Why do people tailgate?

[totallyfixed]

A simple question that I suspect has complicated answers. Whenever I have to drive anywhere there is always someone driving less than 20ft behind, I have tried to form a picture of the type of person / car that usually does this but so far it does not seem to matter, all makes, all ages and both genders.
It is now an offence to do this but of course with virtually zero policing out on the roads nothing has changed, in fact it appears to be getting worse. I personally find it difficult to deal with having been in a very serious accident 3 years ago and occasionally will pull over to let them go past.
Why are seemingly intelligent people [some must be] putting their own lives and others at risk by driving in this manner?

 

[Markymark]

1. Because they think they are better drivers than they are and can read the road better than the average driver.
2. Because they want to intimidate you out of the way.
3. Because the they think they are more entitled to be on the roads and you are impeding their important and necessary fast progress.
4. They do not think it will end in an injury as cars are 'very safe these days'.

 

[Kestevan]

Because some inconsiderate bastards insist on driving everywhere at the speed limit.

I didn't borrow 50k for this massive 4x4 just so I could drive behind some sad loser in a Nissan at 30mph....GET OUT OF MY WAY PEASANT!!

 

[Bianchi boy]

I was drafting behind a vehicle for adout three miles yesterday on my road bike (25mph) did'nt know it was illegal ??

 

[Milkfloat]

Drafting. Haven't you been watching the TdF?

Edit - Beaten to it by Celeste Boy.

 

[jack smith]

They are all triathletes and time trialists getting an aero advantage.

 

[MichaelW2]

1. Because they think they are better drivers than they are and can read the road better than the average driver.
2. Because they want to intimidate you out of the way.
3. Because the they think they are more entitled to be on the roads and you are impeding their important and necessary fast progress.
4. They do not think it will end in an injury as cars are 'very safe these days'.

Perhaps they have failed to think.

 

[Tin Pot]

A simple question that I suspect has complicated answers. Whenever I have to drive anywhere there is always someone driving less than 20ft behind, I have tried to form a picture of the type of person / car that usually does this but so far it does not seem to matter, all makes, all ages and both genders.
It is now an offence to do this but of course with virtually zero policing out on the roads nothing has changed, in fact it appears to be getting worse. I personally find it difficult to deal with having been in a very serious accident 3 years ago and occasionally will pull over to let them go past.
Why are seemingly intelligent people [some must be] putting their own lives and others at risk by driving in this manner?

What kind of car are you driving?

 

[slowmotion]

I was on the autoroutes in France earlier in the week. The outside lane was stuffed with cars going at 130 kmh. You could barely put a bus ticket between each of them. Utterly terrifying to watch. The UK may be bad, but over there they are barking.

 

[jonnysnorocket]

Cuz they are twats innit

 

[Tin Pot]

1. Because they think they are better drivers than they are and can read the road better than the average driver.
2. Because they want to intimidate you out of the way.
3. Because the they think they are more entitled to be on the roads and you are impeding their important and necessary fast progress.
4. They do not think it will end in an injury as cars are 'very safe these days'.

I sincerely doubt any of them think or care as much as that.

People are thick and should not be trusted with heavy machinery like cars.

 

[Drago]

There's a sticker on the back of my jacked up 2 tonne pick up that points at the hulking great red painted 3.5 tonne capacity NATO hitch and says "YOUR SKID ENDS HERE", and still the fools tailgate. Trust me, with that through their windscreen they're gonna get hurt.

The really bad ones I gently slow down on the basis that if the worst does happen there'll be less kinetic energy at play.

 

[Katherine]

If someone glues themselves to the back of me, I'll slow down until they pull back.

 

[Drago]

If someone glues themselves to the back of me, I'll slow down until they pull back.

In the bedroom or on the road?

 

[Katherine]

In the bedroom or on the road?

Do I need to rephrase?