Tail Gaters
 

going to the store... asshole gurl with a cell stuck to her head behind me... car two up from me taking a left... i slow down... right on my ass she looks up... OH SHIT!!! this way - that way and off into the pucker brushes she goes...

i thought she was gonna be in my back seat

woulda been fine if she was better looking

and THAT was what i told the sheriff

i hate them, could kill them, i will stop and block traffic and ask, "how ya feel now that you've really pissed me off?"

one morning before i've had my coffee, coming into work, a truck was on my ass so close i couldn't see his headlights, (and don't give me shit about keeping up with the speed limit - i was 10 over), i hit the binders, got out and challenged the turd, he puts it in reverse and slams the car behind him

if you're driving, get the fookin' phone outa yer head!!!

one lady from north carolina was driving in front of me one day and was taking pic's out of her window of the local homes for sale - GEEZUS - skool just got out and she's in control of a camera while driving???

just another "piss me the fuck off"

no turn left unstoned...

Several years ago some cell-phone girl is traveling along. I merge (using a signal and had plenty of room) in front of her. Apparently she either didn't see me or was going to tailgate to "show me" that she didn't like my merge. Traffic ahead was heavy (in a place where it ALWAYS is heavy) and sure enough, I slow down and she doesn't, BAM! Rear ender.

She tries to tell me that I cut her off, bullshit. We were in the same lane for at least a quarter mile before she hit me. Then she gives me this sob story about how her dad is gonna kill her, so could we please just take care of this ourselves without reporting it to insurance. I take the bait (like a dumbass) and we exchange info.

2 weeks later I get a call from my insurance co telling me that I may get my policy cancelled because I had neglected to report an accident. Turns out the bitch is suing me, stating that I'm at fault! The frikkin' nerve of this bitch!

I straighten things out with my insurance and its painfully obvious that she's at fault. Thankfully it turned out OK for me, but what a freakin hassle.

So, Tailgaters suck, or people driving and talking on cell phones.

My traffic gripe is people on multi lane highways remaining in the left-hand lane when they are going the same speed or slower then the right lane. That's the only time I tailgate, but even then if there is tons of traffic around I'll leave plenty of space, if there is obvious room on the right to pass I'll stay tailgating to try and convince the person in front of me that the right lane is where they belong.

fuckin' eh Hanx........i had this chick on my ass all the way home,and she had a fuckin' cell stuck to her head.


that was until i slammed the brakes on in the middle of the road.

almost in the box of my truck and............she got off the phone real damn quick.


fuckin' pay attention while you're driving..........or you'll end up in the back of my truck and i'll sue your sorry cell phone talkin' ass.............


*bastards*

Amen brother! Drives me insane. INSANER!

All I can say to that is this...

Imagine the look on my face when I saw a cop driving a cop car yakkin away on HIS cell phone.

I always want to slam on my brakes just to make them smash into me, but I don't really like the idea of my car being damaged. They piss me off though. My co-worker slows down to 15 mph if the person behind him tailgates. Seems to work.

Get yourself an '83 Ford LTD, have someone weld I-beams on for bumpers and go to town on these morons.

Even the goddamned bus drivers yap on their cel phones here... I don't have a driver's license partially because I'm so afraid of all the idiots on the road.

I've been in the offending car once and the assbumped once. Based on my vast experience I can offer the following advices:

* Be in the bigger car. Scrappy old Peugeot 105 against a Volvo? Not pretty.
* Headbang often to keep the neck muscles in shape. I had about two days of bad whiplash (couldn't even sit up without full head support), then it cleared up neatly and hasn't bothered me in over ten years. :thumbsup:

It's good that you are "educating" bad drivers, but think of your own health as well, okay? :icare:

The ones that can't drive while on a phones are the ones that can't drive anyway, phone or no phone.

I love to either tap my brakes hard or flip on my lights when someone is riding my ass. It get's their attention in a hurry. Either that or I just let off the gas and coast, then give it some gas after a few seconds.

If someone won't get the message I just ramp up the passivity!

I just press the button that releases the oil and then hit the other button that switches my license plate.

