Anyone else been tailgated by an electric car?

drunkmonkey

Happened me twice in the one day, think both were Nissan was pretty poor driving conditions. I was driving slow for a reason and didnt want anyone on my tail.
Is this starting to be a thing, trying to get a bit more range.

OldMrBrennan83

I've noticed more and more people doing it these days, even in non electrics. I just take my foot off the throttle and slow down until they go round.

Isambard

just apply the brakes , slow down a bit and then pull away. That should be enough to sort them out. (Not advocating brake testing)

drunkmonkey

I was doing 80km on a motorway with the cruise control on.

amcalester

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I was doing 80km on a motorway with the cruise control on.

Are they drafting behind you maybe? Battery running low?

Peatys

See it quite a lot on the m4 and m6.. battery cars tucked in behind slow moving trucks with the over taking lane free

mickdw

80km is very slow to be travelling on a motorway but yes I would well believe that electric car drivers could well be tailing you to save energy.

artanevilla

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I was doing 80km on a motorway with the cruise control on.

Some people are terrified of overtaking, even on motorways, they will sit and sit and sit behind slow moving traffic for as long as they are on the motorway.

Wheety

Did your car feel heavier? Some of the boyos running low on battery are apparently* using a little hook which comes out the front of their car and attaches to the car in front. Only do it to lads who look like they could take in a fight, if it came to it.




*completely made up by me

quokula

Why do so many people do 80k on the motorway? I don't understand it, moved home recently after a few years abroad and it's one of the big differences I've noticed. Nobody would trundle along at 40k below the speed limit where I lived previously.

Not that it's an excuse for tailgating but it strikes me as odd.

Isambard

how would you not die of boredom? I wouldn't have thought there would be much advantage to slip-streaming someone at that speed.

ShadowHearth

Isambard wrote: »

how would you not die of boredom? I wouldn't have thought there would be much advantage to slip-streaming someone at that speed.

Ah sure, but saving 20c on your next electricity bill makes it worth it!

Its not really EV car problem. I meet plenty of these 70km/h in 100km roads. Its fine if its just them, but when you get 2-3 lemmings behind it, that are too afraid to over take, it becomes a lot more frustrating.
The reason I always want to have 200ish hp car is not because I like speeding everywhere. Its because I need to overtake these one gear pricks on the road on daily bases.

68 lost souls

Adaptive cruise control set to minimum distance?

clio_16v

quokula wrote: »

Why do so many people do 80k on the motorway? I don't understand it, moved home recently after a few years abroad and it's one of the big differences I've noticed. Nobody would trundle along at 40k below the speed limit where I lived previously.

Not that it's an excuse for tailgating but it strikes me as odd.

I get major anxiety driving on motorways so I am guilty of it regularly. Driving at a slow speed behind a truck is better than overtaking and increasing my anxiety

_Kaiser_

clio_16v wrote: »

I get major anxiety driving on motorways so I am guilty of it regularly. Driving at a slow speed behind a truck is better than overtaking and increasing my anxiety

To be honest, if you feel that way then doing 40 km/h less than other traffic around you and even slower than most trucks is actually dangerous and you shouldn't be on the motorway but the secondary routes instead.

at9qu5vp0wcix7

clio_16v wrote: »

I get major anxiety driving on motorways so I am guilty of it regularly. Driving at a slow speed behind a truck is better than overtaking and increasing my anxiety

By driving slowly on them, you are inadvertently increasing the time you spend on them. In OP's case, 80km/h results in you spending 33% longer on them (conservative estimate, drive at 120km/h and you will be overtaken by most cars).

gctest50

clio_16v wrote: »

I get major anxiety driving on motorways so I am guilty of it regularly. Driving at a slow speed behind a truck is better than overtaking and increasing my anxiety

clio_16v wrote: »

..............

