Tailgaiting & Road Rage, consequences for your actions?

Mitchel on 07/04/2017 - 11:26

I have a question for the people who tailgate, why do you do it?

This morning I saw someone tailgating another car, when the tailgater got in front of the car previously behind, the driver of the car behind got out and clocked the hoon a few good ones. Quite entertaining to see this.

What are the community's thoughts on this?
Tailgating is not maintaining a safe stopping distance / driving in a menacing fashion.
Clocking a hoon is Assault.

Why do people do these things without thinking of the possible consequences? Please, help me understand.

Automotive

Comments

twister292 on 07/04/2017 - 20:38

+1

I make it a point not to hog the right lane… But I get f***wits tailgating me even in the left lane…

I'm like gtfo and overtake from the right you halfwits! There's a reason why i stick left on a road…
smashed on 07/04/2017 - 21:13

+2

The speed limit is precisely that.
It is a limit, not a target.
- jaimex2 on 07/04/2017 - 21:44
  
  Its also against the law to drive 20 km below the limit, its a 2 demerit point offence.
  
  Lookup 'Unreasonably obstructing drivers or pedestrians' in your states road rule book.
  - smashed on 07/04/2017 - 22:08
    
    https://www.mynrma.com.au/blog/2013/05/16/driving-beneath-th…
    
    Driving 20 below is not an offence in an 80. For a start trucks will struggle to do 60 up a steep hill.
    
    I always do the limit but it is common knowledge that tailgating is just as likely to cause the person to slow down even further.
    
    Keep to the left is a simple premise but most people cannot grasp it.
    - jaimex2 on 07/04/2017 - 22:12
      
      A truck up hill would fall under reasonable. Mr Sunday driver on the right lane wouldn't.
      
      and yes, tailgating gets you no where.
- bobbified on 07/04/2017 - 22:36
  
  In clear conditions, you're meant to drive as close to the speed limit as it is safe to do so. So it IS a target!
stumo on 07/04/2017 - 21:32

-1

I usually drive a high roof sprinter van. People don't usually tailgate me because they cant see a damn thing when they're stuck back there. Some of the more aggressive tailgaters move to the right of my van so they can see past a bit, so then I amuse myself by creeping to the right to see how close I can get them to the median strip.

On the other hand, if someone is lane hogging I don't tailgate. I just undertake, but then I cut back in in front of them pretty close, to give them a little wakeup call. It usually works.
jaimex2 on 07/04/2017 - 21:39

You know why they do it. What a dumb question.
bobbified on 07/04/2017 - 21:39

+2

I'm not sure if it's just me but it really sh*ts me when someone keeps saying "IT'S THE LAW".

It's as if the law is going to protect them when there's a truck or car that slams into the back of them when they're traveling at the speed limit.

Law or not, if you're in a dangerous situation - whether it's a tailgater or speedster or whatever, use your common sense and get out of that situation. If you don't care about your own safety, at least think about your passengers'!

The "law" is not always right and, realistically speaking, there's going to be times that you have to break these laws for your own safety.
- Janko on 07/04/2017 - 22:16
  
  Not just you. I don't need a law to tell me to drive safely or not to punch someone. If speed signs were advisory signs, maybe tailgater might understand the car in front is doing what they're comfortable with rather than what the tailgater believes you should be doing.
  
  I treat speed limit signs as advisory. I'll go slower or faster depending on conditions and how familiar I are with the roads.
  
  For after-all, the law grants me 12 points on my licence to use as I see fit. Given the chances of being caught for speeding are very low unless you're stupid, that's almost a free reign to sensibly exceed the speed limit as often as you wish, and well worth any fine should you eventually get pulled over. And I do - last fine was in 2002 for doing 65 in a 60 that just dropped down from 80.
  
  It also gives someone else the same points who does ten times the kilometres I do. It gives out equal fines that really hurt some but are trivial to others.
  
  That's the law.
Aap Ke Papa on 07/04/2017 - 22:19

What would you all do in a situation where a person is driving at at 50 in a 70 zone single lane on a long road?
- [Deactivated] on 07/04/2017 - 22:22
  
  +1
  
  beep and make hand gestures and hope they wake up or stop thinking about themselves for long enough.
  - Kangal on 08/04/2017 - 06:52
    
    Call them, and tell them to get off their phone….
labyrinthinecities on 07/04/2017 - 23:31

+6

L plater here - in my first couple of lessons, I was extremely nervous (I have GAD) and so would drive about 10-15 kmph under the speed limit. This however, was not during peak hour, and we stayed on smaller roads for the most part. I also never used the right-most lane. However, there were a fair number of rude people who would tailgate/try to intimidate/overtake badly despite the road not being busy. (Most people were polite, however, the rude people stood out because it was, in the moment, really freaking scary.)

