Other drivers' reactions, or keeping up with the Joneses

[retrogeezer]

Nah, dont agree, tailgating is in fact more dangerous driving, if im caused to break suddenly, well, you should know the rest..

If you are on a motorway with a clear lane ahead of you, you should NOT be brake testing the person behind. It would have to be a very unusual circumstance to have to brake suddenly in the outside lane of a motorway.I'm not saying they should be tailgating you, but even if they are a safe distance behind and you brake/slow down, then they do, then the bloke behind - before you know it, 1/2 a mile back down the road there is a crash. Just pull in and let them get on with getting a speeding ticket - life's too short.

If I'm slowing down carefully to get someone off my bumper, how is that dangerous driving?

Because you are in the outside lane of a motorway! You shouldn't be slowing down for no reason, why not just move to the middle lane?? If you slow in the outside lane, you then cause the middle lane traffic to 'undertake' you.

Besides, its funny how the same rep who tailgates you doesnt like it done to him!

So you are admitting to doing it yourself?

No one drives like you want them too and you shouldnt expect them too either.

But you've just said you make them drive at the speed you want to go at instead of letting them past.

you need to take into consideration that motorways are generally busy an it is hard sometimes to pull in safely,

Never had any problem indicating left and changing lanes when it's clear myself.Life's too short to worry about what other car drivers are doing, just get on with your own journey and let them get on with theirs, is that so hard.

[wuvvum]

I'm not saying they should be tailgating you, but even if they are a safe distance behind and you brake/slow down, then they do, then the bloke behind - before you know it, 1/2 a mile back down the road there is a crash.

I did that once. On a single carriageway section of the A47 in my old Scorpio Cosworth. Traffic was heavy but moving fairly quickly, and of course everyone was driving too close to each other. There was a car on the opposite side waiting to turn right, and because of the narrowness of the road at that point the drivers behind couldn't get past and there was a queue building up behind him. So I braked, reasonably firmly but nowhere near an emergency stop, and flashed my headlights to let him turn. As I slowed down I heard a screech of tyres from the driver behind me who had obviously been dozing, but fortunately woke up quickly enough to avoid a collision. Not everyone was as quick off the mark though and from about three cars back everyone started running into each other - I must have heard around four or five bangs, none of them sounded too serious but plenty of bent bumpers and smashed headlights. Needless to say I pretended not to have noticed and buggered off in a suitably speedy Cosworth-powered manner - the accident was in no way my fault but I suspect some of the drivers who'd just smashed their cars might not have seen it that way...

[retrogeezer]

Exactly Wuvvum - trouble is, at motorway speeds people get killed.

[M'coli]

But 70 is the limit. Can't go any faster than that... etc, etc, etc...

[Pedant but not troll mode]Tough. It's in the Highway code, don't go over 70 mph. So is "pull in to the inside lane after overtaking." No-where does it say in the statute books, "If you're doing 70 mph in a 70 mph zone, you can travel in the outside lane if you like because no-one's allowed to go faster so you can be a sanctimonious shit and stay out there just to piss on the chips of those that want to go faster[/Pedant but not troll mode].If you're doing that, and I really want to break the law and go faster than 70, why should you, breaking the law and hogging the outside lane, stop me? [Pompous]One should just overtake you nevertheless[/Pompous]!!!

[M'coli]

Seriously, this thread has gone very off-topic, focusing more on driving habits rather than the shite that we drive. Can we get back to that? It's much more fun, and we're all more inclined to agree!

[Pete-M]

But 70 is the limit. Can't go any faster than that... etc, etc, etc...

[Pedant but not troll mode]Tough. It's in the Highway code, don't go over 70 mph. So is "pull in to the inside lane after overtaking." No-where does it say in the statute books, "If you're doing 70 mph in a 70 mph zone, you can travel in the outside lane if you like because no-one's allowed to go faster so you can be a sanctimonious shit and stay out there just to piss on the chips of those that want to go faster[/Pedant but not troll mode].If you're doing that, and I really want to break the law and go faster than 70, why should you, breaking the law and hogging the outside lane, stop me? [Pompous]One should just overtake you nevertheless[/Pompous]!!!

Hate to be the one to point out that I was taking the piss somewhat. I should have put a smiley there I suspect. etc etc etc

[Lord Sterling]

----

[retrogeezer]

Where did I say that? I dont make anyone drive at my speed, and nor do I care what speed they drive at.

Here:

if he insists on trying to bully me out of the way, I'll declerate slighty, whoever tailagates me usually gets the message

And earlier as well.....

Naturally I'm one of those people who, if someone tailgates me, I'll slow right down, then speed up again, quite often they'll get the message, those who dont, I repeat the process only a little more severe until they do get the message.

