Tailgating

Banjoxed

Wet road, poor visibility. Five cars in front of me half a car length apart from each other, and another sitting on my bumper who swerved hard when I indicated left to go into my house.

Why do Donegal and Northern drivers tailgate?

redbel05

Banjoxed wrote: »

Wet road, poor visibility. Five cars in front of me half a car length apart from each other, and another sitting on my bumper who swerved hard when I indicated left to go into my house.

Why do Donegal and Northern drivers tailgate?

See it daily on my drive to and from work in Donegal. Also dangerous overtaking is a common occurrence. And its not uncommon to see people doing 150kmph through the Gap in all conditions.

A better question is why is everyone in so much of a rush?

Banjoxed

redbel05 wrote: »

See it daily on my drive to and from work in Donegal. Also dangerous overtaking is a common occurrence. And its not uncommon to see people doing 150kmph through the Gap in all conditions.

A better question is why is everyone in so much of a rush?

Yeah, the old overtaking into a blind bend manoveur. Do these guys do Russian Roulette for the crack or something?

Clive Bisquette

Banjoxed wrote: »

Yeah, the old overtaking into a blind bend manoveur. Do these guys do Russian Roulette for the crack or something?

Freek all else to do up in those parts chum.....lads get stir crazy with all that wind and rain and do a bit of tailgating for the excitement.

North County Dublin isnt bad for that kind o thing also ...

alchemist33

I doubt that bad driving is confined to Donegal and NI.



Lane discipline on roundabouts now, that's what really gets my goat.

Banjoxed

alchemist33 wrote: »

I doubt that bad driving is confined to Donegal and NI.



Lane discipline on roundabouts now, that's what really gets my goat.

It's not, but I moved up here two years ago and is a lot more prevalent than anywhere else I've lived in Ireland or England.

Graces7

Try the Ring of kerry road from Molls Gap to Killarney. Now I brake, and slow right down so if I have to stop they can. And pull over as soon as they drop back far enough for safety. Often I cannot pull in as they are too close to allow it.

Clive Bisquette

I complained once about persistent tailgating in the Dingle area and got out once to remonstrate with a cnut who was half ways up my exhaust !

"Sew up your hole and grow a pair was the aggressive response"

What do you do ???

Banjoxed

Clive Bisquette wrote: »

I complained once about persistent tailgating in the Dingle area and got out once to remonstrate with a cnut who was half ways up my exhaust !

"Sew up your hole and grow a pair was the aggressive response"

What do you do ???

Short of tasering, which by the way I am not suggesting, there is no way to explain anything to that level of aggression. Not surprised at road deaths as a result of that mentality.

Clive Bisquette

Banjoxed wrote: »

Short of tasering, which by the way I am not suggesting, there is no way to explain anything to that level of aggression. Not surprised at road deaths as a result of that mentality.

Can't argue with that that Banni !

Graces7

Clive Bisquette wrote: »

I complained once about persistent tailgating in the Dingle area and got out once to remonstrate with a cnut who was half ways up my exhaust !

"Sew up your hole and grow a pair was the aggressive response"

What do you do ???

roflol! Really? I have been tempted so often to do that.. well done! I once drove from Torc waterfall to Molls gap with a boy racer stuck behind me. NO WAY was he going to drop back enough for me to pull in. So I slowed down to under 20 and he huffed and roared behind me. A neighbour's lad he was. On the Tralee to Killarney road drivers are sensible and polite. I see it more here than I did in Donegal actually. Worse at night with headlights.

Graces7

Banjoxed wrote: »

Short of tasering, which by the way I am not suggesting, there is no way to explain anything to that level of aggression. Not surprised at road deaths as a result of that mentality.

They never learn. There was a hold up after a bad crash in the high mountains here. Three fire and rescue teams.. when they let us through the sight of the wreck and the sand they laid on the road were horrific. Yet cars behind me were jockeying and crowding to overtake on blind bends. I turned off onto the forestry road.

donegaLroad

there is a rear window sticker you can buy which says... 'If you can read this, you are too close'


I think what the driving instructors advise is 30mph - 30 metres space between cars, 50mph - 50 metres space etc.

