Gransnet forums

Chat

Tailgating

(34 Posts)
Ragtime Wed 02-Feb-22 16:08:16

Would you or have you ever reported an instance of tailgating to the dvla? Last night a school bus tail gated me in a 40 zone. I was doing 40. Had my dd with me....quite frightening really..was so close had I had to do an emergency stop it would have been curtains. It was 5 o clock..I dont know if any kids were on the bus but shockingly aggressive driving from a " professional "

M0nica Wed 02-Feb-22 16:12:04

My reaction to tailgating is to take my foot off the pedal and let my car slow down to walking speed. and then accelerate away. The vehicle behind usually gets the message and backs off.

But I agree it is a dangerous habit, but my feeling is there is less of it about than their used to be.

MerylStreep Wed 02-Feb-22 16:18:47

Ragtime
If you want to complain you might try your local council, they are the body that hire the bus.
Or, you could go straight to the bus company. Complaints of any driving transgression is taken very seriously.

Serendipity22 Wed 02-Feb-22 16:19:01

It infuriates me to the point of precisely as M0nica has said, slow down, RIGHT DOWN....

No i have never reported anyone. Its idiotic driving, as you say, if you had to do an emergency stop it would result in the car that is almost in your boot, literally in your boot.

sodapop Wed 02-Feb-22 16:38:36

Way of life here in France my husband hates it.

halfpint1 Wed 02-Feb-22 16:46:20

Ha ha Sodapop, you beat me to it. Safe distance is rarely
honoured especially around 12 o clock. I try not to be on the
road then.
I frequently slow down to make the point.

welbeck Wed 02-Feb-22 16:58:07

nothing to do with dvla.
would have to report to police; but unprovable, so no point.
just try to pull in/over if poss, to get out of harms way.
dash cams back and front is a good investment.

Ragtime Wed 02-Feb-22 17:15:33

There was nowhere to pullover on this stretch sadly...i will report to the bus company....though I doubt they give a shit

Callistemon21 Wed 02-Feb-22 17:20:11

I have put my hazard warning lights on before now.

I'd let the Council know. It's dangerous for other drivers and for children on the bus.

MiniMoon Wed 02-Feb-22 17:23:31

My husband pulls in at a lay-by or field gate and lets them pass. They wind him up so much.
I ignore them and carry on travelling at the speed I want to.

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 02-Feb-22 17:38:31

So dangerous. I’m not sure the dvla would be interested but the driver’s employer would. If you know which company owns the bus I wouldn’t hesitate to call them. He shouldn’t be driving any vehicle like that but especially not a school or other bus. I reported a school bus driver years ago when he pulled out in front of me on a roundabout and I had to brake very sharply to avoid a collision. Full of children on their way to school. My call was taken seriously.

M0nica Wed 02-Feb-22 19:21:29

DD always recommends hazard lights turned on and off quickly so they think you are braking, while doing what I do and slowing down gently to walking pace.

ElaineI Wed 02-Feb-22 19:42:15

I slow down too as much as possible. Hate people doing that.

Iam64 Wed 02-Feb-22 19:51:48

I’d definitely report a bus driver.

I did a speed awareness course some years ago. We discussed tail gating, the pressure some of those on the course felt to speed up because of tailgating. The advice from the course leaders was not to slow down, press brakes, use hazard lights but to stay calm and ignore. I did this last week when driving at 30 in a 30 zone. The tail gater sped up, and overtook meant speed, right outside our primary school as children were leaving and crossing the road.

Beswitched Wed 02-Feb-22 20:18:03

I usually slow right down
If that doesn't work I put on the hazard lights. All but the thickest drivers get the message at that point. The ones who don't really shouldn't be on the road.

Redhead56 Wed 02-Feb-22 20:59:41

Slow down to a lower speed don't let bullies behind the wheel intimidate you.

HettyBetty Wed 02-Feb-22 21:10:28

I use a busy road where I'm frequently tailgated so I did a bit of a survey over a couple of weeks.

Out of 20 tailgating drivers, 19 were men.

Callistemon21 Wed 02-Feb-22 23:25:31

Now that pedestrians have right of way to cross roads, if drivers are tailgating more accidents will happen.

FindingNemo15 Wed 02-Feb-22 23:32:37

Tailgating happens all the time and I hate it. It makes me feel threatened and quite scared. Usually I pull over where possible and let them overtake me. They are obviously more important than little old me even though I am doing the correct speed limit!

glammanana Thu 03-Feb-22 09:31:39

If anyone is tailgating me I just touch my brakes they soon get the message.They must have really important jobs to be in such a hurry.

Germanshepherdsmum Thu 03-Feb-22 09:51:33

I’m lucky to have a car that accelerates from 0 to 60 in about 4.5 seconds. I often have someone tailgating me when I’m driving through a village and I’m sticking to the 30mph limit. I get a lot of pleasure putting my foot down hard as soon as I get out of the village.

Witzend Thu 03-Feb-22 09:54:51

I have been known once or twice to put my hazard lights on. That usually gets the message across.

Ragtime Thu 03-Feb-22 15:13:44

I rang the bus company to complain..couldn't have sounded less interested

welbeck Thu 03-Feb-22 15:22:22

i'm surprised that there is a 30mph outside a school; they are all 20 mph round here, and on many other roads too.
maybe needs a local campaign ?

Ragtime Thu 03-Feb-22 15:27:53

This wasn't anywhere near a school..but it was a school bus.