Many years ago, owning a car was as much about pleasure as it was a means of transport, whole families went out for a ‘Sunday drive’, with no particular destination in mind, and with a timescale that was set to leisurely rather than efficient, but with more demands made on our time, increasing motoring costs and congested roads, the social aspect of motoring is falling down the list of recreational activities.
Perhaps it’s the modern world to blame for everyone being in a hurry, or just that society as a whole is becoming more … self-important, but one thing’s for sure – driving standards, or more correctly, driver etiquette, is in short supply.
A recent study by Lexham Insurance found that tailgating is the UKs number one annoyance for British drivers, with over 30% of drivers picking that above lane hogging (15.9%) or lane swerving (14.3%).
Tailgating
Tailgating is the act of driving too close to the car in front, without leaving enough of a safety gap (a general rule of thumb is two seconds in the dry), it’s extremely dangerous and could lead to a prosecution of careless driving, although in August of 2013, the Police were given extra powers to deal with it by the roadside with the use of a Fixed Penalty Notice – up to £100 fine and 3-points on a licence.
Whilst that could be an excellent measure in deterring drivers who insist on tailgating, the reality is that just 8,000 tickets have been issued since the introduction, mainly thanks to the dwindling numbers of traffic police. But with over 13% of all drivers blaming tailgating as a contributing factor to a serious accident, and the Highways Agency stating that tailgating is responsible for over one-third of all accidents on the UK roads, the problem is perhaps more significant than we realise.
Passive Aggressive
Experts say that there are two types of tailgaters – the passive and the aggressive, and whilst the term ‘aggressive’ would lead you think they’re the worst kind, it’s the passive tailgater that you should watch out for.
The aggressive tailgater will do all that they can to pass you, chivvy you along or just plain harass you in to moving out of their way, it’s annoying and dangerous, but at least they’re generally aware of the situation, whereas the passive tailgater won’t even recognise what it is that they’re doing, which means that it’s unlikely they’re paying attention, so you now need to be aware of what’s happening in front of you, and behind you.
Any kind of tailgater is dangerous; ‘thinking distance’ (aka reaction time) at 70 mph is 21 metres, nearly 69 feet in old money, and at 70 mph, the car is travelling 31.5 metres per second – it’s easy to see how accidents occur.
What can you do?
Should you find yourself in the situation of being tailgated, advice is straightforward:
Remember that it isn’t your job to police the roads, regardless of how annoying any driver is, you shouldn’t try to antagonise them, but equally, a court of law won’t recognise the argument of tailgating for increasing your speed, nor should you slow down unnecessarily.
Assess your own driving – are you driving particularly slowly? Or is the other driver genuinely at fault?
Do not speed up, but try and keep to a constant speed where possible and should there be an opportunity to let the driver pass, do so, providing it’s safe and legal. Give the other driver plenty of notice with your indicators – they may not be aware of your intention, and could equally be totally unaware of their own driving.
Don’t be tempted to ‘brake test’ the driver.
Bad habits?
The survey doesn’t list the demographics of the respondents, and there were only just over 400 in total, but it would seem a fair representation of bad driving habits, the complete list is as follows:
1. Tailgating 30.1%
2. Middle or fast-lane hogging 15.9%
3. Lane swerving 14.3%
4. Driving under the speed limit 12.4%
5. Undertaking 10.2%
6. Getting cut up 9.1%
7. Being squeezed out on merging lanes 8.1%
It could be that being tailgated is seen as much more of a threatening behaviour, whereas the other habits are just discourteous, although undertaking inparticular is perhaps one of the most dangerous habits, right alongside tailgating.
Unfortunately, there does seem to be a decline in driving standards, patience and forgiveness – whatever happened to raising your hand to say thanks, or even to apologise if you’ve accidentally made a mistake?
Do you think this survey is right? Are driving standards falling below an acceptable level? Would driving on the congested roads feel just that bit better with a little more courtesy? Let us know in the comments.
Tailgating is a very dangerous issue. I spend a lot of time on Motorways and the worst offenders are the large articulated HGV vehicles who try to intimidate and harass motorists with their overpowering and huge vehicles. I have installed dash cameras now to my vehicle front and rear and the tailgating problem has now virtually disappeared. My rear camera is positioned so that it is clearly visible and I also have a magnetic sign on the rear of my car warning people that I “can see them”. I think that for any HGV driver with the company livery and phone number on their truck, the presence of my clearly visible camera and sign is enough of a deterrent, In addition to this I am also getting a discount of 15% on my car insurance….job done
Start with a sweeping generalisation. Audi drivers more often than any other identifiable marque seem to fill my mirrors. SUV drivers are doing so more often these days too. Is it vehicle brand image that contributes in influencing. this habit?
