Strategy Needed

[stuffedpike20]

I get tailgated in the modern as well (actually a 20 year old Micra dCI so not that modern). It just seems to be what people do nowadays-bully others out of their way. You see the same behaviour in other ways too, for example drivers pushing their way through past parked vehicles.
It's no better on two wheels either. I cycle to work on the Bristol -Bath railway path, and I am constantly being tailgated by a hero in lycra. My friend from the running club calls them lycra louts!

It just seems that bullying your way through life is part of the psyche of modern Britain. I don't think it's all drugs either, I think people are just getting ruder, less courteous, more arrogant. I think we've moved on from survival of the fittest, it's now survival of the most aggressive.

Sadly 'survival of the most aggressive' seems to be right.
I have tried to be Zen about it. I have tried to think of the other driver as my old mum....but I know they are just a tw@t in an Audi trying to intimidate me.
I am out of ideas.

[ndevans]

I don't think they are necessarily trying to target you personally, I think they just do it automatically.

[Chief]

I am out of ideas.

All the drivers are fishermen, and as a pike they're worried you'll be "the one that got away"

I know there are people who only drive in the early hours of the morning (pre-dawn/post-dawn) so they can enjoy the mostly empty roads and don't have to worry about the stress of tail gaters etc.

Maybe you could try that, to get the enjoyment with none of the abuse? (and yes, that is giving in to them I admit, but at least you still get the enjoyment from driving that way).

[stuffedpike20]

I don't think they are necessarily trying to target you personally, I think they just do it automatically.

Not me personally, no, but the car. And therefore indirectly, the type of car that I have chosen to drive.
I love the car, so to disrespect the car is to disrespect me.

I will try to change my attitude, but at my age I don't think I can.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

[stuffedpike20]

I am out of ideas.

All the drivers are fishermen, and as a pike they're worried you'll be "the one that got away"

I know there are people who only drive in the early hours of the morning (pre-dawn/post-dawn) so they can enjoy the mostly empty roads and don't have to worry about the stress of tail gaters etc.

Maybe you could try that, to get the enjoyment with none of the abuse? (and yes, that is giving in to them I admit, but at least you still get the enjoyment from driving that way).

It's funny you should say that Chief.
35 Years ago I would be on the road at 4am to get to a fishing spot that fished well at dawn.
I had a blue pickup at the time, and it was great driving it with nothing else on the road.

[Mervin]

The two main bugbears for me are tailgating and must be in front. Dare I say it's usually drivers of certain cars from that Federal Republic on the mainland of Europe.
It's probably asking for trouble at some point, but I just slow down gradually to really get up their nose.

[stuffedpike20]

The two main bugbears for me are tailgating and must be in front. Dare I say it's usually drivers of certain cars from that Federal Republic on the mainland of Europe.
It's probably asking for trouble at some point, but I just slow down gradually to really get up their nose.

One strategy I learned is to slow down just by about 5 mph, and stick at that speed. The tailgater is then puzzled by what you are doing, and you give yourself more time to react in what is a dangerous situation not of your making (ie being tailgated.)

I have tried this, and quite often the tailgater drops back....not all of them though.

[ndevans]

The two go hand in hand (tail gating and must be in front). I don't think drivers of any particular make of car are more likely to be guilty, I don't think people generally treat others with courtesy any more. I get tail gated by mopeds, and not just in the Morris either.

[mrs.smith2012]

This is sad to read… in my experience, classic cars are generally well received where I live as they are such a novelty. You don’t see many on the roads but when they do appear they seem to be the subject of many admiring glances and people taking sneaky pics.
I do hope if I am blessed enough to own a moggie one day I don’t encounter this!
Hope you can work things out.

[ndevans]

Don't let it put you off. I'll have been driving my Minor 40 years this time next year, and I still enjoy driving it. Some drivers are @$$_____ and will be whatever vehicle you drive. So go for it, and may it make you smile!

[stuffedpike20]

Thanks folks.
I will try.

[stuffedpike20]

Interestingly I went to see a friend today and mentioned this subject.
He told me that he borrowed a relatives beautifully restored TR4 for a weekend recently. He said he could not wait to give it back, because of all of the road rage incidents.
Nice to know it's not just me!

[Bill_qaz]

On the journey yesterday from local car show back to storage 10 miles. A large suv pulled out of an entrance straight in front of us, presumably thought we were turning in, despite no indicator on my car. Then crossing HS2 works area a guy decide to do a 3 point turn in the middle of the traffic light controlled area, as we were approaching. Next coming into town a vehicle came head on at speed passing park cars on his side.
If these are the type of incidents you are referring to, then unfortunately this is driving today. Its got nothing to do with what car you are driving, yes it's more noticeable as the car is smaller,less powerful brakes and less able to accelerate out of trouble and would not stand up to an impact as well as a modern car. But these incidents occur even when driving my modern car and unfortunately is part of driving today.
Don't let other peoples ignorant, ill mannered driving spoil your pleasure, they will still be Aholes even when you are not there.
Learn to chill and put it down to them not you and do your best to ignore or not ponder on their actions. Consider it a victory if their stupidity has not damaged you or your car.
Hopefully you can still enjoy driving your moggy and the pleasure will out way the stress. Dont let the Aholes win

[stuffedpike20]

On the journey yesterday from local car show back to storage 10 miles. A large suv pulled out of an entrance straight in front of us, presumably thought we were turning in, despite no indicator on my car. Then crossing HS2 works area a guy decide to do a 3 point turn in the middle of the traffic light controlled area, as we were approaching. Next coming into town a vehicle came head on at speed passing park cars on his side.
If these are the type of incidents you are referring to, then unfortunately this is driving today. Its got nothing to do with what car you are driving, yes it's more noticeable as the car is smaller,less powerful brakes and less able to accelerate out of trouble and would not stand up to an impact as well as a modern car. But these incidents occur even when driving my modern car and unfortunately is part of driving today.
Don't let other peoples ignorant, ill mannered driving spoil your pleasure, they will still be Aholes even when you are not there.
Learn to chill and put it down to them not you and do your best to ignore or not ponder on their actions. Consider it a victory if their stupidity has not damaged you or your car.
Hopefully you can still enjoy driving your moggy and the pleasure will out way the stress. Dont let the Aholes win

Thanks Bill.
All I can say is that I have got three cars, and the one that attracts the Aholes is the Minor.

[Paladin1962]

Reporting from the Republic Of Florida, the situation is quite hopeless here as well. Enormous 4wd trucks always vying for pole position at the Daytona 500 regardless of the actual street they're on... obnoxious raspy Subarus driven by wannabe Phil Hill's... other folks incapable of making a turn unless they come to a complete stop. (what ARE they thinking...)
Despite the size of the town (and the relative county), I see virtually the same couple of dozen repeat offenders each and every day, and I adjust my driving to suit.
It's my theory that driving has become a method of establishing perceived power and authority; otherwise sensible folks exercise zero impulse control once they're ensconced in their (mistakenly believed) anonymity inside their vehicles...
I have adjusted my attitude severely in recent years to accomodate these Id10T's, more as a means of self-preservation than of civic courtesy. I don't want to be shown on the evening news or reported as an accident statistic.

[bobtail4x4]

been to a meeting in town this aft,
several waves and headlight flashes,

one "turbonutterxxxx" sat on my rear for a while,
ignore them.