Tailgaters

[Roger1]

I found this for those of you who insist on tailgating

http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_062707WAB_move_over_sticker_TP.1d77e07f.html

http://www.leftlanedrivers.org/

 

[EstorilM]

I am one.

However, when I'm being tailgated on the rare occasion, I slow down, let them start to pass, then speed up. Or let them pass and start tailgating them..

Exactly! This is particularly fun at night when they just HAVE to get past me for some odd reason, and don't seem to notice that my HIDs aren't quite aimed right (ok they're actually aimed really high) so yeah, once they pass me I spend the rest of the drive looking at the silhouette of their head on overhead road signs and stuff.

It is kinda annoying from a safety point of view, figuring that all reaction times being equal, if something happens in front of me and I lock up / hit ABS on my car (97 M3 with 245/max performance summer tires all around) the're gonna plow into the back of me in no time.

I'm one of those guys that doesn't hesitate to use the median if I have any doubt that the person behind me won't stop in time (or see me.) I'll turn on my hazards still (I do this whenever **** hits the fan really quick) but yeah, I'm pulling out of that lane still.

 

[yg17]

So I was getting onto the interstate today, and this was the order of cars:

Dump truck going 30mph on the entrance ramp - Me - Jackass in an SUV yapping on her cell phone flying up behind me and tailing me

So, we're finally on the highway. I immediately move over one lane to the left to get around the truck. She gets behind me, probably a foot away from my bumper. I see her blinker go on (fortunately, her side mirrors have blinkers since she was too close for me to see her headlights) because she wanted to go over another lane to the left, I guess to pass me. I give my mirror and blind spot a quick glance, and see it's clear except for her halfway into that lane, and (i know this was dumb) immediately move into the lane she was going into and don't speed up for a bit. After a short game of her trying to pass, me speeding up, her giving up, me slowing down, etc, I eventually get bored and just speed up and take off.

 

[killr_b]

Ok. I voted in the poll, but didn't leave my view. So-

I California, I know for a fact, that if a vehicle approaches you from the rear at a greater rate of speed, you are required to yield to the lane to the right. Whether they are breaking the law or an emergency vehicle makes no difference.

This law is in the DMV book, not the little pamphlet but the real vehicle code book. I had it bookmarked in my old copy, but it got water damaged some years ago. If I looked I bet I could find it again.

So, there you have it.

 

[killr_b]

So I was getting onto the interstate today, and this was the order of cars:

Dump truck going 30mph on the entrance ramp - Me - Jackass in an SUV yapping on her cell phone flying up behind me and tailing me

So, we're finally on the highway. I immediately move over one lane to the left to get around the truck. She gets behind me, probably a foot away from my bumper. I see her blinker go on (fortunately, her side mirrors have blinkers since she was too close for me to see her headlights) because she wanted to go over another lane to the left, I guess to pass me. I give my mirror and blind spot a quick glance, and see it's clear except for her halfway into that lane, and (i know this was dumb) immediately move into the lane she was going into and don't speed up for a bit. After a short game of her trying to pass, me speeding up, her giving up, me slowing down, etc, I eventually get bored and just speed up and take off.

People that drive like this deserve to be shot. The freeway is not a playground.

By your blatant inclusion of "yapping on cell phone" you knew for a fact that the situation was unsafe. So what did you do as a responsible driver? Oh, right. You aren't a responsible driver.

Not to single you out though. There are many posts I could have quoted. That's a bad thing.

 

[aquajet]

I agree. There are a few children in this thread who probably shouldn't have a license.

 

[walangij]

I agree. There are a few children in this thread who probably shouldn't have a license.

+1 agreed. Weren't we all taught in Drivers ed how to handle tailgaters? The US highway system is great, and it'd be better if people obeyed all of the laws and techniques everyone was taught in school. After calculating the difference of 10-15mph above the speed limit, I'd arrive at my destination a whole
45 sec-120seconds faster than if I had followed the speed limit and flow of traffic. After that epiphany, I stopped all the wreckless and annoying speeding/tailing I did, looking back, I was STUPID for putting my life and others at risk.
I just hope all posters remain safe as they drive!

 

[theBB]

rolling backwards at a stoplight on a hill is an "instant fail" for the driver exam around here

Well, it may very well be, but it happens every now and then in everyday traffic. Good luck proving you did not rear-end him, instead the guy rolled down.

