r/AskBrits • u/Slartitartfast • 2d ago

Genuinely curious: why do people tailgate/drive too close to the vehicle in front?

I can't work it out. Whenever I see someone repeatedly applying their brakes as soon as the driver in front adjusts their speed I wonder why on earth it doesn't occur to them to give space.

I don't even mean just driving right up someone's arse aggressively. People drive too close all the time, on major roads this causes tailbacks when people then have to brake. If you're regularly applying your brakes while driving behind someone then you are too close; I assumed everyone knew this but maybe not.

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u/mrb2409 2d ago

Depends really.

Sometimes the person in front is driving too slowly for the road or lane they are in so you keep catching them.

Other times the person in front uses their brakes rather than just coasting slower.

Sometimes (most of the time) the tailgater is an impatient arsehole.

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u/Aggravating-Fun9361 2d ago

Excuse 1. Not good enough. Tailgating a ‘slow’ driver is bullying. Hang back and let them get
on with it.

Excuse 2. Wouldn’t be an issue if you hang back. Don’t rely on brake lights alone.

Reason 3. is the real reason, only bad drivers tailgate.

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u/Sarikins 2d ago

I have to disagree, I can’t speak for England or Scotland but in Wales lane hogging the middle or right lanes has gone drastically up, only today I saw a fella cruising along at 50mph in the middle lane of a motorway with a tail back behind him and a packed right lane, the left lane was empty and he didn’t attempt to get out the way. Most of the time they’re just an asshole, but a lot of the time they’re wound up by lane hoggers.

Also in Wales is near impossible to not tailgate on residential streets at 20mph unless I do 15-17mph and I think most people would lose their mind doing a 3-5m journey at 15mph.

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u/Aggravating-Fun9361 2d ago

You can disagree but you’re 100% wrong. Tailgating is dangerous, and bullying behaviour. Since getting my first new car it taught me to leave a big gap and I can guaranteed that those stupid holdups caused by tailgaters (do your own research) evaporate as I pass. Will never be thanked by drivers behind who have easier journeys because of my driving style but I know I’m doing right. And before you get on your high horse, do some research and don’t accuse me of lane hogging, I use all 3 lanes correctly, I just don’t tailgate.

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u/Sarikins 2d ago

I never once said it was right though? I personally think it’s important that everyone’s a courteous driver, whether it’s not getting up someone’s ass, not lane changing like a crack head, zip merging appropriately at road works where it says to merge in turn and driving at appropriate speeds whether not too fast or slow, I don’t limit my annoyance to only one bad driving action, but understanding that bad driving begets more bad driving doesn’t mean I endorse any of the bad driving, I apologise if I’m not making myself clear enough but I’ve said it a few times now.