Source
r/regina•
DogsNotHumans

Why do so many people tailgate on the Ring Road?

Discussion

This is an almost daily issue for me. I travel in the right lane and use the left only for passing, as I'm supposed to do. But lately I've started just staying on the right even if I'd like to pass the person in front because almost every time I get into the left lane, someone going faster than I am catches up to me and stays on my ass until I've moved over, even if I'm still in the process of passing. I don't particularly want to be going 70 or 80 on the RR, but I also don't need a damn photo radar ticket because I'm going too fast. I could understand it if I'm going under limit in the passing lane, or loitering in it, but I hate it when people do that, so I don't do it myself.

Anyway, I guess I'm just ranting. Being tailgated really bothers me because I've been rear-ended before, and if I have to stop suddenly, that's exactly what will happen. Plus, I sort of take it as being really pushy and rude, like they're trying to tell me to hurry the hell up or something. I literally just do not get why I can't have 30 freaking seconds to pass without this happening almost every time.

Posted Feb 3, 2023, 7:12 PM UTC

15159
Tensionoids•

You’re going 20 under the speed limit because you’re afraid of a ticket? That’s why people are tailgating you, you’re going 70 or 80 in a 100.

121
duckybear626•

I read it as he is passing people going 70 or 80 at speed limit, not that OP is going 70 or 80 themselves. At any rate, even if you DO pass at 100, you often get someone tail gating, which is very annoying.

45
Spensa1•

That’s how I read it too. Going 70 in the right lane because this OP doesn’t want to be in the left lane. And doesn’t want to be going 70 because OP recognizes it’s dangerous

10
thejadibear•

Big difference if there is one car going 70 or 80 compared to the right lane already full of cars going 70 or 80. If it’s one car then move on over after you make a pass even if no one is behind you. If a car rushes up then at least they don’t have to swerve or tailgate you. If it’s full in the right lane then keep on passing all the slower cars. For me if someone’s actively passing in the left then I don’t have an issue with what their speed is but if the right is free then you should move over even if you’re going slightly over

-2
DogsNotHumansOP•

Yes, that’s what I meant exactly. Thank you.

7
Jcourtney83•

This! One vehicle going 20 under the speed limit can fuck up traffic for kilometres! Because now every single person going a reasonable speed has to hit the brakes and merge over left to pass you. You are effectively make the right lane inaccessible to the normal flow of traffic. If you aren’t willing to go at least close to the speed limit please stay off the ring road!

24
Mozaralio•

He was saying he doesn't want to be stuck behind people going 70 or 80 in the right lane but he also doesn't want to go 130 in the passing lane just to not get tailgated while trying to pass slower drivers.

24
LettuceWouldntFit•

They dont need to go 130 tho, they should be going 100 and not complying to the assholes tailgating them.

Edit: gender neutral language because I don’t want to assume gender but by the profile I think OP might be a girl

-5†
Mozaralio•

I agree, when I'm in the passing lane I go 110 tops, if someone rolls up behind me and starts tailgating then they can eat a dick I'm not speeding up or changing lanes just so they can break the law and speed by me at 130km/h

4†
LettuceWouldntFit•

I change lanes eventually because it makes me so damn irritated when people pass me on the right, but I don’t speed up and once I change lanes I let them speed past me.

2
Okay_Try_Again•

Your self righteousness is dangerous for everybody on the road. It doesn't matter how "right" you are. It endangers everybody. Pass in a timely manner or get out of the passing lane.

Tailgating is edit NOT okay and blocking the flow of traffic for any longer than neccessary is not okay.

If you want to pass someone but you can see some people coming more quickly than you behind you or in the left lane, let them pass first and then take your turn when traffic slows, and for god's sake don't over rely on cruise control people, it makes you inflexible and that makes you a menace on the road.

Sorry, I obviously never ever meant to say that tailgating is ok. lol.

https://sgi.sk.ca/handbook/-/knowledge_base/drivers/when-passing

0†
nnuminex•

My exact thoughts lol... The amount of people driving 70-80 on Ring is ridiculous. There's no ice on it right now, speed up or take a different route if you're not comfortable going 100 (Yes, even in the left lane!) The photo radar will only go off if you're going above 100....