. Driving at a slow speed behind a truck is better than overtaking

Tis yeah :







or if a spring snaps it will could come through your windscreen and will easily behead you / go straight through your ribs like they are crunchy butter

( not so common any more cos air )

drunkmonkey

clio_16v wrote: »

I get major anxiety driving on motorways so I am guilty of it regularly. Driving at a slow speed behind a truck is better than overtaking and increasing my anxiety

It's one of the most dangerous things to do, the truck won't know your there and you'll be putting the driver under pressure to constantly check their mirrors. Be very careful around trucks.
It's nuts to assume your safer behind a car your not driving. Put mondello vouchers on your next santa list.

ba_barabus

It's the ELECTRIC BRIGADE trying to drive the ICE cars off the road

Isambard

Courtney Proud Animal wrote: »

By driving slowly on them, you are inadvertently increasing the time you spend on them. In OP's case, 80km/h results in you spending 33% longer on them (conservative estimate, drive at 120km/h and you will be overtaken by most cars).

That's not true. Most cars on the motorway do about 100k. Check out yourself and you'll find at 120 you pass far more cars than pass you.

Driving at 80k is actually quite dangerous and if you don't feel confident to do more, you should maybe stick to the paralell alternative route. My Camper won't go very fast , but I set out to do the same speed as the trucks, to keep out of their way

corks finest

quokula wrote: »

Why do so many people do 80k on the motorway? I don't understand it, moved home recently after a few years abroad and it's one of the big differences I've noticed. Nobody would trundle along at 40k below the speed limit where I lived previously.

Not that it's an excuse for tailgating but it strikes me as odd.

It's called choice

Truckermal

corks finest wrote: »

It's called bad choice

Fyp.

Gregor Samsa

quokula wrote: »

Why do so many people do 80k on the motorway? I don't understand it, moved home recently after a few years abroad and it's one of the big differences I've noticed.

I had the misfortune of driving in limp mode a few times on motorways recently. No turbo and couldn’t get past 80 unless there was a long downward hill. I was worried at the beginning that I would be slowest thing in the road and be an inconvenience to everyone. Turns out I still overtook about 60% of the number of cars that overtook me. They all can’t have been in limp mode too, so it just seems to be the way half the country drives.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

phutyle wrote: »

it just seems to be the way half the country drives.

****

corks finest

Truckermal wrote: »

corks finest wrote: »

It's called bad choice

Fyp.

Fyp?

corks finest

Truckermal wrote: »

corks finest wrote: »

It's called bad choice

Fyp.

?

I find tailgating has, in general, become a much more common issue lately.

I give a blast of the rear fogs, or hazard lights. If that doesn't work (and it usually does, in fairness), then I start coasting down to a slower and slower speed until they get the idea.

andekwarhola

corks finest wrote: »

It's called choice

While it's not an excuse for tailgating, it's a pretty frustrating and dangerous thing to so. Even more so if you're mooching around the back of of a big vehicle like a truck.

It's be nice for once if every instance of irresponsible, selfish, rude or dangerous behaviour wasn't instantly rationalized with the shibboleth of Free Choice.

corks finest

andekwarhola wrote: »

corks finest wrote: »

It's called choice

While it's not an excuse for tailgating, it's a pretty frustrating and dangerous thing to so. Even more so if you're mooching around the back of of a big vehicle like a truck.

It's be nice for once if every instance of irresponsible, selfish, rude or dangerous behaviour wasn't instantly rationalized with the shibboleth of Free Choice.

Meowwww

McCrack

Deleted User wrote: »

I find tailgating has, in general, become a much more common issue lately.

I give a blast of the rear fogs, or hazard lights. If that doesn't work (and it usually does, in fairness), then I start coasting down to a slower and slower speed until they get the idea.

All those reactions are immature

OldMrBrennan83

McCrack wrote: »

All those reactions are immature

Slowing down isn't. At least then if you've to brake they're going to hit you at a slower speed than they would have. Best case is they piss off, though it took me going to under 40km/h one day for one to get the message.

