Grumpier Old Men

Oh dear oh dear

Which bit of him braking to 11mph through the gears thereby failing to give the legally required signal did you not understand?

That's when I got close, that's what he was probably regaling

If you're going to use this forum for inane attacks on me please use the CZ and respond to what's actually posted and not what you imagine has been posted

No question of an inane attack Steve. None whatever.

The facts are:

1. Some old git was doddering along the road
2. It wound you up
3. It's highly questionable whether at that speed he was breaking the law
4. You allege he broke the law again by changing down through the gears

Where does it say, in law, "you will not change down through the gears"?

OK - you must have functioning brake lights but nowhere does it state you actually have to use your brakes.

So, until the law changes to state "you must at all times drive in a manner with which Other Steve will wholeheartedly approve" he has every right to drive at 21 mph, every right to change down through his gears and every right to mince around in a scarlet tutu while whistling "I'm a Little Teapot" if that's what he wants to do.

In short - get over it!

Sorry CJ but what happened to Steve has happened to all of us at some time. You have obviously confused this place with the "Very nice indeed society" It was a bloody grump ,it doesn't have to be legal or absolutely within the road bleedin' traffic act . Preparation H is recommended ,they're obviously playing up.

Driving too slowly can be an offence if it puts other road users in danger, i.e. crawling at 30 mph on a motorway. Driving at 21mph in a 30 limit, unless the road conditions dictate this is sensible (i.e. blizzard, driving rain etc. causing poor visibility) is simply plain bloody infuriating, but not illegal.

Provided road conditions are good there is no good reason whatsever to putt-putt around at 21mph in a 30mph limit; all you will do is piss off other drivers, possibly resulting in an accident as a result of impatience of others. Some wanker was in the fast lane of a dual carriageway in front of me this morning; no cars in front of him for a good stretch. he was pootling along at 55mph, laughing with his companion and pointing at various god-knows-bloody what in the fields opposite. He wasn't concentrating on the road. The safest way around this gimp was to check mirrors and deftly undertake.

Illegal, yes. But a damn site safer than trying to coerce him along by sitting on his tailgate. Arsemongrel.

Indeed Gogmeister.

But in my book, pootling along at 21 mph and enjoying the snarling fizzog of a hyped up middle manager in his uber-rep-mobile getting hot under the collar behind you is the epitome of grumpy behaviour.

I frequently amuse myself in this manner.

Power to the old codger, I say

Oh - and if the road's that piss-easy to navigate, why not overtake him?

It's the effect of the action that is the offence and it's the Road Traffic Act 1988 section 3 as backed by the Highway code section 103. If you do not give an appropriate signal to other road users before making a significant road action then you are guilty of an offence. In most cases the brake lights do it for you but if you are driving at 21 mph in second gear and take your foot of the pedal without signalling then . . . . .

As you ask it did not wind me up, your imagination is open loop yet again. You playing the stalking troll winds me up a bit.

FWIW I posted it as it was pertinent to my point about we should be tough on tailgating and tough on the causes of tailgating.

In so far as I can gather the reasons for tailgating are impatient drivers that see 30 Mph not as the maximum speed limit but rather the minimum speed limit of a road.
It is mainly the 30 limit I see this behaviour occur other limits are less prone to the tailgater in my experience. Its very simple really if 30 Mph is not enough for you then please pass by on my right side when clear to do so- I wont stop you doing 45 if that's what you want to do. The child on the BMX without brakes head might stop you doing 45 in a hurry and will always give you something to think about for next time.

not exactly tailgating but somehow relevant link - not for the faint of heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLG2bYEtr_w

Powerful stuff. It’s the stupidity and arrogance of so many impatient drivers that maintains the lucrative industry for solicitors to represent the interests of road crash victims by offering a 'no win no fee' service. And long may it continue, thanks OS !!!

[quote="Lindopski"] It is mainly the 30 limit I see this behaviour occur other limits are less prone to the tailgater in my experience. quote]

Any day on the M25 you will see it at up to any speed you like to mention. It applies to all motorways, you only have to stay in the outside lane for a short while after overtaking and there will be some absolute weapons grade plonker up your arse, desperately wanting to flash his lights so he can show you how fast he can go in his BMW 1 series turdmobile.
This is where tactic CJ4 comes into play, Make as to move over to the middle lane ,then don't ,raising his hopes, then accelerate ,let him catch you ,slow down and take at least 20 seconds to move over. During this time there will be a glowing red mist behind you which will improve your day no end.

but you're a self confessed criminal and frankly who cares a shit what criminals think especially when they post made up shite about other posters

If there's some tw@t sat the middle or third lane I make a point of overtaking them on the inside, and giving them a bunch of hand signals, accompanied by a blast on the two-tone horn. I hate inconsiderate drivers - whether they are going too fast or too slow. If they are causing aggro for other road users, they are all due for the same treatment.

Pootlers and boy-racers are both knob-heads.

It's not the solicitors that make big money out of stupid drivers it's the Funeral directors.
I think I've seen just about every kind of pointless early death possible due to boy racers and thick macho drivers, who speed along in unsafe conditions without a thought for the consequences.

That Video is very well made, but it is wasted on the hard of thinking British public.

The balance of opinion would tend to suggest Steve, that you're absolutely correct.

You need to be much tougher on yourself.

The only cause of tailgating is the person driving too close to the car in front.

As the driver behind it is incumbent on YOU to ensure you don't get too close. If, in your opinion the codger is driving erratically, you should increase the gap.

By your own admission the road was pretty much clear, so hanging back and leaving a safe distance is the only viable option unless you wish to overtake.

RTA section 3

It is not an often or even ever prosecuted offence as the evidence is just impossible to garner. But if you execute a manouvre that causes another car to brake without indicating it is an offence under just that section.

And I have that from another police officer

CJ stop imagining what happened, I know and you are guessing and then extrapolating in your silly quest to stalk me. FFS if I said the sky was blue you'd effin argue I was being racist about grey skies.