I think there are a lot of drivers who get angry too easily and decide to act out in a very petty manner. There are two bright yellow signs sticking out from the car that say "BEGINNER HERE" (the L plates), just overtake normally instead of being a dickwad.
- saubao on 08/04/2017 - 00:07
  
  +2
  
  Red P plater here, in Sydney I still encounter these incidents every day, even when I maintain speed limit. It gets worse when I travel (always in the left lane) in zones with speed more than 90km/h (the most I'm allowed to do atm).
- secondstory on 08/04/2017 - 15:10
  
  try to intimidate
  
  These jerks are attracted by the very L plates that are supposed to let people know to be more careful of you. I was teaching my younger sis to drive and she always got tailgated. On the odd occasion I would forget to take off her L plates after she dropped herself off somewhere and I took the car. I noticed a 100% hit rate of getting tailgated while driving normally in regular areas I'd never had a problem whenever I accidentally did this.. heck this one time, some tailgater even followed me into some random residential area before he screeched off after probably realising I was just circling the same block (didn't want them to see where I live). This kind of things continues into red P's but stop when you go green.
  
  In addition to whenever I accidentally left the plates on, I remember back when I was on my L plates you get the drivers going by and passenger will screaming things at you like "Fail your exam!!" and "Get off the road!" etc. My instructor at the time told me it was common.
  
  Gradually slow down a little bit (not aggressively breaking or by too much) if someone is too close for comfort and continue to drive like normal.
  
  It will reduce the impact if something jumps out in front of your car or you need to slam the breaks for some reason and they cant react fast enough. It'll also make you feel a little bit safer driving at lower speed in this situation and less likely to panic (I used to panic a lot and unintentionally accelerate when I did).
  It may also hopefully make them impatient enough to just overtake you.
  Good luck on the roads.
  - Findo on 09/04/2017 - 18:25
    
    Better yet, slow down to the point where they get more angry then floor it. That'll really piss them off!
Miss B on 07/04/2017 - 23:47

+1

For some reason a lot of people don't like slowing down for country towns or road works. They're the most common places I get tailgated. Doing the speed limit, as shown on GPS. I've even been tailgated by a cop car through a country town while doing the speed limit. I refuse to be intimidated by these idiots who think they own the road. As a general rule, on single lane roads, I will slow down when there's a place to pass for cars who want to speed, particularly if they wait politely.

Other driving behaviours that I see far too regularly are people driving through lights that have long been red, as in the light the other way is green and cars have started moving and they just speed through the intersection. Texting drivers. It is scary the number of drivers who can't drive straight on a freeway, I have seen people driving on the rumble strip, people crossing it and driving half in the emergency lane for kilometres and some driving back and forward across it. People drifting between 2 or even 3 lanes. They tend to also drive at inconsistent speeds, with variations more than 20km/hr at times. Some of them may be drunk instead of texting or I guess distracted by something else.

People just don't seem to understand that they can kill people with their vehicle. I'm sure they justify their behaviour to themselves somehow. Tell themselves how important it is that they drive home, even though they're drunk. Or how important it is to have conversations via text while driving. Right up until they kill someone with their stupidity and it's too late for them to realise that actually, it wasn't all that important after all.
- Findo on 09/04/2017 - 18:26
  
  +1
  
  The cop just wants to get you for speeding when you inevitably speed up.
nobarginsarehere on 07/04/2017 - 23:54

+1

I see so many dicks constantly changing lanes over and over, only for them to be next to me at the next set of lights

While in 60 zones with lights every 200meters, it makes so little difference
- Janko on 08/04/2017 - 12:29
  
  -1
  
  Of course, you don't notice the ones who aren't at the next set of lights because they're gone.
  - nobarginsarehere on 08/04/2017 - 16:30
    
    -1
    
    Found one of the dicks, thinks he's a good driver
    
    How much time do you think you save driving like that? 5minutes? 10minutes? To do what? Sit in front of the TV?
    - Janko on 08/04/2017 - 16:43
      
      +2
      
      I can play the assumption game too: How much do you save being on Ozbargain - $50? $100? To do what? Buy junk food?
    - nobarginsarehere on 10/04/2017 - 01:25
      
      @Janko: I have been doing Keto for 11 months now, so no junk food. What about you ?
    - Janko on 11/04/2017 - 15:05
      
      @nobarginsarehere:
      
      I go on keto every time I need to knock of a few kgs, but not too sure about it now after watching a new documentary called "What The Health" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5541848/
      
      A lot of the things I'd eat on keto (organic dairy, grass fed meat) would might be worse than junk food. Still trying to get to the truth.
    - nobarginsarehere on 11/04/2017 - 15:10
      
      @nobarginsarehere: No junk food, I make keto snacks from cheese, coconut oil, macadamias etc
      
      Look through this reddit, they have heaps of good stuff: https://www.reddit.com/r/ketorecipes/
      
      Also google keto fat bombs
      
      Nothing is sweet (no sugar) unless you use artificial sweeteners (not a fan of them tbh)
      
      Cheese chips are a favorite, with some jalapenos
    - nobarginsarehere on 11/04/2017 - 15:12
      
      @Janko: I havent seen that docos, ill check it out
      
      What I do know is being overweight is very bad for me
    - nobarginsarehere on 11/04/2017 - 19:48
      
