Tail gating

Our newish 'big' car has Bluetooth built in. It's wonderful. A nice lady tells me when I have a text message and asks if I want her to read it. She'll send a reply too. (I haven't done that yet.) DiL texted me the other day and the kiss at the end was also read out. So polite!

IT does make you wonder if signalling is taught-although my eldest DGD driving for just over a year, very well too, signals.
When she was having lessons and she was my passenger she told me I was driving well! Lol!
Mobiles phones are impossible but I honestly don't know how it can be policed as pompa says there just aren't enough police officers to deal with serious crime-not that using a mob while driving isn't serious.

Pompa there were over 23 thousand people killed or seriously injured on roads last year (1,740 fatalities), and I would guess not as many casualties from crime. I'd rather we had enough police for both.

Blinko --"when I was a girl" - sex change eh ?

We have so many laws that can never be fully enforced with the number of police we have. I'd rather they were fighting crime on the streets as a priority.

Recently followed an AA learner driver car, not one signal was given. Saw the same car a couple of days later, again no signals - if this is common now, no wonder we have such awful drivers. I was taught to always signal even if it was the middle of the night and I was the only car on the road.

And I agree with everything everyone has said about tailgating, can feel the blood pressure rising just reading the posts!

When I was a girl, a great uncle had a car (not so common in those days), an ancient Austin 10. The car had a roller blind on the rear window. I'm not sure whether it was standard fitting or if he rigged it up. Anyway, he could roll it down from the driver's seat. On the blind he had the word 'B****cks' printed for just such eventualities....

And how many people do you see talking on their mobile phones whilst driving? What's the point of a law which isn't enforced?

(Yes, I do know you shouldn't begin a sentence with a preposition).

Yes - My point!!

I followed a female driver for a few miles recently she never signalled once. Signalling seems to be a lost art. Also going around roundabouts people don't indicate where they intend to go.

The thing is AuntyFlo that on single track roads there are frequent passing places that are specifically for those who are travelling slower for any reason to pull in and let the faster drivers past- and there are regular signs to tell drivers that this is what they are for. It is infuriating to be constantly held up on everyday journeys when there is no need if people used the passing places properly and everyone would be happy

Oh sue I know exactly what you mean. I used to have an MX5 which I loved but turned out to be too expensive to import into the UK. It is SO much fun to see the faces as you easily out accelerate them - and in such a lovely little car

Very often the tailgating driver has one hand on top of the steering-wheel - so not only is he (or she) too close, he (or she) is not really in control of the vehicle.

I drive a 2 litre MX-5 and suffer from the jeering tailgaters all the time - especially, I am sad to say, the BMWs; Audi's and white van drivers. Imagine their surprise when I shoot off and away - big engine, small body, you see. (The car, not me!)

Years ago a policeman I knew told me that if I was tailgated, to switch my lights on briefly and then accelerate away (of course if conditions allow and within the speed limit) they think you are braking and as Tigger says they pull back. OR I slow down deliberately for a few seconds and then accelerate away, they dont know what is going on. I loath tailgating.

In the late 1960s I was driving my mini through a totally empty city centre at around 1.30am. I turned into a road that was single lane and totally empty. Consequently my mind was covering the evening Id spent with my friend. Suddenly a siren went off behind me making me jump nearly out of my skin. I then noticed a huge fire engine right up my c"""f with the driver and his passengers laughing. With no other traffic around it was very eìerie ! They followed me with full headlights on until they got back to their fire station. 50 odd years ago it was and I can still remember it well !! Id only recently passed my driving test too. Lol. (Passed first time)
£1 per lesson in those olden days !!

On our way home yesterday, two bikes went past us very fast on a single carriageway road. no problem with that, they had room to pass and were doing well in excess of 120mph. What surprised me was the BMW that was following them, he came from nowhere and did not have room to pass, he was also doing 120+

I don't think most tailgaters are especially in a hurry, they just don't realise what they're doing. When I worked I used to drive home along a wide road that had a 40 limit for part of the way, then went to derestricted. Almost every time I drove along there at 40 I would have someone almost in my boot, but when I got to the 60 bit I would speed up and they would fall right back. I realised then that they didn't want to be doing 60mph, but about 42. I couldn't believe how often it happened - probably 3 times a week (and not always the same car!)

GrannyIsland, sorry that some visitors to your neck of the woods drive too slowly for you on single track roads. That is why we, me, they, drive slower than usual, because the roads are single track and we don't know the road, it's twists, turns and vagaries etc. i hate single track roads, but when on holiday they can't always be avoided, and I like to get home safely.

Do drivers generally let you pass, or become more antagonistic?

I do let them pass if I think they look dangerous/might be a big problem.

I have to admit that I dont think I have ever thought that people were tailgating for genuine good reasons. I assumed that that was the way they always drove.

Why are you usually in a hurry Granny1sland?

I have to admit to tailgating...occasionally. I hate it when drivers, usually tourists, drive so slowly on single track roads (which most of them are round here), and won't pull over at the numerous designated Passing Places....they seem to think these are for passing on coming traffic only, and I'm usually in a hurry and it's the only way I can communicate, without blowing the horn!!

Don't tap the brake, just flick your lights on and off. The tailgater mistake the lights for brakes, job done.

We had, until recently a Jeep Wrangler. No one ever messed with us in that.
We would always let a tail gater pass us .Better in front than behind!
I learnt to drive in my late forties. I was taught that when you came to a roundabout, you looked right and then said to yourself, if there were any approaching cars " Can I beat him?". My husband was horrified when I told him.

Definitely antagonise a tailgater! I look in the mirror often too, which I think they hate even more. I think some of them dont even realise they are doing it.

Should be IAM course. Institute of Advanced Motorists

Don't antagonise a tailgate. If you can't let them past make sure you have a big gap in front do you don't have to do any sudden manoeuvres. An I'm course is well worth the money. After that you will always have the moral high ground

Tail gaiting only one of the things that can get me annoyed, frustrated and trying to stay calm. By slowing down more to less than the speed limit always worries me that I will end up the victim of road rage. A light touch on the brakes only makes the idiot aware that you are aware!! and probably getting annoyed!
I only drive in a rural area with villages and only small towns so it is probably not such a problem as more urban areas. Must get out more!!??