Bond .... James Bond

I never have an issue with tailgaters... maybe it has to do with how fast I drive. :car:

I had this friend when I lived in Florida who drove a huge, jacked-up pickup... and he was the type of guy that you would want on your side in a fight because he is kinda nuts and doesn't hold back. Anyway, one day he was supposed to meet me for a few drinks after work. I get a call from him on my way there, and he says very calmly, "I'm going to be late... I'm about to be in an accident."

So he finally arrives and explains that this asshole was tailgating him really close, so he hit his brakes suddenly. Of course the asshole can't react quick enough, so his car is wedged up under my friend's truck... the front end totally destroyed... and barely a scratch on the truck. I thought it was pretty hilarious. :)

I may be in the minority here, but I say that tapping, hitting or slamming on the brakes is just as bad, if not worse than the act of tailgating in the first place. If there is no real reason for hitting the brakes other than to piss off the tailgater, then you are at fault for the resulting accident. I know that it couldn't be proven that the brakes were hit intentionally, but seriously, isn't it better to just change lanes and let the asshole go along his/her merry way than to get into an accident, or fight, or whatever?

Best bumpersticker I ever saw: Put down the DAMNED phone and DRIVE:thumbsup:

I don't tap the brakes to piss them off, I do so to get them to notice that they are too close. And I will always change lanes if that is an option. So far in 35+ years of driving tapping has worked without incendent.

Who wants to force an accident and tie up the time to deal with that and the resulting repairs? And even if it was proven that you hit your brakes intentionally, the person that hit you from behind is always at fault.

Today I had this guy in front of my in his jacked up Wrangler, with his wife and two kids in the back mind you - not some lil surfer kid, and he was going 5 under the speed limit. I am not a fan of tailgaters but I will get on your ass a little and back off and repeat in hopes you will speed up just a bit. So the guy starts moving his mouth dramatically in his mirror looking at me and the idiot runs into the car in front of him. Since I really wasn't tailgating him I didn't hit him. ha ha Kind of made my morning, no one was hurt but for acting like some big bad ass - he hit someone else :) ahh, lovely.

Then later this afternoon on the interstate I was going 15 over in the left lane (and there were cars in the lane to the right of me) and these 3 cars came flying up on my ass. So I sped up a couple mph to try and get past the cars in the right lane to get over so they could pass. Instead one of the guys cuts off a car in the right lane then zips in front of me, the next one cuts the same car off but as I kept my same speed he couldn't make it in front of me so he was stuck there. Then the third guy (in a truck) got so close I couldn't see his lights, so I did the break tap and he did back off my ass. So I resumed my speed and got over less that a minute later when there was room in the right lane. That is the kind of thing that really pisses me off - if there is no where to go and they are already going over the speed limit - chill out for just a second! Thanks :)

Read dirtyrascal7's post. Apparently there are people who do.

And I have been told point blank by a CHP officer (laws may vary state-to-state) that not all rear-enders are automatically the fault of the person who hits from behind. Each and every collision is unique, and fault must be determined. Sure, the overwhelming majority of rear enders ARE the fault of the person hitting, but there are rare instances where it can be proven that the person in front was at fault. And in all likelyhood dirtyrascal7's friend would be proven at fault if there was a witness in another lane that would testify to the fact that there was no reason to have hit the brakes.

Tailgaters suck, as do the people that hang in the left lane (the reason I won't let my wife drive during our trips to the cottage). What also bothers me are the people that can't pay attention enough to tell if I am slowing down or not, without the aid of brake lights.

I drive a 5speed, so I gear down as I get closer to the stop. As a result, my brakelights don't come on, but it's not like my speed goes from whatever-to-naught in the space of 5 seconds. A couple weeks ago a farmer in a truck behind me wasn't paying attention and damn near took off my bumper. Still, he decided it was my fault for not using my brakes. Seriously, is it that difficult to figure out if the car in front of you is moving slower than you are? Eeesh.

YES! I drive to work through the magnificent highway system of Cleveland every day and there never fails to be the person behind me who believes that 70 in a 50 is not fast enough. The other thing that pisses me off is when people feel no need to EVER use their turn signals. Just dodge and weave from one lane to another, nobody needs to know your intentions.

I hate people in left lane driving where they shouldn't. They suck, and don't belong on the road.

But while I may sometimes do it, I have a double standard and totally hate people who cut in at the very end of a long line in a lane, waiting for a bridge, exit etc... I hate those guys and will never ever let them in, I will make them hit me over letting them in (and so far no one has won that game of chicken).

