Nervous

A rear end should be the other guy's fault, so hopefully OP will not have to pay for damages either way. Although then it would be an FML for the other guy because of the grandpa's stupidity... Vicious.

The rules over here are that if you're close enough to go into a car that suddenly stops, then you're too close

58 In the US at least, you always keep a large enough gap in front of you so you can stop if the guy ahead of you slams on the brakes. Rear ending is almost always the fault of the guy in the back since he didn't follow that gap rule. Not one hundred percent sure whether OP is at fault here but in general try your best when driving to leave that gap in front of you.

To be fair, the following driver did not even have the warning of brake lights..

61 - As far as I know, the only way to not be at fault in a rear-ender is if the vehicle suddenly switches lanes without signalling (basically within their blind spot), cutting you off, then slamming on the brakes for no apparent reason. Hard to prove though.

It's the same in most European countries. The person doing the rear-ending is usually put at fault, except for some very rare exceptions.

round 2 for calming down with this guy

If grandpa wants to go somewhere he should use his walker?

That he misspelled "apologize"

Except he didn't. OP is in Ireland and that's their correct spelling.

If any family needs to go somewhere, say 'not it'.

OP was going the speed limit, there's no need for him to go -5 mph.

Because it's safer to go the same speed as other cars on the road, which would likely be going at or above the speed limit.

What's amazing, my 84 Year-Old grandmother has been ticketed for speeding on the highway. It was great.

#27 Yes it is a minimum, you can get a ticket for going too slow as well as too fast.

27 - Because you can also get a ticket for going too slow, or holding up traffic. It's not the fast drivers who cause accidents and driving problems, it's the ones who are so uncomfortable driving that they go slower than everyone else. They generally have a slower reaction time, and aren't focused on everyone around them like they should be.

^Too fast is just as dangerous as too slow. I'd like to see the stats where it says slow drivers cause more accidents than speeding drivers.

Your clauses are in dispute. Yes, you can be ticketed for going too slow. No, a "speed limit" is not a minimum. A minimum is called a "minimum speed," which may be posted in some areas.

# I agree there are minimum speeds posted on some roads like interstates but a posted speed Limit sign is exactly what it is called a Speed LIMIT. I'm not saying one should go 30mph on the interstate but going under the LIMIT is perfectly legal and maybe eases grandpas mind.

No I don't.

Not where I live in America. In a situation like this it probably would be the other person's fault for following too closely or something, but where I live, if you pull out in front of someone or cut someone off and you get hit, it's your fault regardless of who rear-ended you.

31 - But that's incredibly difficult to prove, especially with no witnesses. Where I am, the rule is the person who rear ends you is always at fault, which is why it's so hard to prove if they cut you off.

You are talking about two different situations though. When you are changing lanes, you are performing a 'special operation' (not sure what the exact english term is, but it basically means you are doing something out of the ordinary, i.e. changing lanes, overtaking another car etc.). In a collision, the person doing the special operation is always put at fault, regardless of direction and situation. When rear-ending however, neither are doing a special operation and the person rear-ending is put at fault for not keeping enough distance between him and you.

Next time?

Or let someone else drive him. If he's that much of a problem, have your parents do it.

Are you familiar with the term "backseat driver"? If it's harder for him to reach the e-brake, however, you might be on to something.

Not if you gag him （＾ν＾）