Tail gating

Can you tell if the driver of the car in front is male or female? I certainly can't, so don't think women are unduly targeted. I'm rarely tailgated, but I deplore the habit and aways slow down or pull over and wave the idiot past.

But what does really annoy me are those who hog the middle lane on motorways and tootle not realising the inside lane is empty. This forces other drivers to either move into the inside lane to undertake or the outside lane to overtake.

One problem with 'flashing' brake lights is that once the 'tailgater' realises that you are doing it they may then ignore your brake lights when you need to break for real causing an accident, its not advisable.
I tend to carry on at my own speed and stay calm and let them do their thing which is either sit there or overtake me.

Happened to me today on a road I was unfamiliar with, winding and narrow, so I stuck to the 40 mph or less on the bends (speed indicated being the maximum not the essential!) but the small van kept on my bumper all the way. I just try to ignore as I know I am driving with care and hope I do not have to do a sudden stop.

When my boys started driving, I told them that the best way to avoid an accident was to keep their speed down, and their distance (I.e.from the car in front) up. Basic stuff, but appropriate.

I'm afraid I always slow down if I've got someone on my bumper. My attitude is "Want to see how slow I can go if I really try?" Years ago I had a Saab 900 turbo which didn't have the turbo sign on the back. That used to be fun because if someone sat behind me flashing or tooting I could put my foot down and take off while they sat there wondering what happened.

We have a Nissan XTrail as we need a tow car, and a Peugeut 106 inherited from my mother. The difference in attitude from other drivers is really noticeable. I'm far more likely to be 'carved up' in the little car, very rarely in the big one (which also has darkened rear windows so drivers behind can't see it's a woman driving).

Our old XTrail was the best for defensive driving. We never bothered to repair the dent and scratch down the drivers side after a slight altercation with a post. It gave the car a lot of street cred and no one messed with it!

Try touching your brakes when they are tailgating you. It gives them a fright as they think you are going to stop suddenly.

Around where I live drivers pulling out of side roads in front of you then going slow is rife.then could at least get out of way other bug bear when 2lanesgo to one you always get drivers staying in outside disappearing lane then expect you to let them in in front of you where do they think you are going to go they must think they shouldn't queue like everyone else !!!!!

NFK you tear arse!
I have put my fog lights on to deter tailgaters, when I can remember which switch it is.

Badenkate - really clever idea! Might give it a try!

Its not just me then. Drives me bonkers so I deliberately tap the brakes. Yes it is bullying. I drive a micra, so feel I can be targeted. If we land up at the traffic lights together and there is no one in front of me. as soon as the traffic light changes to green my foot goes down, and my little automatic goes like a rocket launcher leaving the BMW about a mile behind haha

Badenkate that is a brilliant idea!

Tail gaiting only one of the things that can get me annoyed, frustrated and trying to stay calm. By slowing down more to less than the speed limit always worries me that I will end up the victim of road rage. A light touch on the brakes only makes the idiot aware that you are aware!! and probably getting annoyed!
I only drive in a rural area with villages and only small towns so it is probably not such a problem as more urban areas. Must get out more!!??

Don't antagonise a tailgate. If you can't let them past make sure you have a big gap in front do you don't have to do any sudden manoeuvres. An I'm course is well worth the money. After that you will always have the moral high ground

Should be IAM course. Institute of Advanced Motorists

Definitely antagonise a tailgater! I look in the mirror often too, which I think they hate even more. I think some of them dont even realise they are doing it.

We had, until recently a Jeep Wrangler. No one ever messed with us in that.
We would always let a tail gater pass us .Better in front than behind!
I learnt to drive in my late forties. I was taught that when you came to a roundabout, you looked right and then said to yourself, if there were any approaching cars " Can I beat him?". My husband was horrified when I told him.

Don't tap the brake, just flick your lights on and off. The tailgater mistake the lights for brakes, job done.

I have to admit to tailgating...occasionally. I hate it when drivers, usually tourists, drive so slowly on single track roads (which most of them are round here), and won't pull over at the numerous designated Passing Places....they seem to think these are for passing on coming traffic only, and I'm usually in a hurry and it's the only way I can communicate, without blowing the horn!!

Do drivers generally let you pass, or become more antagonistic?

I do let them pass if I think they look dangerous/might be a big problem.

I have to admit that I dont think I have ever thought that people were tailgating for genuine good reasons. I assumed that that was the way they always drove.

Why are you usually in a hurry Granny1sland?

GrannyIsland, sorry that some visitors to your neck of the woods drive too slowly for you on single track roads. That is why we, me, they, drive slower than usual, because the roads are single track and we don't know the road, it's twists, turns and vagaries etc. i hate single track roads, but when on holiday they can't always be avoided, and I like to get home safely.

I don't think most tailgaters are especially in a hurry, they just don't realise what they're doing. When I worked I used to drive home along a wide road that had a 40 limit for part of the way, then went to derestricted. Almost every time I drove along there at 40 I would have someone almost in my boot, but when I got to the 60 bit I would speed up and they would fall right back. I realised then that they didn't want to be doing 60mph, but about 42. I couldn't believe how often it happened - probably 3 times a week (and not always the same car!)

On our way home yesterday, two bikes went past us very fast on a single carriageway road. no problem with that, they had room to pass and were doing well in excess of 120mph. What surprised me was the BMW that was following them, he came from nowhere and did not have room to pass, he was also doing 120+

In the late 1960s I was driving my mini through a totally empty city centre at around 1.30am. I turned into a road that was single lane and totally empty. Consequently my mind was covering the evening Id spent with my friend. Suddenly a siren went off behind me making me jump nearly out of my skin. I then noticed a huge fire engine right up my c"""f with the driver and his passengers laughing. With no other traffic around it was very eìerie ! They followed me with full headlights on until they got back to their fire station. 50 odd years ago it was and I can still remember it well !! Id only recently passed my driving test too. Lol. (Passed first time)
£1 per lesson in those olden days !!

Years ago a policeman I knew told me that if I was tailgated, to switch my lights on briefly and then accelerate away (of course if conditions allow and within the speed limit) they think you are braking and as Tigger says they pull back. OR I slow down deliberately for a few seconds and then accelerate away, they dont know what is going on. I loath tailgating.