Nekarsulm

Probably trying to "slipstream".
Serious cyclists learn how to do it, and then when they buy an el. car, they just continue with the habit.

degsie

Shocked to learn that I am sharing the road with some posters on here

Ash.J.Williams

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I was doing 80km on a motorway with the cruise control on.

Thats 40kmh below the limit... Get off the motorway

beauf

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

To be honest, if you feel that way then doing 40 km/h less than other traffic around you and even slower than most trucks is actually dangerous and you shouldn't be on the motorway but the secondary routes instead.

Max speeds (If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me)

Buses (with no standing) 100.
Large truck limit is 90
Anything, towing a Trailer 80
Buses (with standing) 65.
Minimum speed is 50. So anything over that is legal.

So are they all also dangerous if not driving at max limit, 120?

Even if I sit at 120 I get passed pretty regularly. So a lot do well over 120. But in heavy traffic, or poor weather, traffic is often moving a lot slower in the other lanes, especially where it passes merging lanes.

Older cars, especially smaller or boxier cars, the wind resistance is much worse at higher speeds. Our older runabout (18yrs old) was most stable at 80. More than and the wind would start to move it around. One of main reasons I changed it was I was doing more motorway driving. Also on older car your brakes aren't as good. (Mine had no ABS), It takes longer to stop at speed, you need to keep bigger separation.

People in sportier or newer cars often forget this. They don't drive with consideration of other vehicles and drivers abilities.

Fuel efficiency drops off a lot at higher speeds. Also staying a constant speed for longer is more efficient. Rather than having to slow down and speed up a lot. http://www.mpgforspeed.com/

Then there's tractors and other types of vehicles.
https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/its-legal-to-drive-a-tractor-and-trailer-on-the-motorway-but-theres-a-catch/

beauf

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

Thats 40kmh below the limit... Get off the motorway

He talking to you...;)

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I was doing 80km on a motorway with the cruise control on.

Driving at higher speeds in a EV is less efficient for two reason. Drag from wind resistance, and heat from discharging the battery more quickly. Not that all EV drivers know this.

https://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/28/mythbusters-drafting-10-feet-behind-a-big-rig-will-improve-mile/?guccounter=1

Drafting is a well known thing. But its dangerous. Its tailgating and you should report cars that do it. If the cops get enough people reporting the same car, they might do something about it. Many people have rear facing cameras now. Theres a good chance of getting caught. Also cameras on motorways etc.

ELM327

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Happened me twice in the one day, think both were Nissan was pretty poor driving conditions. I was driving slow for a reason and didnt want anyone on my tail.
Is this starting to be a thing, trying to get a bit more range.

If it were me (I have an Ioniq EV not a leaf) I was probably behind you with the smart cruise set to minimum distance.
To be honest 80km/h on a motorway is bordering on dangerous driving.

Avatar MIA

phutyle wrote: »

I had the misfortune of driving in limp mode a few times on motorways recently. No turbo and couldn’t get past 80 unless there was a long downward hill. I was worried at the beginning that I would be slowest thing in the road and be an inconvenience to everyone. Turns out I still overtook about 60% of the number of cars that overtook me. They all can’t have been in limp mode too, so it just seems to be the way half the country drives.

Clogged DPF?

ELM327

beauf wrote: »

Max speeds (If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me)

Buses (with no standing) 100.
Large truck limit is 90
Anything, towing a Trailer 80
Buses (with standing) 65.
Minimum speed is 50. So anything over that is legal.

So are they all also dangerous if not driving at max limit, 120?

Even if I sit at 120 I get passed pretty regularly. So a lot do well over 120. But in heavy traffic, or poor weather, traffic is often moving a lot slower in the other lanes, especially where it passes merging lanes.

Older cars, especially smaller or boxier cars, the wind resistance is much worse at higher speeds. Our older runabout (18yrs old) was most stable at 80. More than and the wind would start to move it around. One of main reasons I changed it was I was doing more motorway driving. Also on older car your brakes aren't as good. (Mine had no ABS), It takes longer to stop at speed, you need to keep bigger separation.