Your last post appears to be making excuses for your earlier admittal of doing this.

Some posters here, including our very own retrothing, seems to think that I purpously go out in the overtaking lanes

And you speak of me taking things out of context?? I did not say that at all.I'm not replying to this thread again, I'm certainly no 'retrocop' I just take exception to people admitting they slow down deliberately if 'they' think someone is driving too fast behind them. In the same way I would if someone came on here and admitted they were drink driving coz it's only 200 yards down the road and what harm can it do.As for the 'retrocop' thing, I made one post saying I thought braking/decelerating in the outside lane of a motorway (2 or 3 lane - doesn't matter) was a bad idea. Hardly being a 'retrocop' as it was exactly what you said you did. I didn't say anything about any of your other driving habits (if you have any)You are the one that went off on one quoting and making excuses.

[garethj]

[massive todger mode] I go faster than everyone. I never have a problem with tailgaters. [/massive todger mode]

[pogweasel]

LOL!

[Father Ted]

Starts nicely...

Ends up as...

[mk2_craig]

I certainly dont agree that the motorway should be limited to 70Mph, most cars today seem to comfortably do 100+ mph all day, my car certainly does, I think we should have unrestricted parts on the motorway as Germany does, sadly I dont think this is going to ever happen.

What Wuvvum describes above is the perfect reason why the limit will never be raised... people's reactions just aren't fast enough. That, and the fact that higher speeds = lower capacity. I appreciate this is difficult to apply to a deserted M180 on a Sunday morning though!

[Guest]

The current limit of 70mph certainly isn't stuck to religiously by most car drivers. If the limit was put up higher, I reckon they would just increase their speeds on top of that. On top of that, the public seems to have a poor attitude towards lowering their speeds appropriately to the conditions. Being able to get somewhere a bit faster wouldn't be much consolation if some moron does 100mph into the back of me because they were "doing the speed limit" in thick fog or something.What's the big fuss about doing more than 70mph anyway? The only times I've really gone much over the limit are times when I've been late for something and if I got pulled over and fined, I'd only have myself to blame really. Shouldn't have had all that cheap ale the night before, then I could have set off earlier and relaxed at 55mph or so with the lorries, saving a load of petrol and stress.Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of the government, but I think the loosely-enforced 70mph limit is the best compromise at the moment. The main reason I don't like motorways is that avoiding accidents is more reliant on trusting others not to make mistakes. Sadly, a lot of people on the road are morons and it is dangerous to give them further responsibility by allowing them to go faster, which would certainly cause accidents of increasing frequency/severity. Even if speed was your priority, more accidents equals more delays, so the gain is lost anyway.

[M'coli]

^^^What Hirst said. If the speed limits were raised to 100 mph or whatever, in the UK's current driving culture a lot of drivers would add 10-15 mph onto that, just like they do in every other restricted zone. No consideration is currently given to lane discipline or other safety concerns by the majority of drivers too, which is where most of this thread has come from, so why should making the limit higher change this? The demand for cars with ever-heavier safety features will become higher, and the majority will use up the benefits of these, as they do now, because of the "perceived risk" factor makes them feel invulnerable.

[Lord Sterling]

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[mk2_craig]

^^^What Hirst said. If the speed limits were raised to 100 mph or whatever, in the UK's current driving culture a lot of drivers would add 10-15 mph onto that, just like they do in every other restricted zone. No consideration is currently given to lane discipline or other safety concerns by the majority of drivers too, which is where most of this thread has come from, so why should making the limit higher change this? The demand for cars with ever-heavier safety features will become higher, and the majority will use up the benefits of these, as they do now, because of the "perceived risk" factor makes them feel invulnerable.

In the Autoshite context, would you want the limit to be as high as 100? My Fiesta 1.1 isn't even all that happy at 70!Plus there's arguments about fuel consumption and emissions, but perhaps best not go there.

[wuvvum]

but you've just said you make them drive at the speed you want to go at instead of letting them past.

Where did I say that? I dont make anyone drive at my speed, and nor do I care what speed they drive at.

Here:

if he insists on trying to bully me out of the way, I'll declerate slighty, whoever tailgates me usually gets the message

 

To make someone drive at "your speed" then you'd have to deliberatly pull out in front of someone you know is going faster than you, stay there, even if there is clear land on the left or nothing to overtake.

 

And you speak of me taking things out of context??

 

Basically:

 

If you are on a motorway with a clear lane ahead of you, you should NOT be brake testing the person behind.