That is a ridiculous remark. The car you drive doesnt influence the way you drive it. I drive an Audi and I’m no tailgaiter
You cannot make sweeping generalised remarks like that
It must be a German thing. In our area it is BMW drivers. Aggressive and dangerous.
Yes, driving standards have fallen below an acceptable level. Too many impatient drivers, in a hurry and not enough police on the roads to curb extreme behavior. I’ve seen many drivers still using hand held mobile phones when driving, even coming out of parking zones!!
There are numerous nationaltities driving on our roads, who have all learnt to drive in different manner to UK practice, coupled with the fact that other nationalities are driving on the “wrong side of the road.” Self preservation is required on UK roads. Take care.
The most frustrating action in my area is the lack of driving signals at roundabouts
Agree with this as a major issue but but the merging of lanes is a major concern as those coming from the left have a view that those already on a motorway have to stop for them to enter and that is not so
People who drive at 20 in a 30/40 limit area (common in my neck of the woods) or lane-hog deserve to be tailgated. They are selfish and thoroughly annoying. I drive quickly, and the only times I get tailgated (once every 6 months or even less frequently) is because I’m inadvertently lane-hogging. Then I move over (and silently apologise).
MO ONE deserves to be tailgaited. You have no right to exert your driving habits on others. If people choose to do 20 in a 30 zone that’s up to them. Speed limits are not ‘targets’ there is NO minimum speed where as 30 is the MAXIMUM. Any spped UP TO the maximum is both legal and permitted. Your tailgating us neither. I suggest you try exercising some patience and respect on the roads
I am not sure that driving standards are lower except by people who are used to driving in countries where they are significantly lower than in the UK. Generally our roads are one of the safest, statistically, according to the research.
However if we wish to remain as safe then we need to ensure all drivers are meeting our standards in the UK. I would not allow foreign lorry drivers to use our roads without first hand evidence of their driving ability, ie a test to ensure they understand the road signs. My cousin was recently lucky not to be killed by a foreign truck driver who could barely understand English and was driving dangerously.
Also people of 70 or over should have to retest to ensure their standards are safe as should everyone at least once or twice in their lives. It is not a right to be able to drive in the UK it is a privilege.
I would also ban drivers stopping within a half mile radius of all schools, that would cut down school traffic and make it far safer for children who are attending schools.
All the things mentioned is because of many drivers need for speed to travel as fast as the car will possibly go everywhere and at all times in all road conditions .too many stupid and ignorant people allowed to “drive” on the roads today Longer driving bans needed for many driving offences not just a paltry fine
If the people who hog the outside lane and refuse to move over changed their habits there would be less undertaking and and tailgating.
Basil (Fawlty?) The speed limit is just that, NOT a target to be achieved!
I was surprised that not indicating at roundabouts wasn’t listed. So I went to the Lexham site and they list number 5 as “Getting cut up at roundabouts”. So, in your article you haven’t used their full description, which probably includes that.
Driving standards have dropped… it costs nothing to be polite and I always thank people… attics are road joggers very rude expect you to give way and they speed more than cars… British drivers are probably worse than foreigners!
With tailgating I tend to just switch on my hazard lights momentarily and most “normal”/reasonable drivers will realise how potentially dangerous this practice is and will back off… [the hardened persistant offenders of course may get even closer…] I love the Audi advert, which is not good in many respects, but does suggest that the road are populated by many “clowns” – driving gives me no pleasure nowadys
I may be a “Grumpy old driver” [but definitely not a “clown”]
JC [age 70/fit /mountain biker…/know my highway code (whats that?) etc.
Having got my first speeding notice (34 mph in a 30 zone) in 43 years of driving, I am now VERY conscious of my speed. I don’t drive under the limit but the number of drivers tailgating me is huge and dangerous. Of course with the low numbers of police there is never one around to catch them!
I’m surprised that this survey doesn’t include ‘gratuitous use of the horn’. The horn is supposed to be to make other drivers aware of one’s presence, for example, when negotiating blind bends. But drivers seem to use it to complain about perceived bad driving from other drivers. A problem with this is that one can’t tell from which direction the hoot has come from, who is hooting, why they are hooting … . So it it a pointless activity and intensely irritating.
DRIVING STANDERDS ARE GETTING BAD. MANNERS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS. AS I ALWAYS SAY SAYING PLEASE AND THANK YOU COSTS NOTHING AND IT CAN STOP A LOT OF ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS.
Turning off caps lock can prevent a lot of internet rage incidents.
Why do people use their fog lights at night when it’s perfectly clear. They dazzle and make it harder to see.
