Most grey nomads have been the ‘victim’ of tailgating, whereby an impatient motorist drives dangerously close to the vehicle in front, presumably in an attempt to intimidate them or ‘hurry them along’.
Despite the negative publicity surrounding the practice, it seems that it is still on the rise.
In South Australia, the Royal Automobile Association (RAA) compiled police expiation figures to reveal that 1,557 drivers were fined a total of $675,000 in 2020/21 for failing to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front — 20% more drivers than the previous financial year.
It also found that a higher proportion of drivers were being fined, rather than getting cautioned by police, with the fine rate increasing from 51% to 61%.
Staying left on multi-lane roads makes it easy for people to overtake.
RAA road safety senior manager Charles Mountain told the ABC that the increase in tailgating last financial year, which in SA incurs a $457 fine, was also reflected in a 15% rise in rear-end collision insurance claims, for which the driver at the rear is considered at fault.
SA Police Superintendent Bob Gray, officer-in-charge at the Traffic Services Branch, said drivers were required to drive at a sufficient distance behind a vehicle in front of them.
“This allows you time to glance at mirrors, signs, side roads and vehicles further ahead while maintaining a sufficient safety space should the vehicle ahead suddenly brake,” Superintendent Gray said. “This safe distance increases when the road is wet or slippery, when visibility is poor, if conditions are dark, when you have a heavy load or when the road is unsealed.”
However, Superintendent Gray said that drivers failing to keep left on multi-lane roads was a ‘source of frustration for motorists’.
“This behaviour is selfish and misguided,” he said. “Drivers may think that they will get where they are going quicker, but by blocking the lanes they are actually contributing to traffic congestion by not allowing the smooth flow of traffic.”
Last year after a series of crashes in Queensland, Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, sparked controversy when the suggested the two biggest problems were grey nomads, who chose to drive under the speed limit, and frustrated other drivers.
“More needs to be done to ensure people that are on the highway are adhering to the 100km speed limit,” he said. “I appreciate (grey nomads) are trying to save fuel … but it’s triggering some of this risky behaviour.”
The NRMA advises that if you are being tailgated by an aggressive driver, it is in your best interest to not allow tailgaters to indirectly control your speed through intimidation.
“It is wise to move out of their way by pulling over or turning left,” it said. “Avoid slowing down or flashing your brake lights, as this may escalate the situation to road rage.”
so how was a head on caused by the van travelling under the limit.
how often do we see so called ” professional Drivers ” tailgating at klm with their sign about stopping distances on the rear of their trucks.
maybe they need to learn that one.
unfortuanely its hard to fix stupid
Why is no one mentioning the fact that on an open highway ie above 80kph it is illegal to travel in the right hand lane
Not illegal at all. But a lot of drivers do ignore the “KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING” rule.
Actually Don it is illegal and you can (and should) be fined for it. Here’s the text from the RTA. Perhaps if more people realised it was illegal it may help with some of the tailgating issues.
Keeping leftOn single-lane roads, you must stay as close as practical to the left side of the road.
On multi-lane roads, if the posted speed limit is 90km/h or more, OR if the road has a ‘keep left unless overtaking’ sign, you must not drive in the right-hand lane unless you are:
Drivers are allowed to overtake on the left on all multi-lane roads.
Penalty for not keeping left, here’s a couple to get you started:-
Qld $68 & 2 points
Nsw up to $325 & 2 points
SA $332 & 2 points
WA $50 & 2 points
80 km/hr is the speed.
I’m not sure what state you’re in Ian & i haven’t checked them all, but in Qld it’s definitely 90kmh. The text in my first post was a cut & paste direct from the Qld TMR website.
From the Australian Road Rules:
130—Keeping to the left on a multi-lane road
(1) This rule applies to a driver driving on a multi-lane road if—
(a) the speed limit applying to the driver for the length of road where the driver is driving is over 80 kilometres per hour; or
(b) a keep left unless overtaking sign applies to the length of road where the driver is driving.
So it’s OVER 80 km/h. So Qld RTA use of “90 or over” is effectively the same, since it’s unlikely to have any speed limits between 80 and 90.
You have just proved yourself wrong. It is legal to drive at 80km/h or slower on highways but as you said need to be travelling in left lane, as do those travelling at any speed unless overtaking etc.
The law applies to the roads with the above mentioned SIGNPOSTED speed limits and has absolutely nothing to do with the speed you choose to drive on them. So to put it simply for you the rules of those roads APPLY TO YOU whether you choose to do 100 or 20kmh on them.
