Hi all,
Just wanted to understand the perspective of tailgaters and also hear from others in how they deal with the issue.
TL;DR: Why do you tailgate? How do you stop others doing it to you, even if you're going at the limit etc?
My most recent scenario was last night. 2am on the M4, on my way home. Posted speed limit is 90, so I'm doing 90, in the left-hand-most lane out of three lanes. The motorway is entirely empty except for one car behind me, which speeds up and sits ridiculously close to my tail. I mean, at some point the headlights were partially disappearing in my rear view mirror because the car was pushing up so close! The other two lanes next to me are completely empty. He stays there for a good 4-5mins, and all I can think is how unsafe this is, but I refuse to go over the speed limit because he can clearly overtake. Finally, I tap on my brakes lightly to try and get him to back off - once. Twice. Three times. He finally gives me some distance, but after 30 seconds he's back again. Sits there for another few minutes, and again I tap my brakes which causes my car to slow down a bit.. down to 85, 84, 83.. and finally, he changes lanes into the middle lane and zooms off.
I do notice I get tailgated every now and then - perhaps as I'm a P-plater, or just by coincidence. When I do:
- I check to make sure I'm going at the correct and max speed limit (eg if it's 90, I'll be going at 90). All good.
- I'm usually in the left-hand lane by default. If it's a single-lane road, I'll try to pull over as soon as I can (eg into a small side street) and just let the person pass.
- Otherwise, if it's a single-lane road and I can't pull over anywhere yet (or I don't feel like it sometimes!), then I'll just hold strong and keep going as I am. Same for if I'm driving on a multi-lane road and the tailgating car has clear opportunity to overtake, but chooses to continue riding up behind me instead. I refuse to be intimidated by people driving up riiiight behind me as if they can just will me to speed for them (at least, I refuse to be outwardly intimidated by it).
- I almost never tap my breaks as I've heard it can incite road rage or whatever.. but in last night's situation, it was just so ridiculous and unsafe I felt that I had to do something, and it eventually worked.
So my question to all tailgaters is - what do you want from us?
Is it a game to see if you can intimidate other drivers? (in my situation above, I can honestly not think of a single other reason. Open to any opinions though!) Or is it that you just want others to go over the speed limit too? Or.. when you have an avenue of overtaking available.. why would you not take it? And if you don't have such an avenue, but the car in front IS doing the speed limit - do you expect us to break the law because you're in a rush / late for your meeting / etc? Are car's odometers just calibrated SO differently? (I have a digital one).
And to others who deal with tailgaters regularly - Beyond what I've already mentioned, do you have any additional tips or techniques or advice in how to further deal with the issue, for a fairly new driver? What's your approach, and your experiences?
TL;DR: Why do you tailgate? How do you stop others doing it to you, even if you're going at the limit etc?
Thanks in advance.
New situation: Today, on the same motorway, this time a truck was tailing me. As usual I was in the left, but this time it was daytime and slow traffic (70km/hr instead of 90). I had a 2-3s gap in front of me. And this truck was RIGHT up my ass. As close as he would normally be if we were totally stopped in traffic. I know I said I'd try slowing down… but I was too terrified this time. Kept driving and ignored him.
WHAT DO YOU WANT MR TRUCK. Just overtake me if you're in a hurry. Oh wait the other lane is just as slow.
/rant-comment