How do you handle EXTREME tailgaters?

[Curly1]

Sorry for the rant but I feel strongly about this. Just like with drunk driving it usually an innocent bystander that gets killed and not the one doing the "Brake check" or something else stupid. If it was only them that got killed then I would not say anything about drunk driving, road rage or what ever it is you do to cause road rage. I would say go for it and have fun. Fact is others get hurt and killed for stupid actions sometimes.
Road Rage is bad but it is usually caused it by cutting someone off, holding them up, flipping them off or what ever it takes for them to blow a fuse.
Someone wants by then let them by, I do not care if I am going 90 miles an hour if someone comes up behind me I let them by as quickly as possible. No silliy little games, hand signals or anything else.
While you may have good intentions for trying to slow someone down maybe they can put that on your headstone.
We have all made mistakes in driving and life in general but do not look for trouble or cause trouble or you may find it.
I am on this site to learn how to get better gas mileage out of my car not to learn how to piss off people and cause trouble. Curly

[RH77]

Originally Posted by Curly1

Sorry for the rant but I feel strongly about this.

It sounds as if we share the exact opinion. I've been in a situation where road rage sent the other party to jail on a Felony charge -- it's completely not worth the silly games people play.

I look forward to your membership here. I hope the site can help you attain your FE goals...

RH77

[Curly1]

Thanks for the warm Weclome. I hope I did not start out on the wrong foot or offend anyone with my strong opinions. Curly

[Z man]

I haven't had an extreme tailgater at night in a while,
but I'm probably going to hold the shift button while moving it to R to show the reverse lights while coasting. That should scare them!

[RH77]

On an Interstate highway with multiple open lanes, I use the same procedure that truck drivers often use: slow to the point that the tailgater passes. As soon as you're passed, you're forgotten. I've been there in my previous "life" as speedy driver.

The most troublesome are those on a cell-phone -- these folks are merely using my vehicle as a "reference point" to follow, despite the speed. You could come to a stop in a 70 zone and these morons would right behind you. In this case, I change lanes (usually to the passing lane if clear) -- and they pass on the right.

Delicate and orchestrated operation is often required as an Eco-Driver. Just be advised that it may take some experimenting to see what works in your region.

RH77

[Dust]

Never thought about using the rearview to reflect their headlights back. Thought about doing it when I got pulled over by cops though. Their spotlight is my sideviews really pissed me off.

[99metro]

Curly

I guess we all need a reminder of what our actions, or unfortunate "wrong place at the wrong time" circumstances can do it an instant.

My very last instance of letting "them" get to me was just a few days ago. Extreme tailgater at low speed - me behind a slow big rig just coming off a red light. I slowed down with the throttle. The guy passed slowly, but stared me down as he did this. I think he was a gang-banger by the looks of things. I realized I could have turned into a statistic if there weren't so many witnesses.

This thread has calmed me down greatly. Treat aggressive drivers like you would a wild gorilla (remember the movie Congo). Direct eye to eye contact is a challenge and might just be enough to cause a road rage incident or worse. Don't give them any reason you are getting back at them, or giving them an excuse to take you out. We gotta be safe, and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Show them what a good driver is - maybe they (or a new driver) can learn from you.

I know they make your blood boil, but consider that in the moment that it does boil, that it is a challenge to yourself on anger management. I know I am a work in progress, but I'm progressing. I want to make it home for dinner tonight, and hypermile again tomorrow.

later

[i_am_socket]

I had a guy going crazy behind me this morning. Coming out of a toll booth and to a sharp-ish turn where a reasonably safe top speed is about 45. I'm passing a truck on the left doing 45 (why speed up only to slam on the brakes?) and this nut in an Audi starts honking at me and waving to get out of his way before I've even passed the truck.

I was in a very chill mood this morning so I just kept the same speed, passed the truck, and the guy zipped around me before I could change lanes, pulled right in front of me and hit his brakes. Fortunately it was right at the turn so I was already off the gas. Guy sped up again after the turn and took off in his little turbo coupe.

Two minutes later I'm right behind him at a traffic light. Karma works.

[Joe_Bloe]

Originally Posted by RH77

The most troublesome are those on a cell-phone -- these folks are merely using my vehicle as a "reference point" to follow, despite the speed. You could come to a stop in a 70 zone and these morons would right behind you.RH77

AIEEEEEE, you just hit my biggest button. I've even seen my wife do this in the rare occasion that she "allows me to allow her to drive" when I'm in the car. Usually she just won't do it, she insists I drive, because gee, I'm aware of what's going on around us and she sometimes isn't.

She doesn't even have to be on the phone, she just picks a set of taillights and does whatever they do. Usually from too close a following distance.