      @Janko: Oh this, this was made by the Cowspiracy guys
      
      Make sure you vet all their stats they quote
      
      They got so much shit for all of the misinterpreted stats in Cowspiracy
      
      A lot of the stuff "could be" "might be"
    - Janko on 12/04/2017 - 15:30
      
      @nobarginsarehere: Ah was it - I knew it needed further looking into. Thanks for the heads up.
    - nobarginsarehere on 16/04/2017 - 20:35
      
      @Janko: I've been watching a heap of health docos recently
      
      Check out 'Fed Up' from 2014
    - Janko on 18/04/2017 - 20:30
      
      @nobarginsarehere: The doco title is familiar but I just watched the trailer and I can't remember it - thanks - I will indeed watch. "That Sugar Film" is one of my favs - Australian too - very well produced.
- Findo on 09/04/2017 - 19:55
  
  Changing lanes legally and safely isn't illegal. It makes journeys faster when you've got flogs going 55 in 60 zones and you're going at 62km/h with a calibrated speedo. Even if cops pull a LIDAR gun on you they'll have to take 3km/h off, so you're really not speeding. What's worse are those people that you've overtaken stuck at the lights with you who claim they were driving at the speed limit because they've got nfi if their speedo is out or not.
  - nobarginsarehere on 10/04/2017 - 01:31
    
    I agree people going too slow is annoying, they should be booked.
    
    The point is, with lights every few hundred meters you changing lanes every 30seconds does not get you any further ahead.
    
    I drive 2x Turbo cars and can boost past any of you plebs easily, but there is no point when I end up next to you at the next set of lights.
    
    I used to when I was younger, but now I see there is now point…
    - Findo on 10/04/2017 - 02:14
      
      You're not engaging the turbo effectively enough then. The point is to try get ahead and beat the lights, if you can't/don't want to do it, then yes there's no point changing lanes.
    - nobarginsarehere on 10/04/2017 - 20:27
      
      @niggard: Why? To only stop at the next set of lights
      
      When I go driving in the mountains, that is the time to have fun
      
      Driving in the city is just commuting
    - Findo on 10/04/2017 - 20:39
      
      @nobarginsarehere: sometimes beating one set of lights sets up a good commute. Have you ever had red light after red light, just as you approach the intersection? If you gave it a bit more at one, you might be able to beat the others and roll through when they're green. Country roads and mountainous roads are the best, except I fear running into HWP.
    - nobarginsarehere on 11/04/2017 - 12:09
      
      @niggard: But how much time do you actually save?
    - Findo on 11/04/2017 - 12:40
      
      @nobarginsarehere: I did it this morning. Red light after red light on Victoria rd until I found a chance to pass quickly multiple times. Green lights after that. I reckon my trip to uni would've taken a lot longer than 45 minutes had I not done that - on a good day it takes 32 min.
    - nobarginsarehere on 11/04/2017 - 14:46
      
      @niggard: You are probably over estimating, but even at your estimation 13minutes…
    - Findo on 11/04/2017 - 15:01
      
      @nobarginsarehere: I drive that route regularly. There could be other factors influencing the speed of today's drive, not including an accident on the Iron Cove bridge. I would say I saved about 5-8 minutes this trip.
      
      On a good day when I have to be at UNSW for a 11am lecture, I can leave my house at quarter past and find parking before 11. Obviously not every trip is like that unfortunately, but beating a shit run of red lights does make a difference.
ozeebee on 07/04/2017 - 23:59

+7

I usually get so frustrated at drivers that go 80 in a 110 zone. But I never tailgate. I would wait for a chance to overtake and give them a look but most of the time, these drivers are also completely clueless to what they are doing.

Australian drivers in general as well are very aggresive and get easily irritated. Having lived in London for 2 years, the driving standards are completely night and day. The drivers here and in Europe are more courteous who would let people in traffic, never hog the right lane and never drive slower than what is needed.

All comes down to driver education provided in Australia which is essentially none. The Australian government has ingrained into people's heads that "speed kills". It's not the speed that kills, it's the lack of skill and awareness combined with hair trigger temper. Drivers focus more of their time looking at speedometers instead of the road in fear of revenue raising police on every corner they can hide.

In 2 years of driving in the UK and EU, I have not once seen a police car parked waiting specifically for speeding drivers.
- megaclix on 08/04/2017 - 01:18
  
  Agreed. Driver education, post 'gaining a licence' is abysmal in Australia. Take many basic road rules, (e.g roundabouts, merging lines), and when they hit the media, the battles that commence in the comments are laughable, if not very scary.
  
  In the UK, just after I got my licence, when driving with other adults (and this is other than my parents), I got tips on how to drive. Little tips that help reinforce that we are in control of vehicle, and we should be watching all around us. Also, I recall every now and again, the evening "news" showing the 'top x bad driving' habits. The police would give tips on how to deal with the situations. For example; look at how the driver in front in driving, are they continually turning their head, waving their hands etc = in deep discussion = not watching the road = give more breaking distance.
  
  This would be a foreign concept to the general educated Australian driver, and more to the point, could end up in a Tailgating incident (i.e why is the driver in front of me giving more than 5m braking distance).
  
