Tailgating and Road Rage

Lord TSC · 23-08-2012 04:54PM

I still don't get how someone going well below the speed limit can be classified as "dangerous". "Irritating", maybe. But at the end of the day, their slow driving does not force you to do something dangerous. Your impatience does.

Don't get me wrong, someone going at 50kmph on a motorway in the wrong lane is obviously something I can understand causing irritation. But the danger comes from the driver behind him/her deciding their patience has run out and trying a dangerous move to get past her.

Even still, that doesn't excuse people trying dangerous moves to get past someone doing the speed limit, which is far more common a problem in my experience. Going back to my earlier post, I've had instances where I'm doing 60 in a 60 zone and still have people try overtaking on bends or without clear visibility ahead.

"Slow" drivers do not create dangerous situation; people with no patience who want to speed create the dangerous situations.

Sunnyisland · 23-08-2012 05:00PM

Team Shadowclan wrote: »

I still don't get how someone going well below the speed limit can be classified as "dangerous". "Irritating", maybe. But at the end of the day, their slow driving does not force you to do something dangerous. Your impatience does.

Don't get me wrong, someone going at 50mph on a motorway in the wrong lane is obviously something I can understand causing irritation. But the danger comes from the driver behind her deciding their patience has run out and trying a dangerous move to get past her.

Even still, that doesn't excuse people trying dangerous moves to get past someone doing the speed limit, which is far more common a problem in my experience. Going back to my earlier post, I've had instances where I'm doing 60 in a 60 zone and still have people try overtaking on bends or without clear visibility ahead.

"Slow" drivers do not create dangerous situation; people with no patience who want to speed create the dangerous situations.

Slow drivers are one of the biggest dangers on the road and should be treated like speeders, a report says

Nearly a third of motorists have had a 'near miss' caused by someone travelling slowly.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016721/Slow-drivers-dangerous-roads-cause-crashes.html#ixzz24NxX2pC5

qwert2 · 23-08-2012 05:00PM

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

I still don't get how someone going well below the speed limit can be classified as "dangerous". "Irritating", maybe. But at the end of the day, their slow driving does not force you to do something dangerous. Your impatience does.

Don't get me wrong, someone going at 50kmph on a motorway in the wrong lane is obviously something I can understand causing irritation. But the danger comes from the driver behind her deciding their patience has run out and trying a dangerous move to get past her.

Even still, that doesn't excuse people trying dangerous moves to get past someone doing the speed limit, which is far more common a problem in my experience. Going back to my earlier post, I've had instances where I'm doing 60 in a 60 zone and still have people try overtaking on bends or without clear visibility ahead.

"Slow" drivers do not create dangerous situation; people with no patience who want to speed create the dangerous situations.

Frustrating as it may be, this is the reality

RustyNut · 23-08-2012 05:07PM

realies wrote: »

Slow drivers are one of the biggest dangers on the road and should be treated like speeders, a report says

Nearly a third of motorists have had a 'near miss' caused by someone travelling slowly.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016721/Slow-drivers-dangerous-roads-cause-crashes.html#ixzz24NxX2pC5

Daily mail shocker?
143 accidents a year caused by slow drivers, out of 40,000 serious accidents.

Lord TSC · 23-08-2012 05:08PM

realies wrote: »

Slow drivers are one of the biggest dangers on the road and should be treated like speeders, a report says

Nearly a third of motorists have had a 'near miss' caused by someone travelling slowly.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016721/Slow-drivers-dangerous-roads-cause-crashes.html#ixzz24NxX2pC5

Oh well, if the Daily Mail is reporting it... :P

Reading the article though, I notice it says....

These drivers create such frustration that six out of ten motorists feel stress rise and about half are tempted to 'undertake'.

That goes back to what I was saying though; the danger does not arise because someone is going slow. It arises because the person behind them doesn't have the patience, and decides that they would rather take a risk and do something dangerous than sit behind someone going slow.

In otherwords, the dangerous action is taken by the driver behind the slow person, not the slow person themselves.

And, as Rusty nut says, 143 accidents a year is a minor amount considering the size of England and the amount of accidents that must take place every year...

EDIT: I'll also apologies for the sexism I spotted in my earlier post, where I used the term "her" to refer to the slow driver. Obviously guys can be just as irritating. :P

qwert2 · 23-08-2012 05:11PM

No one is saying that driving too slow isn't dangerous, of course it can be. The problem is the impatience of drivers tailgating and desperately trying to overtake drivers going at a more than adequate speed

Chuck Stone · 23-08-2012 05:15PM

I'm not big on authority but when it comes to the roads rigorous policing is the only solution imo. There are too many useless drivers out there getting away with being dicks every day who are blissfully unaware of their lack of competence.

