Tailgating

[MangoMan]

Originally Posted by Fifer

I'm thinking of attaching something on the rear window blind to say, "Too Close - Drop Back", or similar.

Fifer

Similar, something like this would work...lol. (kidding)...

[gary t]

http://learningindia.in/the-unwritte...ving-in-india/

[Rev Jules]

I have this sticker on the back of mine.

Rev

[Amsca2]

I don't really get the point of some stickers as it encourages the curious mind to get closer to read it and hence defeating the point. Seen a mini run into a corsa learner today as the learner went and was correct to. The instructor dual controlled her and the guy behind didn't pay attention. What's for you won't go bye you.

[bl52krz]

Originally Posted by Darcydog

Article on Sky News this morning about drivers of differing age group - sadly an 82 year old lady hit the accelerator rather than the brake and killed someone. So there are calls for all people over 70 not just to declare they are fit to drive but to be tested to that effect.

Lionel Blaire was being interviewed because he has taken part in some sort of survey comparing younger and older drivers - and he said that older drivers were more careful whilst younger drivers took chances "and tailgated other drivers" - the article covered the issue of tailgating by inexperienced drivers quite well.

Have to say as a 64 year old who drives a lot - I regularly get tailgated and yes! - it is more often than not young drivers and often female. But I do see some awful driving by elderly drivers Yesterday in Poole a lady in a small BMW ignored the road lanes, went across a roundabout by cutting across two lanes and entered the roundabout without looking causing the traffic on the roundabout to have to brake to avoid her.

She then drove at a steady 23mph on the 40mph dual carriageway the other side of the roundabout with her offside wheels on or just over the central white line. Stealing a glance at her as I managed to get past she was extremely elderly, seemed to be sitting very low in the seat so that it almost looked like a child was in the drivers seat.

Statistically however - it is younger drivers that are involved in more serious and fatal accidents than any other age group.

To me - tailgating as evidenced by those of us on here by younger drivers in the main - is the evidence that the way we train new drivers is failing them and their victims.

As an ex HGV driver of 40 odd years, if you care to notice, most women turn the steering wheel as little as possible, hence they nearly always drive 'across' an island instead of round it. They also do not appear to know where they are on the road, or anywhere for that matter,hence not very good at parking, reversing and going round road junctions to the right ( always on the wrong side of the road).

[Fifer]

Originally Posted by MangoMan

Similar, something like this would work...lol. (kidding)...

You have just given me an idea. Maybe I should dig out my old navy blue woollen pullover and epaulettes?

Some years back I had been at a meeting and was in (MN) uniform. On the drive back home I just kept the trousers and "woollie pullie" on. I didn't have many cars sit close behind me, and a couple of cars came up to overtake but slowed down again and fell in behind. The only thing that I could think of was, that they saw the shoulder epaulettes and mistook me for a police officer.

We did have quite a few unmarked cars in the area at the time.

Fifer

[Daveluck]

I think it also depends where you are.

If you want consistently pleasant motoring move to the continent.

In 7 years of living here I have never, ever seen a road rage incident. A few " how the hell did that happen?" crashes, a few expressive hand waving gestures and toots on the horn but never anything really aggressive.

I admit the continentals are at times appalling drivers but very courteous. 9 time out of 10 on a country road / single lane they will slow down and let you go past, on dual carriageways and motorways no lane hogging.

I can't quite put my finger on why but I think its because on the continent there is a no rush culture. And when there is a rush the person behind tail gates you to let you know, you just slow down, pull over to one side and let them go. Its not seen here as an aggresive act.

Of course you get the odd idiot and the cities are a bit of a free for all, however generally the roads are better, more courteous driving, less cars and the whole experience is more leisurely.

[neilb740]

The only time I really notice tailgating is when I'm forced out into lane 3 on the motorway, usually to over take lorries doing the 56mph race in lanes 1 and 2 for mile after mile .
This is when the inevitable sales rep Audi charges out of the distance doing God knows what speed and sits 2" from your bumper flashing it's lights.
If I'm in lanes 3 I will always be doing a decent speed, until the headlights start flashing behind me. Then I slow down

[arnosvale65]

I saw my best "who is teaching that person to drive?" moment the other day. On the A37 Wells Rd in Bristol there is an inbound bus lane which is in force between 7 and 10am. No one ever goes into no matter what time is, except me that is and a few others who read the signs. I was traveling along in the bus lane at 3 in the afternoon when I came across a learner in the other lane stopped, traveling in the same direction as me, wanting to turn left across the bus lane. I arrived just as she began to move. Brakes were slammed on, by the instructor I should think, (I have to say I could see what was coming and had stopped) and the passenger door flew open. The instructor jumped out and ran up to me. "What do you think you are doing?" he ranted at me. I told him I was going into town at which point he shouted was I an idiot driving in the bus lane and he was going to report me. I pointed to the large blue sign behind him which said it was a bus lane at the times I mentioned before. He told me I was an idiot and shouldn't be on the road as you are never allowed to drive in a bus lane! No wonder driving standards are so bad.