How do you handle EXTREME tailgaters?

[Ladogaboy]

Bah! All this talk about drafting... I want to know what my mileage is when drifting!

[Arragonis]

Yep - also in 43 pages we've swapped positions - from being tailgated to, er, following...

cart, horse

chicken, egg

semi, ecomodder, tailgater - which goes first ?

[straight5]

In case it wasn't mentioned (no I didn't read all the posts before this)

.......Speed doesn't kill, speed differential kills.

Just keep that in mind.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Yep - also in 43 pages we've swapped positions - from being tailgated to, er, following...

cart, horse

chicken, egg

semi, ecomodder, tailgater - which goes first ?

Tailgaters are generally trying to make the lead vehicle uncomfortable with its low speed to encourage that driver to either speed up or pull out of the way. That is a little different from drafting.

[Arragonis]

They only differ in their aims, the result - following too close - is the same.

[TheEnemy]

My wife and I just got back from a trip to Colorado, during that trip we were comming down a windy mountain road on our way to meet up with some other family members and had someone riding our tail comming within 2 feet at times. At the first oportunity we pulled off into a pullout and let them by. They roared past, and within 2 miles a park ranger pulled them over into the same area we were meeting the family.

The guy must have mouthed off because not only did the ranger give him a ticket, but took his time about it. After he was done he patroled through the parking area talking with a few of the groups, when he came to our group we told him what happened and that we were laughing about it. The ranger laughed and said he wished he had witnessed the tailgating.

[DieselFuelOnly]

Originally Posted by Curly1

NEVER do a "Brake check!" or intentionally slow down. If you do things like that you are just asking for trouble. In my life I have learned if you look for trouble you can always find it. If you insist on doing "Brake Checks" please completly fill out you organ donor cards and have your will in place. So if someone does go off on you atleast others may benefit from your loss.
Road rage is not right but you causing it is not right iether.
Do not squirt them, Do not give them obscene hand signals, do not try to escalate the problem. It is not funny and can be deadly. Some people will kill you for nothing, please do not give them a reason.
One of the guys who works for my lost his girlfriend, she was decapitated right in front of him due to a crash caused by road rage. So I really do not see any humor in doing "Brake checks" or anything else to intentionally piss off others. You may think it is funny but do you think it is worth dying for?

Maintain your speed and try to give them and opportunity to get around you. Use a little common courtesy and respect for others.

If you have to pull over on the shoulder so they can get by just do it and let them go. Farmers do it all the time and give you a polite wave when you pass them. A little common courtesy. What is wrong with that? Curly

+1 Can't agree more. Sometimes takes an event to really get that point home.

[Exalta-STA]

Sometimes, racer boys would tailgate me while revving their engine. It's makes me uncomfortable but I can't blame them for mistaking my car for one of them racer wannabes...in the pursuit of aerodynamics and weight reduction I have installed lowering springs, modified aero grille, side skirts, lightweight racing wheels, carbon fiber parts and lightweight seats...which makes me look like a big bulls-eye to those bunch

[UltArc]

I HATE the absence of turn signals. You try to pass without them, and are tail gating, O'll show you mine. They look real nice, and most cars on the road aren't getting around.

I don't mind headlight flashing when the slow driver is left lane, in multi lane. Far left lane is for passing only. Ohioans seem to not understand this, one bit.

In my old escort, at 39 mph in a 35, everyone flew past me. 34 in a 35 in a Mustang GT, everyone lets me sit up front.

I am seriously contemplating a cb for my road trips. I like to cruise behind semi's, 20-30 feet or so, but they get so funky. I just want the extra 5+ mpg and the bug shield! But I understand why they do it.

For all the NRA sticker idea, I'd sooner suggest a CCW in your pocket, and the proper equipment. People are crazy now a days. Like batman in colorado, anything can happen anywhere. I suggest to all citizens that they learn and support PROPER firearms safety Nd handling. Ignorance kills. Knowledge might save your life against a crazy.

I've never had to pull the trigger to decide if I go home at the end of my shift, or if they do, but I love my wife and children, and nothing short of Gods will is going to take me away.

Fyi, I have strong beliefs, but I respect yours if they differ. I keep an open mind, and fully support and respect others' views.

[Brad9660]

When people are tailgating me, I usually just ignore them. 95% of the time it is in a passing zone, or on a multiple lane highway, and no, I don't drive in the passing lane, so I figure their ignorance for not just passing is a good enough punishment. I see people in my rear view mirror waving their arms around mouthing off in there cars, when there is an open lane right next to them. I honestly think some people are to lazy to turn their wheel a couple degrees and just pass.
Not that long ago on my way home from work late one night I coasted down a big hill on the highway, and was going to coast up to the gas station. There where no other cars on the road and this person tailgated me down to 25 mph. I really can't make sense of it. Since I always drive within 5 mph of the posted speed limit, use to drive slower but quit for safety, I don't feel I am doing anything wrong.