Tailgating and Road Rage

Qualitymark · 04-09-2012 09:45PM

GerM wrote: »

Had a lovely one today where a girl came down the slip road of the south ring road in Cork and drifted across two lanes without ever looking across or in a mirror. I was in the middle lane and she came literally inches from drifting into the side of me at 100kmph, forcing me to swerve dangerously into the right hand lane and almost lose control of the car as it wobbled before managing to straighten it up. Car behind us had to jam on the brakes. She hammered on ahead, speeding, unperturbed as I beeped and roared at her. Was the first case of road rage I've had. Would have certainly gotten out of the car if there had been a set of lights ahead.

It seems more and more crazy that someone can be fully licensed to drive without any experience of ever driving on a motorway.

I used to think this kind of thing was inexperience or craziness; now I tend to blame the amount of pressure people are under. She was probably thinking frantically about her mortgage or the ESB bill.

SuperInfinity · 04-09-2012 10:55PM

GerM wrote: »

It seems more and more crazy that someone can be fully licensed to drive without any experience of ever driving on a motorway.

I actually saw someone on boards arguing recently that people shouldn't be allowed drive on any public roads at all until they get their licence. :rolleyes: I'll try and find the link if you want.

After thinking about the motorway rule, I think the reason for it isn't so much that they are afraid learner drivers are going to make mincemeat of the other road users as much as for the minor incidents and mistakes that some people are undoubtedly going to make.

Now if you have a minor incident on an industrial estate, it may be a devastating experience etc. and should be avoided at (almost) all costs, but at least afterwards you'll be able to park your car in an appropriate place, get out and assess the damage etc. If you have a minor incident anywhere near a motorway however, then depending on the area and time, the **** could really start to fly with hundreds of people being affected, and people may tend to lose the head, and this is why sometimes there actually ends up with there being ANOTHER accident after the first one.

Muir · 04-09-2012 11:11PM

Was in the car with my boyfriend driving earlier, some guy tailgating us, hit a big queue of traffic and my boyfriend stopped to let someone pull out. Person who'd been tailgating started beeping us for letting someone out. We weren't going to be moving any faster if we hadn't let them out with the traffic.

Also had someone come flying out of a parking lot the other day in front of us, easily could have caused a crash. They were turning left & a van was turning right so they couldn't see & decided it'd be a great idea to come flying out onto a main road.

I've actually seen loads of incidences of bad driving in the past few days. It's actually worrying how careless some people are on the roads.

Elfinknight · 05-09-2012 01:35AM

SuperInfinity wrote: »

Now if you have a minor incident on an industrial estate, it may be a devastating experience etc. and should be avoided at (almost) all costs, but at least afterwards you'll be able to park your car in an appropriate place, get out and assess the damage etc. If you have a minor incident anywhere near a motorway however, then depending on the area and time, the **** could really start to fly with hundreds of people being affected, and people may tend to lose the head, and this is why sometimes there actually ends up with there being ANOTHER accident after the first one.

This reminds me of an accident I heard about on the Dual Carriage way between Limerick and Shannon years ago.

On a very frosty morning there was a bit of a pile up on the Shannon bound side.

The guys on the Limerick bound side got so nosey looking across at the accident, they caused another pile up on their side.

Anyway thinking of that has brought me to wonder, how many people know the speed limit between Junction 30 on the M7 (Cork turn-off in Limerick) and Junction 10 on the N18/M18( Shannon turn-off). Its the section of dual carriageway between 2 motorway segments

In case you are wondering, it is 100 KPH

I was driving it tonight and got passed by a few drivers who were easily breaking the speed limit for a motorway, never mind the road we were on and many more who obviously thought they were on the motorway. several even flashed and tail-gated me while I overtaking slower cars.

grange mac · 05-09-2012 02:09AM

drivin yest a ****x in his x5 pulled out in front of me, i had to swerv to avoid goin into back of him....he then flashes and beeps and passes me in a rage...then brakes forces me to stop behind him....says did i realise speed woz doin i replied i did...woz bout 50 in a 40mph...i said he needed to go pull out rules of road about pulling out when there is a car coming from behind...also mentioned specsavers..lost the rag...said i will b reportrd for speeding...i said ill report him for dangerous driving, threatn me and gettin out of his x5 to do same....he said once he indicated out he fully entitled to pull out...i akways thought can onky proceed when safe to do so ....with me coming he knew it woznt but he just didnt like being passed....dont like people who think they own the road....this was aplace where trucks stop on a country road not a motor way....anythoughts...