  That being said, Tailgating is less of an issue on motorways in the UK as the basic rule is to keep left, and undertaking is not allowed. Everyone can understand that basic rule. Look at the equivalent in Australia.
  - Miss B on 08/04/2017 - 08:52
    
    The amount of people who won't let a car in, from a driveway or side street, even when traffic is stopped is ridiculous. I've had someone honk at me for a while and tailgate, because in a line of traffic someone indicated their intention to change lanes and I let them in. I've taken to letting cars in on people's behalf now, e.g. when 2 lanes merge into 1 and I can see the car behind me isn't going to let anyone in, I'll let 2 in.
    
    It still only amounts to letting in a few cars on longer journeys, they often don't even cost me the few seconds it takes to let them in because they change lanes or turn off and I'm still behind the same car I was in the first place anyway. I don't think people even realise that being angry and working against all of the traffic around them, is going to cost them a heck of a lot more than just relaxing, accepting that there is traffic and planning ahead so they have enough time. Sure, sometimes when travelling between places you don't have the option of allowing extra time, but being angry and aggressive won't get you there any sooner.
    
    I must admit though, I can get quite frustrated with people who swerve all over the road because they're not paying attention to what they're doing. Not just for a moment, continually for large stretches of road. I just don't understand how people can be that stupid.
    - Findo on 09/04/2017 - 18:28
      
      Lane end and lane merge are two different things. When people try to cut me off when their lane ends I always give it to them - they should know the difference in signage and lane markings, and if they had more brain cells they'd get into the lane that isn't ending before it ends. Those people are the pricks that try to save a few minutes by rudely cutting in front of people.
    - Miss B on 09/04/2017 - 19:33
      
      @niggard:
      There are different lane end situations. Sometimes there are genuinely 2 full lanes of cars that both need to get into the same one. For example, situations where there is heavy traffic. Or two lanes that turn right and the left lane ends not far around the corner, but you can get heaps more cars through the intersection if they turn right from both lanes. People entering a freeway in heavy traffic. In these situations zip merging is fastest and fairest. Most people seem to do pretty well at it, but you get some people who refuse to let anyone in.
      
      If people don't want to let in the idiots who come flying up the left lane when everyone else is in the right lane fair enough. I don't make a point of letting them in, but I'd like to keep the front of my car, so if they insisted I would let them in. If they look like they've accidentally done it and try to move across well before the lane ends I'll let them in.
      
      Edit: Actually, maybe you were saying the same thing.
    - Findo on 09/04/2017 - 19:42
      
      @Miss B: I would do the same as you in the above situations. For example, when Mowbray Rd turns right into Willoughby Rd outside the school, I will let people in when they turn from the right lane because there are cars in the lane shortly past the servo. On freeways, I will move over to the centre lane if I see cars coming down the merge lane. What I won't do is allow (profanity) who fly up lanes they know will end very shortly because cars are parked in front of them into my lane to save a few precious minutes (e.g. Victoria Rd, Drummoyne near the Oxford Hotel). I won't let (profanity) in on Epping Rd near Mowbray Rd when the signage clearly indicates the left lane will end, unless it's peak hour and it makes sense for cars to take up both lanes. I won't let (profanity) in on the Anzac Bridge on-ramp near the fish market when it's clearly marked the left lane is ending and they try to force their way in front of me when they've got space behind me to get in. If it was a lane merge situation I'd let them in because it's the law, but I won't floor it up the lane that 'ends' just to be in front so I legally have right of way.
      
      What really gets my goat are those (profanity) you unfortunately let in even though you don't have to, who then drive slow up hills when their car is more than capable of going fast. Or those people that get angry at you for not letting them in when they don't have right of way and act like absolute flogs. I have no qualms deliberately tailgating them if they do get in front, or driving extremely slow then flooring it when they decide to overtake.
    - Miss B on 09/04/2017 - 20:30
      
      +1
      
      @niggard:
      Our views diverge at the point of deliberately driving badly to get back at people. It's not going to positively change their behaviour and it just makes the road a more dangerous place.
- megaclix on 08/04/2017 - 02:06
  
  To add, I feel that the Tailgating problem in Australia could be related to the rejection of control (i.e via speed limits) imposed by the authorities (police/govt).
  
  In my observations, I think nearly every Tailgating instance I have be seen has been, in my opinion, unjustified. In these cases, the car in front has either been 1) at at slightly above the speed limit or 2) in a queue which may be below the speed limit, because all other lanes are full of slower vehicles.
  
  In example 2, you must have seen these, the people who think they have the god given right to charge through everyone front.
  
  Example 1s are the people who think that the speed limits are a joke; they think they have superior driving skills, and their cars are way more advanced than what the road rules were written against.
  
  Against these example 1 tailgaters, ordinary drivers are stuck between the speed limit (typically already overtaking), and the pressure from the tailgater. The victim wants to get out of the way, but the numbscull behind doesn't seem to comprehend that this takes time, space, visibilty, and possibly speed a reduction to move over. These tailgaters end up on forums like this, stating that everyone does 10 to 20ks under the limit.
  
