Deal with tailgating drivers on NZ roads.

Forums › Off topic › Deal with tailgating drivers on NZ roads.

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1059 posts

Uber Geek

#690560 24-Sep-2012 12:13

Chaitanya: @vexxxboy, @clevedon, Well no corner has speed limit of 100kmph. The highest safe speed on curves I noticed is 95 kmph.

You would of also noticed, every curve in the road does not have a speed recommeded ( it is not a legal limit, more a guide ) sign. There are more curves and corners without signs than those that have them.

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helis

96 posts

Master Geek

#690577 24-Sep-2012 12:22

These are the types of drivers I see when I'm on the open road.

The Local - they drive this route daily so treat it like their own personal road and could probably drive it with their eyes closed or so they think. These drivers will tailgate for short periods of time and speed by more than 15+ over the limit. These people are bad drivers but generally don't tailgate long before overtaking you and vanishing into the distance.

The Inconsistent - These people are the worst kind of open road driver. They never stop changing speeds even on flat straight roads. They will go up and down between 70-110k/h all day long and not realise how annoying they are to everyone else on the road. These drivers are also known for speeding up to 110km/h on the overtaking areas. Interestingly the only time their speed is consistent is during the overtaking areas. They will happily maintain 110km/h until its finished.

The Cruiser - These people have the skill down pat of holding their foot in place and keeping their speedo with in 1-2km/h of the speed limit. People with cruise control also fit in here.

If you are being consistently tailgated its more than likely you fall into "The Inconsistent". I am a Cruiser myself and the only people who tailgate me are Locals and it never lasts more then a min or so before they overtake me and vanish.

JimmyC

726 posts

Ultimate Geek

#690582 24-Sep-2012 12:27

vinnieg:

If there is a queue behind you, don't worry. Focus on what is ahead of you, don't worry about holding some impatient drivers up for a few seconds

A few seconds hold up sure, but if you have a queue behind you there's an issue you need to think about and deal with.

As for the being over taken at 120kmph, if you're slower going around corners than I'd like to drive at and generally slowing me down, and you then speed up to 120kmph on the straights or in the left lane of a passing lane (like so many other Kiwis do), I'll overtake you anyway'cos I know there'll be more corners coming up.

I'm constantly amazed at people I catch up with who only then accelerate to 115-120. As soon as I overtake them they slow right back down and disappear. Really, they're not helping anyone.

Another issue where tailgating often occurs when being behind a slow driver or truck - The first driver behind the slow vehicle has two responsibilities, 1) either over take the slow vehicle when it is safe to keep the flow of traffic moving, or 2) leave sufficient space behind the slow vehicle in front of them so others behind can pass and pull in with room to spare. So many times I see 4,5,6 cars in behind a truck, everyone is way too close together, no one is passing, but there's no room to safely pull in front of any of the vehicles...

mckenndk

907 posts

Ultimate Geek

#690585 24-Sep-2012 12:39

Another issue where tailgating often occurs when being behind a slow driver or truck - The first driver behind the slow vehicle has two responsibilities, 1) either over take the slow vehicle when it is safe to keep the flow of traffic moving, or 2) leave sufficient space behind the slow vehicle in front of them so others behind can pass and pull in with room to spare. So many times I see 4,5,6 cars in behind a truck, everyone is way too close together, no one is passing, but there's no room to safely pull in front of any of the vehicles...

That is a good point as majority of the time nobody ad-hears to this rule, they might even know the rule but just don't think about it at the time.

gzt

15223 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#690589 24-Sep-2012 12:46

The takeaways are good that is what I do too for all normal cases where someone just wants to go faster than me whatever that speed might be at the time.

If tailgating is at the extreme where your safety is threatened the only logical thing to do is slow down to a speed where the following distance they have chosen is safe. (In fact this is sometimes needed just to pull over and let someone pass safely). That is an extreme case, but it has to be said. Do not do the converse and speed up and drive unsafely for these people. I think you already said that : ).

Also remember there is minority of idiots in every population and just ignore those ones they will eventually work it out for themselves.

D1023319

498 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#690596 24-Sep-2012 13:01

I understand most vehicles speedo read low by 10% to protect the manufacturer from legal claims by motorists that get speeding fines and then claim the speedo is wrong especially in cases where the motorist has used tyres with a larger diameter than intended for the vehicle.

