[Frownsmile]

I tend to drive at the speed limit or below not so much cos it's the law but because my car is pretty old - though it's still good looking. ;)

But I've lost count of the number of times I've been intimiidated by drivers trying to get me to speed up. ANd you can see them shouting and ranting when they overtake in what is usually some high speed risky manouvre.

Admittedly it often happens on my M6 trip to Ikea - my car judders past 60ish so I tend to stick to the slow lane. I'm only on for 3 junctions and most drivers are fine but if I go into the middle lane then sure enough here they come.

But I;m the one driving reasonably!!! Where do they get off?

[Rolebama]

I am used to that scenario on the A1(M) late at night. After I have overtaken and moved back into the nearside lane, matey drives past, accelerates up to whatever speed, and sits in the middle lane until he is out of sight. Yet, whilst this was happening, he had a totally empty thrid lane he could have used. This usually happens when there are only the three of us around. (The vehicle I am overtaking, myself and matey.) I think they must pay a special road tax which only allows them to use the middle lane on three lane motorways, and the outside lane on 2-laners and dual carriageways.

[wagolynn]

Car judders over 60! Is this a wheel balance problem, get it looked at, it will be costing you in tyre life, wheel bearings and suspension components I would think.

When I want to cruise I just do what I can to help others get past, they may not appreciate it but I know I have done all I can. I mentioned this to a fellow worker, after a while he commented it must involve looking in the mirrors a lot.:confused:

[Frownsmile]

Judder is down to old age

I feel it myself sometimes but at a far slower speed. ;)

I think old age or top speed is behind the judder. It tightens up against if I go a bit faster - though I reckon 65 is it's top speed.

No surprise I suffer from tailgaters I suppose - but I also hate it when I'm a passenger in a car driving aggressively.

[98selitb]

Re: middle lane hogging.

I also much dislike it when people stay in the middle lane, making life difficult and potentially dangerous for yourself and other drivers. But if it's in the middle of the night and there is practically no-one around, it doesn't really bother me. E.g. there is absolutely no traffic on the road apart from myself, and two lorries in front that are several hundred metres apart. I will overtake the first lorry and just stay in the same lane until after I have overtaken the second one, even if it takes me a short while to catch it, then I will pull back into lane 1. I will only do this on an empty road, and obviously if anyone faster does come up from behind I will go back into lane 1.

[Rolebama]

I do not let tailgaters intimidate me. I slow down for them. Treat them as you would any other road hazard.

[Snowball]

On one occasion, when towing my caravan, I came upon a section of motorway where the "slow lorries" warning was displayed. As I was passing one lorry, another one in front pulled out to overtake a truck in front of him. Both these lorries were obviously at their maximum, closely-matched speed, and it was clear that they were going to be stuck in lanes 1 and 2 for some time.

Meanwhile, the lorry I had passed then caught up and was in lane one, and alongside me. With my caravan in tow, I was not allowed to go into lane three, and other lorries had caught up behind me in both lanes one and two.
I would have preferred to return to lane 1, but my indicator was ignored, and the lorry drivers refused to drop back to allow me to move to lane 1. My greatest concern was, "what would happen if either one of the lorries in front of me, or my own vehicle, suffered a power failure or tyre blowout?"

I was keeping to a sensible distance from the lorry in front, but the lorries in lane 1 had all bunched up tight, and the lorry behind me was ridiculously close.
I think this was the worst case of collective madness by lorry drivers that I have ever come across.

[bob_debilde]

"Matey"

As a driver of ambulances I see my fair share of bad driving. Unless under emergency conditions we stick to the speed limits and matey (as a previous postee suitably named them) often tailgates and tries to, or often does, overtake. More scarey is when we are under emergency conditions they still overtake! Ambulance crews undergo rigorous training before they are set loose on the streets, and also have goverment exemption to exceed the speed limit if necessary, matey doesn't!! Also these drivers are the worst when we do catch up with them and need to pass. All sorts of panic sets in. They just don't think about where the ambulance can go to pass them (no point stopping on a blind corner etc).
Rant over....aaand relax :)

[dazid1]

You find that if you stick to the rules you actually have quite a lot to put up with, people cutting in all the time constantly.Had a good one the other day, new shape mini tailgating in rush hour traffic, where do they thing they can go. under took me then is faced with a parked car. If they had been looking ahead instead of just trying to get past me then they would of seen it but no. next thing starts to pull out with the get out of my way I am in the right flashing device on. I was under the impression that it was to signal your wish to chang lanes when safe to do so, but that must of been changed at some point. I do not give way at this point and am then faced with the horn flashing lights and a two fingered salute, all I am afraid, indicative of todays drivers.

[Snowball]

Originally Posted by dazid1

You find that if you stick to the rules you actually have quite a lot to put up with, people cutting in all the time constantly.

I would go as far as to say that all those drivers who stick to the rules stand the greatest chance of being involved in a RTC.
Not due to any fault by driving correctly, but because too many sloppy drivers do not know what to expect from a driver who is obeying the Highway Code.

And just why have so many drivers developed the haemorrhoid instinct, stick to your rear end like - well, like haemorrhoids.

I sometimes feel like having a window sticker that says "Back Off", with a red light at either end that I can switch on when these cling-ons drive too close.

[wagolynn]

Originally Posted by Snowball

And just why have so many drivers developed the haemorrhoid instinct, stick to your rear end like - well, like haemorrhoids.

Where are the traffic cops, it isn’t legal?:confused:

[smudger]

Aye! it seems to be that the traffic cops are too involved in catching speeders than booking tailgater's, which is wrong really, as tailgating is just as dangerous:(
Cheers, Smudger.