  Ironically, when I do see people doing 10, or 20 under the limit in the right hand lane when not justified, no one give a sh@t, they just undertake as per normal.
[Deactivated] on 08/04/2017 - 00:18

Here is a fairly recent article
TurkishDelight on 08/04/2017 - 01:23

+2

Get out of my express lane.
JajaMinx on 08/04/2017 - 03:00

-1

Let me guess… the tailgater drives a Commodore or a Falcon?
- Janko on 08/04/2017 - 12:31
  
  +1
  
  Interestingly Britain just surveyed drivers and they declared Audi drivers as tailgating the most. I think we just take special notice of the people we dislike the most, so we can confirm our opinions.
  - JajaMinx on 08/04/2017 - 12:37
    
    Yeah… in Britain.
    
    What about Australia?
    I see a lot more hoons in old shitbox Falcon/Commodore than any other models.
    
    Watch this channel, more than half the cars the Police have stopped are old shitbox Falcons/Commodores.
    
    These idiots have no insurance and no rego, so good luck if they run into the back of you.
    - Janko on 08/04/2017 - 12:58
      
      No survey I know of in Australia - but IMO it's highly subjective and the point of my post. We notice what we have in our minds already, and if people already think Audi drivers are pricks, any time one is tailgating it stands out and gets remembered, concreting the association.
      
      Here many dislike old Commodores/Falcons - they're cheap, repairs are cheap, the people who have them often have broken lives so that what happens on the roads is the least of their worries. If anything it's like it's a good opportunity to relieve some stress.
      
      (not my negs btw)
Tuftsdude on 08/04/2017 - 03:29

+3

I rarely tailgate, but when I do, it's for good reasons, or at least I think it is..

Most of the people doing the negs haven't seen how bad traffic can get to the city, the way I go should only take me around 35-35 mins tops, but takes an hour and more at times. If you do 12 hour shift work on a rotating roster, you'll really feel it.

On my way to work there's quite a few 2 or 3 lane roads, I hate it when someone driving 10-30 k's under the limit with an extremely slow take off from the traffic lights hogs the right lane and the person on the left lane is doing the same speed. There will be many frustrated drivers behind and this is the main reason from what I've seen why traffic builds up.

I'll try to nicely flash my high beam a few times, if they don't move then I'll tailgate, especially if I'm going to be late to work after accounting for an hour of travel.

My mum is a somewhat slow driver but she will always take to the left if there is a car coming behind her that is faster than her. She doesn't cause traffic.

If I see a car behind me speeding, I'll move to the left and let them take over, it's common sense, no need to be an (profanity) and hold them up, you don't know what situation the driver behind you is going through. And before someone says "They shouldn't be speeding in the first place", well, there will be people that speed. Let them past and if the cops catch them, they can cop a fine.
DarkOz on 08/04/2017 - 07:31

-1

If the car in front is travelling way below the speed limit it's fair enough to tailgate. Unfortunately, there are too many drivers who loves to tailgate when travelling at the allowed speed limit. Especially helped by their GPS knowing there is no speed camera to catch them. Some of these people are boy racers. Some of them think that they are in a hurry.
- blackfrancis75 on 11/04/2017 - 11:23
  
  do you honestly feel you have the right to endanger other people's lives because you feel inconvenienced?
  - DarkOz on 11/04/2017 - 14:23
    
    Endangering other people's lives? The one that is travelling way below the speed limit so all other cars are jam packed behind it?
    - blackfrancis75 on 11/04/2017 - 20:05
      
      +1
      
      Driving slowly doesn't create danger. People's reaction to slow driving does. Only the person who tailgates is endangering peoples lives, no matter how 'justified' they feel about it.
    - DarkOz on 12/04/2017 - 08:26
      
      @blackfrancis75: Driving slowly way below the speed limit does create danger. Think about all the cars that had to swerve to overtake it with some going into the opposite lane. I am not talking about driving just below the speed limit. I am talking about WAY below the speed limit. Like going 40 in a 60 area for example. People who can't drive remotely close to the speed limit shouldn't be driving at all. If they drive like that during the driving test they would have failed.
Cusack on 08/04/2017 - 07:37

+1

It's all about 'personal space'. It's no different to walking down a street and a jackass walks right behind you up close. You would turn around and clock him after a while too
- Mitchel on 08/04/2017 - 11:08
  
  If it is a phone zombie, I deliberately stop.
- Tuftsdude on 08/04/2017 - 16:34
  
  +1
  
  Very different. I'm a fast walker, I can overtake people by going around them or on the road by walking. When driving, I can't go on the other side of the road to overtake.
  - Cusack on 08/04/2017 - 19:14
    
    -3
    
    Say it was an escalator with room for 1 person width. It goes at a set speed. If you walked up and stayed right up my behind, I'd turn around and shove you. Coz you're invading my personal space.
    - Tuftsdude on 08/04/2017 - 20:26
      
      Again, very different scenario, you can't compare going up an escalator which takes 30 seconds tops to driving to work which can take up to 2+ hours depending on traffic and there's traffic lights and roads with 1-4 lanes, etc. I don't see your point.
    - Cusack on 09/04/2017 - 08:32
      
      -1
      
      @Tuftsdude:
      I'm referring to the simple concept of 'personal space'. This is the reason why people get triggered
scottb721 on 08/04/2017 - 07:47

+1

"Two types of drivers I hate, tailgaters and those who don't speed up matter how close you get!"