I agree with other posters here that you generally dont get tailgaters if you travel consistently at 100-110kph.

During my daily 80km round trip commute, the queues I see are normally created by drivers that speed up and slow down with corners and topography. Frequently these are drivers in the fast lane of the motorway matching the speed of the vehicles in the left lane.

BTW - my daily commute GRRR's are:

- when I am in the slow lane letting vehicles past, some vehicles in the fast lane will sit in my blind spot matching my speed. Then as I approach a slower vehicle - they speed up temporarily to block me in.

- Of course there are also the people that drive like they are in a fuel economy competition. They acelerate from stopages at a snails pace, or slow down to snails pace when they see the lights are red in the far distance so they dont have to stop.

mattwnz

19389 posts

Uber Geek

#690601 24-Sep-2012 13:11

If people are tailgating you, you can report them to *555. I had a friend who got a warning letter because they were traveling to close behind someone.

mckenndk

907 posts

Ultimate Geek

#690618 24-Sep-2012 13:42

mattwnz: If people are tailgating you, you can report them to *555. I had a friend who got a warning letter because they were traveling to close behind someone.

make sure you pull over to do it unless you have a hands free kit otherwise you will be in the wrong. :-)

Or get a passenger to do it

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#690622 24-Sep-2012 13:52

mckenndk:
mattwnz: If people are tailgating you, you can report them to *555. I had a friend who got a warning letter because they were traveling to close behind someone.

make sure you pull over to do it unless you have a hands free kit otherwise you will be in the wrong. :-)

Or get a passenger to do it

Its perfectly legal to call *555 or 111 from you mobile while you driving.

mckenndk

907 posts

Ultimate Geek

#690624 24-Sep-2012 13:59

BraaiGuy:
mckenndk:
mattwnz: If people are tailgating you, you can report them to *555. I had a friend who got a warning letter because they were traveling to close behind someone.

make sure you pull over to do it unless you have a hands free kit otherwise you will be in the wrong. :-)

Or get a passenger to do it

Its perfectly legal to call *555 or 111 from you mobile while you driving.

Only in certain situations

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/about-driver-responsibility/responsible-driving.html
You can also use a mobile phone while driving to make a 111 or *555 call if it is unsafe or impractical to pull over and stop in a safe place at the side of the road to make the call.

Chaitanya

75 posts

Master Geek

#690630 24-Sep-2012 14:17

Does it make me a bad driver if I go at 100-110 kmph on open straight road and slow down at curves to the recommended speed ( usually between 65 and 95 kmph. Rarely 35 kmph.) displayed on sign boards?

1080p

1332 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#690639 24-Sep-2012 14:24

Chaitanya: Does it make me a bad driver if I go at 100-110 kmph on open straight road and slow down at curves to the recommended speed ( usually between 65 and 95 kmph. Rarely 35 kmph.) displayed on sign boards?

Not at all. The speed limit signs are not targets and you should always drive in a manner that you feel comfortable with.

mattwnz

19389 posts

Uber Geek

#690642 24-Sep-2012 14:29

Chaitanya: Does it make me a bad driver if I go at 100-110 kmph on open straight road and slow down at curves to the recommended speed ( usually between 65 and 95 kmph. Rarely 35 kmph.) displayed on sign boards?

I believe the signs on curved roads are the safe wet road speeds to turn the corner at.

I am just wondering why people believe they can go 10km over the speed limit. I though these speed cameras were now going to get people going 5kms over the limit, even if you are overtaking.

gmball

541 posts

Ultimate Geek

#690645 24-Sep-2012 14:43

The most frustrating example of NZ driving habits are all the people who drive below or at the posted speed limit in the right hand lane (where two lanes exist), while driving at the same speed as those in the left lane.

This often results in tailgating out of shear frustration.

However as you have mentioned you always stick to the left, in which case ignore those behind you and allow them to pass when you have the opportunity.

richms

26418 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#690646 24-Sep-2012 14:43

mattwnz: If people are tailgating you, you can report them to *555. I had a friend who got a warning letter because they were traveling to close behind someone.

Those letters mean nothing.

Richard rich.ms

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