How do you handle EXTREME tailgaters?

[bluejoey]

I give them room if I can by edging to the right part of the lane. If they're bearing down on me in a collision course, I speed up enough to avoid the impact, then maintain that speed until they pass. Occasionally I get honked at. I just keep on my way. It's not worth letting strangers have that much of a negative effect on my mood, although sometimes situations still get the best of me.

[comptiger5000]

I swapped out the Quadra-Trac in my Jeep for Selec-Trac, as 2wd is nice at times. It is a bit more optioned than it needs to be, but it's comfy for the long trips to/from college, rides well on the highway, and has plenty of power. Too bad the mpg isn't better, but compared to some SUVs, it's certainly not horrible. Plus, a few engine mods are in the future, some of which (injectors with better spray pattern) improve engine efficiency and are known to yield a bit of mpg on the highway. I should be able to get another 2 - 3 mpg out of it.

Today, I didn't so much have to deal with tailgaters as Massholes (went to Boston and back). Need to change lanes for an interchange, so I flip on a turn signal. The car about 6 - 7 carlengths back in the lane I want to change to sees that, and the fact that I'm from out of state, and immediately punches it to prevent me from merging. I know it's bad for FE, but for the 2 or 3 times that happened today, I couldn't resist putting my foot down and letting them hear a little V8 as I merge in front of them anyway. The never look to happy after that...

[vacationtime247]

Guess @ 15mpg isn't terrible for gas mileage, expecially with mixed city / highway. You using it's onboard MPG calculater? Best I got with it's onboard gauge was 20 MPG on a very long trip cross country. They certainly are comfortable for those long trips your right. That Jeep would get down and go from a stop too! Wouldn't think they'd be that quick. But those engines were better than the Ford 351 or the Chevy 350 IMO.
Hate when someone is just trying to be a jerk not letting you get over. If your not being stupid, why are they?
Now, there are people I don't let in. When some idiot a few cars back tries to get in the right lane. Then pass everyone lined up on the left going around a semi. Try to cut in front of everyone. Better hope I'm not the guy getting ready to pass the semi. You're NOT cutting in. Slow down and keep 'em all lined up behind me preventing the person from coming back in, passing slowly. Pet peeve.
VT247

[comptiger5000]

My mileage is hand calculated after each tank. The onboard display isn't terribly accurate most of the time. And I agree, they're very solid engines. My best tank was 21.3 mpg, pretty much all highway. A little bit of drafting, but mostly just locked the cruise to 60 in the light, rolling hills. Unfortunately, a brick isn't too conducive to mpg, especially not with the V8. My mom's 99 with the I6 does better. Running highway at 60mph, 21 - 23 mpg is normal, depending on terrain. I've seen 24 - 25 in it once, IIRC.

The 6.8 second 0-60 is certainly nice for short highway on-ramps, or putting it where I want/need to be in a pack of traffic.

[gone-ot]

...when the NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL presented its 'Driver Improvement Program' (ie: Defensive Driving Course) where I worked, this is the answer the presenter, an Arizona Highway Patrol officer, gave:

"...slow down, and let them pass."

...Why? Because the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) 28-704(c) has a "...five-vehicle back-up = pull over..." rule that originally pertained to farm vehicles and single-lane roads, but now states:

"ARS § 28-704 (c) states that "if a person is driving a vehicle at a speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place on a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe, and if five or more vehicles are formed in a line behind the vehicle, the person shall turn the vehicle off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the director or a local authority, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the vehicles following to proceed." Additionally, on multi-lane roadways, if vehicles approach and appear to want to pass, you should again signal and change lanes, proceeding to the right. Not only does awareness of safe driving procedures when traveling at slow speeds reduce the risk of a traffic collision, it also helps to avoid drivers possessed by road rage."

...lesson? Learn the "rules" for the state (and locality) you're driving through; and remember that "ignorance" is no justification (except for political offices)!

[KITT222]

I got honked at by a young girl in a big Highlander today after turning right. She practically rode my bumper through the corner, and even before she had straightened out, she honked and yelled at me! First, let me say that Toyota horns are some of the wimpiest I've ever heard. I'm getting mine replaced eventually. Second, I was driving like a normal, slightly slow, person! It was too early after the turn to discern any difference between me, and a normal, fast teen driver. So after getting startled by that horn, and yelled at, I wasn't pleased. But, I did nothing. I just got up to the speed on the road (35 MPH. You honked at me on a road with a speed of 35MPH.) as I normally do, and kept an eye on her, as she drove 5MPH under the limit. She obviously wasn't happy with me. Why, I have no idea. She looked a bit hot as she turned off the road. Is this what it's like on the highway?

[Formula413]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

"ARS § 28-704 (c) states that "if a person is driving a vehicle at a speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place on a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe, and if five or more vehicles are formed in a line behind the vehicle, the person shall turn the vehicle off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the director or a local authority, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the vehicles following to proceed." Additionally, on multi-lane roadways, if vehicles approach and appear to want to pass, you should again signal and change lanes, proceeding to the right. Not only does awareness of safe driving procedures when traveling at slow speeds reduce the risk of a traffic collision, it also helps to avoid drivers possessed by road rage."

I wonder if this would apply even if the "normal flow of traffic" is faster than the posted speed limit. I can't imagine one law would contradict another in that way, but it doesn't specify.

[gone-ot]

...you gotta remember, Arizona is where politicians like Evan Mecham and Janet Napolitano came from!!!

[UFO]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...you gotta remember, Arizona is where politicians like Evan Mecham and Janet Napolitano came from!!!

Or Jan Brewer, JD Hayworth and John McCain.

[bestclimb]

Was being tailgated by a teen girl, with her little brother a while a go. A steady 45 in a 45 zone and she was really close and sawing back and forth. I came to a red light I was going straight so I shut down and coasted. She went past me on the right on the shoulder , turned right on the red then turned around the raised center 200 yards down, into a corner gas station parking lot, and back onto the road in the same direction I was traveling. Mean while my red turned green and I proceeded down the road where I was already passed the gas station to find the same green integral back on my bumper. About .2 miles she turned off at the house where I often see that car.