What is really annoying is when you try and increase the distance between you and the car which is tailgating you, and the dumba$$ just accelerates and pulls right up behind you again.

Banjoxed

donegaLroad wrote: »

there is a rear window sticker you can buy which says... 'If you can read this, you are too close'


I think what the driving instructors advise is 30mph - 30 metres space between cars, 50mph - 50 metres space etc.

What is really annoying is when you try and increase the distance between you and the car which is tailgating you, and the dumba$$ just accelerates and pulls right up behind you again.

I wonder about it. Do some drivers believe that sitting on someone's tail is how it should be done? Was on the A6 the other night and a middle aged man who should have known better sat on my rear end from Dungiven to Claudy. I slowed down gradually from 100 km/h - no brake testing or rear fogs - and the road was wet from heavy rain. He still didn't take the hint. Pulled over and let him pass - got the horn blown at me and by the time I got to Burntollet Bridge he was bumming another car. I think in that case it's some kind of spatial blindness, because he didn't overtake at either passing place. By Drumahoe I was well gone..

smashey

I just step on my brakes and let the numpty behind deal with it.

L1011

smashey wrote: »

I just step on my brakes and let the numpty behind deal with it.

Possibly the most dangerous thing you can do, and a recorded admission of it would be sufficient evidence to get a claim reversed for a rear-end collision.

Clive Bisquette

Banjoxed wrote: »

Yeah, the old overtaking into a blind bend manoveur. Do these guys do Russian Roulette for the crack or something?

Unfortunately any poor fugger coming from the opposite direction has no option but to pull the trigger...:mad:

smashey

L1011 wrote: »

Possibly the most dangerous thing you can do, and a recorded admission of it would be sufficient evidence to get a claim reversed for a rear-end collision.

Well they either get the message and back off or my rage rises. I said step, that should have been tap the brakes.

ItsLikeThis

smashey wrote: »

Well they either get the message and back off or my rage rises. I said step, that should have been tap the brakes.

Rear fogs work for me sometimes, same effect without tapping the brakes

Graces7

s

smashey wrote: »

Well they either get the message and back off or my rage rises. I said step, that should have been tap the brakes.

I do the same, ie tap the brakes.. lucky they cannot hear the language.. But mostly I pull in especially at night or early morning when headlights are on. The boy racer was in daylight so fair prey. No way would I slam on the brakes; my car is too important...;)

Graces7

donegaLroad wrote: »

there is a rear window sticker you can buy which says... 'If you can read this, you are too close'


I think what the driving instructors advise is 30mph - 30 metres space between cars, 50mph - 50 metres space etc.

What is really annoying is when you try and increase the distance between you and the car which is tailgating you, and the dumba$$ just accelerates and pulls right up behind you again.

You mean these people can READ? There used to be a jingle on UK Tv... about the two second rule.. something about counting from lampposts.. " Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule".. No help in rural Ireland!

Graces7

Banjoxed wrote: »

I wonder about it. Do some drivers believe that sitting on someone's tail is how it should be done? Was on the A6 the other night and a middle aged man who should have known better sat on my rear end from Dungiven to Claudy. I slowed down gradually from 100 km/h - no brake testing or rear fogs - and the road was wet from heavy rain. He still didn't take the hint. Pulled over and let him pass - got the horn blown at me and by the time I got to Burntollet Bridge he was bumming another car. I think in that case it's some kind of spatial blindness, because he didn't overtake at either passing place. By Drumahoe I was well gone..

Don't you just love it when they overtake you dangerously then you go round the next bend and they are stuck behind a tractor! Did you see the Mayo incident http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/tractor-driver-banned-over-7km-traffic-tailback-1.2177126 There used to be a farmer in Donegal Town who drove to LIDL to shop on his tractor..

donegaLroad

Graces7 wrote: »

Don't you just love it when they overtake you dangerously then you go round the next bend and they are stuck behind a tractor! Did you see the Mayo incident http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/tractor-driver-banned-over-7km-traffic-tailback-1.2177126 There used to be a farmer in Donegal Town who drove to LIDL to shop on his tractor..

not as bad as the guy who brings his wife and sister-in-law into Letterkenny in the horse box on the back of the tractor :pac:

overshoot

Graces7 wrote: »

There used to be a farmer in Donegal Town who drove to LIDL to shop on his tractor..