--Kaiser-- · 05-09-2012 08:32AM

SuperInfinity wrote: »

I actually saw someone on boards arguing recently that people shouldn't be allowed drive on any public roads at all until they get their licence. :rolleyes: I'll try and find the link if you want.

People shouldn't be allowed to drive alone on public roads until they get their license. That's the way it is in most countries

summerskin · 05-09-2012 09:20AM

grange mac wrote: »

drivin yest a ****x in his x5 pulled out in front of me, i had to swerv to avoid goin into back of him....he then flashes and beeps and passes me in a rage...then brakes forces me to stop behind him....says did i realise speed woz doin i replied i did...woz bout 50 in a 40mph...i said he needed to go pull out rules of road about pulling out when there is a car coming from behind...also mentioned specsavers..lost the rag...said i will b reportrd for speeding...i said ill report him for dangerous driving, threatn me and gettin out of his x5 to do same....he said once he indicated out he fully entitled to pull out...i akways thought can onky proceed when safe to do so ....with me coming he knew it woznt but he just didnt like being passed....dont like people who think they own the road....this was aplace where trucks stop on a country road not a motor way....anythoughts...

Yes. please stop using text speak.

Shenshen · 05-09-2012 09:27AM

SuperInfinity wrote: »

I actually saw someone on boards arguing recently that people shouldn't be allowed drive on any public roads at all until they get their licence. :rolleyes: I'll try and find the link if you want.

After thinking about the motorway rule, I think the reason for it isn't so much that they are afraid learner drivers are going to make mincemeat of the other road users as much as for the minor incidents and mistakes that some people are undoubtedly going to make.

Now if you have a minor incident on an industrial estate, it may be a devastating experience etc. and should be avoided at (almost) all costs, but at least afterwards you'll be able to park your car in an appropriate place, get out and assess the damage etc. If you have a minor incident anywhere near a motorway however, then depending on the area and time, the **** could really start to fly with hundreds of people being affected, and people may tend to lose the head, and this is why sometimes there actually ends up with there being ANOTHER accident after the first one.

I do think they could change that rule, though.
Not to allow all learner drivers onto it, definitely not. But to allow learner drivers in driving school cars and with instructors by their side?
After all, that's the way it's being taught in other countries and it does seem to work ok for them?

Shenshen · 05-09-2012 09:30AM

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

People shouldn't be allowed to drive alone on public roads until they get their license. That's the way it is in most countries

Which countries do not allow learners on the roads at all? That's the first time I've ever heard of this.

Most countries will insist though that as a learner, you're in a driving school car with an instructor. You're not allowed to drive with anyone else, or by yourself, if that's what you mean.

Muir · 05-09-2012 09:33AM

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

People shouldn't be allowed to drive alone on public roads until they get their license. That's the way it is in most countries

Doesn't seem to be that way in most countries from what I'm reading, care to share some examples? I'm curious how learners actually learn without being allowed on the road.

--Kaiser-- · 05-09-2012 09:35AM

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

People shouldn't be allowed to drive alone on public roads until they get their license. That's the way it is in most countries

Shenshen wrote: »

Which countries do not allow learners on the roads at all? That's the first time I've ever heard of this.

Most countries will insist though that as a learner, you're in a driving school car with an instructor. You're not allowed to drive with anyone else, or by yourself, if that's what you mean.

I meant just what I typed

SuperInfinity · 06-09-2012 05:06PM

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

People shouldn't be allowed to drive alone on public roads until they get their license. That's the way it is in most countries

What do you mean "most countries"? I hugely doubt there is anything like that in most countries. Maybe you mean most european countries? Massive difference. I'm sure in countries like Brazil they're all going to be going around in their instructor cars.

So every time you want to go out you have to pay upwards of €80 an hour for the instructor and use of a vehicle. And this is all legit and has nothing to do with money, yeah right. What point is the "driving vehicle" for anyway? What point could that possibly serve other than to make money?

And furthermore, a lot of countries distinguish between "learner" and "provisional". So maybe it's only the VERY start, when it's car parking lot time in Ireland, you would have those ones. So the question is, do you have any clue of what you're talking about when you say that a learner can only drive in a proper car on a proper road without paying a massive fee to an instructor when they have a full licence?