If you can't be bothered to accelerate to overtake then why bother. I hate this mentality of 'I'll show him thats in a hurry'

but even if they are a safe distance behind and you brake/slow down

And as for the whingers about people undertaking, if there is room for someone to undertake, then there is room for you to have pulled over

I just take exception to people admitting they slow down deliberately if 'they' think someone is driving too fast behind them

 

I could go on...

 

I'm not replying to this thread again, I'm certainly no 'retrocop' I just take exception to people admitting they slow down deliberately if 'they' think someone is driving too fast behind them

 

Driving too fast and tailgating are 2 different things, but I doubt you can make a distinction.

 

Nuff said...

 

Oh for fuck's sake, will you give it a rest?

[Guest]

Here's a round of Applause for Wuvvum:

 

(Sorry about them being a bit shonky)

[Mr Lobster]

Oh for fuck's sake, will you give it a rest?

Very well said!

[andrew e]

Who started this

 

Anyway I am the best driver in the WORLD.*

 

 

*Apart from that 12 month trumped up ban for dangerous driving, 6 points and £220 fine in July 97

[garethj]

I don't think motorways should have a higher speed limit. It's not really speed that causes problems but speed difference - for example someone pulling into the middle lane at 60mph to overtake a truck would be a bit tricky for other traffic doing 90+ That's what makes people hit the brakes and the ripple effect so a mile further back traffic is stationary.Keep this under your hat, but when there are cameras to keep everyone at 50mph through roadworks the traffic usually flows quite well until it's stupidly busy.Very little speed difference makes for smoother driving and a safer journey. Therefore I propose all trucks should be limited to 90mph

[seth]

Very little speed difference makes for smoother driving and a safer journey. Therefore I propose all trucks should be limited to 90mph

As this has turned into a general motorway rant thread I think trucks ought to be restricted to using the left two lanes of any motorway. Then you won't get four lane motorways blocked by 56mph'ers three abreast As for driving I'm generally with Rev. Hirst. Another handy hint I think he also uses is that it is more difficult to get aggravated at other drivers whatever they may get up to when you know your car is cooler than theirs anyway.

[Volksy]

HGV's, as in vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, are already restricted from using the outside lane. Not sure on the law with regard to coaches though as i regulary see National Depress coaches overtaking two abreast HGV's.

[Torsten2001]

of course being a tight arse I stick to 56mph unless I'm on a bike or someone else is paying for the fuel.....or if I'm doing a bank job and trying to outrun the filth!

[Guest]

Pretty much Seth! I find it quite difficult to become angry if I'm in an old car. You see other people in their newer cars and most of them look bored and miserable - driving to them is probably a chore which they put up with, a required task to go to work and the likes, their best journey can be rated as "satisfactory" and anything that puts that in jeopardy really frustrates them.Whereas if I'm pottering around in something old and obscure, not much bothers me - if it's the Charmant, it doesn't matter if I get cut up by an Astra Diesel or something, I've got a dashboard which looks like a great big Caramac bar and just looking at it fills me with glee. In a car like that, any drive out is just a thoroughly twee experience, it's great! My car looks cooler than theirs and I'm having a great time, yet all I'm doing is going to work or something! You just feel like you're exempt from the usual stress or boredom and as such you don't take exception to other drivers as much, as you don't feel like you're "one of them". It's hard to describe, but if I'm driving to work on a morning and I'm happy, there must be some good in it.

[Father Ted]

.....or if I'm doing a back job and trying to outrun the filth!

 

I tend to ride balls out on the bike, but its a 125 and with my skinny white ass on it only does about 65 flat out anyway. But the Bling has taught me the joys of sitting behind large HGV's reading the adverts on the back doors over and over and over again.....

 

Did you know McDonnalds only use free range chickens in their chicken McWhinnets?

[DatsunTurbo]

I've suprised many an impreza owner in my Datsun Cherry Turbo (got bigger turbo fitted with volvo fmic and upped boost). I've also had it de badged for extra sh*te'ness. (The bodywork is "oh so" tatty too).

[DatsunTurbo]

Here's some pics of the old girl. Soon to be sold sadly.

 

 

[seth]

HGV's, as in vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, are already restricted from using the outside lane.

Yes, I knew that but it doesn't help the situation I described on wider roads like the busy Western bit of the M25 or the soon to be opened new bits of the M1 near Hemel/Luton. Restricitng them to two lanes would be better these days I think. When the rules were brought in there weren't more than three anywhere anyway so I think they are outdated.

 

A picture of Hirst, Yesterday.

 

[pogweasel]

or the soon to be opened new bits of the M1 near Hemel/Luton.

Some bits already open, yeah great success. Three empty lanes on the left and two lanes of bunched up, jostling traffic on the right. At first I was worried about it not having a hards shoulder, but given the above I can see this to be no real problem.