It’s a very annoying habit. I think it’s because they want to be in a “fast and furious” movie. Or have ambitions of being a rally driver. Either way it’s a dangerous habit and I’m pretty sure it breaking the law.
Andy Driver Yes you are correct, it is breaking the law, the when to use clue is in the name of the lights.
And in Scandinavia sidelights are called parking lights. Vo and behold if you use them driving.
Drivers that tailgate and use they fog lights need to have they eyes tested, and drivers that hog the middle lanes are def to move the idiot over just over take them and do the same and they soon move over
In 40 years of driving I can only remember having those awful lights on once, the law says not use them in rain some do, it also say in poor visibility and states that is 100 yards in old money and 100 metres in new but it is not enforced so many of use just see red.
If the law states that fog lights shouldn’t be used in the rain, the law needs changing. When on the motorway in very heavy rain, normal tail lights aren’t good enough. Same with dazzling low sun as well.
Yes and using rear fog lights and doing 60 to 70 mph in an outside lane doesn’t make sense. Anybody who need the fog lights on shouldn’t be driving at that speed.
Categorically, the law doesn’t say to not use rear (or front) fog lights in rain; the highway code says to use them whenever the visibility drops below 100m, adding that in heavy rain this will be so.
I can only ever remember needing to use rear fog lights once in 25 years of driving. They should stop fitting them to cars, as I’m sick of seeing idiots using them as soon as there’s a bit of drizzle or the odd fog patch that they have driven through a few miles back (how can you not notice a bright orange light on your dashboard). If everyone slowed down as they should when it’s foggy they wouldn’t be necessary at all.
They should just couple them to a really annoying buzzer and a 40mph speed limiter – if you need to use them, you defo don’t need to be going faster
Hmm, would be no need to undertake if people didn’t lane hog and reduce motorways to, effectively, dual carriageways or single lane roads. If people would drive at a decent speed and be more considerate of other drivers by getting out of the way a bit quicker, maybe the tailgaters would be more patient (see also lane hogging). Perhaps swerving and getting cut up may also reduce if the holier-than-thou drivers stopped trying to police other drivers and just let them be!
Two basic problems exist with drivers: those that simply cannot drive and those who are inconsiderate (or a combination of the two).
If you are undertaking someone on the motorway, then not only are you driving against the code of the motorway but you are then removing the safe opportunity of the driver ahead to move into the inner lane. ‘Hogging’ the middle lane may be frowned upon but as long as that car is being driven to the speed then the car behind has naff all to complain about, let alone the outer lane to use to overtake in. I recently got undertaken on the motorway. I was in the middle lane and driving to the speed limit on cruise control. A car zoomed up behind me and then overtook on inner lane even though the outer lane was clear with a good gap behaviour behind. You can’t move out of the middle lane back to the inner if the car behind is busy undertaking you as you’re then facilitating the collision that they’re setting up.
Why were you stuck in the middle lane if the nearside lane was clear enough for somebody to undertake you? Surely that was Middle Lane Hogging, which a) is now illegal and b) the cause of consternation to circa 16% in a survey of 400people!
I think many lane hoggers are not confident enough to change lanes, which begs the question “what on earth are they doing on a motorway?”
1. Cannot middle lane hog at 70 or more – this is the speed limit.
2. Stuck in the middle lane because there is too little safe gap in the slow lane, but this does not stop the undertakers who think they are playing pinball on the motorway swerving through a tiny gap.
Personally – keep an eye on them as they come up, then signal to pull in when there is enough room for them to pull out safely behind me. Reduces crime, danger and spoils their little games!!
Sorry Les, but if not you’re passing something in the inside or middle lane lane, then you’re hogging the middle or outside lane. If you are travelling at the same speed as something in the inside lane, then, please, take you foot off the accelerator and pull in behind it. Or goose the throttle a touch and pull in in front of it.
It’s not up to you to police the road, particularly if you are labouring under the misapprehension that your behaviour does not constitute lane hogging.
Actually, lane hogging is now an offense!
Jim, you are part of the problem. Time to recognise that and reassess your lane discipline.
