecting a throaty "grroooaaarr" to come alive and put the boot down...what I get however is a pathetic "whiiiirrrr" from the puny French 1.4L and some mild and steady speed increase. Needless to say, I have to plan the move carefully - if the road goes uphill, or I have even one passenger, I better forget about it

Also, many slow drivers inexplicably tend to accelerate when being overtaken...

Tea drinker

fricatus wrote: »

Has anyone else ever experienced this?

I drive the M9 every day and I usually keep around the 65 mph /110 kph mark so as not to get points, plus with an eye to fuel and wear and tear - so I'm doing a fairly average speed. I don't think this should bother anyone, since the motorway is free-flowing all the time and there's only the occasional slow overtaker to interrupt the flow of anyone who's happily flying along.

However I regularly get cars gaining on me and then just hanging on my rear bumper. Bear in mind that the overtaking lane is free and there isn't an exit immediately up ahead. Sometimes they sit right behind me for 10 minutes and then suddenly overtake.

Sometimes I get nervous, like in that film where the guy is being pursued by the big black truck with blacked-out windows.

It's a regular enough occurrence, and I don't think it's the same guy each time... :pac:

So WTF like?

Totally understand what you are on about, happens to me every trip to Athlone. Klingons I call them. I don't have an answer, you need to slow to about 50 MPH to encourage them to overtake. There seems to be some sort of aversion to coordinating an overtaking move, like using the outside lane is wrong.

niloc1951

New motor accessory of the year (to be invented and brought to market) :D:D

A fitting for the rear bumper which can release some of THIS STUFF at the press of a button, it should 'see off' anybody following too closely.