Tailgated/Highbeamed for going 52mph in 55 zone on Wilber Cross Parkway, Wallingford-Meriden stretch, CT:
This morning, around 8am, I was headed north on Rte 15 (Wilbur Cross Parkway), cruising 51-52mph in a 55mph stretch of that highway , right hand lane. Posted minimum speed 40mph. Northbound traffic at that time very light.
This small pickup truck, a white make/model unknown, outfitted with racks above the bed for ladders and other accessories, tailgated and occasionally flicked highbeams at me, while the left lane was largely available for them to pass me and go around. This went on for about 5 minutes.
After a few flicks of my highbeams at the speed limit signs, and a couple flickers of my left turn blinker, they finally got the hint and went around me in the left/passing lane, none too aggressively, and disappeared into my horizon.
I maintained cruising speed during and after the episode.
I guess the rest of the story goes like this. I was trying to stop you because I picked up your triple trailer ball that fell out of the Reese hitch back on the Silas Deane Highway near the old Red Lobster. Frog Hollow Fables are free.
Would you really attempt to stop someone to return their hitch-ball? That would be pretty dangerous in my neck of the woods. Even telling someone their brake lights arenât working as they exit their vehicle in a parking lot can be dangerous. I used to do that as a courtesy until I got on the receiving end of some violent diatribe one time, so after that I just ignore anyone elseâs brake lights out. It seems some folks really, really donât like being told their brake lights are out ⊠lol âŠ
That would be your every day commute if you drove that slow (if traffic was moving much faster) in my area, except you might hear a horn honking and see a single finger way when they finally got around you⊠Yes we ALL know your views about speed limitsâŠ
You really werenât complaining about it so that is cool⊠Sounded like a statementâŠ
But if this was a complaint (again, may not have been), then all I can say is if you choose to drive your way, donât complain to much about other drivers in the majority getting upset at your way of drivingâŠ
When in Rome⊠lol
I bet the Connecticut State trooper would encourage you to pick it up a bit. Accidents happen when the traffic doesnât flow smoothly. People going faster or slower than the general flow are equally disruptive.
Did you forget to turn on your headlights and were driving with just your DRLâs during low contrast hours? Was your gas cap hanging down outside the filler neck? Was your exhaust glowing red hot under your car? Donât laugh. I spent five miles flicking high beams at a car on the QEW in Canada with a red hot catalytic converter that was starting to go up in flames under their vehicle before the guy pulled over to let it cool down and keep his car from incinerating.
Sometimes people think they are trying to help, and sometimes they really are. Just sayinâŠ
Had plenty of them pass me on the left. And if one did, it would be part of that American culture that going under the speed limit means youâre inferior somehow to those who exceed the limit.
It was mid morning, and sunny.
No dangling gas caps, any of that.
Iâm just a victim of that culture that treats speed limits as minimum driving speed.
Youâre not a âvictimâ of anything. The culture of America now is that we are somehow victims of all sorts of grave injustices, some real and some perceived. In this case you were going slow. I do that too in many cases. When a tailgater pulls up on me on a four lane, like the one you were on (two in each direction), I simply take my foot off the gas until they get impatient and go around me. On a two lane I signal, slow down, and move to the right so they can get by me. I stay safe and they can root out any deer running across the road for me. I never have felt victimized by speedy drivers. Ultimately they are the victims.
Those are YOUR interpretations of slow and speeding. Some would agree with you. Others would not. Itâs not your job to police other people or judge them just as they should not do that to you. This world is much less frustrating if you accept that your way is your way. You consider it right, just as those speedier (and slower) than you consider their way right.
Stop spending so much time in false outrage and you will enjoy life much more. I do!!!
+1
Simply slowing downâgraduallyâby taking oneâs foot off the gas pedal, is what is recommended in Defensive Driving courses as the best way to deal with tailgaters. After a couple of minutes, they decide to pass you, rather than tailgating.
In my area, where most of the roads are one lane in each directionâwith no shoulderâif someone insists on tailgating me, I look for a safe place (parking lot, strip mall, etc) to pull into, so that the a-hole can disappear.
Very strange that he would sit behind you flashing his lights when thereâs a passing lane ready to use. Donât get it. Iâm usually the speed limit plus 7 or 8 kinda guy so I donât like tailgaters that want me to go even faster. Itâs best to let the cruise control do itâs thing and ignore these people.
+1
The tailgaters who truly fascinate me are the ones who are following me on a rural road (with no shoulder and no passing zones), who think that if they tailgate me, they can get me to drive faster than the 2 or 3 cars in front of me that are driving slowly.
Iâve had cars flash their lights at me because I was driving below the speed limit. But so were the 20 cars in front of me. I guess they just wanted everyone to move out of the way and let him pass.