If you were undertaken you were in the wrong lane. Outer lanes which include the middle lanes should ONLY be used for overtaking
On crowded motorways this is not the case; for example the M25 Western stretch in rush hour. There are just 3 (sometimes 4 or 5) extremely crowded lines, sometimes one moves faster sometimes another In case it’s not obvious, multiple huge overhead signs say “CONGESTION STAY IN LANE”. The problem comes if you are responsible and leave the required 2 second gap, as advocated by this article (perfect sense, less than that eats into everyone’s reaction times). Occasionally another motorist will move into that 2 second gap in front of you – no problem, that makes little difference to your journey time – but if you do happen to be in a rightish, or the right-most, lane, and you have a nutjob tailgater behind you, they will go nuts and start flashing, hooting, driving almost into you. If you are driving as fast as the car in front allows (subject to the 2 second rule), they have no more right than you to be in that lane, and shouldn’t do that. Sure, if the traffic speeds up and you can’t keep up, and the gap exceeds 2 seconds, move over. But don’t change lanes excessively, and not without first signalling BEFORE changing lanes (not only as doing so), as without tailgating and short-notice (especially not advance-signalled) lane changing, there would be almost no scope for crashes at all. Of course, advance-signalled lane changing, although mandatory and desirable, is often “punished” by nut-jobs who, instead of throttling back a little to enhance the gap in the lane you wish to move into, instead accelerate hard to close the gap, then go nuts if you complete the maneuvre before they can close the gap and then, due to their own weird behaviour, have to brake which would never have happened had they not behaved discourteously; but there one is – the roads are full of nutjobs.
Rule 264 of the Highway Code. “You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past.”
Consider driving on Dual Carriageways, you return to the inside lane unless you are overtaking. On multiple lane roads such as Motorways with 3/4 or 5 lanes the rule is the same. The only reason to stay in lanes 2,3 or 4 is to complete an overtaking manoevre.
It has been an offence since 2013 to Lane Hog whch restricts the capacity of a motorway and causes congestion.
The make up of a motorway should have the majority of vehicles in lane 1 fewer in lane 2, even less in lane 3 etc. On my journey home tonight on the Surrey section of the M25 , the opposite occured and the majority of vehicles were in Lane 4 – as drivers in lane 2 & 3 would not change lane. – they were probably using their cruise control and refusing to budge or alter speed.
Basicly, if you are undertaken by another driver in normal driving conditions – you both could be charged with driving offences.
>>”On my journey home tonight on the Surrey section of the M25 , the opposite occured and the majority of vehicles were in Lane 4 – as drivers in lane 2 & 3 would not change lane”
– if it was crowded, in rush hour, you should all have stayed in whatever lane you happened to be in. Signage on the M25 clearly reminds us all of this, “congestion : stay in lane”. Almost all of you would be wanting to drive as fast as you could, subject to maintaining the 2 second rule. Sometimes one lane goes faster (which may entail inevitable undertaking by an entire left-of-yours lane for a while, of course, but if no-one is changing lanes no hazard occurs, and such mass undertaking in such conditions is NOT illegal – the sign telling you “stay in lane” after all, leads to that, and it is inevitable as there are just multiple lanes in congestion, it’s plain as a pikestaff that there is no longer an “overtaking lane” in this scenario). If anyone doesn’t want to go as fast as the traffic allows in such conditions, then they can move left as required, but most or ALL will be wanting to go faster if they could, not slower ! And the fast lane tailgater has no more rights to be given-way-to in this case, than anyone else. It is much better for motorcyclists too, that lane-changing by motor cars is minimised, as drivers don’t always see motorcyclists. I disagree with the poster who said motorcyclists shouldn’t use their headlights by the way – I am very glad that they do, so I can better see them and give them the space that they need to pass me safely.
Dead right Phil – cruise control 70 – how much do you want to break the speed limit? 80? 90?
Jim – and what if the person hogging the middle / outer lane has been sat there for a mile, oblivious to being flashed repeatedly, with congestion building up behind them? You cannot be accused of preventing that person from pulling in by undertaking at that point.
So get out of that middle lane, go to the left lane and people won’t have to undertake you? Why are you cruising in the middle lane?Any time that the left lane is free, you should be using it.
HAve you ever seen the left lane free on the M25????
The standard of driving has fallen over the years. There is less patience and courtesy, more aggression and speed. Drivers mostly do not give way to the right on motorways, accelerating too quickly on the slip roads and causing accidents. There is less tolerance because so many drivers are in a rush to get wherever they are going. Having learner drivers on a motorway will not help however there should be compulsory motorway lessons after they pass their tests..
Firstly the survey appears to be motorway based, bad manners is on all roads. There is a decline in people’s manners and a large increase of aggressiveness in general be it on the road, (2 or 4 wheels) or as a pedestrian also it is either sex. Aggressiveness and bad manners is out there 24/7. Fewer police, increasing paperwork for those that are left, who else is there to ‘police’ out there?
