Yeah I don’t understand this reaction at all. I drive a little hatchback, and when I’m out on the open road just me and the friendly neighborhood tailgating pickup, I want them to be literally anywhere else but behind me ASAP. Usually I’ll drive slower and slower until they pass me, and I’m relieved when they do. In the infuriating situations where that doesn’t work, I say fuck it, drop a gear, and speed for a couple miles to create some distance.
I can confirm this drives the one behind you crazy.
The other day I drove behind someone that did like that, first they lowered the speed for a few minutes then they passed a speed limit sign and increased the speed.
I ended up trying to match their lowest speed and giving them plenty of space.
When a car is following another there is a safe speed for the distance between the cars. If the person in back can’t maintain the proper distance, it is the person in fronts responsibility to maintain the proper speed.
It is also the law here that it’s the follower’s responsibility to maintain proper following distance. But if they’re not going to keep you safe, you slow down to make sure you’re both safer with their choice in follow distance.
I think a lot of people down voting this need to read it again. They’re not saying you should go faster because someone is close behind, they’re saying go slower.
If they’re 5m behind you, the safe speed is 20. If they’re 2m behind you the safe speed is 10. (Numbers pulled out of my hat).
why would you go for that when you could just stop as far to the side of the road as possible and tell them to go around you? let them get in front of you so they can merrily drive into a tree at 500mph while you keep yourself safe.
What a baffling comment. Driving at a slower speed would give the person behind you more time to react, which they need because they’re riding your ass regardless of your speed.
I think thats what they’re saying though, or at least thats what I got from their comment. There’s a safe speed for the distance between cars, and as the car behind you gets closer, that safe speed goes down quick.
I saw a video of an American officer claiming basically the opposite. Said something like “it’s not about the speed limit, it’s about traffic safety”, for ticketing someone driving the speed limit. I don’t remember it exactly but I think the point was that if traffic is over the speed limit then he thought so should you.
I remember thinking how America likes trapping people in situations where there’s no right or legal answer so you just have to hope you don’t end up being the one they pay attention to and decide to punish.
That’s exactly what it feels like. Cops aren’t required to be fair or pull over the fastest. If everybody around you is going 5-15 MPH over the speed limit and you’re going 10 over a cop can still pull you over, even if someone just blasted past you.
This is what makes the situation you describe so frustrating. If everyone is speeding you can be pulled over for not joining in. If you try to be in the middle of the pack you’ll likely be safe, but not necessarily. And if you get pulled over for something else, like a bad taillight or your kid made a face at the cop, a ticket for speeding is pretty likely.
In what situation would a person not be able to maintain a proper distance when following? Seriously dumbass, that other pedal is for slowing the car down. And if you can’t even do that, lift your foot off the gas.
I generally try not to think how stupid the average driver is, but I’ve unfortunately been forced to tonight.
When someone does this to me, I promise, I don’t care how late I am, you’re getting 10 mph under the limit.
Try to pass, I’ll show you 10 over for that duration.
why not just let them pass and then you wont have to look at their lights anymore
Because Fuck them?
Why not just give the bully your lunch money so they don’t beat you up?
plus if they get in front of you, you can flash your lights at them so they at least have some idea of the issue at hand
but you’re intentionally blinding yourself at that point
it’s not like they’re going to have any idea what they’re doing wrong
plus if they get in front of you, you can flash your lights at them so they at least have some idea of the issue at hand
Yeah I don’t understand this reaction at all. I drive a little hatchback, and when I’m out on the open road just me and the friendly neighborhood tailgating pickup, I want them to be literally anywhere else but behind me ASAP. Usually I’ll drive slower and slower until they pass me, and I’m relieved when they do. In the infuriating situations where that doesn’t work, I say fuck it, drop a gear, and speed for a couple miles to create some distance.
Then some hog shoots you
Best to just let them over
I instead use cruise control at the speed limit and drop one mph every so often
I can confirm this drives the one behind you crazy.
The other day I drove behind someone that did like that, first they lowered the speed for a few minutes then they passed a speed limit sign and increased the speed.
I ended up trying to match their lowest speed and giving them plenty of space.
When a car is following another there is a safe speed for the distance between the cars. If the person in back can’t maintain the proper distance, it is the person in fronts responsibility to maintain the proper speed.
You are responsible for the shit in front of you, not behind you.
It might be worth a clarifying edit.
It’s the following drivers responsibility to maintain enough distance.
IF they don’t do that THEN it falls on you to do it for them (by slowing both of you down appropriately).
It’s the German law if you turn what you said 180* upside down
It is also the law here that it’s the follower’s responsibility to maintain proper following distance. But if they’re not going to keep you safe, you slow down to make sure you’re both safer with their choice in follow distance.
I think a lot of people down voting this need to read it again. They’re not saying you should go faster because someone is close behind, they’re saying go slower.
If they’re 5m behind you, the safe speed is 20. If they’re 2m behind you the safe speed is 10. (Numbers pulled out of my hat).
why would you go for that when you could just stop as far to the side of the road as possible and tell them to go around you? let them get in front of you so they can merrily drive into a tree at 500mph while you keep yourself safe.
That’s close to what he’s saying. Slow the fuck down until either the distance is safe, they back off, or overtake.
That’s not how any of that works, I hope you stay off the roads
What a baffling comment. Driving at a slower speed would give the person behind you more time to react, which they need because they’re riding your ass regardless of your speed.
I think thats what they’re saying though, or at least thats what I got from their comment. There’s a safe speed for the distance between cars, and as the car behind you gets closer, that safe speed goes down quick.
So they can force me to drive as fast as they want? I don’t think that’s how law works…?
I saw a video of an American officer claiming basically the opposite. Said something like “it’s not about the speed limit, it’s about traffic safety”, for ticketing someone driving the speed limit. I don’t remember it exactly but I think the point was that if traffic is over the speed limit then he thought so should you.
I remember thinking how America likes trapping people in situations where there’s no right or legal answer so you just have to hope you don’t end up being the one they pay attention to and decide to punish.
That’s exactly what it feels like. Cops aren’t required to be fair or pull over the fastest. If everybody around you is going 5-15 MPH over the speed limit and you’re going 10 over a cop can still pull you over, even if someone just blasted past you.
This is what makes the situation you describe so frustrating. If everyone is speeding you can be pulled over for not joining in. If you try to be in the middle of the pack you’ll likely be safe, but not necessarily. And if you get pulled over for something else, like a bad taillight or your kid made a face at the cop, a ticket for speeding is pretty likely.
Why can’t they maintain distance though?
In what situation would a person not be able to maintain a proper distance when following? Seriously dumbass, that other pedal is for slowing the car down. And if you can’t even do that, lift your foot off the gas.
I generally try not to think how stupid the average driver is, but I’ve unfortunately been forced to tonight.
No