What do you think of tailagting/driving while using a mobile? Any of you ever do it?

Question

A month ago, i drove home at night in pouring rain, little country road, narrow, windy, no visibility, stuck behind an arctic lorry. A 4X4 came behind me, it was practically bumper to bumper, guy had his full beams on. I had nowhere to go to park and let him overtake me. When he did he made a pojnt of breaking sharply, practically drove me out of the road (Lake) before overtaking the lorry when a car was coming on the other side. Lorry piled on the breaks to avoid an accident. It was really frightening.

Finally mobile phones! We know not to use them while driving but some people keep doing it. My partner and i had a fright when someone speaking on his mobile simply went over the continuous white line, practically drove into us, never even noticed.

Why do people do that? I don't think fines deter them. I reckon they should be banned from driving. Does anyone agree with me?

Answer 1

On both counts. Take the number and report them. The police aren't angels to be there all the time. It's up to responsible road users to do a certain amount.

I know one report won't do a lot but a tailgater is likely to do it more than once and one day he'll cause an accident.

I have to say that, though I think this is the proper thing to do, I have never done it (either reporting or tailgating!).

Most tailgaters are just a nuisance - that's what they intend to be - so to respond to their rudeness at all just feeds their aggressiveness. I would certainly note their number if they were obviously putting lives at risk, though.

As for mobiles ... a friend of mine passed a car that was driving erratically. It was a people carrier with three small kids inside. The mother was driving at 65-70, had a mobile on her shoulder and was checking her makeup in the rear-view mirror!!! I have many times encountered similar (though not quite as multitasking as that). The worst offenders, though, seem to be tradesmen, who live on their mobiles. The kind who plonk their phone on the bar in the pub and get 3 calls in half an hour - none of them about work - which they answer as if there was something wrong with the reception. Grrrr!

Answer 2

This is a very touchy topic with the police. they say it is illegal but they have no real method - apart from patrolling in their cars waiting for someone- to catch them.

Its really down to the person driving to not use them, and unfortunatly this only ever happens when they've either seen or been involved in an accident caused by someone using a mobile while driving.

I personaly think all mobiles should be banned, they are very bad for your health, its just a matter of time before people start getting problems with their health caused by mobile use.

Answer 3

I totally agree... anybody who isnt in control of their vehicle in that way shouldnt be driving. If they want to put themselves in danger then thats fine but not if the are going to out me and my family in danger at the same time.

I also have a problem with 4x4s. They are bad for the environment, more dangerous than other cars, used as a status symbol rather than to actually go off road and are (often) driven by people with more money than sense.

Answer 4

I feel uncomfortable if I get too close to a car so, no matter how slow the car in front is I just CAN'T tail gate! As for mobile phones, if I don't have my hands free in I won't answer it, simple as that! Both tailgating and using the phone without hands free whilst driving really annoy me too, not only is it illegal but is not safe.

Answer 5

If someone tailgates me i will slow right down until they back off... and people i see on mobiles while drinking are just idiots (i can think of better words but maybe this isn't the place). Anyone caught using one should be banned from driving, as they're in control of the car as much as someone drunk.

Answer 6

I believe that people should use common sense when driving and pay attention to what they are doing. I use a Mobile phone while I drive, but I use it with a hands-free headset which allows me to have both hands available and helps me to be more aware of my surroundings.
I don't like it when people drive with a cell-phone stuck to their ear. Most of them are more involved with the conversation than on driving and are a hazard on the road.
Driving while holding a cell-phone in one hand should not be allowed and people should be encouraged to use more common sense and have a hands-free headset. Most people are just too lazy to use one.
Since most cars nowadays have automatic transmissions, many people feel that they are capable of driving with one hand while using the other to help their phone. This is still quite dangerous.
I have to use a headset because I drive a car with a Manual transmission and therefore cannot afford to take my hands off the steering wheel to shift while talking on the phone.
Since I got used to having a hands-free unit, i still use it even when I drive automatic. Plus I find it uncomfortable to hold a phone up to your ear while driving.

People who tailgate are rude and dangerous drivers.
They should be shot, hanged, drawn and quartered (not necessarily in that order) -Just kidding. But they should not be allowed to drive, though.

Edit/Additional: It has been proven that talking on a cell-phone while driving is as dnagerous as drinking and driving.

Answer 7

tailgating is a dangerous practise and i must admit that when someone does it to me i just go slower and slower just to annoy them as much as they annoy me! On the mobile phones thing, i don't understand why people do it, hands free kits are really cheap now and blue tooth kits are very good, so why take the risk of an accident or a fine?

Answer 8

I could not agree more. They are putting other road users and themselves at risk and if caught should be banned and their vehicle impounded. Car manufacturers should get together and come up with a device that won't allow a mobile phone to be used in a car unless it is handsfree.

Answer 9

Today you take your chances with fools on the road. If I can't see your headlights in my rear view mirror, you're too close! I don't know why people insist on having cell phones glued to their ears and driving at the same time. It's just so very stupid. It's not even just young people, it's everyone!

Answer 10

I am ashame to admit my husband tailgate and multi-task while driving (he never flash his high beam at people though). It always scare the crap out of me and I would never do it to others. When I ask why he tailgate people, he said it makes them drive faster--how stupid is that? Why not just change lane?