I wonder how many of those complaining about tailgaters are people who have pulled out in front of other cars from a side turning, either completely mis-judging the speed of oncoming (right of way) traffic, or have not looked at all. Invariably they are the ones who then proceed at 20mph in a 30 or 40 limit holding up long queues of traffic. I drive a white Volvo XC60 which has very bright LED running lights on it, it Is unbelievable how many people do not see me approaching, or simply pull out – maybe in the belief that the safest car on the road just won’t run into them? I guess having to slam my brakes on to avoid these, either rude or dangerous, drivers makes me an “aggressive” tailgater as two tonnes of Volvo ends up looming all too close in their rear view mirrors!
I am doing 60 on a single carriage way road – they pull out in front of me and do 40 until I have to brake to 40 and then they speed up and disappear .. It has to be deliberate to get me to tailgate, use fuel, brakes etc
I too believe driving standards have declined in recent years. I have experienced more often than not that many drivers are completely unaware of what is happening around them especially on motorways. Perhaps it would be a good idea to become a member of the IAM and take the advanced driving course. It certainly improved my driving skills.
Having been a member of the AA for over 30 years, I took up an offer for a free two day course, to see if I could improve my driving in my retirement . Though then in my 70’s, I was able to really improve my observational and driving skills and hence my confidence , something that hopefully keeps me safe rather not a hazard on the roads.
I find the majority of aggressive tailgating is Audi drivers, must be a condition of owning one that you drive like a Pratt!
I have been driving for 55 years and the standard of driving has noticably deteriorated in the past 20 years. In the South West the number one agressive driving car type is Audi followed by BMW owners. A few are normal drivers but the majority are very bad with excessive speeds, undertaking, tailgating and overtaking around blind corners. I believe that because they are in a strongly built car that they are indestructable. The lack of Police also has a significant effect in that the chance of being caught is extremely low.
Audi?… I am starting to see a theme!!!
I think they are also the idiots stuck in the overtaking lanes.
I’m a PCV driver and official guidance when being tailgated is to adjust your speed to leave increased distance to the vehicle in front so you can brake more gently if required
This is correct. It also gives them a bigger gap to fill if they do attempt to overtake, which is safer for you.
Driving under the speed limit is my top hate, I frequently come across cars doing forty miles an hour on a sixty mph road. My next gripe is the lane hoggers and there wouldn’t be so much undertaking going on on the motorways if these people drove more considerably, they really are a menace. Then the tailgating, this is especially bad at night when their lights are more intimidating.
When I took my driving test if you did not do 30 mph in a 30 zone when it was safe to do so you failed the test.
Whilst I feel that 40 in a 60 may be a little slow for a clear road in good conditions, may I please remind you that in this example 60 is the MAXIMUM allowed speed, NOT A TARGET!
To my knowledge, only Motorways and a few other roads actually have a MINIMUM, therefore doing 40 in a 60 is totally acceptable (so long as you are not causing an obstruction. Eg driving in the middle or outside lane of a motorway).
Yes 40 in a 60, then get to a 30 and stick at 40 – generally older people whose bad habits are so entrenched they won’t change them because they’ve been driving “..since before you were born..”, and probably badly for most of that time. Middle Lane Owners Club members are actually breaking the law, so if you are in the clear inner lane doing 70 and the car to your right is hogging middle at 65, are you breaking the law by staying where you are, which is less dangerous than crossing 2 lanes just to get past? I do about 25,000 miles a year and most of these problems are sadly endemic.
Provided you keep at the constant speed you are doing and don’t accelerate to get by then you are within the law, no different to heavy traffic where the inside lane can be moving at a faster speed that the middle and outside lane especailly if there is an exit which is taking traffic of the road. Exceeding the speed limit is an offence in all lanes but 70 is the limit on all lanes of the motorway and these days CLOC’s drivers are now committing an offence as well…
A Jonty undertaking is fines and points except where vehicles are stationary or slow moving 60 – 70 mph is not slow moving
The Highway Code discourages undertaking on motorways with some exceptions (rule 268): “Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake”. … On all roads, undertaking is permitted if the vehicles in the lane to the right are queueing and slow moving.
Very naughty undertaking you ought to cross the 2 lanes and back again and you might even find they will follow you
The speed limit is that safe for the road and may be less than the national speed limit.
Why do I have to drive on the limit all the time? if you drive on the limit how do you manage to get tailgated is it because you hog lanes, Sorry mate just reading between the lines on what you said and the is a lack of discipline on multi carriageway roads
The most dangerous manoeuvre (universally acknowledged by safety authorities) is overtaking, it is not obligatory but extremely hazardous and poorly executed, Speed limits are not something to be aimed for. I suspect the worst drivers are GOOD drivers after all we are all good drivers. Accident stats. are getting better except for motorcycles, cycles and pedestrians ie vulnerable road users. I feel the design of modern cars is also lacking. Ignorance of drivers of the highway code and driving laws is the norm.