[hypermiler01]

[hypermiler01]

Instead of spraying water in the air, spray it on your exhaust manifold. It will make a big, white cloud.

[TestDrive]

Originally Posted by i_am_socket

this nut ... starts honking ... and waving to get out of his way
before I've even passed the truck.

I was in a very chill mood this morning so I
just kept the same speed, passed the truck, and the guy zipped around me before I could change lanes, pulled right in front of me and hit his brakes. Fortunately it was right at the turn so I was already off the gas. Guy sped up again after the turn and took off in his little turbo coupe.

Two minutes later I'm right behind him at a traffic light. Karma works.

Since the guy was a nut, he was probably thinking, 'If that jerk behind me hadn't slowed me down, I'd have made this light!'

What might have happened, if he had been a homicidal, gun toting, nut in an Audi? At the stop light, maybe he would have been thinking, 'Ah, karma.' and ...

Were I you, the questions I'd be asking myself right now: Were you attempting to coolly consider which was more dangerous - the curve ahead or the nut behind you? Or did you just give into a mood?

[i_am_socket]

Oh, he definitely would have been stuck at the light anyway. I only caught up because he got stuck behind a line of trucks (it's an industrial area) before the light. The extra 10 seconds behind me wouldn't have done anything for him. He was the kind of guy that I don't mess with, I just do my thing and keep going and 99% of the time they'll move on. If he hadn't jumped out from behind me, gone around, and cut me off I would have gotten out of his way in another second.

I've seen some psycho people on the road, like yesterday when a guy decided to cut across 3 lanes before a traffic light, almost hit several cars and some people, then flipped everyone off and was summarily chased by a few of the cars he almost hit. I really don't want to know how that ended.

[KitCarlsonEMS]

I have found eating beans, cracking a window and passing gas helps. It is inhaled by the tailgaters vent system, resulting in the car quickly backing off.

[thefirebuilds]

driving my car home today this broad goes flying by me in a mid sized sedan pushing 80mph on a 50@50 donut. crazy stuff. I did 5-10 below the limit all the way home trying to hit stop lights and guess who was there waiting for the light to turn every time. ugh.

A few times I've been on highway trailering my race car, i generally like to do 55-65 in the slow lane, i get people driving in front of me, slamming brakes, attempting to side swipe me, riding my trailer like crazy. im in a dodge 1500 van with a steel utility trailer. Unless its a semi truck guess who "wins" the contest in an accident. Frustrating and silly, especially since im probably less able to react than a semi with big fat brakes.

[Curly1]

I have a one ton four door dually for my business and race car. Sometimes pulling a trailer I am over 14,000 Lbs so nothing happens quickly starting or stopping.
I try very hard to get out of peoples way and not hold up traffic and most people are also courteous. There are a few jerks out there though and if they get into it with my truck I would say they would probably not win. Man, I have had many close calls but been lucky so far. If I am going 60 MPH and they pull in front of me at 30 we have a big problem because that thing does not stop well at that weight. Many close calls and some people just do not care.

[Blister]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I just ignore 'em or gradually slow down if they have the option of passing.

I basically ignore them too and slow down as well. I just let off the gas until I'm around 10 miles under the speed limit. Unlike you though (you compassionate soul), I don't care if they can pass or not. They're endangering everyone around them and deserve a little inconvenience inserted into their day.

In my area it seems like most people are somehow programmed into thinking they MUST tailgate the person in front of them. It's very odd to me since it is such a small and somewhat laid back town. THEN, you got farmer brown who never had his truck over 40 going 25 in a 55. Oh, such a temptation to ride FB's rear end but I don't. I try and keep around three car lengths between us, not because it's recommended but because I know how much room it takes me to stop. I also figured out that FB hasn't figured out what blinkers are for either so staying as far away from him as I can get is just plain safe.

If the local police started ticketing tailgaters instead of infringing upon my rights with their seatbelt laws, this county would be much richer.

Maybe tailgating is genetic. lol

I do not alter my speed when hauling my tractor though. It's a huge waste of fuel and most of the time I'm practicing a form of hypermilling while driving it from job to job. They just have to deal with it and most don't tailgate that thing. That tractor bouncing up and down must look pretty scary when your in a car made of tinfoil.

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet

Just get rid of the rear view mirror. It's that simple

Exactly. I used to simply flip the interior mirror downwards and ignore them. Brake checks are always interesting though, "Didn't you see that stray dog run across the highway I had to stop for?!"

[thinkmoto]

I ginore them. if they get too close I slam on the brakes, I don't care whats behind me. Then again I tailgate naturally all the time. if your not doing the speed limit I'll be on your ass like stink on ****. i always laugh when I have to pass people in the 49hp blaze of glory runs with the xfi. It just doesn't seem right when this happens.

[Frank Lee]

Yeah right.