Slightly off, there IS a farmer from dunkineely... Maybe even bruckless area), who drives to Lidl in Donegal town on his tractor.
Even at that it a tiny thing, more of a glorified ride on than a tractor. Always see him with big tailbacks behind him

byte

overshoot wrote: »

Slightly off, there IS a farmer from dunkineely... Maybe even bruckless area), who drives to Lidl in Donegal town on his tractor.
Even at that it a tiny thing, more of a glorified ride on than a tractor. Always see him with big tailbacks behind him

Haha, is that yer man with the tiny blue and black tractor but with a fancy cab?

Graces7

Left Donegal some 7 years ago and it seems nothing has changed

Clive Bisquette

Still don't pay their taxes and vote Shinner and FF then hai ?

Banjoxed

Clive Bisquette wrote: »

Still don't pay their taxes and vote Shinner and FF then hai ?

I keep my head down up here as a Labour/FG voter - mind you more than one sixty something church goer I know had to eat their words over the marriage referendum vote here locally

Lads would ye get off the road out of the way

Malcolm600f

Tailgating goes on over the whole country not confined to any one part..

Malcolm600f

overshoot wrote: »

Slightly off, there IS a farmer from dunkineely... Maybe even bruckless area), who drives to Lidl in Donegal town on his tractor.
Even at that it a tiny thing, more of a glorified ride on than a tractor. Always see him with big tailbacks behind him

Harold does not hold up the traffic as much as he use to after been told by the cops to pull to the side of the road if cars are behind him..

Sam Kade

I know a man that had a tailgater behind him, he kept him behind for miles then he said to his wife fcuk it I better pull in and let him off. Your man took off like a rocket in a rage, the next bend they went round a Garda had him pulled over for speeding

Clive Bisquette

Malcolm600f wrote: »

Tailgating goes on over the whole country not confined to any one part..

Excellent observation Mal..but point the poster was making is that it is MORE PREVALENT in NI and Donegal than other parts.

Wouldn't be much point in creating a thread saying that "tailgating goes on over the whole country" now would there ?

Malcolm600f

Clive Bisquette wrote: »

Excellent observation Mal..but point the poster was making is that it is MORE PREVALENT in NI and Donegal than other parts.

Wouldn't be much point in creating a thread saying that "tailgating goes on over the whole country" now would there ?

But I am from Donegal and would disagree I would say the tail gating in Dublin/wicklow is alot worse but guess alot of extra traffic would do that also..

Clive Bisquette

Malcolm600f wrote: »

But I am from Donegal and would disagree I would say the tail gating in Dublin/wicklow is alot worse but guess alot of extra traffic would do that also..

I guess it boils down to a definition of tailgating..if you are stuck on the Merrion Road inevitably cars will be driving close behind you.

What gets up most drivers nose is if your driving on a regional Road at around the speed limit and a scrote swoops up behind you and tries to intimidate you into going faster.

Lotta that in Donegal mate ...and most other posters seem to support that opinion.

Malcolm600f

Clive Bisquette wrote: »

I guess it boils down to a definition of tailgating..if you are stuck on the Merrion Road inevitably cars will be driving close behind you.

What gets up most drivers nose is if your driving on a regional Road at around the speed limit and a scrote swoops up behind you and tries to intimidate you into going faster.

Lotta that in Donegal mate ...and most other posters seem to support that opinion.

I lived in Wicklow for 7 yrs, travel the roads every day on Motorbike or Car and to be fair i would deem the tailgating and just plain rude driving down there alot worse than i have ever seen here..As you say alot of posters saying its bad here , do they drive the roads here daily or was that a once off observation..I am making a judgement of 7 years of every day driving/riding ..

