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15 Dec 2006, 17:43 (Ref:1791586) | #26 | |||
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Last I saw of them in the rear view mirror was a flapping mother duck and various ducklings being scattered by a middle lane hog 4x4... |
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15 Dec 2006, 17:47 (Ref:1791591) | #27 | ||
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15 Dec 2006, 17:56 (Ref:1791602) | #28 | ||
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Falcemob, bella, regardless of the exceptions you can quote, I stand by my view. Surely, we have all had this drummed into us ad nausuem, 'Keep your distance' not that it seems to have much effect these days. The point bella, is that if she'd had a good reason for stopping for an emergency which you hadn't seen (mechanical or otherwise) you would have still hit her because you were too close to stop in time. Your policeman took a generous view if he failed to point this out!
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15 Dec 2006, 19:59 (Ref:1791679) | #29 | |
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I know my Dad was brake tested by a guy as Dad and another driver had hooted him for poor driving standards. The first guy, the offender in Dad's eyes, decided to brake test Dad and the other driver. The other driver stopped in time but Dad went into the back of him.
On the insurance it went down as Dad's fault simply because he was judged to have been driving too closely as he didn't stop in time. |
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15 Dec 2006, 22:19 (Ref:1791791) | #30 | ||
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People need to remember that there's always exceptions, and it's wrong to assume that someone who runs into the back of someone else is at fault as a rule.
I hate tailgating as much as the next person. I always keep my distance. However, the obvious exception to this is when moving up to the overtaking position. You move up ready to overtake because you see it's safe, at which point - for whatever reason - the car you're about to overtake brakes suddenly. In such a situation, you won't have the stopping distance you normally have, and may well run into the back of the car infront. |
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15 Dec 2006, 22:30 (Ref:1791802) | #31 | |
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Your first point is a good one, but from the experiences of people I know, it has also been the person behind's "fault" in the eyes of the insurers - not (yet) heard of anyone who's had it gone the other way - I guess partly because it's a harder one to prove?
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15 Dec 2006, 22:37 (Ref:1791808) | #32 | |
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Hey Chatters, having driven in Aus and in UK on the M25 and many other M roads around London I can safely tell you that tailgating is even worse in the UK! I am not sure why precisely, but I think it is a combination of sheer traffic volume (enormous amount of cars) and a slightly more relaxed attitude towards speed limits (causes following drivers to want to pass one another).
It's a good thing you recognise the danger at this stage but don't be complacent about it |
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16 Dec 2006, 03:37 (Ref:1791913) | #33 | ||
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I've decided to give highway driving a miss until I have my Provisional License, which means I can travel upto 100km/h. That shouldn't cheese all the other drivers off too much...
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16 Dec 2006, 10:14 (Ref:1791997) | #34 | |||
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I must admit that tailgating irritates me intensely, but you can often tell by the position of the car behind and the attitude of it's driver whether it is intentional or not. Often, these days, I come to the conclusion that the person following has no idea of what constitutes a sensible braking distance. The modern car is so competent that many drivers take it for granted that they will stop in time but they fail to consider the other element in such a scenario, which is their own human and fallible input - anticipation and reaction time. |
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17 Dec 2006, 18:39 (Ref:1792954) | #35 | ||
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I tailgate and get tailgated. On motorways I will tailgate when someone just pulls out of a left lane right in front of me with no apparent regard for mirrors or when people seem to think that the steering wheel doesnt go left for miles after they have overtaken. But then I get really annoyed when I am tailgated by people in built up areas (even if im doing 10mph over the speed limit if im in a rush).
One of my favourite games though is annoying the people who are too scared to travel anywhere near the speed limit on a country lane yet seem to have no problem speeding through little villages with schools. I like to over take them when they are doing around 40, pull a bit of distance, then slow right down to about 27 through the 30 zones. They always end up sitting right up behind me getting frustrated. Generally I do stick to the speed limits profusely(sp?) but regard the white circle with a diagonal black stripe sign as meaning end of speed restriction. |
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18 Dec 2006, 00:26 (Ref:1793182) | #36 | |||
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However, the instances recounted by falcemob and bella show that there can be exceptions. I still think that the idea of slamming the brakes on when someone is tailgating you is not a good idea, because at best it causes a load of aggravation and hassle, and and at worst could result in a nasty accident with people being hurt, yourself included. |
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18 Dec 2006, 00:42 (Ref:1793190) | #37 | ||
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I try not to tailgate, sometimes however I have been guilty of it myself. Generally though if I need to get ahead of someone I try looking up the road and see what is ahead, then by the time the traffic in the other direction is clear im already gathering enough speed to make a clean pass nice and quickly. The best way I find is to drop back a little and get a run at the car in front of you if the other side of the road is clear. Trying to overtake a car ahead of you if you are tailgating requires a lot more time and therefore more risk.
Like most of us here I get a lot of people tailgating me, its just one of those things that happens. Sometimes I just sit there at the correct speed limit and let them get on with it, other times however Im afraid I can be a little stupid and if there is nothing ahead of me I will floor it away from the car behind me and 90% of the time lose the car that was tailgating me in a few seconds. |
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