How do you handle EXTREME tailgaters?

[rdtony]

It's not the case; the driver in the rear would be ticketed for following to closely

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by rdtony

It's not the case; the driver in the rear would be ticketed for following to closely

Not if he's stopped. If you roll backward into a non-moving vehicle it is you who caused the accident. There is no such thing as having an assumed right to back into someone and automatically placing fault on a car behind you that is stationary. The driver must be in control of his vehicle at all times - like it or not.

[comptiger5000]

Thymeclock - I was in the center lane (3 lanes) coming up to an interchange where the right lane split off to a different highway, and in about 1/2 a mile, the center lane would have become the new right lane. She was simply driving like an idiot, cutting in and out of traffic once she got past me. Plus, nobody was driving any faster in any of the 3 lanes.

[bestclimb]

Originally Posted by brucepick

Driving a standard tranny, I've discovered another type of tailgater. The one who pulls right up to my bumper when stopped at a light on an upgrade. My car WILL roll backwards at least a few inches when I take my foot off the brake. I think most drivers of auto trans cars don't consider this at all. I haven't rolled into anyone yet but on a steep hill, it could happen.

I once asked a police officer about this. In a collision, the car in the rear will be the one at fault. Of course that's just a verbal opinion that I got but I like it.

Let clutch out just enough to keep you from rolling back, roll foot from brake to gas and you can start out without rolling back at all. If more throttle is required to keep from stalling a little heal toe doe see doe will keep you from causing an accident.

[tumnasgt]

I almost always use my handbrake to hold the car when I'm stopped on a upwards slope in a manual car, and sometimes in autos as well (habit, especially on steeper grades). Using the handbrake also means that I don't have to drain the battery on brake lights when the engine is off at a long light, though I do leave my foot on the brake until at least one car has completely stopped behind me.

Watching cars trying to do non-handbrake hill starts on a steep road during heavy rain is rather entertaining. I think "drying the road with my wheel spin" is the best way of describing it. Luckily when I've seen this, people have had the sense to leave room in front of them when they stopped, otherwise there would've been heaps of accidents with cars going back when they lost traction.

[star_deceiver]

Extreme Tailgaters? Sice it's winter, I simply let the wheels of the car into the gravel in the middle or side of the lane... generally they back off pretty quick. They can pass freely when we get to the 4 lane section!!!

Originally Posted by tumnasgt

I almost always use my handbrake to hold the car when I'm stopped on a upwards slope in a manual car.

This works quite well for me!

[comptiger5000]

I had some idiot in a Subaru wagon tailgating me about 10 feet back at night in a near whiteout blizzard last week. I tapped the brakes a couple times to tell him to "back off", after which he tried to pass me on the wrong side of the road, despite me just having flipped on a left turn signal, as I was coming up to my turn-off. I laid on the horn, causing him to drop back in behind me. Being that he decided to turn after me, I took the turn kinda fast (in a mild drift) to get some space between us.

He caught back up right after though, so I just bailed down the first side street, turned around and continued (now a bit behind him). He went ripping off, and I saw him pulled over farther ahead, just off-campus. Not sure what happened, nor did I care at the time.

People like this piss me off bigtime, especially when they show no signs of backing off, nor do they understand that they're being really, really stupid. If I'd been on something other than straight roads, I could have easily lost him (I had a good bit of grip, and do pretty well with drifting corners to avoid understeer). He came up behind me pretty fast too.

[Sulfuric]

Turn on the hazards for a few flashes. Do it early and if they don't notice, do it again.

[brucey]

Has anyone seen the modified diesels method of getting rid of tailgaters? It reminds me of an octopus getting away. Just this huge black cloud of smoke and then they're gone.

I actually don't get tailgated a lot, usually if someone is staying with me I'm on the highway and they'll simply pass me. On 2 lane roads around here, no one wants to stay the same speed on the curves, so they'll slow down and then catch up on the straight, slow down, repeat. All the while I'm coasting along :P

My biggest complaint is the taxi cab drivers that lay on their horn every time you properly obey a stop sign, do the speed limit in a school zone, attempt to squeeze by them to get into a parking spot at the grocery store, etc.

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by brucey

My biggest complaint is the taxi cab drivers that lay on their horn every time you properly obey a stop sign, do the speed limit in a school zone, attempt to squeeze by them to get into a parking spot at the grocery store, etc.

Smile and wave at them. If someone is angry and they see that it has no effect upon you they often will discontinue their behavior.