After trials on part of the M1, cameras to catch people tailgating are being rolled out to other motorways. Great, drivers who drive too close are just plain dangerous.
Tailgating.
- Thread starter Z Victor 1
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- Dec 5, 2011
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- 190
Do they punish the person going too slowly in the wrong lane too?
It’s time they started doing that on rural roads too Andy, you get sick of travelling in an enforced 40mph “convoy” due to people who can’/won’t drive up to the speed.
Tony.
Yep, that's another one, sitting in the middle lane no matter what, they drive me mad!
Just make it legal to overtake on the left, then it’s not an issue? You can overtake on both sides in other countries
Tony.
Tony.
I know they do that in the USA Tony, but not all other countries. I think that would be very dangerous here.
Why more dangerous here than any other countries though Ken?
Tony.
Tony.
Now it is lane 3 on four lane motorways!
Just think with our busy motorways it would be chaos Tony, perhaps I'm just nervous. 
I get that, and would need accepting and “getting used to”. We were surprised to see it when we first went to Florida but, it works! You think our motorways are busy?, you should see the volume of cars on the US roads.
Tony.
Tony.
There's a couple of points worth noting.
When traffic is moving solidly at different speeds in different lanes, it is acceptable to undertake on the left (if you are already in that lane). By that I would take it to mean you don't change speed to do so. The question is then, how many cars/vehicles does it need to constitute travelling a different speeds. The Highway Code gives no advice. Is one acceptable or are you pushing your luck?
Would that would allow you to drive up and pass on the left where drivers are hogging lanes 2 to 3(or 4)? I bet the police take a dim view even though it isn't you causing the obstruction.
The second is on managed motorways - advice there is to not change lanes, so, in those circumstances it is acceptable seems to stay in the inside lane and pass on the left.
The law is it seems is to stop you from pulling up behind another car and then moving left or weaving in and out to undertake. If you are already in the inside lane, you are not changing lanes. The outside lane is moving more slowly. One car?
Anyone who drives a great deal will know (at least in normal times) that you get an inverted motorway. So many drivers piling in to the outside lane causes that lane to move more slowly, often for several miles. If you drive sections regularly, you know where this is going to happen. As ever, good driving needs anticipation and planning.
When traffic is moving solidly at different speeds in different lanes, it is acceptable to undertake on the left (if you are already in that lane). By that I would take it to mean you don't change speed to do so. The question is then, how many cars/vehicles does it need to constitute travelling a different speeds. The Highway Code gives no advice. Is one acceptable or are you pushing your luck?
Would that would allow you to drive up and pass on the left where drivers are hogging lanes 2 to 3(or 4)? I bet the police take a dim view even though it isn't you causing the obstruction.
The second is on managed motorways - advice there is to not change lanes, so, in those circumstances it is acceptable seems to stay in the inside lane and pass on the left.
The law is it seems is to stop you from pulling up behind another car and then moving left or weaving in and out to undertake. If you are already in the inside lane, you are not changing lanes. The outside lane is moving more slowly. One car?
Anyone who drives a great deal will know (at least in normal times) that you get an inverted motorway. So many drivers piling in to the outside lane causes that lane to move more slowly, often for several miles. If you drive sections regularly, you know where this is going to happen. As ever, good driving needs anticipation and planning.
Being an American living in the UK I can say nothing about passing on both sides is a good idea. In the States you have to pass on both sides because half the population sits in the fast lane and won't move. At least you get a good number of considerate people here that do move back over and let you past.
Driving over to my next assignment over in the east I was dumbfounded by the number of drivers hogging the middle lane with no traffic about, why?
On another note, i once read that some country's state when approaching a entry slip road you should move into the second lane. It is something i try to do as joining a motorway can be unnerving and at times dangerous. Unfortunately not always the case.
Lane discipline on motorways is only part of the problem. Some drivers 'tailgate' by choice at any time on any road. I never go far on a motorway before seeing a lorry less than a car length behind another lorry and often get some idiot in a car on my bumper when I'm driving at the designated speed limit on ordinary roads.Accidents are regularly caused and compounded by people driving too close .
People disengage brain when driving. Probably too busy texting or watching YouTube videos
Poorly thought out nonsense.
Driver A is leaving a 3s gap to driver B ahead, driver C changes lanes into the gap, lifts off, or worse brakes, spotting a camera ahead.
Driver A gets a letter for Tailgating/Driving dangerously.
Clever.
Meanwhile, 30 cars back some poor bugger has to come to a screaming stop as the traffic bunches due to driver C tapping the brakes.
Oh yeah, this'll work well.
This will end up the next road rage trend, someone cuts you up, wait untI'll the next camera and swerve in front of them.
Driver A is leaving a 3s gap to driver B ahead, driver C changes lanes into the gap, lifts off, or worse brakes, spotting a camera ahead.
Driver A gets a letter for Tailgating/Driving dangerously.
Clever.
Meanwhile, 30 cars back some poor bugger has to come to a screaming stop as the traffic bunches due to driver C tapping the brakes.
Oh yeah, this'll work well.
This will end up the next road rage trend, someone cuts you up, wait untI'll the next camera and swerve in front of them.
Lane discipline as mentioned is part of the problem, people get sat in their comfort zone and wont move, or are just blinkered by whats going on around them, and not paying attention.
HGV's as we know tailgate to reduce drag, why the police dont stop them always makes me wonder tbh.
Driven many times in the USA, have undertaken there as it used to be common practice, now we've found many states trying to stop it, signs and radio announcements - but there with many more lanes drivers just sit in their lane and drive oblivious, with cruise control set.
Also technically its not illegal to undertake in the UK either - however depending on circumstances careless or dangerous driving offences may be brought.
HGV's as we know tailgate to reduce drag, why the police dont stop them always makes me wonder tbh.
Driven many times in the USA, have undertaken there as it used to be common practice, now we've found many states trying to stop it, signs and radio announcements - but there with many more lanes drivers just sit in their lane and drive oblivious, with cruise control set.
Also technically its not illegal to undertake in the UK either - however depending on circumstances careless or dangerous driving offences may be brought.
The vast majority of them that do this don't come from here and are unsure of the rules....you get behind them ..flash the lights...they move over then move back...!
As a white van man I don't care what side I overtake on....the rules of the road don't apply to us..we had a meeting and agreed that we don't want to comply..
as everyone must be aware by now if you drive close enough to the tail of there car you can see what there looking at on Facebook...thats why we do it...just being nosey.....