23
texxmix•

I’ve passed them more than once going 110 and they never went off. Unless it’s a school zone I doubt any photo radar goes off as soon as you pass the limit.

10
nnuminex•

Yea bad phrasing on my end!

1
Old-Newspaper9143•

I consistently drive 105-106 on ring road. Never slow down below that for the photo radar and have never received a ticket. I’m curious what speed they are set to go off, but I assume that it is above 110.

3
Dionius•

Cop once told me, the cameras on ring road have a 13km buffer, so they won’t snap your pic unless you’re going above 113km/h

2
akaAelius•

100 is the SPEED LIMIT. That doesn't mean you have to go that fast. I admit 70 is ridiculous in ideal conditions, but you also don't have to be driving the LIMIT on the road.

You know what limit means right? Thats not the median, thats the LIMIT as in maximum. If people dive 90 on the RR, thats okay. Thats allowed.

-24
rationalanimal2022•

If you aren't going at least 95, take another route.

7
akaAelius•

Or just calm down.

My guess is no one wants you where you're trying to rush too anyways.

0
[deleted]•

[deleted]

0
LettuceWouldntFit•

Wasn’t there someone who recently got a ticket for going like 60 on the ring road? Like it’s dangerous to drive at slower speeds on the ring road and OP should consider that lol

10
Panda-Banana1•

100% this, this is like saying I am going 30 on Albert Street why are people tailgating. Drive reasonably close to the speed limit and if you are not comfortable doing so maybe public transport or a different route is a better option.

7
akaAelius•

Or maybe slow down and deal with it. I'm certain you aren't that important that you can't be five minutes longer on the road. Unless you're an EMT (Which I know you aren't), then no one is going to die because you're driving slow in a city of bad drivers.

-12
Panda-Banana1•

Or maybe don't drive dangerously slow? It is a ticket able offence and dangerous much like speeding.

https://www.cjwwradio.com/2023/01/11/driver-pulled-over-for-going-too-slow/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-slow-driving-ticket-1.4794357

11
akaAelius•

I love how like 5 km below the speed limit and everyone is "OMG you're driving dangerously slow".

Calm down princess, no one loves you enough that you need to get there faster.

1
dakidz23•

This logic is unreal

1
BoatsnGoals1•

This comment and everyone replying to it really need to learn how to read.

5
DogsNotHumansOP•

No no no. I’m trying to pass a slower car in the right lane but not wanting to go over 100 to do so.

3
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
dakidz23•

I have always wondered as well, the logic is wild

2
Ubigo•

You are a fucking idiot

-3
Spensa1•

Yesterday, at 8am I was going 105 in the left lane passing others in the right lane. No one was behind me as far as I could see. All the sudden someone was behind me must have been going 120-130. Tailgating me so close maybe 1 foot of room, not joking. Flashing their lights for me to move. Only for them to exit onto McDonald which was the next exit. Flashing your lights and tailgating me when I’m already going the speed limit is not going to make me move. What an animal and a danger. I don’t consider myself a slow driver or unaware. It was crazy

53
akaAelius•

People in this city are stupid. The morons who race around like they're in a hurry to et somewhere. It literally takes 15 minutes to drive from one end of the city to the other... no one is so important that taking 20 minutes will end the world.

31
Spensa1•

My thoughts. You’d think this vehicle was an ER vehicle the way they were swerving to get to what I assume is their place of work in the industrial or surrounding area. It was 805 am. No one’s fault but your own you’re late. Why risk killing someone or yourself. I don’t get it. It’s a gentle reminder to breathe and remind yourself to relax lol

12
mtvfarms•

15 mins if there isn't a train bisecting the city.

4
DogsNotHumansOP•

That’s exactly what happens to me almost every day. I’m passing at 100-105 and someone rushes up behind me at 120 or more all impatient.

3
MetanoiaYQR•

You don't consider yourself unaware, but somehow you missed the approach of that vehicle? Just saying...

-11
Spensa1•

An attest to exactly how erratic, dangerous, fast and chaotic this person was driving. But thanks for your sincere input mighty keyboard warrior. I guess driving this way on ring road is acceptable. Hopefully it isn’t one of your loved ones or yourself killed by someone like this. But let’s just be classy in the comments by upstanding the erratic driving behaviour. Classy

10
MetanoiaYQR•

I could have gone to personal insults, but I didn't. That having been said, It's pretty easy to see cars coming up behind you on what is essentially a highway. It's not like they're coming from all directions. In what way was their driving 'erratic' and 'chaotic'? I'll give you 'fast', but it may or may not have been 'dangerous'.

