How do you handle EXTREME tailgaters?

[Arragonis]

Whilst piloting the Prius at the weekend and keeping to the limit (the digi speedo seems to make you do this more than not), I had an extreme tailgater. It looked like this :



I think I attracted attention by being on the speed limit rather than 5 over, maybe he thought I was drunk or extremely hung-over at least. Didn't stop me though.

Its a limit not a target

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by larrybuck

I have been driving slower than most for yrs. now! I have had many times on freeways, when 18 wheelers come up from behind, turn their lights on, lay on the horn, and just generally make a fool out of themselves.
I have come across mean people in the Boston area, and particular in the Chicago area which was the first time I was passed on the right shoulder of the freeway. Altogether, passed on the right "off the road" (them) has happened about 6 times so far. (etc.)

This seems to happen quite often to you. When it does, on a three lane freeway, which lane are you in?

If you are not in the rightmost lane you are inviting trouble.

[skyking]

Be safe. It does not matter when the dust settles who is wrong or right. If you need to pull onto the shoulder to be safe then do so. It beats all the bad alternatives like brake checking, being involved in an injury accident, initiating or escalating road rage, etc.
If I had to get off the road for an extreme tailgater that maneuver would be followed by a quick call to 911 with a complete description of the car. The police frown on aggressive driving around here and will pick the offender up if they can.

[ShadeTreeMech]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

The unknown is how far will the idiot tailgater go to satisfy his rage at your "failure" to do what he thinks you should. This is the unknown factor. Maybe in Europe people just aren't as crazy as they can be in the US.

In Britian it is illegal to carry a firearm. And by googling per capita crime rate by country I found this tidbit.

# 6 United Kingdom:85.5517 per 1,000 people


# 8 United States:80.0645 per 1,000 people



What about Mexico, where everyone has a gun?

# 39 Mexico:12.8406 per 1,000 people
Looks like the no gun policy helps out a lot.....

[piers.singer]

Originally Posted by ShadeTreeMech

Looks like the no gun policy helps out a lot.....

Murders with firearms (per capita):

# 5 Mexico: 0.0337938 per 1,000 people

# 8 United States: 0.0279271 per 1,000 people

# 32 United Kingdom: 0.00102579 per 1,000 people

I agree!

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by ShadeTreeMech

In Britian it is illegal to carry a firearm. And by googling per capita crime rate by country I found this tidbit.

# 6 United Kingdom:85.5517 per 1,000 people


# 8 United States:80.0645 per 1,000 people



What about Mexico, where everyone has a gun?

# 39 Mexico:12.8406 per 1,000 people
Looks like the no gun policy helps out a lot.....

Those stats don't seem realistic... there are lots and lots of murders in Mexico these days... are they reproducing fast enough to replace them???

[larrybuck]

On a 3 lane freeway, I am always in the right lane, because that's the RIGHT thing to do! (laugh)
My exception to that would only be where 2 freeways intersect soon, and I want the straight ahead one instead of the one w 2 lanes veering to the right.
Then I mirror gauge when to get into the middle lane which will become the straight freeway's right slow lane.

I have about 1/2 mile of slight downhill to mirror decide when to make the move.
You have to study the TRAIN (5-6 cars tight in a row) already in that middle lane; pick out the large trucks; predict in advance which freeway most likely will be chosen.

With so many variables, sometimes I change early if only cars are back there because if I change early enough, they can easily pass on either side.

At other times, especially if a big rig w 4 cars behind him is ROLLING down the middle, it's better if I wait until close to the junction.

The biggest rub is someone who wants to stay in the middle to automatically set themselves up as that becomes the fast lane of the junction freeway veering to the right.

It is only those people generally that will honk, because I cost them 5-7 seconds.

It's my most awkward weekly freeway situation, but I'm happy to report that 99.8% of the time; it goes smooth for me w God's help. This last week, I was placed perfectly between the traditional packs that form about a mile apart on most freeways, so I could make that lane change whenever in total peace!

In case anyone was wondering, this is all when I'm doing 50mph in a 60mph zone!

[larrybuck]

When I am traveling on a freeway in cities with 3 or 4 lanes, with the 4th or 5th one (far,far right) always posted to end at whatever exit ahead, I will ride in #3 or #4 so that local people in a hurry can pass me on my right keeping their cruise speed constant as they approach their turnoff.

I think this is a pretty much proper social way to drive regardless of my cruising speed. I consider it proper tourist driving through unfamiliar and otherwise cities.

When doing this particularly when anyone can see the out of state license plate, the only hassle will usually come from a big rig, who likes the same setup, but at 5-10mph more! The only other variable usually is a hothead youth in a hurry that can't understand anything but their own greed anyway!

[user removed]

Gun politics in Switzerland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read this and check the crime rates in Switzerland, where every adult male is required to perform military training, then REQUIRED to have in his home a fully automatic ISSUED assault weapon.

When his service period has expired the same assault weapon has it fully automatic function rendered inoperable and becomes a semi automatic assault weapon.

Some 3/4 million combined weapons in the hands of male citizens make any aggression a very dangerous proposition. Napoleon and Hitler both decided that attacking Switzerland was a good way to have a lot of body bags coming home.

Speak softly and carry a big stick. I wonder how many cases of breaking and entering there are in Switzerland compared to most other countries.

I sold a motorcycle tonight to a very nice couple both in their late 20s. My wife was 180 miles away so I took some precautions in case the buyers tried any funny stuff. They were fantastic people and a pleasure to deal with. All 3 of us had concealed carry permits and were armed to protect ourselves from what others COULD do.

regards
Mech

[larrybuck]

Just curious! Between the 3 of you, how did the all of you 'packin conversation get aired?