Banjoxed

Malcolm600f wrote: »

I lived in Wicklow for 7 yrs, travel the roads every day on Motorbike or Car and to be fair i would deem the tailgating and just plain rude driving down there alot worse than i have ever seen here..As you say alot of posters saying its bad here , do they drive the roads here daily or was that a once off observation..I am making a judgement of 7 years of every day driving/riding ..

Definitely a lot more Darwin Award-winning driving into blind bends up here!

Malcolm600f

Banjoxed wrote: »

Definitely a lot more Darwin Award-winning driving into blind bends up here!

Seems the new crazy is people going around Blind bends on hard shoulders letting other cars past or people just using the hard shoulder as a extra slow lane thats more dangerous than anything..

Clive Bisquette

Malcolm600f wrote: »

I lived in Wicklow for 7 yrs, travel the roads every day on Motorbike or Car and to be fair i would deem the tailgating and just plain rude driving down there alot worse than i have ever seen here..As you say alot of posters saying its bad here , do they drive the roads here daily or was that a once off observation..I am making a judgement of 7 years of every day driving/riding ..

Hang on there and I will get a marketing friend of mine to do a survey of drivers in the Wicklow / South Dublin Area and get back to you on that ....

puddles22

yeah and then there is the people that cause the tail gating, i mean the ones who drive at 60/70 on a 100k road or even slower on a 80kph road and they have a tailback of cars behind them and they just seem to be oblivious to the traffic build up behind them or dont care

Banjoxed

puddles22 wrote: »

yeah and then there is the people that cause the tail gating, i mean the ones who drive at 60/70 on a 100k road or even slower on a 80kph road and they have a tailback of cars behind them and they just seem to be oblivious to the traffic build up behind them or dont care

There's that all right, usually caused by elderly people who if there was any meaningful public transport wouldn't be driving at all. I'm sure though that sitting on the bumper of a woman in her mid eighties would cure her of driving slowly. Wouldn't it?

kiddums

Some people seem to want you to tailgate them. I see countless people pull out less than 10 car lengths ahead, and drive at 50-60kmph on a 100kmph road. You catch up to them really quickly, and then they try break checking you because you're close to them.

And IMO break checking is such a dangerous and reckless thing to be doing. If you break check you have no right to give out about any one else's driving.

Clive Bisquette

kiddums wrote: »

Some people seem to want you to tailgate them. I see countless people pull out less than 10 car lengths ahead, and drive at 50-60kmph on a 100kmph road. You catch up to them really quickly, and then they try break checking you because you're close to them.

And IMO break checking is such a dangerous and reckless thing to be doing. If you break check you have no right to give out about any one else's driving.

Don't drive so close to them then.

Banjoxed

kiddums wrote: »

Some people seem to want you to tailgate them. I see countless people pull out less than 10 car lengths ahead, and drive at 50-60kmph on a 100kmph road. You catch up to them really quickly, and then they try break checking you because you're close to them.

And IMO break checking is such a dangerous and reckless thing to be doing. If you break check you have no right to give out about any one else's driving.

I agree- it is an equally aggressive thing to do. I'm a reasonably fast driver and have no interest in either dawdling or enforcing the speed limit on other users - but the advice I was given was to slow gradually down to let a tailgater pass, or pull over when safe onto a hard shoulder. Better to have an idiot ahead than behind.

Graces7

kiddums wrote: »

Some people seem to want you to tailgate them. I see countless people pull out less than 10 car lengths ahead, and drive at 50-60kmph on a 100kmph road. You catch up to them really quickly, and then they try break checking you because you're close to them.

And IMO break checking is such a dangerous and reckless thing to be doing. If you break check you have no right to give out about any one else's driving.

Oh you mean BRAKE? Ah I see.. Well there is no law saying you have to drive at 100 kph. I never drive at more than 50 MILES and rarely even that. Many 100 k roads are really not safe at those speeds. The Ring of Kerry road from Killarney to Molls Gap is 100 k limit... Try that and you will take off into the lake....and pulling off places are hard to find if coming from Killarney...Tailgating someone is a dangerous and discourteous thing to do and I will always tap the brakes if they are too close. It defeats the object as you make it all but impossible to pull off. Just accept that not everyone thinks as you do or drives as you do. And yes I am over 70 with a small car and have as much right as you do to use the roads in peace and safety. Oh I have noticed that cars stopped at road works traffic lights put their hazard warning lights on to warn drivers and that probably came the hard way too. That works with tailgaters too..