I tap on my breaks and if they don't get the picture I feel nervous afraid to continue on, so no more gas... They usually get the picture when i slowly go decrease in speed.

Didn't anyone here take driving lessons? If someone is tailgating you, let them pass when it's safe to do so. If it's not safe to do so, open up a larger gap between you and the guy in front so you have a bit more wiggle room in case something shitty happens. Hitting or tapping your brakes or down shifting so they almost hit you has to be the dumbest things you could do. You'll be one of two cars flying off the road at 60 MPH if he hits you. Slowing down will piss the guy off (it may be fun) and isn't going to do any good either. Let the idiot pass.
If you're in the fast lane impeding the flow of traffic (no matter how fast the limit) you should move to the right lane when safe and let others pass you. Fools passing on the right and weaving through traffic are a result of idiots staying in the fast lane for the most part.

you guys dont knw what tailgating is until u come here to dubai and see it for yourselves. EVERYBODY tailagtes here.

if your on the freeway and doing 120 (legal speed) then your going too slow for most fuckers. if your in the left lane, then get the fuck out! its not uncommon to see people doing between 160-200km/hr everyday on the freeways tailgating people, flashing them till they move the fuck out of the lane.

its a side of Dubai that not many people see on those airy fairy tourist destination shows.

Kuwait was the same way. All the Kuwaitis driving their BMWs and Mercedes, driving WAY over the posted speed limit while talking on their phone. The best I saw was a lady holding her infant baby in her arm that was resting on the window, talking on her cell phone (other hand up to her head), and driving with her knees. She was also wearing a full burkha which completely eliminates peripheral vision. I followed traffic laws to the T there, because if I was busted for speeding, or anything I could not leave the country until all fines are payed for, and their legal system seems even more beaurocratic then ours.

I lock up my brakes until their ass is fucking sliding all over the road. I don't give a fuck. Just reading this has made me angry.

If you're going to tailgate me (which is < 8 feet or to the point where I can't see your headlights) I will wait until you're looking and I will lock up my motherfucking brakes. If you can't feel your ABS kick in then I didn't hit them hard enough.

I've caused three people to slide off the road, and almost caused one to roll - two wheels. Tailgating is one of the most dangerous things you can do, and you sure as hell aren't doing it to me.

Tailgating someone doing 25 over is not acceptable. You either stop, or you learn the hard way. And I can guarantee that my $2000 car with a collapsible hatch is worth far less than the damages your car will have.

If you're actually paying attention, you'll have no problem stopping in time.

Kamikaze vigilante?

If I'm on a two lane road, I'll slow down to between 10-15 mph under the limit. Then laugh and wave when they get angry and start flipping me off. When I have a passenger with me, I have them snap a picture of the offender while they are behind me and another of their license plate as they pass. The pictures get sent to my friend, who is an Assistant DA who handles a lot of traffic citations. He handles it from there.

This thread is good, but traffic on ventanger.com must have lowered significantly since this discussion started. :D

Am I the only one who disagrees completely?

A large part of driving correctly is WATCHING YOUR MIRRORS. If you see someone rushing up behind you get out of the way. I drive very fast, but there are always people that will want to go faster and I respect that, regardless of how stupid I think that might be. If I see someone flying up behind me I move over to the right. I put hundreds of miles on my car every week in the most densely populated area of the United States. I don't buy the excuse of not being able to pull over. You can always pull over if you're paying attention to the cars that are all around you, not just the ones right in front of you. If you're driving correctly you will always be able to pull over to the right before someone gets right up on your ass.

I tailgate when people don't move over, but only as a last resort. I always drive with my head lights on and I will flash my high beams before getting too close to the person. If traffic is heavy and there is no room for the person in front to move then I will hang back and relax and move over if someone decides to tailgate me.

I believe that the bigger problem is not tailgating, but that too many people just drive along in the left lane without paying attention to the cars around them. I also talk on my hand held cell phone when I drive. Laws against hand held phones are absolutely ridicules in my opinion.