-10
Spensa1•

Wasn’t it you that just posted about a meme about this? But now I’m suddenly problem because of someone else’s behaviour. Sure. Whatever you need to say to make yourself feel better. Happy tailgating

9
VFSteve•

Lots of armchair traffic cops in here 👀👀

28
Ubigo•

and half of them don't know how to read.

14
littletimmysquiggins•

Please don't go on the ring road if you can't maintain proper speed. You are endangering everyone around you.

You're actually creating the "sudden stop" scenario you say you're trying to avoid.

24
DogsNotHumansOP•

I’m trying to maintain proper speed of 100. I’m saying that when I go to pass a slower car on the right, I’m often getting tailgated even tho I’m at 100-105.

5
littletimmysquiggins•

Well, that definitely is a pain in the ass. And thanks for clarifying!

I imagine it's probably a mix of speedy jerks, and other people just bunching up behind an unexpectedly slow vehicle. And honestly, both groups should know better and drive more defensively.

Stay safe!

1
Ubigo•

Learn how to read

-6
littletimmysquiggins•

The fuck are you babbling about

4
rationalanimal2022•

Everyone should just drive 100-105 and we would have no issues.

20
holmes306•

I find more people around Regina tailgate unnecessarily especially when people are going on or above the speed limit and it never fails that we end up meeting at the red light. It’s too bad people cannot have a little foresight to know that tailgating and speeding will have little to no impact on getting you to your destination faster as you’ll always end up with something to slow you down somewhere.

16
LettuceWouldntFit•

When they’re tailgating you do you speed up? You’re saying you don’t want a ticket for going too fast..

If you’re going at least 100, you are not obligated to be pressured by those going faster in the left lane to speed up.

Yeah, they’re gonna get annoyed but if you get rear-ended they’ll be paying for it. Idk when I’m going a reasonable speed in the left lane and someone is being an ass (flashing brights, tailgating etc.) I don’t speed up.

8
MetanoiaYQR•

I'm sure you'll feel great in the hospital after you get rear -ended at highway speed knowing that you have the moral high ground.

If you're in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move the fuck over! It's not your responsibility to enforce what you think is a "reasonable" speed..

Also I'd like to point out that there are situations where someone is in fact driving somewhere in an emergency.

11
LettuceWouldntFit•

situation where someone is in fact driving somewhere in an emergency.

I assure you, those are far and few in between.

As for the other comment, you underestimate just how petty I can be lmao.

4
MetanoiaYQR•

Fair enough! Lol

-1
Ubigo•

Please don’t operate a motor vehicle.

3
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
Mozaralio•

I feel you, I almost always go 110km/h when I'm in the passing lane and somehow still end up with douchebags tailgating me, usually a truck. People need to learn how to drive, it is illegal to go more than 10% over the speed limit even when using the passing lane, if you are in the passing lane and tailgating someone at 110km/h, slow the fuck down and give them some space, you don't need to be and shouldn't be going faster than that anyway.

8
[deleted]•

[deleted]

7
inbetweenfeelings•

lets take this opportunity to study the Species. AMA the person

-4
BoatsnGoals1•

Learn how to read.

-4
akaAelius•

OR... maybe you should stay home if you lose your patience driving a little slower. Pretty sure no one is waiting in anticipation for your arrival.

-16
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-4†
somethingsuccinct•

I moved here about a year ago and I've noticed that a lot of people here follow too closely no matter how fast I'm going. What's the rush? Everything is 15 minutes away. Even if you are running late you're probably going to get stuck at train anyway.

7
Kayos2012•

I feel that after reading all these angry comments, we need to fund some sort of Mad Max arena where people can just fight it out with their cars to death!

6
Optimal-Priority-562•

i mean i like to drive 110 on ring road. but if someone is going slow i just don’t tailgate and wait for an opportunity to pass. i go speed limit when my exit is coming up and if i’m near a radar camera. it’s always annoying when two cars are going the same speed and are just side by side so i guess i try to not do that.

