How do you handle EXTREME tailgaters?

[drv2die]

craziest thing i have ever had happen was 5 months ago. going home after work relaxed going with the flow of traffic in the right lane my exit is in about 1/2 a mile. there is an idiot behind me about 4 feet off my bumper in a jeep grand cherokee. of course talking on the cell phone. he passes me as i change lanes to exit then speeds up and comes across both lanes. i geuss he forgot he needed to exit. he is in the median still trying to pass me on the off ramp (no shoulder by the way on my side) he slams on his brakes and slides in behind me. he is yelling cursing sticking his head out the window. i turn he is right behind me road rage in full effect lights horn weaving about 1 foot behind me make my second turn he stays behind me . he follows me for about 60 seconds. i pull up to a stop sign three blocks from my house on a side street he jumps out and runs up to my car. as i step out im pulling the taurus 40 s&w wesson that i keep with me always from it holster. he stops dead in his tracks . i order him hands in the air and explain that if he wants to try his luck go ahead i have been recording the hole thing with my cell phone vacuum cup thingy on the windshield. i advise him to get back in his car and go his way. i go home and calm down knowing this could have went very bad. if your that worried about it go get your conceal carry license and pack your lunch. i recommend being careful you never know the mental state of the person behind you.

[Frank Lee]

Right, pulling firearms for essentially nothing. The wild west called for you, about 150 years ago.

[user removed]

Frank, what would you have done?

Just curious, seems like a raving lunatic to me.

regards Mech

[Arragonis]

Oh excellent, this has gone from throwing stuff at cars and potentially causing accidents involving innocent people, to pulling guns.

I am so glad neither of those people are anywhere near me.

[drv2die]

so i get flak for protecting myself. whatever this guy follows me through multiple stops turns all to get him to go somewhere else and then comes at me in a aggressive manner. i asked a cop buddy about it he said i should have stayed in the car and when he came up to the window just shot him and claimed car jacking or self defense. i here things like this who have never had a gun pointed at them or never been in a situation of life and death. i have been there once a long time ago robbed at gun point while working and could do anything about it. that wont happen again. you wish me or my family ill will you will get what you have coming. call me a paranoid lunatic if you want. i dont cause these issues, i dont go looking for trouble. so tell me what would you do?

[Arragonis]

You cop friend sounds really sensible - in a kind of "Mad Max" kind of way.

What if this guy had a gun too ?

What if he had been a cop with a gun ?

What if he just called the cops and reported a madman with a gun in a car with your plate and then they find your home, surround it and then you get the 'real' flak ?

Sorry I know we aren't supposed to get personal, and I'll take the 'flak' for this comment, but this is sheer madness.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by drv2die

so tell me what would you do?

I suppose try and avoid the lunatic in the first place, but if I felt threatened that much maybe call the cops or perhaps drive to a police station ?

Then of course it becomes a "he said, they said" argument in front of PC Plod.

Seems a better idea than risking someone's life or freedom.

[Frank Lee]

I've been followed by a raving lunatic- told about it here on EM too. I could hear him yelling "I'll fight you! I'll fight you!" out his window... I went to where I was going anyway... and saw that he followed. I got out of my car and the puzzy changed his mind about that fight then for some reason. His mouth was writing checks he couldn't cash.

Re: your case: So I wonder what happened after that incident? Did Mr. Raving Lunatic learn a lesson and go home, take up religion, and vow to be a better person? Or did Mr. Raving Lunatic go home, decide he wouldn't be party to a "fail" like that again, and now he drives around with a weapon too?

Hmmmmm.

[Kodak]

The most important question here is: Did drv2 have legitimate reason to believe that his life or well-being was in jeopardy?

Guns by themselves aren't good or evil - only the people that wield them.

Since I wasn't there for drv2's situation, I can't answer the above question with any accuracy.

[Frank Lee]

I don't know what he was driving, but I'm ALREADY IN a 3000 lb weapon (or high speed escape pod) if push comes to shove.