People don't comprehend how little time is actually made up by speeding.
- Tuftsdude on 08/04/2017 - 20:34
  
  "People don't comprehend how little time is actually made up by speeding."
  
  If there's a lot of traffic lights on your route and you're trying to beat rush hour and you know the pattern of the lights, it can make 15 minutes difference. It sure as hell does for me if I'm starting at 6 or 7 am.
airzone on 08/04/2017 - 08:18

+1

Tailgating is just poor attitude and generally shows a lack of understanding of consequence. One of my old cars had a rear wing, and if you could see someone's headlights under the wing, it typically meant they were less than 2m from the rear of your car. The car had great brakes and could pull you up quickly, but not with a commodore or falcon up your date. Called the cops a few times, had them respond once and the guy got pulled over. lol

Given the nature of that car though, I used to get people try and incite me into racing them.. Never worked, but this one P-plater went for it anyway.. 5 minutes later he's on the side of the road with the cops. lol
teasatotalling on 08/04/2017 - 08:49

The keep left unless overtaking law should change, so that it is for EVERY LANE, not just the extreme right.
Also should be on ALL ROADS, not just those above 80kmh

People who fail to stay in the extreme left lane when the opportunity provides, are just self absorbed people.
That is, 95% OF YOU ARE SELF ABSORBED
j05h on 08/04/2017 - 09:51

+3

What annoys me is people who are not considerate on the road. I (along with most other people) was brought up with manners, I don't see why these can't be used on the road.

So, I don't condone tailgating, you should wait politely. But, by the same token, if there is someone behind you that is clearly going faster than you, let them go. All that happens is that the person behind gets annoyed and is more likely to do something dangerous. And, when the person behind is trying to overtake, don't try to be a hero and speed up.

I drive a mountain road a couple of times a week that has ~180km without a dedicated overtaking lane. The split line overtaking (onto the other side of the road) are simply not safe. I consider myself a patient person, but there is nothing that pisses me off more than when I come up to someone doing half my speed limit and they don't pull over. There are plenty of places to pull over, but no overtaking lanes. I do it all the time, I consider it respect and manners. Also, don't drive the road if you can't do it safely, going 30% of the 100km/h speed limit is NOT safe!
- Mitchel on 08/04/2017 - 11:11
  
  In this circumstance, that is fine.
  
  In the situation I was involved in, the tailgating occurred in the middle lane in a 60 zone, just past a speed camera.
  
  There was no need to tailgate as traffic was moving smoothly.
  
  But it was lovely to witness the hoon being taken down a notch by a psycho.
doctordv8 on 08/04/2017 - 12:27

+2

Two wrongs do not make a right, and so the assault was actually worse in my opinion.
So many different reasons and excuses have been given for and against the issue or retaliation and the tailgating to start with. I also see many drivers tailgating in the 'fast or RH Lane', but it also is a major problem in normal lanes, which is more prevalent.

Road Rule #1. Do everything in your power to avoid an accident - reread my first seven words. What about the 3+ second rule? If every driver followed courteous habits and the Law, then we would not be having this forum would we.

I understand what many are saying as to reasons why they do it or why it is on in this or that particular scenario, but in reality, it is unsafe and illegal and should not be reasoned or justified by excuses. It peeves me off to the max, so I slow a little, I give extra space/distance to what is front of me so I can give the moron behind me extra time and space to react if need be. Even when I catch a slower vehicle for what ever reason, it is my safe driving duty to watch the road ahead better and back off. So the driver in front is too slow, or blocking my fast lane, wait and pass safely when the opportunity arises.

I am not on a pedestal or sprouting higher than you…..You asked for my opinion, so without the intention of upsetting anyone, and with many years of experience, as a young twit that did tailgate and as a mature responsible now driver that does not, it is quite simple.

Impatience, immaturity, irresponsibility, poor driver training, lack of experience, disrespect for everyone else, bulletproof mentality plus a I am more important and better that thou attitude.

Pick one or more that suits you when you were the tailgater, and man/woman up, because legally there is no excuse or reason to justify it.

There is also no excuse or reason to justify retaliation either, as many of the options available to the lead driver may just be the straw the breaks the camels back and hence is on the receiving end of dangerous or harmful reactions of the tailgater.

When you have been on the receiving end of that psycho moron tailgater that attacks you and your family when/where you have driven exactly to the letter of the law, and he/she thinks they should be doing 'their own thing regardless of the law or safety' then you will stop making excuses for tailgating.
shkippy on 08/04/2017 - 12:48

I don't like tailgating one bit, especially on one local road that i frequent quite a bit. It's 80km/h with one lane each direction. I usually can't go any faster due to someone in front of me, so on occasion I've been known to break quite heavily on the person travelling quite close to my backside and scare the b'jesus of them. This usually works until one day i braked on this woman behind me. After I sped up again she did the exact same thing so I repeated this another 2 times and she still didn't get the message! Actually by then she got out her phone and was calling someone and pointing at me and shaking her head. I now realise there are 2 types of tailgating, those that are aggressive and most don't even know they're doing it! I just don't get how people think it's safe (not aggressive) to drive less than 1 second behind someone else in an 80km/h zone.
- errorius on 08/04/2017 - 16:51
  