Also, most european countries have shocking drivers. So bad that a large fraction of the accidents here occur from foreign drivers.

TheChizler · 06-09-2012 05:09PM

SuperInfinity wrote: »

What do you mean "most countries"? I hugely doubt there is anything like that in most countries. Maybe you mean most european countries? Massive difference.

So every time you want to go out you have to pay upwards of €80 an hour for the instructor and use of a vehicle. And this is all legit and has nothing to do with lobbying by the driving instructors etc, yeah right. What point is the "driving vehicle" for anyway? I mean what point could that possibly serve other than to make money?

Also, most european countries have shocking drivers. So bad that a large fraction of the accidents here occur from foreign drivers.

The key word that most people seem to be missing is ALONE.

Muir · 06-09-2012 05:34PM

I think --Kaiser-- was picked up wrong about the alone part because SuperInfinity was pointing out that someone argued on here recently that people shouldn't be allowed drive at all until they pass a driving test (it was in the penalty points for learners thread). So I think a few people scanned the post by --Kaiser-- and just assumed it was agreeing with that point and just missed the word alone. That's what happened to me anyhow, apologies!

Still, I became a better driver when I started to get out in the car alone instead of with an instructor beside me. I had very little confidence in my own abilities until I did that. I think you should have to learn with an instructor the way it is now (although I don't like the 12 lesson thing, I think everyone is different in regards to how many they need and it kinda tells people you should & will know everything after 12 lessons when some people might need 30) then after you have learned with the instructor and are capable, you should be allowed gain some experience in the car alone. Even just going to the local shop by yourself can make such a difference to how comfortable you feel in the car.

RustyNut · 06-09-2012 05:50PM

SuperInfinity wrote: »

What do you mean "most countries"? I hugely doubt there is anything like that in most countries. Maybe you mean most european countries? Massive difference. I'm sure in countries like Brazil they're all going to be going around in their instructor cars.

Learners here should be dam glad they are not in brazil. No picnic getting a licence there. How much experience do you think would be appropriate before someone should be allowed out on their own?

Elfinknight · 06-09-2012 06:19PM

Muir wrote: »

Doesn't seem to be that way in most countries from what I'm reading, care to share some examples? I'm curious how learners actually learn without being allowed on the road.

Ireland for one.

On your 1st, 3rd and subsequent provisional licences, you are meant to have a person with a full licence with you when you are driving.

Muir · 06-09-2012 06:32PM

Elfinknight wrote: »

Ireland for one.

On your 1st, 3rd and subsequent provisional licences, you are meant to have a person with a full licence with you when you are driving.

If you read my above post you'll see I thought they meant learner drivers should not be allowed on the roads at all. I am aware of the rules in Ireland.

Fuinseog · 06-09-2012 06:47PM

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

People shouldn't be allowed to drive alone on public roads until they get their license. That's the way it is in most countries

there is 'what should be' and 'what is'. you have to learn somewhere. its possible to get lessons, past the test and know very little about how to drive.

Fuinseog · 06-09-2012 06:50PM

Shenshen wrote: »

I do think they could change that rule, though.
Not to allow all learner drivers onto it, definitely not. But to allow learner drivers in driving school cars and with instructors by their side?
After all, that's the way it's being taught in other countries and it does seem to work ok for them?

In my opinion it takes a few hundred hours of driving to become remotely confident. i spent up to a grand on lessons and it as only when I went out onto the road myself did I really learn.
other countries also have things like driving lessons on the motorway and at night.
giving the poor state of driving in this country maybe people should have to sit a driving test every five years.

Elfinknight · 06-09-2012 06:51PM

Apologies Muir

Came to it after I posted

Muir · 06-09-2012 06:52PM

Elfinknight wrote: »

Apologies Muir

Came to it after I posted

Fair enough =]

Elfinknight · 06-09-2012 06:55PM

grange mac wrote: »

drivin yest a ****x in his x5 pulled out in front of me, i had to swerv to avoid goin into back of him....he then flashes and beeps and passes me in a rage...then brakes forces me to stop behind him....says did i realise speed woz doin i replied i did...woz bout 50 in a 40mph...i said he needed to go pull out rules of road about pulling out when there is a car coming from behind...also mentioned specsavers..lost the rag...said i will b reportrd for speeding...i said ill report him for dangerous driving, threatn me and gettin out of his x5 to do same....he said once he indicated out he fully entitled to pull out...i akways thought can onky proceed when safe to do so ....with me coming he knew it woznt but he just didnt like being passed....dont like people who think they own the road....this was aplace where trucks stop on a country road not a motor way....anythoughts...