Much of this problem can be alleviated in two simple ways: –
1. Have digital Speed cameras at regular interval on multi-lane roads to ensure ‘speeders’ adhere to the legal speed limit
2. Eliminate lane-hogging
As motorway driving is part of the instruction process for learner-drivers. this is where good behavior is taught. When I learned to drive I was taught ‘left lane except when overtaking’.
My favourite is a car/van and not so much lorries turn left out of a side road on your side and either are slow to accelerate or turn the next right when the road behind you is empty of traffic and no need to push in. my next favourite is vehicles joining a dual-l carriageway or motorway and just barge their way though to the middle or fast lanes with no thought for other road users without gaining speed or getting used to the speed
I for one do know that driving standards are worse now than what they were when I started driving 40 tears ago. I have at least one moan about people’s driving every time I go out on the road, whether it’s the bike, car or truck.
I blame the driving examiners, who seem to give out passes to anybody who can open a car door.
Driving used to be enjoyable, but now it’s just a nightmare.
A friend who is a driving instructor has told me that their job is to teach people to pass the driving test, after that they then need to learn to drive.
Hello Pensioner,
I was taught to drive in the proper manner all those years ago, and 40 years later, I’m still doing what I was taught. And to date, I have not had a single accident or suffered road rage. If the drivers today adopted this same approach, then our roads in Britain will be the safest on the planet, instead of the worst.
If you think we have the worst roads on the planet then I just don’t know what to say… At all. Because we have some of the best. What does it say for people’s capacity to drive?
Yes I agree. The passive type of tailgate is annoying, they won’t try and get past so you can’t get rid of them, and they are compromising my safety bubble on the road. Very occasionally I’ll pull over to get a tailgater past if my gut feeling is that it is putting me at big risk of an accident if the unexpected happens and I need to brake suddenly. I do like to put my foot down and make progress sometimes when the road is clear, but it’s pointless tailgating someone, I try and avoid doing it at all costs. The only time I get close is is in queues or if an overtake opportunity presents itself and this will be for a few seconds at most, if I can’t overtake I will drop back to a safer distance.
Seeing a car lose control on the motorway and start fishtailing across lanes is the type of incident I always try to use to remind me to ensure I have a good place to escape to when driving, when I might be tempted to tailgate. When tailgating chances are you are going straight into the back of the car in front of something dodgy happens and you need some space to sort things out.
People drive how they live their lives. In general I find people nowadays more aggressive, less tolerant, rude, abusive, arrogant. The list goes on. So, when they clamber into their own insular little space that is their vehicle all these negative personality traits not only come to the fore but become exacerbated as individuals feel they are safely tucked away in their little space and beyond the reaches of the law and so on. All of this just breeds further aggression on the roads and leads to a further decline in attitudes and driving standards. There is a simple golden rule here. BE REALISTIC AS TO YOUR DRIVING STANDARDS and TREAT THOSE ON THE ROAD HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREAT! I have a humorous little sticker on the rear of my car that says ‘caution, I drive like you’. I don’t of course as I have no desire to let my driving standards slip to the level of that I see with so many fellow road users but I’m sure you get the sentiment albeit in jest. The roads are as safe as we make them to a large extent. Drive poorly (attitude included) and your time behind the wheel will be unpleasant for all.
Some good points there Gary, especially about the attitude you take to the road with. I must look for one of those stickers now.
If you ask any traffic cop about the use of fog lights he will tell you that they are now classed as “Driving Lights” and not fog lights.
Tailgating is a real problem yes. My next most annoying habit is drivers who simply force their way from the slip lane on to motorways or dual carriageways thereby forcing other motorists to pull out into the faster lane or worse still have to brake sometimes very hard to avoid a collision because they are unable to move across into the overtaking lane as it is occupied by other vehicles. This is a really dangerous habit which in my experience is becoming commonplace
When approaching a joining slip road, it is helpful to drive in the middle lane to allow them to join smoothly. I use the inside lane when it’s reasonably clear, but playing dodgems with a lot of lorries is silly and annoying to them.
Spot on! I use my horn to let them know i am coming and I am on cruise control at a fixed speed and I dont intend to be the one who has to take evasive action. The driver joining the motorway from the slip road needs to judge the speed of vehicles in lane one then either accellerate to get in front or slow down and tuck behind me.
I frequently join a dual carrriageway with few people on it, there is often only one car in the slow lane, they can see I await to join but don’t move (as I do when I’m in their shoes) into the empty fast lane, so I have to wait until they pass. That’s just ruddy selfish.
You’re right, you do have to wait until they pass you. It would be selfish not to.