Don, in Victoria any white sign with black lettering is a regulatory sign and failure to adhere to the direction is illegal. I would assume it is similar in the other States.
Not illegal to go 80kph or lower on a highway in any rulebook in Australia.
I think people seem to forget it’s a speed LIMIT….. Not a directive to do precisely that speed. Also the tendency to just sit in any lane you choose is so frustrating…. Overtake, move left….. It’s not hard but everyone seems to want to be king of the road these days.
If speedometers were accurate then some speed warriors might rethink their actions. Seldom do speedometers register real speeds. GPS will confirm that many register 100kph when in fact the vehicle may be doing less than 90kph. I have a heavy vehicle (speed limited) motorhome. I am continually amazed at the behavior of overtakers trying desperately to meet the undertakers. Mind you as a recreational road user my speed in 100K / 110K zone will be 85KPH. I will give courtesy to overtaking vehicles – especially working trucks etc. My advice to those impatient souls – ‘think that person in front of you may have an issue’. I know an impatient associate who had no trouble being patient behind an ag tractor doing 50kph, but would blow his top at a car doing 70kph. Go figure!
Manufacturers need to make speedometers accurate. In my opinion it is a safety issue for them to vary so much. Eg. If your tyres are no good and don’t do the job they’re intended for they’re illegal the same should go for speedos but the government has allowed manufacturers to get away with it by changing the laws. Most people aren’t “car” people and don’t even realise they’re speedos are inaccurate so I do have a LITTLE patience but when someone is doing 60 in an 80 zone or 80 in a 100 zone it’s downright dangerous. Yes tailgating is too but if you are too far behind someone when it comes time to overtake on a single lane road then it takes too long to overtake safely without speeding. Also I’ve noticed that if you leave a safe gap between yourself and the car in front some muppet always overtakes you and cuts into that gap making it unsafe again. GPS speedometers or scan tools that plug into your cars computer should be mandatory as they indicate true speed. Manufacturers have the technology these days to fit GPS speedometers so the government should make these companies fit them to new vehicles.
My satnav in my dmax reflects true speed from satelites but the speed is set from an output on the gearbox. Only issue with having the speed run off satelites is when you go through a tunnel. I use a garmin expressly as a speed not the fitted speed.
Speeds via GPS are NOT accurate. The GPS systems averages over a number of data points, often over 20 seconds or so depending on software design.
It can be out by more than the car Speedo from true.
The vehicle Speedo gives an instantaneous reading, that due to when way our legislation is framed must not be lower than actual speed.
Scan tools also may not have the complete picture as the size of tyres and other variables taken into account in installing the speedometer may not be entered.
Then on the other side older Speedos may have worn springs which can vastly overreach speed…..
Agree 100% faulty Speedo readings from the manufacturer is a real factor in tailgating and by extension road rage , I have done a few k in a speed limited truck and it is really frustrating sitting behind cars who think their sitting on 100 when in fact they are not and it is impossible to pass them in a limited truck .
I also know of car drivers who have rang the cops to complain about speeding trucks only for the cops to pull up the offending truck and admit that they have a few car drivers every week that call them only to find the truck is limited and it’s actually the car driver who was going slow , not the truck going fast .
I am now retired and my rig of choice is a small speed limited 4×4 truck and I still have the same issue with drivers , however I am no longer on a schedule so it’s not as frustrating, and if I’m not travelling at the posted speed I keep a constant look in my mirror for trucks that catch up to me and if there’s no room for them to pass me I will increase my speed so as to not hold them up , then call the past when safe to do so and drop my speed so the can pass me .
Its not that hard to be a courteous driver .
The issue of the incorrect speedo does not lay with the vehicle manufacturer solely
Our respective govts has a directive that there must be an overread
This artificially lowers the speeds on the roads without them having to cop flac for legislating an unpopular move
Posted speeds of 100 are typically 94 in actual, most drivers will not risk taking the speedo above 100 (posted speed in NZ)
Hi Waylor, I just call those tailgaters “temporary Australians”
Or maybe they have poor eyesight and need to be up your butt to see anything
I agree, it is a LIMIT – not a challenge. The key is also to drive to the conditions, e.g. weather and condition of the road. There are many neglected roads that are damaged and therefore, are unfit for their ‘gazetted’ speed limit. Driving SAFELY is the key.