You're right there and I think you are quite entitled to report him. Hope you got his number.

A Dub in Glasgo · 06-09-2012 08:14PM

I was in Dublin a couple of weeks ago for a family funeral. I drove from Glasgow via Larne. I was amazed at the amount of drivers who drive in the middle lane of the M50 even when the left hand lane is clear for miles. Then you get those who venture out to the right hand lane and drive +1kph to overtake.

TheChizler · 06-09-2012 08:19PM

Elfinknight wrote: »

Ireland for one.

On your 1st, 3rd and subsequent provisional licences, you are meant to have a person with a full licence with you when you are driving.

That was changed a few years ago, now there always needs to be a supervising passenger before you get the full licence, even on 2nd learner permit, provisional licences have been done away with.

Muir · 06-09-2012 08:24PM

TheChizler wrote: »

That was changed a few years ago, now there always needs to be a supervising passenger before you get the full licence, even on 2nd learner permit, provisional licences have been done away with.

I thought Elfinknight had included 2nd in that post. Not on the ball reading things lately!

rogieop · 06-09-2012 09:53PM

why are traffic core gardai not put in unmarked cars and detailed to drive up and down the countries motorways pulling people over for all these offences?

Its blatantly obvious in this country too many people are oblivious as to how to actually drive safely on a motorway.

Id like to see them out pulling people over for the likes of this and giving them on the spot fines/penalty points.

Jesus, if they gave me the authority id do it for free!!!

right hand lane, no traffic about... woop woop, bang, €80 and 2 points.

Autosport · 06-09-2012 10:04PM

Shenshen wrote: »

I do think they could change that rule, though.
Not to allow all learner drivers onto it, definitely not. But to allow learner drivers in driving school cars and with instructors by their side?
After all, that's the way it's being taught in other countries and it does seem to work ok for them?

I've seen this on the M9 motorway, it makes sense people should be able to use the motorway properly.

Elfinknight · 06-09-2012 10:21PM

TheChizler wrote: »

That was changed a few years ago, now there always needs to be a supervising passenger before you get the full licence, even on 2nd learner permit, provisional licences have been done away with.

Well just goes to show, every day is a school day. never realised it had changed

Neewbie_noob · 09-09-2012 07:23PM

marshbaboon wrote: »

My brother has the most incredible solution to tailgating. He slows down. Doesn't matter if he has somewhere important to be, he'll drive as slow as he can get away with, and feed on their tears of rage.

That's a childish attitude to have to be honest. I agree that the speed limit, is as it says, a limit and not a target. I am a cardiac first responder, if you don't know what that is, I am on call 10 hours a week and if someone has cardiac arrest or is choking, I will be paged and go to the scene and perform the Heinrich or do CPR until the paramedics arrive. If that was me behind your brother, then someone's life could be at risk. As I mentioned, I do agree that the speed limit is a limit and not a target. When I am driving, I will do the limit, and not 1KPH more, but I would feel very uncomfortable doing a lot less than the limit. Just think that the person behind you could really have somewhere important to be and by deliberately slowing down, your brother could be delaying someone and it could have drastic consequences.

Muir · 09-09-2012 07:32PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

That's a childish attitude to have to be honest. I agree that the speed limit, is as it says, a limit and not a target. I am a cardiac first responder, if you don't know what that is, I am on call 10 hours a week and if someone has cardiac arrest or is choking, I will be paged and go to the scene and perform the Heinrich or do CPR until the paramedics arrive. If that was me behind your brother, then someone's life could be at risk. As I mentioned, I do agree that the speed limit is a limit and not a target. When I am driving, I will do the limit, and not 1KPH more, but I would feel very uncomfortable doing a lot less than the limit. Just think that the person behind you could really have somewhere important to be and by deliberately slowing down, your brother could be delaying someone and it could have drastic consequences.

But you shouldn't be tailgating someone. You should be leaving adequate distance between you and the car in front. What use are you to the person you're responding to if you end up in an accident because you were driving up someones ass on the road? The point is tailgating is not safe.

Tailgating and Road Rage

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