[E13]

I used to just ignore them but since one drove into my car when they overtook (they were found guilty of careless driving) I now pull over and let them pass.

[Palatial Veranda]

I have a huge rubber crab which sits on the parcel shelf of my car looking out of the rear window. He tends to ward off any unwelcomed tailgaters.

[MeineJunge]

Keep at your speed at let them overtake, it really isn't worth it.

[cl1.]

My uncle always slams on the breaks when this happens, I **** myself every time. I usually try to avoid being in his car at all now

[Tapner]

I know I shouldn't do it, but I tend to get really annoyed and start braking or accelerate quickly. However, when my dad's in the car he has a go at me and says I should just ignore them. My mum has more sympathy though and tends to get frustrated too.


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[Robertall]

I drive normally, don't alter my driving. If they hit the back of me, i will be annoyed as it is the inconvenience.

I always engine brake, i know brake discs are expensive on my car, i want them to last.

But that apart, i was taught against engine braking from my instructor, he called it obsolete, and that modern cars are designed to be braked. I disagree with this. I think engine braking is suitable on all motors. But a requirement on older ones.

[llessur123]

Emergency stop, cry a bit and pretend I got whiplash then get £3000

[TheZorse94]

PUt my foglights on to watch them think I'm breaking hehe

[Jord104]

I tend to ease off so they'd try to overtake, then speed up again so they can't.

[College_Dropout]

Fart.

[1992LP]

I really, REALLY hope all these people posting that they put the brakes on are having a laugh and don't actually do this.

Brake testing people is unbelievably dangerous, you are just as bad if not worse than the tailgater if you do that!

And all these bull**** "whiplash" claims from people wanting to make a fast buck is the reason why we, as young drivers, pay so damn much for insurance (amongst other things).

If someone is tailgating you, just stay calm and let them pass. Putting everyone else in danger is not smart or clever.

[mikeyd85]

Put on a load of gas, flick the handbrake on, do a 180, whack it in reverse and carry on down the road backwards whilst waving my hands at them in disgust.

[initiation]

Maybe its just me but I find that tailgaitors who get dangerously close to you are not actually very common, there are far more common/dangerous annoyances out there. In anycase maybe it would be wise to ask why they are following close? Are you travelling unreasonably slowly, are you in the wrong lane (middle lane when it is clear to the left for a common example), is there an obvious overtaking point ahead in which case they maybe closing the gap to allow for a shorter overtake etc...

If not then don't do anything, they hit you, their fault. To allow them to overtake easier why not pull slightly to the left and let them past.

I hate this whole I am going the speed limit and no one should go faster than me attitude.

(Original post by Jord104)
I tend to ease off so they'd try to overtake, then speed up again so they can't.

You have no idea how unbelievably annoying this is (and if you are on about on single carriage way roads then outright stupid). I drive 2 classics which I generally cruise at anywhere between 55-65 and at that speed there is not a huge amount of power left so overtakes have to be carefully timed. The number of times that I have pulled up alongside someone 1/2 way through an overtake, they look over and think 'Oh an old car, you shouldn't be going faster than me' and then promptly speed up again is remarkable. Move back in and 2 minutes later I am back alongside. Especially annoying living in Cornwall where overtaking oppertunities on the roads where you encounter these people are not exactly common.

[Hustler-1337]

(Original post by TheZorse94)
PUt my foglights on to watch them think I'm breaking hehe

That's illegal, so make sure there's no police around


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[DeeWave]

(Original post by initiation)
Maybe its just me but I find that tailgaitors who get dangerously close to you are not actually very common, there are far more common/dangerous annoyances out there.

I find this too. I'm not sure if it's to do with my driving style or my tolerance level, but I find proper tailgating uncommon. By proper tailgating, I mean sub 1-second. I will follow people really close as I set an overtake up, but I find the key is to keep it really transient, and either overtake straight away or drop back again to a comfortable 2 -4 second follow. I very rarely have an averse reaction to doing this, which seems bizarre given how aggressive everyone on here seems to be towards tailgaters.

When dealing with them myself, I just use the normal defensive practice of increasing the forward follow, braking early and gradually and then helping the driver past if either they want to overtake or I'm sick of them being behind me.

[NewFolder]

(Original post by TrueUnitedFan)
Does anyone get annoyed when drivers drive right up your car's backside?

I know a lot of people suddenly break to scare the **** out of the driver from behind but I wouldn't do it, especially, when I've just got my first ever Insurance, and the first 2 years are the most important.

I sometimes take my foot off the accelerator and slow down to about 3-5mph below the speed limit. Usually, they overtake, but sometimes (this happens a lot with taxi drivers) they don't seem to get the message. Once I slowed down to 10mph on a 40mph dual carriageway. The taxi behind didn't even overtake, despite the fact it was an empty dual carriageway

Another thing you can do is press the brake pedal very very lightly. This will put the brake lights on without applying the brakes, and if they have any sense they will drop back a bit to avoid losing their no claims discount. Again, some drivers don't have enough sense to do this.

The best thing to do is just drive safely and ignore them, which is what I usually do. If they have their main beam on and it's reflecting on your rear view mirror and annoying you, pull the tab thing on the bottom of it and it'll flip the mirror up slightly so it's not directing the light into your eyes. Continue checking your door mirror to ensure they aren't trying to overtake, if they are, slow down and let them. NEVER speed up if someone is overtaking you, no matter how much they annoy you, it is highly dangerous both for the overtaker and innocent drivers travelling the other way.

Also don't do any sudden braking. While it won't be your fault on the insurance if they crash, it is highly dangerous to do so, both for you and the tailgater, and any passengers in either car. Of course, brake suddenly in an emergency, e.g. if someone steps in front of your car, but don't do it on a dual carriageway to get revenge on a tailgater.

There are plans to introduce a law next year which means that anyone being caught tailgating, cutting people up on roundabouts or doing some other aggressive or annoying driving, will get a £60/90 fine + 3 points (there are also plans to increase fines for all motoring offences where the current fine is £60, to £90)

[HFerguson]

(Original post by lilabs)
everyone thinks 'hey let's get up her arse!'

trust you

[Michaelj]

Am I the only person who ignores these drivers?! Its incredibly dangerous and I need my car to get to work so no car = no money.

A story about a person who slammed on break... It was on the motorway and a guy I know was being tailgated on motorway. He slammed on break and guy behind him to avoid him, he swerved his car and smashed into the barrier. The guy almost died and the guy I know who slammed on his break, got points on his licence and almost attempted murder charge and a **** load of insurance. So do you still think you're smart? And soon a law is to come in to prove that you got whiplash. If theres other witnesses who can tesitfy that you slammed on your break for no reason, i'd be interested to know if you get 3k.

If you simply turn on your lights, then the back of your car's lights will go red so people may think you're hitting the breaks.

[aspirinpharmacist]

I'm just learning, but sometimes people drive up my bum. I just keep at the speed I'm at, maybe ease off the accelerator a bit to let them overtake if they can and mutter something about them being morons and that they should calm down. I'm not going to brake suddenly because they might crash into the back of me. Not going to accelerate either unless I'm going ridiculously slow. Like 30 in a 60 zone. Although if it's a sharp bend I'll probably stay at that speed, maybe a little faster. I don't like going fast around corners.

[RibenaRockstar]

(Original post by RightSaidJames)
I tend to lightly touch the brakes, long enough for them to see my brake lights but not long enough to pose any real risk.

This, sothatthe brake doesn't actually slow me down, but that they see the lights. That's a last resort after increasing the gap in front of me and going to the left a bit to make overtaking easier.