How do you handle tailgaters?

I used to brake check, get all worked up and such. I'm much more mellow now, so I'll just slow down a bit. Usually they'll speed past me and I can continue on.
It's just not worth the stress to mess around.

 

It depends on how bad I'm being tailgated. If its just someone thats getting too close for comfort I'll tap the brakes or whatever. But if someone is being a blatant ass I'll jam hard on the brakes. I always run around with my hitch on and I really don't care if that gets hit. A grille and radiator are pretty soft anyway.

Its a toss up between being a left-laning bitch and not realizing that ^V does not help you merge. I tend to just drop the hammer on the S/C and get on the highway before they do. If they end up being one of those dumbasses that sits at the end of the merge taper so be it.

I am a supreme dick, but its mostly all for the sake of a teachable moment.

 

Just start dropping gears and slow way down without touching the brakes. that usually gets a good reaction up here in the DC area. At one point it was night time and I got down to 5mph. then another car showed up and i sped back up to the speed limit. the guy behind me flipped me off and went around me in the double lanes when a cop was coming the other way. Worked out well for him

 

DUDE, I travel/work all over the US and the world. VA is by far one of my top 3 places in the US to never go to again. People there dont know how to drive for shit!!!

 

If I'm in the left lanes of travel, I'll simply move over and let them pass. If I'm in the right lane of travel and they have the availability to pass on my left, I'll maintain speed. If they continue to tail gate me, I usually let off the gas and gradually slow down more and more and more...if they continue to tailgate me, I believe they're doing it for a reason. Their actions will determine my response and/or whether I'm in fear for my welfare or the welfare of those who are riding with me.

Now if I'm in my Patrol Car, I'll hit my rear decks, slow down and let them pass..then PULL THEM OVER.

 

In California we have a lot of fast lane speed monitors. They get in the passing lane and just sit there. They seem to think since they are going the speed limit they don't have to pull over and everybody else can just wait. So everyone runs up there ass, then passes on the right to get around them. When they do finally move over they speed up and want to race you down the road. They play box the car and are probably the same idiots that speed up as you pass on a two lane. Whats sad is a few of you are of the same opinion that your driving the "right" speed whatever it is and anyone wanting to pass is an asshole. Move over! I would hate to be trying to get my wife or one of my grandkids to the emergency room and have one of you decide that your going the "right" speed and box me in or slam on the brakes or at night, hit me with your rear facing driving lights.

 

Having lived all over the world (especially asia and europe) I jsut tend to move over and let them pass. Even on a 2 lane road, I will slow and move to the right and let them pass. I used to get pissed and all worked up and brake check people (in really bad situations I used to pull the e-brake, no lights and that hitch stick right up in the air and the tires just howl nice and loud). Now, after being in Iraq and afghanistan as much as I have, its not worth me getting mad and worked up over. If you are in that much of a hurry, I will move. If I cant and your still in that much of a hurry, to bad. If someone wants to get stupid and take issue with me about it. At the next light they can talk it out with my two dogs. If they REALLY want to get stupid and road rage on my I have a CWL and I have been in plenty of situations in some of the places I have been that I know how to handle myself and my gear. I am the last to do that, but if pushed to that point I am the last person you want to go against.

In every country but the US if a person is coming up on you in the fast lane, people have the decency to move. If you dont notice them, they give you a little flash and you move over. Simple as that, what is so hard for people here to understand about that. If you are in that much of a hurry, you should have left 10 minutes earlier!
Drivers in the US are assholes, I am in Bahrain, Saudi, and Kuwait right now where drivers are crazy, but the US is still one of the most inconsiderate and worst. As for asians, they are only bad drivers in the US because most other drivers are such dicks. I lived in Japan for 9 years and Korea for 2. I became such a better and nicer driver driving and riding motorcycles in those places. Old people... Fuck-em.. Get your geriatric alzhiemers ass off the road!!! LoL

 

You seem kinda angry, I'm gonna take a guess an say you're a tailgater yourself?

As for what I do (this is taught in motorcycle school) I slow and make sure there's a larger space between me and the car in front. A lot of people speed up and decrease the space between themselves and the car in front, which also decreases the amount of time you have to react to things up front.

I'm not a slow driver and don't always go the speed limit, but people really need to learn how to adjust to conditions and place. Example, you're in a residential area, there's kids on bikes or people walking their dogs and such, don't be an ass hat and speed no matter what the signs say.

Other way around, if its a sunny day, dry roads, visibility is miles and miles, and you're on the interstate, don't be an ass hat and drive 55 in the left lane

 

It's funny-cause you don't know what the other guy is thinking...Maybe you are being the jerk?? It goes both ways...so why instigate by brake checking and trying to teach them a lesson??