Graces7

Banjoxed wrote: »

I agree- it is an equally aggressive thing to do. I'm a reasonably fast driver and have no interest in either dawdling or enforcing the speed limit on other users - but the advice I was given was to slow gradually down to let a tailgater pass, or pull over when safe onto a hard shoulder. Better to have an idiot ahead than behind.

No aggression in it. not for me. Just advising and informing that you are far too close for me even to pull off. I am doing nothing wrong; they are.

cerastes

Came across that while up that way last year, I wouldn't be known for taking my time needlessly, but with the family in the car on unfamiliar twisting roads (edit and what I considered a worse thing, the surface condition of the roads, being uneven surface, as with road drenched in rain, this reduces grip even more and test the suspensions ability to keep the tyres in contact with the road even more) in lashing rain had some moron drive right up my rear end and then overtake on a narrowing short straight section before going over a hump on the road going into a bend where you could not see anything oncoming.

Generally people are in a rush, I try to leave more time than necessary and I either stay to the left on multi lane roads or I'm overtaking.
I think it's fair enough to say on main routes it's a pain when you can see a queue behind one car when the road and conditions are ok, they should just pullover or make it easy for anyone to pass, but there are times when the road and conditions aren't suitable or you are already travelling at a reasonable speed where you'll get some jackarse still wanting to pass, I try let these people get away from me as quick as possible, but there are times when they can't pass (oncomign traffic) and they still insist on driving dangerously right up your arse.

kiddums

Graces7 wrote: »

Oh you mean BRAKE? Ah I see.. Well there is no law saying you have to drive at 100 kph. I never drive at more than 50 MILES and rarely even that. Many 100 k roads are really not safe at those speeds. The Ring of Kerry road from Killarney to Molls Gap is 100 k limit... Try that and you will take off into the lake....and pulling off places are hard to find if coming from Killarney...Tailgating someone is a dangerous and discourteous thing to do and I will always tap the brakes if they are too close. It defeats the object as you make it all but impossible to pull off. Just accept that not everyone thinks as you do or drives as you do. And yes I am over 70 with a small car and have as much right as you do to use the roads in peace and safety. Oh I have noticed that cars stopped at road works traffic lights put their hazard warning lights on to warn drivers and that probably came the hard way too. That works with tailgaters too..

So you think its acceptable to pull out in front of someone without allowing for then to need to slow down from the speed limit without slamming on the brakes as you have no intention of doing the speed limit? And then you think its ok to brake check them without giving them time to slow down safely?
I like that you mention discourteous for tailgating but you think that tapping your brakes in front of another car for no reason is perfectly fine.

I didn't say that tailgating was OK, I said brake checking was an idiotic thing to do as it can easily cause an accident. If you're so concerned with the car behind you and you tap your brakes then you're not paying enough attention to the rest of the road, you're clearly too concerned with being a road warrior, appointed by some higher being to personally manage the speed and road positioning of the car behind you.

I do have to ask, how often do you check the working condition of your vehicle? Do you check that all the lights are working correctly? Especially the brake lights before you go off and brake in front of other road users.
Have you ever driven within 8 meters of the car in front of you?

If this is your attitude graces then I'm glad you're not in Donegal anymore then. You're clearly of the opinion that 2 wrong make a right and that you are the person to enforce such things on the road.
I personally know the limits of both myself and my car and never drive outside of them, but I encounter more than enough people on the road who, like yourself, have made themselves some sort of protector of the the rules.

Graces7

kiddums wrote: »

So you think its acceptable to pull out in front of someone without allowing for then to need to slow down from the speed limit without slamming on the brakes as you have no intention of doing the speed limit? And then you think its ok to brake check them without giving them time to slow down safely?
I like that you mention discourteous for tailgating but you think that tapping your brakes in front of another car for no reason is perfectly fine.