I would like to see a far larger police traffic corps with real teeth (being able to seize vehicles for dangerous driving, removing dangerous drivers licences and making them sit an advanced driving course etc). Traffic cameras are a cost effective way of policing the roads too (not speed cameras mind).

Sunnyisland · 23-08-2012 05:19PM

RustyNut wrote: »

Daily mail shocker?
143 accidents a year caused by slow drivers, out of 40,000 serious accidents.

The report is from the UK Department for Transport,The daily mail was one of many that printed it.

Peter Rodger, chief examiner from the Institute of Advanced of Motorists (IAM), said: "All forms of inconsiderate driving need to be tackled. Drivers who are unnecessarily excessively slow lead others to make rash moves."

Abi · 23-08-2012 05:21PM

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

I still don't get how someone going well below the speed limit can be classified as "dangerous". "Irritating", maybe. But at the end of the day, their slow driving does not force you to do something dangerous. Your impatience does.

I have to pick you up on this. I'm all for "it's a speed limit, not a target", but if you're driving well below a limit you are looking to antagonise people. A happy medium is perfectly fine, and if they're not happy with it, keep left and let them over take you. If you're doing a silly slow speed especially around an area with bends, you may make the most rational driver a bit cheesed off. Asking for patience is one thing, but most people don't have all day to get to their destination.

When a driver is familiar with their route, eg. going to work, they have allowed a certain amount of time to get to said destination. They haven't accounted for someone with all of the time in the world, and make take a silly chance just to make it to work on time.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 23-08-2012 05:24PM

gatecrash wrote: »

Are you talking about those who condone brake testing, those who are self appointed guardians of the unbreakable speed limit, or those who say "just let them by when it's safe to do so and don't get stressed over it"?

Those advocating dangerous driving.

RustyNut · 23-08-2012 05:30PM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I'm not big on authority but when it comes to the roads rigorous policing is the only solution imo. There are too many useless drivers out there getting away with being dicks every day who are blissfully unaware of their lack of competence.

I would like to see a far larger police traffic corps with real teeth (being able to seize vehicles for dangerous driving, removing dangerous drivers licences and making them sit an advanced driving courseetc). Traffic cameras are a cost effective way of policing the roads too (not speed cameras mind).

+100

The main problem here is lack of enforcement. With the new speed vans if you speed regularly you will most likley get caught sooner or later and most people have coped on to this and slowed down but everything else is a free for all.

If people stood a good chance of getting caught breaking red lights, using indicators arseways or not at all, getting all creative on roundabouts etc etc, it would encourage a much more disciplined attitude towards road use. Small fines handed out on a regular bases would help people focus on getting it right.

In the UK, Germany, Holland if you regularly break the rules you will get caught so the vast majority just don't do it.

I'd have cameras on junction boxe,s red lights, bus lanes and anywhere else they would make a differance, break the rules= ticket in the post.

jackal · 23-08-2012 05:34PM

RustyNut wrote: »

Ok so just for argument sake say you have Damo and Jacinta sitting on your ass and you decide to show them the error of their ways. Just as you "break test" him he looks down to check the text that just came in. That's one bad to you ie. breaking for no good reason and two to Damo tailgating and texting so you are less wrong.
What happens next? Damo has hit the back of you causing you to spin out of control into the tree at the side of the road, at the same time Damo has gone over the ditch on the far side of the road rolled the car throwing Jacinta out the windscreen and getting killed him self by a fence post in the face, but it is ok because you were less wrong and you can tell the judge as much at your compo hearing.
You will probably get a nice few bob but you will need it to pay the carrer who will have to change your nappy and feed you three times a day but at least you will have Jacinta in the wheelchair next to you to talk to.

All a bit far fetched I know but sh1t happens every day.

Driving on the road is not a combat sport.

Wow, you should make adverts for the TV licence inspectors.

I said "gently", I am not for a second advising anyone to slam on and intentionally try to "teach someone a lesson" by having them actually crash into them. You failed to address the point: What happens if you DO need to slam on for a legitimate reason? Who's fault is it then?

Your example of someone checking a text message while tail-gating is unfortunately probably not that far-fetched though.

The whole "braking for no good reason" argument is a complete fallacy. You don't need a reason that's obvious to the driver who is driving too close to you and cannot see past you, to brake. If I want or need to brake, in my car, while I am driving it, I will. Damo drives his car, I will drive mine. Its up to Damo to not slam into cars that he is behind.