  -1
  
  Good luck not getting charged with negligent diving next time you slam your breaks on a tailgater because he/she might rear end you or end up in a ditch.
  - shkippy on 09/04/2017 - 01:57
    
    Yep that one has been put to me in the past. According to a couple of my friends in the police department as long as i have a reason to stop they have no right to charge me unless they can prove I was "trying" to cause an accident. But that's not even the point I'm trying to make! I was even in a car tonight with my mate's wife driving, and she was tailgating nearly everyone with complete oblivion of doing it! I just don't get it how can she do that? Of course I told my mate of my anxiety and fear of her driving, but he said he understand's and had even told her about it a couple of times… What does that even mean? Well all i know is that we live in a country that doesn't teach proper safety distances, it should be 3 seconds! How has this simple safety rule gotten gotten so out of touch?
Kiwiboy86 on 08/04/2017 - 13:14

+3

In all honesty, I think the phrase it takes two to tailgate is well fitting. Tailgating is wrong as it causes road rage and endangers lives. But guess what? So does going 20 kph under the speed limit. Going 80 kph in a 110 kph highway is just as much a danger as going 140 kph on the same road. Drivers aren't expecting you to be driving at such moronic speed, for example when they are merging onto the highway they (should ideally) be at the speed limit to merge and not be surprised by someone going 80 directly in front of them, making them slam on the brake. Same goes to a car going 140 from behind them when trying to merge.

The point I am trying to make it if people just went at the speed limit, there shouldn't be any tailgating. If for whatever reason you just absolutely have to go under the speed limit, STICK TO THE LEFT LANE! If it's a single lane road (for example up a mountain) then just do the courteous thing and pull over to let those more in a rush pass you. There have been so many frustrating times I have been driving up mountain roads going at the speed limit and have come across other drivers going 30 under the limit in front of me. It would take them literally 5 seconds to move to the side and let me pass but no, they would rather slow down everyone behind them. In moments like these I can see why drivers (including myself) would want to tailgate out of sheer frustration in hope of making the slow car go faster ( I am NOT condoning tailgating here either, simply explaining a reason as to why they might).

Moral of the story: if you are going under the speed limit, stick to the left lane or if on a single lane move to the side and let others pass (if possible). If you are the car behind the slow driver, take ten deep breathes before you decide to tailgate and endanger lives. Turn up the music, enjoy the ride and soon enough you'll get a chance to safely overtake :)
- Brianqpr on 09/04/2017 - 10:32
  
  You assume everyone who tailgates is doing it to someone going under the speed limit. That simply isn't true.
Janko on 08/04/2017 - 13:21

Tailgating doesn't bother me - it sort of reminds me that I'm fortunate not be dumb. Just imagine what else tailgaters must do in life? Knife in toasters, kero in fireplace,…. Another reason I don't believe in nanny state signs - natural attrition FTW. The problem is they tend to be earlier breeders. Design problem with humans - conception should be opt-in rather than opt-out.

I passed a mobile speed camera last night - easily visible sign pointing it out in advance. "Who would continue to speed?" I used to ask myself, but they obviously catch people - most likely the fatal combination of speeding and lack of observation.
Splashtash on 08/04/2017 - 15:01

+3

I dont tailgate but i get extremely frustrated at people who do 20 k's under the limit who dont have a huge load, speed up when overtaking lanes come up, dont place blinkers on or who dont give way………… people who tailgate scare the crap outer me - so easy to do damage to someone else….
[Deactivated] on 08/04/2017 - 15:10

+2

I drive on the Freeway to work. Every morning someone will sit in the fast lane, at 90kmh on their speedo, which is more like 85, a full 15kmh below the limit. I drive a big 4wd and will approach them at speed with my full beams on, then drop back off to a safe distance. They usually get out of the way, but some people are so obvious (often wearing headphones), that they don't see the car, lights, or hear my horn. I will drive around those people, come in front of them at a safe but uncomfortable distance (for them), then put my hazards on so they notice. If they don't get that, they shouldn't be driving. Well they shouldn't be driving if they have a 15kmh speed differential in the fast lane anyway.
love2buy on 08/04/2017 - 18:02

Tailgating happens not only at speed but fequently when I try to accelerate smoothly off from a stand still. These hoons like to out accelerate everyone in there way just to be first at the next set of lights. I've noticed these are usually ones driving fancy expense high powered cars and not bogans as suggested by some of these posts.
froodh on 08/04/2017 - 18:57

There's this bargain for all of you here:
[Deactivated] on 08/04/2017 - 23:57

"One should NOT treat others in ways that one would NOT like to be treated"
- [Deactivated] on 09/04/2017 - 09:15
  
  Sounds like you're the a hole driving 85 in the fast lane.
[Deactivated] on 09/04/2017 - 09:23

