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My bubear at the moment are those who check their phones while waiting at a red light.
The light changes and their delay in putting down the phone, putting the car in gear, taking the handbrake off and setting off means 1 or 2 cars or more don't get through.
Edited by Gibbo_Wirral on 19/06/2018 at 13:32
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Impatience has inceased I'm sure.....getting from A to B as quickly as possible seems to be the overriding mantra these days..and woebetide anyone who gets in the way.
I'm unapologetically old skool...I still see driving as a privilege and a skill to be learnt and constantly honed. I doubt many would agree nowadays....it's a different world out there.
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There is something amusingly primitive about it all, and it seems to be related to vehicle size. If I'm driving my son's Aygo, it's not at all uncommon for other road users to try to "bully" me. When I'm in my wife's Qashqai, it happens less frequently, and when I'm in my E Class estate it almost never happens.
Now the only appreciable difference in those vehicles is their size, but something in the primitive psyche of some other drivers seems subjectively, to make them more inclined to try to dominate the small one.
My reaction in all cases is to ignore them.
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There is something amusingly primitive about it all, and it seems to be related to vehicle size. If I'm driving my son's Aygo, it's not at all uncommon for other road users to try to "bully" me. When I'm in my wife's Qashqai, it happens less frequently, and when I'm in my E Class estate it almost never happens. Now the only appreciable difference in those vehicles is their size, but something in the primitive psyche of some other drivers seems subjectively, to make them more inclined to try to dominate the small one. My reaction in all cases is to ignore them.
Good point, this applies if you ride a motorcycle or bicycle, very sad to contemplate.
Like the new audi model :-) mentioned above.
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There is something amusingly primitive about it all, and it seems to be related to vehicle size. If I'm driving my son's Aygo, it's not at all uncommon for other road users to try to "bully" me. When I'm in my wife's Qashqai, it happens less frequently, and when I'm in my E Class estate it almost never happens. Now the only appreciable difference in those vehicles is their size, but something in the primitive psyche of some other drivers seems subjectively, to make them more inclined to try to dominate the small one. My reaction in all cases is to ignore them.
I've noticed that phenomenon also.
Whilst driving bigger cars that I've owned in the past, I was rarely tailgated, and you just felt that others on the road gave you more leeway. On the other hand, driving my wife's Nova or Mini, even as far back as the early 90s, seemed to make me a magnet for finger wagging, gesturing, gratuitiously beeping arrashooles.
Maybe folks assume that the smaller the car, the less likely that the person behind the wheel might prove an intimidating foe. Its a dangerous assumption. I've known a number of men of relatively small stature who drove very large cars, so its probably the case that some large people drive small ones.
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so its probably the case that some large people drive small ones
there are several very large people that drive small cars in my road, and they do get annoyed with others that tailgate because they should know that the small cars they drive take a while to progress being small engined cars
they have also mentioned the Audi, BMWs, and Merc drivers who think they own the road, their words not mine(though I agree with them)!
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A cunning and totally aggression-free anti-tailgating tactic of mine is to tilt the interior mirror down just low enough so that Chummy behind can't actually make eye contact with me, although I can see his car. Like most forms of bullying, when the aggressor gets absolutely no response, and finds there is no alternative strategy, he tends to either give up or else engage in a screaming rage with himself. Zero eye contact and music to drown out any beeping add to the tranquility. A friend of mine specialises in making a brief glance in the direction of the bullying driver just as the two cars peal off in opposite directions never to cross paths again, offering a huge smile and cheery wave.
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A cunning and totally aggression-free anti-tailgating tactic of mine is to tilt the interior mirror down just low enough.......
I appreciate this is not an option for most, but raising the rear window blind removes much of the unpleasant sensory input of a tailgater, especially when dark. Might even convey a signal of disapproval - as yet I have not pursued the possibility of attaching a salutory message to it.
Many years ago, I graduated from a large cheap rusty old Jaguar XJ6 to a small expensive new Ford Fiesta. As alluded to above, the change in behaviour of other road users was astonishing. I have preferred luxobarges ever since.
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A cunning and totally aggression-free anti-tailgating tactic of mine is to tilt the interior mirror down just low enough so that Chummy behind can't actually make eye contact with me, although I can see his car. Like most forms of bullying, when the aggressor gets absolutely no response, and finds there is no alternative strategy, he tends to either give up or else engage in a screaming rage with himself. Zero eye contact and music to drown out any beeping add to the tranquility. A friend of mine specialises in making a brief glance in the direction of the bullying driver just as the two cars peal off in opposite directions never to cross paths again, offering a huge smile and cheery wave.
I had one incident a few weeks ago (pattern emerging here...) where I was tailgated onto the A494 by--yes, youve guessed it--another 4x4. He appeared behind me with lights blazing in the middle of the day and positioned himself just feet from my rear bumper as I overtook another car. We were doing about 65mph. No suggestion of waiting until I'd completed the overtake to give me time to move over. Oh no.
. I didn't move to the inside lane for a good 30 seconds, because it occured to me that he shouldn't be easily rewarded for such aggression (and there was probably some foolish pride at work there also.). Eventually I had to make way, because he remained dangerously close. I blew a raspberry as he came alongside me, though not making eye contact and continuing to look forward, and almost unbelievably, he moved over straight away and cut me up. I leaned on my pathetic horn and waved the fist, his hand came out of the window ( it wasn't a cheery wave) and after a brief exchange of uncomplimentary gestures he disappeared into the distance like a rocket fuelled by petulance.
Not my finest hour, I agree, but far less his. That cretin could easily have caused a serious accident, and for what?