Sunnyisland · 23-08-2012 05:35PM

Slow drivers may unknowingly contribute to other motorists making sometimes fatal overtaking manoeuvres. We are asking drivers to regularly check mirrors and be aware of what is behind your vehicle.
"What they should endeavour to do is drive at the speed appropriate to the conditions. If they're not comfortable in doing that, we're not asking them to speed up, we're asking them to give way to following vehicles.

"They must be aware of the tail of vehicles behind them and by ignoring that, they're actually driving without due care and attention. The premise is simple: reduce the need to overtake, and it follows there would be less overtaking collisions."

http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=slow%20drivers&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja ved=0CGsQFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.ie%2Fnational-news%2Fslow-drivers-urged-let-other-cars-pass-3175702.html&ei=Nlk2UM6RFsOJhQfW74HwDg&usg=AFQjCNGMeBqUhudv9mMdxwPSQE7V_Mi_nQ

That's from july 2012 in mayo Irish Independent

The whole nature of driving has speeded up with faster & better cars and roads,Drivers who don't drive at a sensible speed shouldn't drive and I mean slow drivers in this

RustyNut · 23-08-2012 05:37PM

realies wrote: »

The report is from the UK Department for Transport,The daily mail was one of many that printed it.

Peter Rodger, chief examiner from the Institute of Advanced of Motorists (IAM), said: "All forms of inconsiderate driving need to be tackled. Drivers who are unnecessarily excessively slow lead others to make rash moves."

Yes all bad driving should be tackled but slow drivers cause a tiny minority of accidents.
I would much prefare to get into a shunt with someone going 20 K's under the limit than 20 K's over it.

Sunnyisland · 23-08-2012 05:47PM

Sorry have to go I am in a hurry

;)

Abi · 23-08-2012 05:50PM

RustyNut wrote: »

I would much prefare to get into a shunt with someone going 20 K's under the limit than 20 K's over it.

Neither extreme is acceptable, they both cause accidents. Theres enough driver stupidity / ignorance / inexperience on the road to keep us on our toes, let alone the road bullies and the far below the limit antagonisers.

On a day to day basis, I see so many drivers that do not know what lane to be in a roundabout, cúnts that break lights and a bevy of other arseholery on the road. Most of these fúckers won't indicate on a turn, but they'll indicate around a fúcking bend.

RustyNut · 23-08-2012 05:53PM

jackal wrote: »

Wow, you should make adverts for the TV licence inspectors.

I said "gently", I am not for a second advising anyone to slam on and intentionally try to "teach someone a lesson" by having them actually crash into them. You failed to address the point: What happens if you DO need to slam on for a legitimate reason? Who's fault is it then?

Your example of someone checking a text message while tail-gating is unfortunately probably not that far-fetched though.

The whole "braking for no good reason" argument is a complete fallacy. You don't need a reason that's obvious to the driver who is driving too close to you and cannot see past you, to brake. If I want or need to brake, in my car, while I am driving it, I will. Damo drives his car, I will drive mine. Its up to Damo to not slam into cars that he is behind.

I think you missed my point. It is to late when when you are trying to decide whose fault it was, if you let Damo passed no mater who was right or wrong the crash would have been avoided. Breaking because you need to to avoid something is not the same as breaking just to have an affect on those around you.
In my humble opinion if someone is tailgating just give yourself a bigger gap and do your best to avoid sharp breaking,let the dick who's tailgating passed as soon as its safe and get on with your life.

You are not going to change damos behaviour so the best you can do is minimise your intreraction with him and stay out of the wheelchair.

ahnowbrowncow · 23-08-2012 05:54PM

Shenshen wrote: »

If someone doing 5kph under the speed limit causes you to tailgate them, you need your head examined.

Where did I say I tailgate? I didn't. I just said that speedometers are rarely 100%. I use my satnav and speedometer to check my speed on the motorway.

Lollers · 23-08-2012 05:56PM

Jesus, If you are an intelligent skilled driver, you don't drive up someone's bumper. You wait till you have a clear road, overtake, and go for it.

Muir · 23-08-2012 06:32PM

I don't think the problem is slow drivers. I drive at the speed limit, but you always have people who're pissed off behind you for driving at the limit & will overtake. I just leave them to it, if someone is pissed off behind me & wants to speed or whatever then they can go ahead, I'm not going to risk my safety for anyone else.