Wire a toggle switch to his brake lights

I had a friend whose father owned a heavy car with a very small engine (Skoda 120L if you must know). He played the same trick.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Well, it may very well be, but it happens every now and then in everyday traffic. Good luck proving you did not rear-end him, instead the guy rolled down.


I had a friend whose father owned a heavy car with a very small engine (Skoda 120L if you must know). He played the same trick.

The nice thing is under I know US law all cars have to be able to take 2.5 mph hit and take ZERO damage. Since that role is less than that it would not be a big deal. It is a great way to freak out drivers though. If some one staying to close to my bumper at a stop light and on a hill. I tend to role back just a little farther than normal. At least enough to make them a little nervous. At the next stop light (or in stop and go traffic) they stay a little farther off my bumper.
And what is great is they really can not call me a jerk for doing it because I am in a manual and manuals do roll backwards on hills when starting and it not like i am causing anything dangerous because even if I did blow it no damage would be caused. Yes I know how to prevent myself from rolling backwards but I never do that because it is a lot more trouble than it is worth to use my parking brake to prevent it.

 

[dogbone]

One day while travelling in the fast lane (at the speed limit) on a 6 lane freeway with no traffic in sight at all, I suddenly noticed that someone had snuck up behind me and was tailgating my bike (with passenger). I would have moved had I seen them coming, as it was I slowed down a little to let them pass as, being on a bike it seem a better option at the time. I thought they'd just get on with it.

Down to 90, 80, 70, still tailgating. I ended up coming to a complete stop on the freeway as did they. I got off the bike and walked up to the car an noticed about a 70 year old driver and similar age passenger with their wives all in their bowling whites. I asked them what the problem was and they said, 'move out of the way'. Still no traffic about.

Usually though I just flash my brake lights without braking.

 

[e²Studios]

I California, I know for a fact, that if a vehicle approaches you from the rear at a greater rate of speed, you are required to yield to the lane to the right. Whether they are breaking the law or an emergency vehicle makes no difference.

This law is in the DMV book, not the little pamphlet but the real vehicle code book. I had it bookmarked in my old copy, but it got water damaged some years ago. If I looked I bet I could find it again.

So, there you have it.

Indeed you are correct, however there are a lot of self rightous idiots that feel its their job to police the roadways or make them unsafe by not yielding the right of way. Or they are just too rude and inconsiderate to realize that they are causing 15+ cars behind them to go at their preferred pace in the #1 lane.

I'm usually going with the flow of traffic in the #1, around here its usually around 75-90mph depending on time of day and how many idiots you get that want to do 65 in the same lane.

CA Vehicle Code 21654. (a) Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, any
vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal
speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be
driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable
to the right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing
another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing
for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or
driveway.
(b) If a vehicle is being driven at a speed less than the normal
speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time, and is
not being driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as
practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, it shall constitute prima
facie evidence that the driver is operating the vehicle in violation
of subdivision (a) of this section.
(c) The Department of Transportation, with respect to state
highways, and local authorities, with respect to highways under their
jurisdiction, may place and maintain upon highways official signs
directing slow-moving traffic to use the right-hand traffic lane
except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or preparing for a
left turn.

Ed

 

[mad jew]

One day while travelling in the fast lane (at the speed limit) on a 6 lane freeway with no traffic in sight at all, I suddenly noticed that someone had snuck up behind me and was tailgating my bike (with passenger). I would have moved had I seen them coming, as it was I slowed down a little to let them pass as, being on a bike it seem a better option at the time. I thought they'd just get on with it.

Down to 90, 80, 70, still tailgating. I ended up coming to a complete stop on the freeway as did they. I got off the bike and walked up to the car an noticed about a 70 year old driver and similar age passenger with their wives all in their bowling whites. I asked them what the problem was and they said, 'move out of the way'. Still no traffic about.

Usually though I just flash my brake lights without braking.

Haha! Nice story. Please don't get me started on the older drivers though. Eek, I love 'em to bits but some people shouldn't be driving.

 

[OutThere]

Haha! Nice story. Please don't get me started on the older drivers though. Eek, I love 'em to bits but some people shouldn't be driving.

Old people can be really dangerous in cars. I believe there are some laws in the works in Connecticut (my state) to develop a system where old people have to be retested every few years to keep their licenses.