5
[deleted]•

[deleted]

4†
StinkyWizzleteats17•

What's ridiculous is how many people like you are totally reading the post wrong.

​

I don't particularly want to be going 70 or 80 on the RR, but I also don't need a damn photo radar ticket because I'm going too fast

​

Translation: They don't want to get stuck behind people going slow, but don't want to risk a ticket for speeding up while passing to accommodate impatient d-bags, either.

16
texxmix•

The cameras don’t go off as soon as you pass 100. And not every inch of RR is cameras lmao. Just speed up. If someone is going 70 or 80 even getting to 100 is plenty of speed to pass.

0†
StinkyWizzleteats17•

The cameras don’t go off as soon as you pass 100. And not every inch of RR is cameras lmao

yes, I'm well aware. And I have no clue why you're replying to me anyway, I'm not the OP...

0†
Ubigo•

Learn how to read.

-1†
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
BoatsnGoals1•

I don't particularly want to be going 70 or 80 on the RR, but I also don't need a damn photo radar ticket because I'm going too fast. I could understand it if I'm going under limit in the passing lane, or loitering in it, but I hate it when people do that, so I don't do it myself.

Is everyone too stupid here to read that they don't want to go 70 or 80 BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW ANOTHER CAR IN THE RIGHT LANE GOING THAT SLOW?

4†
Okay_Try_Again•

It's important to pass in a timely manner. If you are doing the speed limit in the right lane which you should be doing unless the road conditions are dangerous, then in order to pass someone you have to go significantly faster than them. Don't be passing people when you are only driving ever so slightly more quickly than them. Just slow down, or pass, but speed up. Those are your options.

Get off of cruise control and pass them in a timely manner to open up the road. It's basic driving decency.

We have two goals out there, be safe, and get out of eachother's way asap. If we all do that we will all get along great.

Tailgating is never okay and is extremely dangerous in the winter, but both sides of this need to be addressed to make roads safer.

https://sgi.sk.ca/handbook/-/knowledge_base/drivers/when-passing

4
thehomeyskater•

You say you should be doing the speed limit. But then you also say you shouldn’t be passing people if you are only going slightly faster than them. As a person that generally chooses not to pass people, this mentality leads to a situation where you end up in a clump of cars going about 90 km/hr or maybe even a little slower. Now I personally don’t have a problem with that, but at the same time it’s not going the speed limit, and apparently I’m a horrible person if I dare drive on the ring road below the speed limit.

Additionally, something else that doesn’t seem to be mentioned here, if I’m going 90 km/hr because cars in front of me are going 90, what should I do when there’s someone to the right of me wanting to merge onto the ring road? I can’t speed up because there’s a car in front of me, I could slow down to let the guy in (but apparently that’s a no-no because then I’m going 80 on the Ring Road) or I could move to the left (but then I’m going 90 in the left lane and I guess that’s a no-no too). It seems in that situation the way to maintain the orderly flow of traffic would be to move over to the left lane, let the merging traffic in, then move back right when safe.

3
DogsNotHumansOP•

That’s another issue. I get stuck behind a slow vehicle on the right, then get further slowed down by the merge, but god help me if I try to pass.

4
Klutzy_Can_4543•

Moving to left lane is what you are supposed to do to let people merge…. But … People need to get places now! /s

4
Okay_Try_Again•

Just get in the left lane and speed up promptly, it's not rocket science, pass them quickly when there's time and space and then get right again.

The other thing I often do is slow down a bit, let the clump get further ahead of me and then I have room to speed up and pass swiftly.

I think you are getting a little too caught up on the numbers.

Also if you are travelling with a clump of slow people, that's different than being the person thats causing the clump. Don't be too hard on yourself either.

3
thehomeyskater•

Also if you are travelling with a clump of slow people, that's different than being the person thats causing the clump.

Most of the posters on reddit are acting like if you’re not going 105 km/hr the whole way, then you’re the weirdo. If you dare let your speed fall to 90 km/hr then you shouldn’t even be on the ring road because you’re just causing an obstacle for everyone else. How dare you go 90 km/hr? Literally everyone is raging at you when you do that, according to reddit.

