Dang were you the moron going 45 in a 55 mph zone I had to pass?
I can’t point to anything but personal experience. It’s true that most tailgaters are just control freak anger addicts that want you to give up the lane. They are legion anymore.
But now and then someone just left too late and is having everything work out against them at once (it’s happened to me), and the person is late to a meeting or late to pick up the kid at soccer and the coach doesn’t wait for the parents.
If you’re in no hurry and the car behind you is, the right thing to do is just pull over.
Other than the “brake check,” which I can’t in good conscience recommend…what I would do is, maintain my current speed, but activate the 4-way flashers.
That basically says, “I know you’re back there, and I’m not going any faster.” It isn’t really a “hostile” maneuver, though, and fairly unlikely to escalate the situation.
Slowing to 10 or 15 mph in a 45 zone could cause an accident, and could irritate the tailgater. I would call it “passive-aggressive” driving.
My standard response would be to signal and pull over as soon as it is safe. I have no interest in trying to stand up for my rights, teach someone a lesson, or send any kind of message to tailgaters. I just want them far away from me as soon as possible.
Well, there’s a list of things to do first, to determine what type of tailgater you have behind you:
First thing to try is the slow down from the pace you were going to exactly the speed limit.
If they are still behind you, then slow down to 5 or 10 mph below the speed limit.
If they are still behind you, hold this speed until you pass 2 intersections/off ramps.
If they are still back there, then you need to switch to the empty lane next to you, the left one mentioned by the original poster.
If they then switch into the lane behind you, and continue to tail gate you, you officially have a hostile person behind you, that is going to be tricky to deal with. Best bet at this point is to turn on your emergency flashers, and your high beams, and continue driving at your normal pace until you get to your destination. Maybe flash you high beams at any oncoming vehicles, and hope that one is a police car. You might get lucky, and they will turn around, and help.
Do not speed up.
Do not slow down further.
Do not slam on the brakes.
Do not try to out run them.
Do not turn off the road in hopes that they will keep going straight, they are going to follow you, and now you are going to wind up in unfamiliar territory with a nutcase behind you.
Just keep going where you were planning on going to, just with your hazards on, and flash your lights at oncoming cars to try and get more attention to what is going on behind you. If something happens, people will remember you.
And if they follow you to where you are going, get their plate number, call the cops, and don’t interact with them.
BC.
I have a fairly long commute, about 60 miles each way, and most of it is along a 2-lane highway (one lane each way). I don’t speed, and this absolutely infuriates some drivers, who tailgate, honk their horns, flash their brights, etc. I’ve had a lot of time to think about this, and finally came up with a solution that actually works. It’s a magnetic bumper sticker I designed myself, and ordered from Vistaprint.com. I’ve had people ask me whether I really am transporting what the bumper stick says, and I always reply, “Yes, one full set”. Feel free to copy the design yourself. You can see a picture of it here: https://sites.google.com/site/tailgatingkills/
I’m sending one to Click and Clack.
I hate it…but it’s SO COMMON in Massachusetts and NH there’s not much I can do about it…at least not without killing someone DAILY. On my 30mi commute I get tailgated by at least 10 different people…And MOST of the time I’m in the RIGHT LANE. Sometimes I’m in the left or middle lane passing someone. Doesn’t matter weather or road conditions either.
Some people are on the phone and just adjust their speed to yours. Riding a few feet from your bumper doesn’t register in their minds.
Some people tailgate for miles if they are going to make a right turn.It doesn’t seem to matter if you slow down or speed up.
I’m amazed at the people who are flying down the road and then proceed to tailgate after catching up to the car in front of them. Passing apparently is an anxiety issue.
Then there are the ones that pass you only to turn right, making you slow down. I don’t mind people that go the speed limit. I do mind people that go 10 under. The one that really gets me is the number of people in a 55 mph zone that go 65 in the passing zones, and slow to 45 in the no passing zones on a 55 mph roadway. I have seen it more often than to be able to attribute it to coincidence.
I too hate it when people drive in the left lane under the speed limit. And for the small exception of the blue-hairs…the vast majority driving in the left lane UNDER the speed limit are people either talking or texting on their cells.
The CA DMV says gradually slow down and pull to the side. Sometimes I would be in the middle lane of a 3 lane fwy and going the speed limit and they are still on my butt. At times I pull in the fast lane (if safe) and then slow down and let them go. It is interesting that they do not go in the speed lane to pass me.
I definitely agree. You don’t know whether the guy is a psycho or just impatient. Don’t find out.
Some people tailgate consciously, some people drive that way as a matter of course and don’t realize they’re doing anything wrong.
When I first had my license, I hit the brakes anytime I encountered a tailgater. Not too smart. Just remember the person may not be doing it on purpose, and even if they are the person in the passenger seat could be a loved one, or someone’s loved one who has nothing to do with the situation. They could be injured or killed. Even if it’s a single driver, tailgating isn’t something that deserves death or injury. Either ignore it or get out of their way.
Years ago my brother braked a tailgater multiple times. Eventually the driver of the van pulled along side him and smashed him off the road. His car was totaled, luckily a guardrail stopped him from going into the woods, if it had happened a just a few feet earlier before the guardrail began he would have. The person in the van continued on and was eventually pulled over and arrested. Fortunately for my brother the repercussion was only a destroyed car, however certainly not worth teaching someone a lesson.
Of course, this goes for any type of road rage or aggressive driving. Unfortunately bad driving is not a rare occurrence, learn to expect it, drive defensively and don’t take it personal.
You guys gonna love this, someone must have p1$$ed him off.
Listen to segment 1
This link can take you straight to the song, but it probably won’t work after this weekend when they post the new show.
Second link doesn’t work anymore.
I’ve never seen a three lane highway. Do you mean a six lane highway?
I’m an avid motorcyclist, and I’m wondering how he’d draw and fire while maintaining control, especially after being shot first. It’s just not reasonable to deliberately antagonize the driver of a 4000 pound car while riding a bike. It’s just stupid.
I also use your technique of slowing a little, speeding back up a little. I do it sort of randomly – not like it’s deliberate but more like I’m just not paying attention. It’s irritating enough that they’ll usually pass and go on.
One morning I couldn’t get rid of a guy. It was very early with no other traffic. No matter how slow or fast I went, he was glued to my rear bumper. So, I signaled and pulled to the left lane then released the throttle. At about 50mph on the interstate, he finally passed and went on. He looked confused as he went by. Go figger.
The original poster was referring to people who won’t pass.
I would like to hear from some tailgaters here to understand what they they think they are doing and how they justify their behavior.
Someone tailgates me I slow down. Screw them.
I guess his endless debate is about such behavior on a two lane road. Although this behavior is like religion in the rural midwest I have seen folks pull over just enough to let the faster driver pass on the right. On a four lane road or highway I think it is pretty straightforward. If a car is gaining on you, change lanes and let the person go by. Why make a political or ethical statement about going slower, braking, bumper stickers blah blah blah…