+1

In the UK you don't get pulled over for speeding on motorways really. Anything under 160kmh is generally fine. Cops don't sit on the motorways with speed guns out, but instead they sit above it on overpasses not watching people's speed, but how they drive. The enforce a couple of rules, and driving erratically, undertaking and driving too slow in the fast lane are some of these rules. Their motorways, work much better, and generally the standard of driving is better across the board. If cops focussed on driving rather than speed, the freeway system would work much better. One of my pet peeves here is how bad drivers are and how it impacts other drivers. The biggest case in point is how drivers tackle corners on the freeways. It seems that it doesn't matter how sweeping a corner is here, some people will hit the brakes at the sniff of a corner. This is evident for example is the Chadstone S bend or the Cremone corners on the Monash. These corners are so wide, they don't require any braking from the speed limit at all, but every time you get near them with any amount of traffic on the freeway, there is a huge traffic jam, caused by a few (profanity) creating a braking caterpillar. It's a disgrace, but there is no hope for change.
- Brianqpr on 09/04/2017 - 10:31
  
  There are load of speed cameras and point to point speed traps on UK roads.
  - [Deactivated] on 09/04/2017 - 10:49
    
    +1
    
    There are point to point cameras, and they are marked. There are almost no speed cameras on motorways, and when there are speed cameras, they are signposted and painted fluro yellow. Even mobile speed cameras are always placed in signposted zones. This is because the purpose of the cameras there is to slow people down, rather than to catch people out and raise money.
Architectonic on 09/04/2017 - 09:25

WTF is wrong with people? Tailgaters and roadragers, sigh.
Brianqpr on 09/04/2017 - 10:30

-1

So the excuse seems to be because people are going too slow in the right lane. That justifies putting your own life in danger for some apparently. I wonder what's so urgent to justify this?

I don't accept that excuse anyway, there is no excuse beyond a genuine emergency, but maybe someone can explain those who tailgate on a one lane road when you are already doing at least the speed limit?
- [Deactivated] on 09/04/2017 - 10:49
  
  Because your speedo is wrong.
Eeples on 09/04/2017 - 16:14

I slow down when I'm being tail-gated as being tail-gated creates unsafe driving conditions; so I reduce my speed accordingly.
Murpha on 09/04/2017 - 17:37

I regularly travel along a rural highway with a posted speed of 100km/h and see a fair amount of dangerous driven caused by slow drivers. The road doesn't have any sharp corners and the surface is of very reasonable quality. It is a single lane each way with quite a few overtaking opportunities. But yet every morning and night, without fail, I encounter drivers doing a good 20-30km/h under the speed limit when there is no reason to do so. Overtaking is not always possible as there always happens to be an oncoming car. I can understand some people may not be comfortable doing the posted speed or your car isn't capable of it (maybe get your car checked), but please pull over and allow people pass who are. Slowing down because the person behind is being dangerous, is not the answer. I've seen this usually frustrates the tailgater further and leads to some very terrifying overtaking stunts which endangers even more lives. You're being as bad or worse than the tailgater by making the situation even more unsafe, in my opinion. People have places to be and everyone wants to arrive safely, so please just pull over and let them pass (when safe to do so) and prevent further aggravation for both parties.

For the record, I do not condone road rage or tailgating.
- blackfrancis75 on 11/04/2017 - 12:01
  
  see a fair amount of dangerous driven caused by slow drivers
  
  For the record, I do not condone road rage or tailgating.
  
  Unless you do condone tailgating, you can't claim that slower drivers cause dangerous conditions.
  It's the people who feel justified endangering others that are the cause.
  - Murpha on 11/04/2017 - 12:47
    
    Slow drivers just under the limit, no. Slow drivers well under the limit, yes. If you can't stick close to the posted speed, you should pullover. People will get frustrated that you are not considerate enough and with that frustration can come stupid decisions. The slower driver endangers lives by impeding traffic flow. It's no different to if you were to ride a horse down the road and not allow vehicles pass.
    - blackfrancis75 on 11/04/2017 - 13:30
      
      The slower driver endangers lives by impeding traffic flow
      
      Impeding traffic flow in itself does not create a dangerous situation.
      You can argue that this causes people to get frustrated, but it's still they who are creating the danger
    - Murpha on 11/04/2017 - 22:11
      
      @blackfrancis75:
      
      People who deliberately slow down are creating danger too. Traffic is at it's safest when it is flowing as it should. Drivers need to be considerate of each other - tailgater needs to back off and the slow coach needs to either travel closer to the posted speed or let other vehicles pass, when safe to do so. It's safer for everyone that way. Understand that people generally drive as they have places to be, not always for leisure.
likang-c on 09/04/2017 - 19:02

+1

Hate it when they tailgate, overtake you, then go slow (go no faster than u are) in front
- Architectonic on 10/04/2017 - 10:16
  
  +1
  
  It's the "Must Get In Front" mindset. ;-)
WeeDeePotato on 09/04/2017 - 19:13

I don't tailgate. My partner does and it scares the hell out of me.

That being said, I can totally understand why people get frustrated when they're driving on the freeway with 'KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING' signs everywhere, yet people in front of them continue to sit there like it's their right. Make no mistake, people who do this are also causing potential hazards.

I wish the police would blitz it for once. People need a wake up call.

Tailgaiting & Road Rage, consequences for your actions?

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