People in sportier or newer cars often forget this. They don't drive with consideration of other vehicles and drivers abilities.

Fuel efficiency drops off a lot at higher speeds. Also staying a constant speed for longer is more efficient. Rather than having to slow down and speed up a lot. http://www.mpgforspeed.com/

Then there's tractors and other types of vehicles.
https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/its-legal-to-drive-a-tractor-and-trailer-on-the-motorway-but-theres-a-catch/

There is no minimum speed limit on a motorway.
the requirement is that your vehicle be capable of driving at 50km/h, not that you must drive above that speed.

Avatar MIA

ELM327 wrote: »

There is no minimum speed limit on a motorway.
the requirement is that your vehicle be capable of driving at 50km/h, not that you must drive above that speed.

Yeah, if you drive on a motorway at 50km/h and it's not because of traffic you're getting pulled in by AGS.

endacl

clio_16v wrote: »

I get major anxiety driving on motorways so I am guilty of it regularly. Driving at a slow speed behind a truck is better than overtaking and increasing my anxiety

Stay off motorways then.

You nuisance.

beauf

ELM327 wrote: »

There is no minimum speed limit on a motorway.
the requirement is that your vehicle be capable of driving at 50km/h, not that you must drive above that speed.

I was wondering that it wasn't explicitly defined. Thanks.

ELM327

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Yeah, if you drive on a motorway at 50km/h and it's not because of traffic you're getting pulled in by AGS.

I would hope so.
Anything below ~90 is pretty stupid on a motorway. When you think that some traffic is travelling at 130-140+, it doesn't give much time to see someone trundling at say 50-80 km/h

beauf

If people reactions and visibility are that poor perhaps they shouldn't be doing 140+

morritty

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Happened me twice in the one day, think both were Nissan was pretty poor driving conditions. I was driving slow for a reason and didnt want anyone on my tail.
Is this starting to be a thing, trying to get a bit more range.

Are you driving a Lexus IS250 SE-L with Mark Levinson audio by any chance?

fancy pigeon

morritty wrote: »

Are you driving a Lexus IS250 SE-L with Mark Levinson audio by any chance?

They could have been just trying to Focus on the car in front and got the distance wrong...!

h3000

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Happened me twice in the one day, think both were Nissan was pretty poor driving conditions. I was driving slow for a reason and didnt want anyone on my tail.
Is this starting to be a thing, trying to get a bit more range.

Do you drive a Lexus IS250 by any chance?










EDIT: Beaten too it

morritty wrote: »

Are you driving a Lexus IS250 SE-L with Mark Levinson audio by any chance?

antodeco

I've no problem with someone driving 80Kmh on a motorway, once they are in the furthermost left lane. That's what it's there for. Driving lane. Right lane to overtake the 80Kmh person

pcardin

ELM327 wrote: »

There is no minimum speed limit on a motorway.
the requirement is that your vehicle be capable of driving at 50km/h, not that you must drive above that speed.

There should be though. Same as using headlights 24/7 should be mandatory in Ireland particularly.

pcardin

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I was doing 80km on a motorway with the cruise control on.

in the right lane most likely. This and absolute allergy against any headlight usage is a disease here.

drunkmonkey

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Happened me twice in the one day, think both were Nissan was pretty poor driving conditions. I was driving slow for a reason and didnt want anyone on my tail.
Is this starting to be a thing, trying to get a bit more range.

Quote from Drunkmonkey 5/11/16 in the thread

"Motorway speed limits in Ireland"

You should be pulled if your doing 80km in the inside lane, everybody else is under pressure trying to avoid you. You've people then pulling out to the overtaking lane doing 90km, trucks also need to pull out. Your basically a rolling road block

2 years, 2 months in Motors by drunkmonkey 269 Replies 6,447 Views 5 Thanks