I think that if you are driving at recreational speeds and not in a hurry, it’s a good idea to do your best to cooperate with those who are. The people who may be under pressure because it’s their job, or even those who are just impatient. We should go out of our way to create harmony on the roads. Surely there is nothing lose. Tailgating is unpleasant, but if that driver cottons on that you will facilitate their overtaking, they will back off. And ALWAYS use the slow lane.
We’ve seen quite a few people towing heavy caravans tailgating the vehicle in front of them.
It works both ways.
Every time I go to town some clown tailgates me because I sit on the speed limit. Very common around our town. Young women in Prado’s seem to be the worst around morning and afternoon school times.
The government and main roads need to make more overtaking lanes so people can move over to stop impatience and make more pull over area’s
It all too common, and often occurs even when the vehicle in front is driving to the speed limits in force. I believe any mature age driver will have seen it from “both sides”. I have followed a grey nomad towing a van along a secondary (but bitumen) road in the NT, at a speed well below the posted limit and in fine dry weather; who “took the entire road” refused to make provision for following traffic to pass. The distance was about 40km, until we reached an intersection with a major road, where he pulled in to fuel. Such drivers invite the wrath of professional drivers, but pass under the police radar
I have driven all over the world – USA, UK, Europe – and have never been tailgated except in Australia, and never by a woman. In my view it is bullying and intimidation by inadequate people who do not understand much about the risks of driving.
Fact 1…Caravan towing requires common sense. Just like with a commercial truck, you cannot drive in the same manner as the motorcycle (or ahem, car) behind you. It doesn’t matter what is going on behind you just drive and accept your limitations. Fact 2..That being said only a fool doesn’t understand there is a proclivity to speed up when the opportunity becomes available even though most don’t mean too. Just let others pass. Pull over, have a cup of tea or whatever, you are on holidays, they probably aren’t so be grateful and move on,
If caravaners understand these simple issues and adjust accordingly all would be as one would expect. Allowing others to pass while enjoying the fact you are on vacation is the key. Let others go about their lives as required. If for some reason you need to be somewhere quickly, accept that it is your problem not theirs. Plan better and if you can’t don’t make your issues an issue for everyone else. PULL OVER!
If you can’t go the speed limit that is your issue not theirs. Get out of the way when you can and everyone will be happy.
I always travel at 100 km an hour.never had a problem.if I do get more than 1 car behind me I pull over and let them past.i am on holidays and I am not in a hurry to get any where
No law stipulates you must do the speed limit . I tow a 24 ft van and Tarbell at 90 mainly and 100 on good freeways. However too many Australian roads at so unsafe you have to drive to conditions not at the speed the guy behind you want too travel at!!!!!!!
I also tow the same and been travelling this great country full time forover 10 years. Seen all the mistakes from both side of drivers good and bad. A little bit of patients does wonders.
Interesting comment by the MP basically saying all grey nomads should be doing the speed limit. My car manual states (for my particulate weight of van) that the recommended towing speed is 90 to 95kph. Which is what I do unless conditions suggest a slower speed. I drive confidently and in the left lane. Drivers go around if dual lane and if single lane I pull over if truck is behind or a line of cars are building. I get positive acknowledgements each time from the drivers. No-brainer.
So in his opinion everyone, including caravaners, should travel at 130kph where allowed in the NT.
Hi from the UK and we were traveling round Australia till covid hit, but we noticed big difference in driving in Australia to UK with regards tailgating and undertaking. Lots of times we had a tailgater following us for many Kms , plenty of room to overtake but they just sat there. I think they poor b****** feel lonely missing their mum and just need to be close to someone. Whatever very weird. But loved the traveling hopefully back this year to complete the big loop
I agree! Many times I have been tailgated and when safe chance to overtake, the idiots just stay there! I have indicated, slowed and pulled over to get rid of them, and they slide past as close as possible to my car, often with a one fingered salute. One even followed me to the left! I do not drive slowly and if so, will try to pull over to allow others, especially trucks, to pass. I think people are just too nervous to overtake now. Maybe because of the stupid law that does not allow a slight increase in speed to execute the manoeuvre as quickly and safely as possible.
I agree that happened to me just before the 100 klm sign Taree bridge
110ms the car braked in front I quickly looked over took in the outside lane to discover that a police motor bike had just finished booking a driver then I was next because of the speed I was doing just 120klms to get around the driver and in front of the other vehicles traveling in the outside lane was annoying
I was in the unenviable situation at one point of diving a Suzuki Baleno from Robinvale Victoria to Sydney, on 60 liters of fuel (scammed out of my cash, didn’t realize till 1/4 of the way down road).
The only way I achieved this was to draft a flat top the whole way.