On another note, I bet you (mad jew, being australian) haven't had the joy of being tailgated by a monstrous SUV...my friend just got back from a year doing a teaching thing in melbourne and said that there were no big trucks there. His girlfriend in melbourne saw a minivan and said "wow that's a huge car". Hah. He's been driving around looking for big trucks to send her pictures of. It's always lovely to have your rear-view dominated by one of these:

 

[mad jew]

Yeah, we've got less of 'em plus more space so we're pretty right.

Our oldies get retested periodically by their local GP. The poor GP is then faced with the challenge of taking away one of their usually most loyal supporter's licence. It's a bit of a faulty system and many poor oldies slip through. I've got nothing against them personally and I've got a few in my family who this applies to. It's just that they're so damn dangerous.

In many situations it's dangerous driving forty clicks under the speed limit, just as it's dangerous to drive forty over.

 

[dogbone]

In many situations it's dangerous driving forty clicks under the speed limit, just as it's dangerous to drive forty over.

After 3,000 kilometers through the Victorian Alps, over the Snowys, up to Tamworth the back way through Gundegai, we finally arrived home. I went down to the local shop to get a loaf of bread and got T-boned by a nurse coming out of a hospital, she was travelling about 5 kph at the time. Comminuted tib/fib. Yeah you don't need to go fast.

 

[yg17]

Old people can be really dangerous in cars.

Reminds me of tonight.

I was behind a little old lady who was probably on this earth before cars were, and she can barely see over the wheel and is swerving back and forth from the left side of the lane to the right side (and there are pedestrians around, this was a neighborhood) going about 20mph in a 35. 2 lanes, 1 each direction, no passing. I was stuck. Eventually, the road ends and it splits off into 2 lanes, I go in the left to make a left, she goes into the right to make a right. So we're side by side, and she's still swerving and comes within about 6 inches of hitting m car I think old people should have to retake a driving test every year or two, sometimes they're just way too dangerous while driving.

 

[Coolnat2004]

Reminds me of tonight.

I was behind a little old lady who was probably on this earth before cars were, and she can barely see over the wheel and is swerving back and forth from the left side of the lane to the right side (and there are pedestrians around, this was a neighborhood) going about 20mph in a 35. 2 lanes, 1 each direction, no passing. I was stuck. Eventually, the road ends and it splits off into 2 lanes, I go in the left to make a left, she goes into the right to make a right. So we're side by side, and she's still swerving and comes within about 6 inches of hitting m car I think old people should have to retake a driving test every year or two, sometimes they're just way too dangerous while driving.

Heh, one old person in front of me wouldn't pull up far enough to a red light, and thus the light didn't recognize that there was a car there. We all sat for 5 minutes until I gave up and turned right

 

[aquajet]

That pickup truck is ridiculous.

 

[yg17]

Heh, one old person in front of me wouldn't pull up far enough to a red light, and thus the light didn't recognize that there was a car there. We all sat for 5 minutes until I gave up and turned right

I'll admit it, I did that once. The day after I had an accident and completely wrecked my car, I was driving my dad's car, and obviously, was still a bit shaken up and was driving overly cautiously. I was sitting at a light for like 3 cycles and it didn't turn green, eventually, the person behind me got out of her car and ran up to me and told me to pull up to trip the sensor. I was several feet back. D'oh!

 

[ErikCLDR]

That pickup truck is ridiculous.

These morons that live around the corner have more money than they know what to do with so they bought one of these. They have family money and a small oil company. The father actually drives it around on a fairly regular basis and gets probably 6mpg. His wife an MDX, his daughter a trailblazer, and they also have a Tahoe and a lincoln continental. Most people in town say that they have "too much money, too little brains" (very stupid people).

----
I've tailgated intentionally one time. I was driving on a road and the speed limit was 50. Well this guy in a GTI was going 35 and I really wanted to get home because I was tired. So I tailgate him for like 30 seconds so he gets pissed off and brakes hard. The minute I saw the his brake lights I saw it was a passing zone and there were no cars coming so I just swerved to the left and passed him. This pissed him off so he then tailgated me and turned on his high beams. I didn't feel like fighting with him so I just sped away. It was kinda funny. But seriously- You're going 15 miles per hour under the speed limit, thats not acceptable.

I wish it was like the Merit Parkway in NY/CT where they say "Speed Limit 65, Minimum 40" (Although most of the time you're not moving it all )