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I've only been tailgated once while overtaking - a very dangerous move since it removes the option of cancelling the overtake - and it scared me witless.
I used to respond with a gesture to such people. However, these people are thick as poop, and do not realise they are in the wrong. They just think I am a bad driver because I'm getting in their way, and I'm not driving fast enough. A rude gesture will simply enrage them, which will make their already dangerous driving even worse, as they now have even less attention on the road ahead. And of course if I get angry, then my driving will suffer. Best let Mr/Ms NutJob overtake and have an accident elsewhere.
Many years ago I gave a finger to a tailgater. He overtook, then pulled in and braked sharply. Such people are best avoided completely.
Many years ago a then friend stopped at lights and had words with a nut job who was tailgeting him. He was promptly beaten up by the occupants of the car who were criminal gang members. And of course there is Kenneth Noye ...
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Best way to be hahaha.
Nothing more fun than grinning and waving to an angry tailgater!
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they have also mentioned the Audi, BMWs, and Merc drivers who think they own the road, their words not mine(though I agree with them)!
I've always assumed that the Deutshe Uber Barges are company cars, and the arrogant drivers are salesmen (usually if not always the bad drivers are men) and middle managers.
Highish end sports cars such as Jaguars and Porsches usually keep their distance.
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There is something amusingly primitive about it all, and it seems to be related to vehicle size. If I'm driving my son's Aygo, it's not at all uncommon for other road users to try to "bully" me. When I'm in my wife's Qashqai, it happens less frequently, and when I'm in my E Class estate it almost never happens. Now the only appreciable difference in those vehicles is their size, but something in the primitive psyche of some other drivers seems subjectively, to make them more inclined to try to dominate the small one. My reaction in all cases is to ignore them.
I've noticed that phenomenon also.
Whilst driving bigger cars that I've owned in the past, I was rarely tailgated, and you just felt that others on the road gave you more leeway. On the other hand, driving my wife's Nova or Mini, even as far back as the early 90s, seemed to make me a magnet for finger wagging, gesturing, gratuitiously beeping arrashooles.
Maybe folks assume that the smaller the car, the less likely that the person behind the wheel might prove an intimidating foe. Its a dangerous assumption. I've known a number of men of relatively small stature who drove very large cars, so its probably the case that some large people drive small ones.
Absolutely. We now have a c3 Picasso. It's obviously not a fast car but it keeps up with the traffic and drifts along lazily enough at 70mph on cruise control. I have never, ever, had so many people cut in front of me or overtake so recklessly and needlessly. I don't know whether the drivers that do so are acting out of presumption, poor observation or ego.
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Argybargy - "like a rocket fuelled by petulance". Beautifully put.
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There is something amusingly primitive about it all, and it seems to be related to vehicle size. If I'm driving my son's Aygo, it's not at all uncommon for other road users to try to "bully" me. When I'm in my wife's Qashqai, it happens less frequently, and when I'm in my E Class estate it almost never happens. Now the only appreciable difference in those vehicles is their size, but something in the primitive psyche of some other drivers seems subjectively, to make them more inclined to try to dominate the small one. My reaction in all cases is to ignore them.
If it helps, I drive an (Old, non flashy) 4x4 and generally let little or unpresumptuous cars go.
A couple of times when being tailgated on a quiet road, I've simply knocked it into neutral and coasted to a stop. No brake testing. No gestures. No shouting. No swearing. Just sat gripping the wheel and staring ahead. Think Michael Douglas in Falling Down. (Although he probably wasn't trying not to grin).
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There is something amusingly primitive about it all, and it seems to be related to vehicle size. If I'm driving my son's Aygo, it's not at all uncommon for other road users to try to "bully" me. When I'm in my wife's Qashqai, it happens less frequently, and when I'm in my E Class estate it almost never happens. Now the only appreciable difference in those vehicles is their size, but something in the primitive psyche of some other drivers seems subjectively, to make them more inclined to try to dominate the small one. My reaction in all cases is to ignore them.
If it helps, I drive an (Old, non flashy) 4x4 and generally let little or unpresumptuous cars go.
A couple of times when being tailgated on a quiet road, I've simply knocked it into neutral and coasted to a stop. No brake testing. No gestures. No shouting. No swearing. Just sat gripping the wheel and staring ahead. Think Michael Douglas in Falling Down. (Although he probably wasn't trying not to grin).
During my first few years of driving I drove a series of pretty low powered cars, and often found it necessary to pull over on fast country roads (when safe to do so) to allow quicker vehicles to pass. I didn't mind that because I knew they could make better progress, and still do it legally. But the buffoons you encounter nowadays do not inspire a generous response. They just get your back up and make you want to teach them some patience.
Aside from sticking to the speed limit and refusing to make any eye contact, I've struggled to get creative with tailgaters. The tactic you describe above is tempting, but it would need to come with ear defenders.
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On one of my previous cars I think it was my suzuki swift I wired in a switch so that I could make the break lights come on without touching the breaks. Was great for when someone was tailgating, they would slam on the breaks whilst I would speed away.
That was in my youthful days now i just ignore them and stick to the speed limit knowing it's winding them up.
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During my first few years of driving I drove a series of pretty low powered cars, and often found it necessary to pull over on fast country roads (when safe to do so) to allow quicker vehicles to pass. I didn't mind that because I knew they could make better progress, and still do it legally. But the buffoons you encounter nowadays do not inspire a generous response. They just get your back up and make you want to teach them some patience.
Aside from sticking to the speed limit and refusing to make any eye contact, I've struggled to get creative with tailgaters. The tactic you describe above is tempting, but it would need to come with ear defenders.
Put the hazards on and feign a breakdown if you get worried about anything.
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