I may have mis-understood this, but who said "saying I won't do over 70 doesn't cut it" and the the only other option is to "stay at home"? That post basically implies that if I don't want to BREAK THE LAW by speeding when overtaking in lane 2, then I should stay home? I'm afraid I can't agree with this. I DO agree that when overtaking you need to to the manouver as fast as you can, and then move over. But it should be as fast as you LEGALLY can.
You're reading the wrong intent into those words James.
I abhor the tailgaters as much as you do... but the sad truth is, that there isn't actually a "get rid of tailgaters" button or manoeuvre that doesn't involve additional risk in some way (unless you have flashing blue lights to put on) ..... and while technically RMcB's passive resistance idea is sound, the risk is still elevated... it's still more likely to spark a serious road rage incident than the alternative. no matter how much "I'm sorry for being in the way" gesticulating you do.. That doesn't mean i LIKE the alternative, but I hate it less than the prospect of a road rage incident.
The problem is that the morons exist, and there's nothing directly that you or I can actually do about that, the only guaranteed manner of staying completely out of their way is to Stay home... , which I like even less. (and so should you... )
I've tried overtaking quicker, hitting sport mode and going up past 90mph plus, and to be honest this just increases the danger. People come up behind you just as close and just as quick, regardless of whether you're doing 70 or 100. Not to mention you're at risk of loosing a licence, just to compensate for some idiot who thinks he owns the road.
This, i'm afraid , implies that you're doing so in a re-active manner...
it also really doesn't jibe with my experience.... or basic maths...
as i tried to suggest earlier, the entire manoeuvre must be planned with all variables in mind.... if they're still coming up on your tail so fast, then you're simply not planning well enough or, perhaps not taking into account all factors sufficiently.
The law may well state 70MPH as a limit, but additional speed used in the safe overtaking of an obstacle , very very rarely will attract negative attention from any traffic police... provided it is clearly One overtaking manoeuvre, performed safely and with the speed obviously decreasing to "normal" afterwards, and not simply driving down the fast lane claiming them all to be so...
Traffic police are trained, and intelligent you know.... and observe a driver's behaviour before pulling them in....
and obviously planned safe use of momentarily excess (but not silly) speed in temporary overtaking moments is something they are generally fairly happy with... in appropriate circumstances.
Tailgating, excessively slow overtaking, aggression (like sitting in the overtaking spot , flashing your lights... ) and unsafe driving practice, jerky movements, indecision, lane hogging , excessive and unjustified speed, and a host of others are things they are NOT happy with.
typically, if you cannot plan a manoeuvre that will achieve a safe result with a limit on the maximum speed of 85-90, then don't manoeuvre at all. Sit behind the traffic that is holding you up, as it's just not safe to attempt it at present.... any manoeuvre that requires greater speed than that to achieve without being butt tagged by a tailgater, is very probably an unsafe one.
another thing that annoys me and is unsafe...
people who don't accelerate sufficiently along a slip road to match velocities with the flow, when joining moving traffic.
and indeed come to a full stop towards the end of the slip road instead...