We do tend to move over but the rule is you don’t have to, it is up to the vehicle joining to adjust their speed not the other way round
The problem is it cannot be policed all the time, if you leave enough space between you and the car in front someone will just about always squeeze in, it’s just like driving in the second lane of a 3 lane motorway lots of drivers do it.
I tow a caravan and can easily tow at 70mph and over but I don’t as the max speed limit for me is 60mph on a motorway, I keep in the nearside lane and only go in the second lane to overtake slower vehicles, the above problem happens all the time between caravaners and lorry drivers, they pull out to overtake and then indicate to pull back in and the space left between you and them is only feet.
They also tailgate, why because they do not have the speed to overtake from a safe distance from the vehicle in front, I was talking to a policeman about an incident that happened to me, I was in the nearside lane towing my caravan on a motorway my car was on cruise control, a lorry tried to overtake me but did not have the speed to complete the exercise he kept on going for what seemed miles causing a tailback behind him eventually he gave up and pulled back in behind me, I asked the policeman should I have slowed down and let him in he said no, he said the problem was with the lorry driver not me.
When a lorry has just overtaken you, it is polite to flash your lights when it’s safe for him to pull back in. They do appreciate it.
I was tailgeted in Durham 2 weeks ago by ‘white van’ man, if anyone knows the area on the A1 (M) part on the ‘keep 2 chevrons distance’ travelling North, this idiot was just feet away from me but as soon as he saw my rear facing dash cam he pulled over into the inside lane sharpish. I did think of letting the police see what an idiot this bloke had been but would have maybe done nothing about it., but if there had been an accident this guy would have suffered the consequences. Oh well this is modern Britain!!!
I think the worst fault these days is the widespread NON-use of indicators and most especially at islands!! If everyone indicated their direction of travel then this would speed up traffic flow. I believe there should be a big campaign to highlight the use of indicators the non-use of which causes holdups and accidents!!
Your point number 4: Interestingly a group of us on a speed awareness course were told, quite forcibly by the lecturers, and emphasised by our instructor “that the speed limit was not a target – but a maximum speed limit!” So perhaps that highway code needs to stress this and indeed all driving schools as there seems to be a general mis-understanding of what some road signs mean. Though I am aware of many motorists keeping to a 20mph speed limit and being continually being overtaken by cyclists with impunity!
My beef is for drivers who don’t indicate to turn left at roundabouts leaving you sat there when you could have continued and kept traffic moving
If they are in the left hand lane and their demeanour looks as if they are going to go left, you have the choice of going, or waiting for a few more seconds. I just go when it’s clearly safe to do so. I’ve followed drivers for a couple of miles with their uncancelled left indicator, so indicating is no guarantee.
I was driving along a duel carriageway in Somerset with a standard 70 mph limit and approaching a very slow moving farm vehicle and I was driving at a constant 60 mph on cruise control. I chose this as |I only had sufficient fuel to get home and didn’t want to stop for fuel on that journey. I assessed the overtaking lane and finding it clear and safe to overtake. I proceeded to over take the farm vehicle and within seconds everyone else behind me pulled out to overtake it too and I was very quickly tailgated by a large Range Rover and all his followers. I felt intimidated so I put my foot down to get around the slow moving farm vehicle so I could get back in to the inside lane and out of the tailgaters way. Boom!! there was a white van with a speed camera parked up on the verge. I got 3 points and speeding fine for exceeding the 70 mph. Sure enough the picture of me showed the tailgater in the Range Rover and everyone else behind him doing the same so I am guessing and hoping they too got speeding fines. This is no consolation to me though I hope it teaches the driver of the Range Rover a lesson (that’s if they could see his number plate , he was so close to me he was in my boot and deserves 6 points)! I am not happy because if I was not tailgated I would have passed that vehicle at 60 mph and not over 70 mph as the tailgater made me do to get him off my back. I was not invited to the speed awareness course which I understand is only 4 hours long and quite interesting.
Tailgating is very dangerous and I have also found that if you get someone right in your boot and you are not exceeding the speed limit or indeed cruise controlling at 70 or 72 mph other drivers get agitated and undertake you with aggression. They are so dangerous but there is never any police around to book them!!
Regards gutted!!
I rarely get tailgated, perhaps something to do with the fact that I use the motorway lanes as intended, and always move into gaps on the left to let any car that is behind me have a chance to overtake, regardless of what speed I am doing. Even if the gap is only long enough to let one car past before I have to move out again, I let that car past, and then move out to pass the car in front that would otherwise slow me down. I think I see perhaps 10% of drivers doing this.. yet it is what we should all be doing.
Decades ago, there was a road safety information film which featured a placid man, Mr. Walker, who became the aggressive Mr. Wheeler when he got into his car. Perhaps these short films short be resurected for TV?
