I was worried that he may hit the back, hence my little hang back message!
Blue
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I drive a land rover discovery, and this advice works just aswell on saloon car man, but i still prefer a quick stab of the brakes to put the wind up tailgaters.
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This thread should of course be re-named "how to deal with tailgaters" That includes, Landrovers, BMW's, Mercs, even Fords et al.
I think it very unwise to jump on your brakes when someone is tailgating you in any car but it it's a Land Rover, suicidal. Well at least whilst your laying in hospital, eating through a straw, you can console yourself that the guy in the V8 110 that went straight through you earlier has lost his no clam bonus!!!
He did of course drive off after hitting you, just after he'd pushed what was left of your written off wreck onto the grass verge.
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Miller
Years ago I used find it more effective and more evil to turn off the ignition so the brake lights don't work, then slam on the brakes, it certainly stops the tailgater. Mind you you have to be quick and turn the ignition back on again and accelerate away. This technique doesn't work well with modern cars with power steering.
VD5D.
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If you really want to catch them out, and it is typically unwide, then start braking very lightly. As they get used to your brake lights being on and the rate of braking, then start braking much harder.
You will almost certainly catch them out. Whether or not you will regret doing it is another thing.
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If you really want to catch them out, and it is typically unwide, then start braking very lightly. As they get used to your brake lights being on and the rate of braking, then start braking much harder. You will almost certainly catch them out. Whether or not you will regret doing it is another thing.
After suffering a relitively mild rear end collision and suffering an injury as a result, I would NOT advise anyone to do the above, unless they want to risk a lifetime of discomfort through wiplash. Sorry Mark but those drive well outside their capabilities of control, and are probably drunk or tired whilst on the road. I do however note your last paragragh, which qualifies your point.
I find that 95% of tailgaters do this through ignorence. Only a small number are completely arrogent and will probably end up serving 7 years for manslaughter for their efforts.
My usual plan of action is as follows:-
1) Hazard lights come on, in 95% of cases offender pulls back. Hazard Lights go off and I raise my hand out of coutesy. This usually works. Then to reward his modified behaviour, I slow to allow him to overtake at a reasonable point in the road.
2) If this does not work (in very few cases) I slow right down and allow him to overtake. He will not have heard the last of this as his registration number will be handed to the police. I have an excellent memory for these. One hopes that the embarresment of the police visiting him at home in front of his wife and kids may have an effect.
I too have a wife and kids, and wish to get back to them safely. I have no desire to get killed just to prove a point.
However, I too have testosterone and am tempted to slam on the anchors. The odd time I've done this I have regretted it only because I knew I shouldn't have done this - oh well we're only human.
When I get my van on the road, I do of couse have the option of:-
3) Wave them on to overtake, then cut them up! YESSSSSSSSSSSS
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Oh it definately works. 1.2 Clio, being followed by a V12 Jag... the guy had a lot to lose and reacted sharply enough to say the least. He followed from far back after that..
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If someone is following me and looks like they want to get past, I try to move over for them or slow down on a straight to make it easier for them to pass.
Why irritate them?
They already want to get past and are being held up by you, even if you think you are travelling at the correct speed.
Why create even more road rage, there's enough created by the sheer volume of traffic on our roads and local council's conjestion-creation / traffic irritation schemes.
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Ha!
I hope that was a joke, did you not read my description of ths situation?
Residential, Isolated patches of black ice, low sun etc. I was doing the maximum safe speed for the conditions. Anyway, if I'd let him past, he would only have got held up by the car 50 feet in front of me... Why should I affect my jourey to let an idiot get past?
Blue
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Blue Oval - sorry that you thought my message was directed at you, it was really directed to those who posted after you, who seemed to take pleasure in "getting back" in some way at the driver behind them who wanted to get past. The person behind may not be an idiot, just not possessing your idea of what is a "safe speed".
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Hi Blue, just saw your thread.
I have to say that sometimes, in certain situations (like a country road in the dark) tailgaters scare the life out of me! On a normal, busy road, where there's plenty of other people around, I guess your windscreen washing thing is brilliant :)
But just sometimes, the feeling of threat is just too much to do anything but pull over and hope that they just overtake you and go on their way :(
HF
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Hi HF,
For some strange reason I didn't feel particularly threatened by this guy, even though he was probably bigger than me! You're right though, there are some cars/people who I wouldn't do it to, I just thought I could have a bit of fun and get away with it on this occasion. :)
Hope you're well, and got all your xmas shopping, I'm going to risk hitting just a shop or two tommorow, I'll probably regret it though!
Take care.
Blue
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Hi Blue,
I know what you mean, some you can just tell aren't threatening, others you just don't know what they're gonna do, and have to act accordingly!
If you had fun, then good ;)
I'm ok-ish, like you I have to hit a shop or two over the next couple of days - nightmare in the making, I think. Good luck!
Oh god was gonna go into my shopping woes - then realised how inappropriate that is for this site! I'm not a handbag.com person (as mentioned by someone else here a few days ago), honest!
Hope all is ok with you - probably (hopefully) see you before, but if not, all my best wishes to you for Xmas and the new year.
HFxxx
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Hugo,
I'm curious as to what the Police say when you call them about tailgating, do they take it serious and/or get back to you?
Steve
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This is the bane of my life on the M4, especially after two tailgaters slammed into the back of me a while back writing off my car.
To be honest, life is too short, I usually pull over and let them through regardless.
On A-roads with little choice, I usually stab the brakes very quickly for some sudden braking, they get the message and pull back.
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3500S (nice car), you mention tailgaters getting the message when you brake suddenly...this isn't connected with you having twice (or by two cars at once?) been hit from behind is it?
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Yeah, it was over a year ago.
That was a case of a long 'road train' on the M4 in late August about 8 cars all close together coming to an abrupt halt behind me. I was well over 200 yards behind the car in front. It seems my misfortune was to be at the front to a group of cars all driving too close together.
With the low sun it was difficult to see the brake lights for them. The traffic had stopped in front so I slowed down sensibly but the two cars behind were far too close. The car immediately must have missed my brake lights for a second too long. It was one impact where he tried to swerve and hit one corner of my car, this only cleared my rear for another car to hit my rear square on. Both impacts at about 50mph.
One written off car, one sore neck and a 17 mile tailback on the M4 at rush hour.
The 'dib' on the brakes on the A-roads is a warning, I don't play braking games.
On the motorway, I pull over, a case of experience really.
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Thanks, I've not driven it for a few weeks due to the salt and grit and I'm not sure how good the Waxoyl is :) £3000 buys you a lot of Rover P6 :)
If they had hit the 3500S, they would have got a lot more than they bargained for, that thing is built like a tank. One thing I've had done is have a pod rear brake light fitted.
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