I didn't say that tailgating was OK, I said brake checking was an idiotic thing to do as it can easily cause an accident. If you're so concerned with the car behind you and you tap your brakes then you're not paying enough attention to the rest of the road, you're clearly too concerned with being a road warrior, appointed by some higher being to personally manage the speed and road positioning of the car behind you.

I do have to ask, how often do you check the working condition of your vehicle? Do you check that all the lights are working correctly? Especially the brake lights before you go off and brake in front of other road users.
Have you ever driven within 8 meters of the car in front of you?

If this is your attitude graces then I'm glad you're not in Donegal anymore then. You're clearly of the opinion that 2 wrong make a right and that you are the person to enforce such things on the road.
I personally know the limits of both myself and my car and never drive outside of them, but I encounter more than enough people on the road who, like yourself, have made themselves some sort of protector of the the rules.

I honestly cannot see what relation there is between what I wrote and this aggressive post. It certainly reveals aggression. No I have never tailgated and never will. All I can do re your post is laugh frankly Please calm down especially if you are driving. And by the way I have over 50 years of safe driving behind me and never an insurance claim or conviction of any kind. maybe go for a nice calming walk!!!! I am not impressed! roflol!!! Thanks for the laughter young person! I needed that today. Welcome to my "ignore " list..You just qualified for a space thereon.

Graces7

cerastes wrote: »

Came across that while up that way last year, I wouldn't be known for taking my time needlessly, but with the family in the car on unfamiliar twisting roads (edit and what I considered a worse thing, the surface condition of the roads, being uneven surface, as with road drenched in rain, this reduces grip even more and test the suspensions ability to keep the tyres in contact with the road even more) in lashing rain had some moron drive right up my rear end and then overtake on a narrowing short straight section before going over a hump on the road going into a bend where you could not see anything oncoming.

Generally people are in a rush, I try to leave more time than necessary and I either stay to the left on multi lane roads or I'm overtaking.
I think it's fair enough to say on main routes it's a pain when you can see a queue behind one car when the road and conditions are ok, they should just pullover or make it easy for anyone to pass, but there are times when the road and conditions aren't suitable or you are already travelling at a reasonable speed where you'll get some jackarse still wanting to pass, I try let these people get away from me as quick as possible, but there are times when they can't pass (oncomign traffic) and they still insist on driving dangerously right up your arse.

Thanks for this. A few weeks ago I drove to macroom in the dark and wet. That means what I call the " Ballyvourney bends"; several miles of sharp bends and dangerous corners and nowhere to pull in or overtake. Anyone tailgating with headlights full on makes it even more hazardous. Yesterday early in the dark I was on the Molls Gap to Killarney road; sheeting with rain and a car behind me sits on my tail headlights full on. I could see almost nothing except his headlights. I know the road well and there was no place to pull off for nearly a mile. No response to a gentle tap on the brake so I had to slow down and crawl. The drivers who I respect are those who see the brake light and realise there is a problem and drop back. They are the ones too who when you pull in to let them pass flick lights to thank you

kiddums

Graces7 wrote: »

I honestly cannot see what relation there is between what I wrote and this aggressive post. It certainly reveals aggression. No I have never tailgated and never will. All I can do re your post is laugh frankly Please calm down especially if you are driving. And by the way I have over 50 years of safe driving behind me and never an insurance claim or conviction of any kind. maybe go for a nice calming walk!!!! I am not impressed! roflol!!! Thanks for the laughter young person! I needed that today. Welcome to my "ignore " list..You just qualified for a space thereon.

Thanks for missing my point and my tone.
I wasn't being overly aggressive, I just have a pet hate for people who brake for no reason on the road. Even more for those who brake check others.
And then there's the people who don't realize what is actually dangerous.

You must be a perfect driver then. 50 years ago you got a licence, great. Have you done a test since? Or kept up to date with current driving practices or rules?
Actually, wouldn't you be in the era where people didn't do a test to start driving?