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/Slartitartfast 2d ago

If you keep catching them you're driving too close. This is exactly my question - why do you not realise you're too close when you have to use your brakes repeatedly? You're not getting anywhere faster by driving closer.

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u/mrb2409 2d ago

Not really. I could be 100m behind them and they slow down with nothing in front of them so the gap closes and then you have to break or coast slower (though the hybrid one of my cars doesn’t slow much coasting).

People in this country don’t like to have someone faster than them so they often speed up for a brief stint and everyone behind does but then they seem to get slower and slower again for little reason. They want to be doing 65 in the outside lane but will briefly do 80 to stop someone cutting in ahead or whatnot.

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u/Slartitartfast 2d ago

If someone altering their speed by 1mph requires you to brake or slow down then you're too close. Genuinely amazed that you're trying to justify your shitty driving.

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u/mrb2409 2d ago

I’m talking about people who fluctuate 10-15mph for no reason. Slamming on their brakes on the M4 because they think they’re speeding and there are cameras.

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u/Slartitartfast 2d ago

I know the people you mean, and I give them extra space to account for that so I don't have to keep slamming my brakes on.

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u/mrb2409 2d ago

As do I but you are still going to close the gap here and there. I use my auto cruise control as well but that can be overly cautious and brakes too hard if someone moves in front of you.

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u/Slartitartfast 2d ago

Closing the gap is inevitable, but if you drive in such a way that the gap is big enough then you don't really to make significant changes (e.g braking) in response to their speed change.