Happy Driving :)

I have a funny story about tailgating. I was on the highway in the far left lane passing a car, when this shiny black car came right up on my ass. I wasn't going slow or anything, about 20km over the speed limit. He was riding so close that I couldn't even see his headlights. I decided I was going to flip him off after going into the other lane and letting him by, so I did. I then realized that it was a cop driving an unmarked car! I was so scared that he was going to pull me over, but he didn't. If he had, I would have just explained the reason why I was angry. What more could I have done? I still think it's funny to tell a story claiming I flipped off a cop though :)

so not only do you deliberately antagonize someone in a hurry by driving under the speed limit, you take your eyes off the road to laugh and wave at them??? sounds pretty unsafe to me. The fact that you have your assistant DA friend "handle" these situations after you bait a reaction from another driver removes what little faith i had in the justice system. Shame.

The only reason I ever tailgate is when i'm traveling on long stretches of empty highways and come across someone who decides to stick to the far left lane going the same speed or slower than the right lanes. I'm not patient enough to keep at it though, and so if the person doesn't get the hint and move over I'll simply pass them using the right lanes. As for vehicles coming up on me, i'll always make an effort to get over for them as long as I won't have to slow down/brake in the right lane in order for them to pass.

Re: To first post (topic starter)
 

Yeah, tailgaters confound me. One, a lot of them are very near their destination. I don't get why they want to increase their own probability of an accident. So many tailgaters have tailgated me so close they could reach out their door and adjust my rearview mirror for me, and yet then they turn off to the right right into a residential street, their home. Idiots...

Even worse is when they tailgate you when you have someone in front of you! What do they expect us to drive THROUGH the car ahead?

I also love (sarcasm) when I'm driving on a five lane road 8am on a Sunday morning, and the only other car on the road is an idiot right on my tail. What a gene pool.

Then there's the tailgater who, as soon as you start to switch to the next lane to get out of their way, their already in the next lane trying to pass you and you have to swing back to the other lane so they don't crash into you. :mad:

the highway code tells you to slowdown until they back off. that's what i do. pisses people off no end but is at least safe.

my problems is what to do when someone in front of you is going too slow...say 10 under the limit. how do you get them to move to the slow lane without tailgating and flashing?

i just tell werewife, when i get home, "it was the suburu from hell."

this happened on a two lane country road, which is what 99% are in these parts...

i go by the car-length rule... 1 for every 10 mph i'm going... the bastards behind me are gonna eat my shit if they hit me nad i'll take that all the way to the bank :grumpy:

that's a good rule, normally i just use the two second rule which you can time by saying "Only a fool breaks the two second rule" which takes about 2 second to say...

I do my best to try and not get angry about the idiots on the road.

Personally, I know I'm at my worst when I'm driving angry, so I just try to avoid it. If someone tailgates me, I simply get off the gas completely. That usually sends them into a rage. Me, I just chuckle and move on.

I used to be a brake tapper, now I just take my foot off the gas and go at least 10 under the speed limit (doesn't happen very often now)! In the last 5 years, I've changed the way I drive, mostly cause I don't want to get hit, or in a fight.

You people who brake-check or slow down to piss off tailgaters clearly don't understand you're doing nothing but pissing the tailgater off and making it worse. Let them pass, or just ignore them - easy as that. Then you won't need to whine and fret about the situation.

A few weeks back someone tried to run my little bro and I off the road in their gigantic truck. Ignoring them isn't always an option. If you're afraid, get in the right lane and exit to a very populated area like a mall or police station. Call 911.

aggressive drivers wont stop tail gating just because one person decided to act all pissy about it and slam on the brakes.

I hope you do realize that even though you might "feel better" like you're dealing out justice that the cops don't. You're also instigating the act of "stepping over the line"

being tailgated is one thing, risking the life of other people because you slam on the brakes and cause people to flip on on 2 wheels or whatever, is pretty lame and just as wreckless, if not more so, than tail gating.

stooping to the level of an aggressive driver just creates a volatile situation, and any cop will tell you that. Get out of the way if you don't like it. Maybe you're not driving as fast as you think you are. and maybe the person behind you doesn't agree with you on what "fast" constitutes.

Hell, it's hard for me to get my car up to 70 around here much less 80, which is what i'm used to from back home. People around here drive like they have the cars stuck in 3rd. it's very frustrating and yeah, I will drive faster to get past you, I don't continuously tailgate but if I see a lone car blocking the left lane with all this free space in front of him and he has rom to get over to the right, then I'll be on his ass giving him the "body language" hint that my car would like to be in front of him.