Ensured at first chance to inform flattop driver what I was up to.
Hold your nerve, travel at your personal safe speed but allow others to pass when safe. Do not speed up when the road changes to two lanes.
If I am required to drive ‘at the speed limit’, as stupidly suggested by that MP, then using his logic am I also required to drive with an alcohol blood reading at the limit. What a goose.
Now, that’s just being silly.
Karajini
I have a policy that when i am towing the van i am on holidays, those truck drivers are at work so give them a fair go, get out of there way and make life a little easier for all.
it’s not that hard.
I get tailgated by some individuals whether I’m pulling my van or not. See I’m one of these people who chooses to drive AT the speed limit when driving without the van, or at about 90km when towing. Impatient drivers can’t be bothered adhering to speed limits or observing safe distances. My biggest beef with these clowns is when they do pass, then cut me off when pulling back in front of me.
I always where permitting when towing the Van always try and let faster drivers go past as soon as space permits. I have never experienced tail gaiting and would be safe to say that those who have may either be unlucky or travel well below the posted speed limit or make no attempt to travel in left lane or be mindful of quicker drivers especially those who use GPS for more accurate speedo readings. I do find it amusing that the drivers that quote the speed limit is a limit not the recommended speed generally are the leisure ones that do not understand that some people need to get from A to B within a time frame and whilst not speeding do have to make up time when being constantly held back by those motorists. My response is if you are uncomfortable with travelling at the recommended speed then perhaps pick your driving times to minimise travel during peak times or move to left more often than not.
Look it’s all every well put the blame on slower drivers but the blame also needs to blame inpatient drivers as not all drivers have a high confidence in speed control of there vehicle
But all drivers must pull into the left lane to allow better control of traffic flow even if you are driving at the speed limit it is only Courteous to allow other vehicles to pass if they wish
In years past it was a worse problem before dual lane motorways, I had 2 switches on the dash, one operated a set of windscreen washer nozzles that had a detergent rich mixture that were aimed a bit higher than the standard nozzles, this had the effect of squirting just over the top of my windscreen and onto the windscreen of the car tailgating, as soon as his screen was wet I pushed the other switch then the stop lights came on, which made the tailgater think I was slowing, this had the effect of him slowing because his vision was momentarily distorted before he could put his wipers on so every time they dropped back and usually stayed there. I think this would work with the tailgating town tractors with P plates that abound now. Thinking I might fir this to the back of my van.
Sometimes activating the emergency flasher for about 3 flashes works for me now, They get too close as I can see in the rear camera that is active all the time I tow, the camera gives a false view as far as distance but you learn after a while how close they are when youcan’t see their headlights on the screen.
Hi Have you noticed that some caravans (or other vehicles) that have a string of vehicles behind them speed up when they get to an overtaking lane and very few cars can get past. I like to slow down and let as many cars pass as I much prefer to have no cars behind me. I think there are a lot of drivers who aren’t confident on winding roads and speed up on a straight stretch which often is an overtaking stretch. Same goes for uphill straight stretches, they put their foot down.
Speed (when I’m towing my 10ft van) also depends on road conditions. Between Mackay and Cairns, parts of the Pacific Coast Highway, needs serious repairs, including dangerous potholes. I pull over whenever safe and let other road users pass.
Hi,
I keep my reversing camera at the rear of caravan on all the time so I can see vehicles directly behind the caravan.
A lot see slower drivers as the problem but there could be many reasons someone is travelling slower like not confident on that part of the road, vehicle playing up, misjudgement, rain, fog, windscreen not giving a clear view due to faulty demister, a sudden body pain, distracted with thoughts, not seeing the recommended speed, etc etc. If you are not in the slower vehicle you can only guess why they are travelling at that speed. They are not deliberately going slower just to annoy you. A designated speed is the maximum you can do & doesn’t mean you have to do that speed.
I’m always tailgated in a slide on camper setup on a Ford Ranger which easily can do the designated speed even on big hills which is constantly checked by satellite. I think a lot of these people cannot stand to be behind something where they don’t have a full view ahead. Having the extendable Clearview mirrors it is easy to see how close they are. They have no patience to wait for overtaking lanes even though signposted how far ahead they are & often overtake in unsafe areas or where there are double lines prohibiting it. You know who is going to tailgate you as you see them breaking the speed limit to catch up & tailgate you. Even after nearly hitting the rear of the camper as traffic has slowed it doesn’t sink in the risk they are taking for everyone in both vehicles. I would like to have a sign, ‘Tailgater’, to be able to be activated to light up on the back of the camper to maybe wake them up to their dangerous driving. It could work like the one I have on the Ford windscreen that activates an alarm & shows you how many seconds you have to brake at the speed you are doing. It also tells me to brake as many after overtaking always pull in front of you too soon & often I’m reminded that the person who just overtook me has only allowed me half a second to brake if they suddenly decrease speed so I have to brake to be at a safe distance behind them now.