Not to mention- While CCW carriers tend to think "what if" all the time- Posting about how it's part of your plan probably isn't the greatest idea...Cause that pre-planning paired with your provocative actions...That can land your ass in a big sling.

x2 on LA drivers SUCKING. I've never seen people drive with such complete disregard for their own safety, property, and laws. And the cops kinda just accept it as the way it is.

That first paragraph is my normal response. I'm not going to do something illegal or dangerous to try to trap them into doing something stupid, illegal, dangerous, or threatening. They are going to screw it up all be themselves...I'm going to drive the limit or lower and chill. Let them rear end me or try to pass where it's not legal.

Brake checks don't make sense to me cause I'd rather not get hit. Even with it being their fault and insurance being involved....Accidents suck-Truck may or may not be the same ever again...Injuries are possible...Gotta leave my truck at the shop for a week and drive a rental.

 

Hispanic immigrants too! But I think I know why - south of the border the speeds are in Km/hr, not MPH. So 60km/h equates to about 40 MPH... which is what they all seem to do...

I like to speed up til I get just to the front of a semi. Then I keep pace with the semi trailer....
Back when I had a stick shift, I'd downshift. All of a sudden, big speed drop with no brake lights to tip 'em off.
I also sometimes just hit my windshield fluid. It'll catch the wind and go over the truck and splatter them.

 

You realize acting like this just makes things worse, and makes you as much of an A-hole as the guy you're trying to "teach".

 

If I was trying to get my kids or wife to the hospital (no ambulance?) I sure wouldn't be obeying traffic laws. At that point, I think I'd like a plate bumper installed.. so I could punt said slow-ass driver outta my lane.

 

BTW Brake check here on Tailgaters will get you partially responsible if a collision occurs. Not a good idea to do that around here. Unless there is some road hazard you are going to get dinged 50/50.
I like that wait and avoid the road hazard at the last second trick. I'm pretty sure I've done this myself a few times. It really pays to get the bigger picture and not follow to close.
Personally I just let the twits pass and more times than you can imagine you'll see them in the ditch cracked up father down the road then you can give them the horn salute and wave.

Tailgating is stupid anyway cause most cars and trucks have plastic lights now. Nothing like a nice sand blast.

 

I don't tailgate. I usually pull over and let them pass and give them the stink eye when possible.
The only thing I hate is when someone tailgates so you let them pass, thinking they want to go faster than you right, and they pass at 1 mph faster than you.
I have done a break check before but I try not to that some people don't have good breaks.

 

I just kinda gradually drop my speed. They usually make their way around me after going slow enough for a long enough time. If they look my way- I give'em a grin.

 

Yup. But I'm hispanic, so it's OK.

Don't sweat it too much - I make fun of everyone. It's a defense mechanism to cover for other problems I don't want to admit I have.

And if you're talking about the driving, then, yeah, I know I'm an Ahole too. But he started it!

 

I thought about becoming a police officer, it seems kind of "fun"? lol.

What are your opinons?

 

Here in South Africa (where I am originally from and here for the next week before coming back stateside) they have a pretty good way of dealing with it.

Most highways here are single lane each way and not divided like most normal road in the US. Also we have very wide shoulders (about the widht of a normal car) and fairly high speed limits everywhere; a road like that would normally be 100 kph or 120 kph (62 mph 75mph respectively). Most people when a car is coming up fast on them will move over in to the shoulder and let you pass with out having to go on to the other side of the road (even though as far as i know is technically illegal) also trucks and vehicles way below the speed limit will usally keep very far to the left (we drive on the opposite side of the road).

And then once you've passed you would just normally flash your flashers as a thank you and they would more or less say your welcome with a quick flash of the brights.

I wish americans would adopt that method, it actually makes driving on the highway pleasant and a 2 lane undivided highway be reasonable to drive. + the 75 mph speed limit doesn't hurt either. Maybe I'll grab a vid. of it 2moro while driving and post up.

 

Over Christmas I was driving down to NY to see family. I was passing a semi and this little POS came crusing up behind me so I increased speed to get around the truck. The dick got so close that I couldn't see the hood. Must of been only about a foot off my rear bumper. Got in front of the semi and flicked the guy off, he proceeded to pull right in front of me and slam on his breaks. Jumped into the fast lane to avoid hitting him or the semi hitting me and he laughed and waved.

There are times that I wish I had a really big stick to hit all the stupid people of the world with...

 

I try and keep a cool head. If you have a real idiot behind you is it even possible to teach them a lesson they will remember?