The advice in the article is spot on. If you feel uncomfortable with somebody driving behind you then drive at a constant speed and pull in when you can. There will always be people who want to drive faster than you whatever speed you wish to do.whatever car you drive.
That just encourages them to tailgate and flash all day long. If the distance between you and car ahead is <= 2 seconds no need to move over. If it is more than that, and you don't want to accelerate, then yes move over. But don't reward nut-jobs.
I agree, you would usually “want” to overtake the car ahead of you in the fast lane just as much as the car behind you “wants” to overtake you. If gap is normal, 2 seconds recommended, don’t budge, you all have every right to be in the outermost lane. If tailgated, you may prudently increase the gap to 3 seconds, so you don’t have to brake so hard and be shunted by the driver behind if a sudden emergency stop is made by the car in front of YOU. And as somebody else said, on a very congested motorway you are officially recommended to STAY IN LANE, which’er it may be. There no longer is an overtaking lane, then, just many lanes
What happened to the TV campaign: ‘Only a fool breaks the two second rule.’ Bring it back!
I use that all the time – and double it in wet/icy conditions.
My mate is a police driver and he said if someone tailgates you, extend it to 3 seconds so you can brake more gently in an emergency as the person behind you has left no reaction time. He said if you have this distance between you and the car in front and if the motorway is crowded anyway, you’re fine and just flip the rear view mirror to night mode if their flashing annoys you. If they did hit the back of you it would ALWAYS be in insurance and legal terms their fault, so don’t let them stress you. If traffic speeds up ahead of you and you don’t wish to, then move over of course. In congested motorways there is no fast lane, just a number of lanes, that is why the signs come up to say “congestion stay in lane”.
My driving instructor said the same thing to me, adding “if it’s wet on the floor, make it four”.
And for snow and ice, generally a 10 second gap or more if you feel your vehicle needs it.
Is there a word that describes the conundrum that is tailgating? (Possibly a rhetorical question!)
When I am driving at speed the tailgating increases in proportion to the speed I
m doing - and I am a VERY spirited driver.e.g. When I am in queuing traffic, when I usually try to keep moving rather than stop/start - thus keeping quite a good distance between my car and the one in front, following cars mostly do a similar thing; and that might be 3 to 4 car lengths. However, when I am moving at the national speed limit - plus the margin of error, I frequently have cars on my tail.
In fact I do know what its about. My car is a
Preg. 998cc automatic Micra – which, by the way, can easily achieve 80 to 90 mph!Never heard of speeding being called margin of error before .. lol
Hmm, it was tongue in cheek!! Actually I realised that my dash speedo was about negative 10% out according to my sat-nav so I follow the sat-nav now – but no
margin of error.That sounds better John but I was reading the other day about sat nav speed are not right but what do i know, on a longer journeys’ I tend to use sat nav speed as well
Tailgating is very annoying especially when you are driving at the correct speed. The middle lane hogging is equally bad. However, when the left lane is clear on a motorway with the middle lane and off side lane heavily congested, I do not see anything wrong in passing in the near side lane. I will not call it undertaking. It is overtaking on the left and the highway code allows it.
No such thing as the fast lane
Not mentioned the most effective thing you can do when tailgated is increase the distance between yourself and the car in front. You cannot control the distance behind you, but a greater distance in front of you means everyone (including the idiot behind) has more time should the traffic need to stop.
How’s that work then, to increase the distance in front of you would mean slowing down or braking , not sure how that would make the tailgater increase the distance between you and him
Gently slow down until you are twice the safe stopping distance from the vehicle in front of you. If it’s an aggressive tailgate it gives them plenty of room to overtake you and safely pull back in without cutting you up. If it is a passive tailgate you can brake less sharply or, when they realise what they are doing, gently speed up until you are back to the safe stopping distance from the vehicle in front of you.
Simple, the tailgater still tailgates because he is an idiot, but if you do have an incident ahead (a dead sharp stop) you now have 3 seconds’ notice not two seconds’ notice, so you can brake more gently and save the cretin behind, who has left no reaction time, from some of the risk of going into the back of you (his fault if he does so, 100% of the time)
Dumbing down driving standards – including those driving goods vehicles – is the major cause of both bad driving and thereby accidents. Lack of enforcement only serves to magnify the problem as does putting high powered cars in the hands of the poor drivers. As long as vehicle manufacturers push performance over safety and the government of any colour takes the tax revenue as a major contributor to national finances the situation won’t change.
Setting in the middle lane is my biggest gripe
The first thing is to restrict new Audi and BMW engines. These are super fast cars that the average driver has no ability to handle.