Also, anyone else think the 100kmh limit on the Blessington Road is too high? It's a pretty dangerous road, and also there tend to be quite a few cyclists up there.

hoochis · 23-08-2012 06:40PM

Few weeks ago I had a tailgater right up my ass. I was doing about 120kph in a 100kph zone. Anyway came on to a long straight with no cars in sight and expected the bit*h behind me to overtake seeing as she was only about 5 feet from my bumper but she was happy enough to stay in my slipstream. I pulled into hard shoulder to give her a chance and she went for it. Must have taken her about a minute to pass me. I didn't change my speed btw. When she got in front of me it turned out that she was not happy driving at that speed and decided to slow down to 95kph!

I find that tailgaters are some of the worst and most dangerous drivers on the road. It takes a massive amount of concentration to drive feet away from a car in front doing the speed limit and the person being tailgated wont be able to pay full attention to the road in front. That's two drivers feet away not concentrating on driving. It then just takes something very small to cause a big accident. Its easy to say pull over but most roads in the country don't even have a hard shoulder!

SocSocPol · 23-08-2012 07:05PM

Abi wrote: »

Neither extreme is acceptable, they both cause accidents. Theres enough driver stupidity / ignorance / inexperience on the road to keep us on our toes, let alone the road bullies and the far below the limit antagonisers.

On a day to day basis, I see so many drivers that do not know what lane to be in a roundabout, cúnts that break lights and a bevy of other arseholery on the road. Most of these fúckers won't indicate on a turn, but they'll indicate around a fúcking bend.

Well said, just about describes the average Irish driver

Galwayguy35 · 23-08-2012 07:05PM

qwert2 wrote: »

A fair few country drivers (Yes, people outside of Dublin) are bloody wreckles on the road. Tailgating you, going mad to pass you out, passing you out on a continous line, not ****ing indicating.

Works both ways, every year during the Galway Races the D regs are knocking sparks off the roads as well and overtaking everything in sight.

SocSocPol · 23-08-2012 07:06PM

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Works both ways, every year during the Galway Races the D regs are knocking sparks off the roads as well and overtaking everything in sight.

Well since Dublin taxes paid for them and most else wesht id da shannon....:D

Galwayguy35 · 23-08-2012 07:09PM

SocSocPol wrote: »

Well since Dublin taxes paid for them and most else wesht id da shannon....:D

Yeah whatever.

christmas2012 · 23-08-2012 07:36PM

tailgaiting is the most stupidest thing anybody could do as you have no room for yourself to react to the driver ahead of you breaking or encountering a situation a car ahead which you cannot see..

Odysseus · 23-08-2012 08:01PM

Try having tailgaters when you only have two wheels. Even on a bike you can have the fcukers at it. I was on the 200cc today and there was this **** behind me, only a few feet and I'm looking to slow down to change into a slower moving lane!!

Most of the time I'm on much bigger bikes so I have the power to leave the behind in a flash. Stiil you think people would cop on and not be on top of bikes at speed, you don't stand a chance if you get hit from behind on a bike.

Motorist · 24-08-2012 12:21AM

Tailgating is acceptable in some circumstances though .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnYp4srEooI&feature=related

guppy · 24-08-2012 12:40AM

geneyuss wrote: »

i was referring to another poster,,, and how is it silly,,,the fact ive never had somebody crash into the back of me has nothing to do with driving skills ? idiotic statement,,
ive had many a driver almost rear-end me and have took evasive action, learn how to drive, its not just passing a silly test ya know

I'm way behind in my reading of this, but I wanted to say that I was in the car with my mother once in stop-start traffic and she was rear ended as the girl behind her was not paying attention (she admitted as much). I was also rear ended at traffic lights (at really slow speed) by a guy who couldn't seem to judge distance.

In neither of those scenarios could myself or my mother's skill have avoided the collision.

Motorist · 24-08-2012 01:36AM

guppy wrote: »

I'm way behind in my reading of this, but I wanted to say that I was in the car with my mother once in stop-start traffic and she was rear ended as the girl behind her was not paying attention (she admitted as much). I was also rear ended at traffic lights (at really slow speed) by a guy who couldn't seem to judge distance.

In neither of those scenarios could myself or my mother's skill have avoided the collision.

Learn to drive expecting people to hit you. It will help you avoid being hit.

Leave space in front of you to give yourself room to move if you see someone coming up too fast behind you.

Always scope an escape route such as the hard shoulder of a road.

If you have time, tap your brakes before your braking point to alert drivers behind you.

Always leave a space in front of you so you can slow down gradually, thus minimising risk of tailgater hitting you.

Use your hazards if stopping suddenly.

Dont slam on the brakes especially not for an orange light

Tailgating and Road Rage

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