Maybe all cars or just people who have run into the back of other vehicles should be made to have them as their brain needs to be reminded of their dangerous habit of tailgating & not allowing enough room when pulling in front of the vehicle they have just overtaken. Tailgating is getting worse even on our long interstate trips. A lot of them tend to drive like city drivers where cars stay close behind each other to gain an overtaking position or lane change opportunity but at a much slower speed.
The only way to fully reduce tailgating would be to have rear vehicle cameras that record the speed & distance the tailgater is leaving that automatically sends the recorded data to authorities to issue a fine. The only way to stop tailgating is to have driverless vehicles that don’t allow this to happen due to their safe programs but then the person who would normally be the driver would have to sleep or be medicated as they couldn’t stand the driverless vehicle not driving like they would. With driverless vehicles there would be no tailgating, rear end accidents or any traffic violations but then there would be no infringements or income from this source to put towards running police forces or use for road improvements.
When the 1960’s TV program, ‘The Jetsons’, world of not needing roads etc becomes a reality this will completely solve the tailgating problem & these peoples need to get somewhere quickly.
The government set the limit its not up to the individual to decide what the limit is today if you cannot drive at the set limit on a clear day on a good road then hand your licence in.Why can people tow 24 foot caravans with no training but you have to have a correct licence to drive a articulated vehicle
When you have from 2 to 10 caravans on each other’s tail, without the minimum required distance between them ( 1 x total vehicle length per 15 km/h) between them you are making it out rite deadly for even a car to overtake safely.
If your vehicle isn’t even capable of achieving the legal max speed limit you should be regularly pulling off the road to allow other users to pass safely.
Front vehicle can legally travel slow it is up to the second vehicle to overtake when safe and not cause a back log of vehicles.
I live in a busy seaside tourist town that is accessed only by 2 roads once departing the Bruce Hwy- one through the town @ 60kms per hour and the other is a rural road @100 kms per hour single lane with nowhere to overtake and the amount of selfish caravan drivers doing 75- 80 kms on that road is astounding! Drive on the 60k road guys and stop driving in peak periods – any wonder people get frustrated with you – have a think about the locals trying to go about their day
What if drivers are unfamiliar with the area. How-in-the-hell do they “know” one access is 60 and the other is 100, how about patience.
As I understand it, we are not mandated to travel AT 100kph in a 100 zone, we just can’t exceed it, same as other speed zones, HOWEVER, we can’t obstruct the carriage way either.
I’m not sure drivers are being taught how to overtake correctly. I was taught to overtake and keep looking in the rear view mirror until you see the front of the car you have overtaken. Then you know you’ve safely passed that vehicle and can pull back in front of them maintaining speed of course. So many times I’ve been overtaken by another car only to have them cut back in front of me, almost across my bonnet.
I have been driving a motor home in Tasmania recently. Narrow winding roads, no shoulders on a lot of roads. I’m not going to “adhere” to maximum speed as suggested by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Damento.
Maximum speed limit is to drive to the conditions in a safe manner.
I’m not saving fuel. It’s a mindset at the start of your trip that fuel will be your biggest expense.
Road conditions and wind are also a factor in driving at the speed limit.
There are not enough areas to pull off the road, nor are they in good condition.
When there are ares suitable to pull of the road safely there should be signs prior to the area to allow early indication that you will be pulling over.
I was advised years ago by a policeman not to pull off the road opposite double lines as impatient drivers will pull out onto the other side, crossing the double lines before your rig is clear, therefor possibly causing an accident.
My brother pulled off the road to allow two motor bikes to pass. It was opposite double lines, there wasn’t enough room for me to pull off the road and so I was stuck out, half off the road. The motor bike riders drove over the double lines.
Aggressive drivers tailgate all the time whether your driving a car or a caravan.
I always try to pull over for a truck
I feel Cruise Control has a lot to do with tailgating. Drivers are reluctant to drop CC for some reason and creep up on vehicles they want to pass this causing tailgating.
I had seen and experienced many times stupid truck drivers dangerously tailgating cars nearly causing accidents. We need to crack down heavily on those idiots,