Hmmm, you seem to have dissected my post, and put me all out of context. :-)
If I wanted to troll, I would have suggested tailgaiting squeaky little cans on the school run in my Range Rover only improved my crumple zone and better protected Tarquin and Anabel. However it wasn't meant as a troll, and in any case I don't drive Satan's chariot
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I've had another look at your post and it still looks to me that you're advocating briefly closing right up on a driver to demonstrate your intention to pass.
You suggest that this is better than hanging 2 or 3 car lengths behind them, where they might not get the message.
First; at normal extra-urban speeds 2 or 3 car lengths is terribly close. I should say dangerously close.
Secondly; in the same post you suggest slowing to 20-30 mph if tailgated by a large 4x4 on an NSL road where passing is difficult. You accept that this might annoy the following driver.
I appreciate that your vaunted method of signalling an intention to pass involves tailgating only momentarily, but it is still tailgating.
Your proposed antidote to someone tailgating over a longer period of time is to slow to 20 or 30.... Who is to the the arbiter of what represents an acceptable period of time?
I live between Herefordshire, London and the Valleys. Much of my driving and cycling is done is single-carriageway NSL roads where passing is not possible.
I am very surprised that you think it safe to tailgate someone momentarily to signal a wish to pass.
I'm also surprised that you appear to suggest that 2 or 3 car lengths is a safe distance or 'hanging back'.
The advocating of a driver slowing to 20 or 30 to deter aggressive tailgating by a 4x4 just baffles me. What do you think I should do if I find myself in a bull's field with a red rag in my hand? Wave it maybe?
There are awful drivers out there. We are not the Police.
I do not hang about when driving but would be uncomfortable if followed on an extra-urban road at 2 or 3 car lengths. So would most drivers.
Similarly, I would be slightly intimidated by a motorist coming up to 'tailgating' distance from my car to signal a wish to pass. So would most drivers.
Further, when you slow down to 20 or 30 as a response to the tailgating 4x4, you not only enrage the bull, you slow down every driver behind him or her for the duration of the procedure.
I'm not sure I dissected your post and put it all out of context. I really thought you were dropping a Mickey Finn in the vodka. Having re-read your post and others on this thread, I'm still not sure.
We all have moments as drivers of cyclists when we find ourselves too close to another vehicle. It's embarrassing but it happens.
Few of us would advocate it on a forum thread.
text book stuff - 