But I don’t think that’s the case. I hopped on the ring road today mid-afternoon from south albert st to vic ave, and the whole way the flow of traffic was 90 km/hr. It wasn’t congested but the right lane was moderately full — as far as the eye could see there was traffic in the right lane, but there wasn’t really anyone in the left left lane. Traffic in the right lane was spread out but consistent. if i wanted to go over 90 i would have had to jump into the left lane and pass people. But out of well over a dozen cars I only saw one person doing that. And that honestly matches what I’ve noticed on the ring road in general, it’s just that I made a specific point to note my exact speed this time.

So the point is, despite people wanting to act like it’s ridiculous to go under 100 (literally that comment was posted here multiple times and upvoted) the opposite based on my experience seems to be true. The vocal minority thinks everyone should be going 100+. The typical ring road driver is content to go slower than that.

Here’s my basic point: if you think people should never ever go less than 95 km/hr on ring road. Ok that’s your perspective. But I really encourage you to to go down ring road when it’s moderately busy, start on one side of it and drive down all the way to the other side. Don’t pass people. Stay in the right lane unless you need to pass slow moving equipment or let someone merge. Take note of your speed the whole way. Take note of how long you’ll able to maintain 100-105 (I bet it don’t be very long). Take note of when your speed drops to 90, or maybe even 80. Take note of how many people pass you (it won’t be many) take note of how many people stay behind you and DONT pass you (it will be many). Realize that you’re the aberration by insisting that everyone else should be going 100+ the whole way. And come to the realization that the best thing to do is to realize that when you drive on roads that traffic happens and traffic slows down thorougput, and instead of getting pissed off just take a breath.

It’s not the people that are going 85 or 90 on the ring road in the right lane that are unusual. The unusual people are the people that think “I can go 110 and I won’t get a ticket and if anyone else goes into the left lane going less than 110, then they’re jerk!”

1
Okay_Try_Again•

I understand you're feeling attacked, and a lot of people are just venting frustrations rather than trying to fix the problem, but the truth of the matter is that good traffic relys on people letting go of who is normal or weird or good or bad or wrong and right, and requires that we all just pay attention, and be flexible, and get out of eachother's ways as quickly as possible while being safe.

It's definitely the case that there are more people travelling the speed limit, or under during a traffic jam, hemce the word jam. It's also definitely the case that the road is safer and faster for everyone when the people who want to go more quickly can do so safely with nothing in their path. It makes everyone safer, and the travel faster and more pleasant.

1
DonnaMartin2point0•

Unpopular opinion but both lanes on Ring Road have the same speed limit. 🤷

3†
MaximaFuryRigor•

That sounds like the excuse people use when they want to drive in the passing lane while the right lane is clear.

9
DonnaMartin2point0•

If you sound out the big words you'll hear it as the law there bud

-1†
MaximaFuryRigor•

Keep Right Ex-cept For Pass-ing

Hey you're right, there it is!

6
sachinmk7•

Ooffff i hear ya and this has been going on for like an year now…

3
signious•

Late to the party here, but when did people start calling it 'RR'... that's the real infuriating part for me.

It's same number of button presses on mobile to just say ring (if you capitalize the rs)

2†
LettuceWouldntFit•

I want to believe that no one refers to it as RR in person so I’m going to continue that.

In text it kinda makes sense but irl.. nah

1
Ubigo•

The amount of people in the comments that clearly don't know how to read should tell you about the fine driving in Regina.

2†
Klutzy_Can_4543•

A lil OT but Speaking of merges, why did Winnipeg need that OFF RAMP as soon as you get ON the ramp to get to Winnipeg street!

2
leonardskinner33•

It's so people that are coming off of Ring road wanting to travel northbound on Winnipeg, don't have to wait at a red light at the end of the ramp in order to turn left (north) onto Winnipeg. Now they simply take the Winnipeg exit off Ring road and stay left to travel north. Likewise, you'd stay to the right in order to travel south. This is the proper way that on/offramps should be built. Previously there was a light at the end of the ramp, which only slows traffic flow in all directions.

1
Klutzy_Can_4543•

Soooo I tried it and I was like , oh I get it! Hope the fuel trucks make it okay!

2
leonardskinner33•

Haha it's admittedly hard to type it out (I had to re-read my own comment and even then I wasn't totally sure if it was clear). Glad to hear you had a chance to go on the ride yourself and see what all the fun is about!

1