How do you handle EXTREME tailgaters?

[Curly1]

Sorry for the rant but I feel strongly about this. Just like with drunk driving it usually an innocent bystander that gets killed and not the one doing the "Brake check" or something else stupid. If it was only them that got killed then I would not say anything about drunk driving, road rage or what ever it is you do to cause road rage. I would say go for it and have fun. Fact is others get hurt and killed for stupid actions sometimes.
Road Rage is bad but it is usually caused it by cutting someone off, holding them up, flipping them off or what ever it takes for them to blow a fuse.
Someone wants by then let them by, I do not care if I am going 90 miles an hour if someone comes up behind me I let them by as quickly as possible. No silliy little games, hand signals or anything else.
While you may have good intentions for trying to slow someone down maybe they can put that on your headstone.
We have all made mistakes in driving and life in general but do not look for trouble or cause trouble or you may find it.
I am on this site to learn how to get better gas mileage out of my car not to learn how to piss off people and cause trouble. Curly

[RH77]

Originally Posted by Curly1

Sorry for the rant but I feel strongly about this.

It sounds as if we share the exact opinion. I've been in a situation where road rage sent the other party to jail on a Felony charge -- it's completely not worth the silly games people play.

I look forward to your membership here. I hope the site can help you attain your FE goals...

RH77

[Curly1]

Thanks for the warm Weclome. I hope I did not start out on the wrong foot or offend anyone with my strong opinions. Curly

[Z man]

I haven't had an extreme tailgater at night in a while,
but I'm probably going to hold the shift button while moving it to R to show the reverse lights while coasting. That should scare them!

[RH77]

On an Interstate highway with multiple open lanes, I use the same procedure that truck drivers often use: slow to the point that the tailgater passes. As soon as you're passed, you're forgotten. I've been there in my previous "life" as speedy driver.

The most troublesome are those on a cell-phone -- these folks are merely using my vehicle as a "reference point" to follow, despite the speed. You could come to a stop in a 70 zone and these morons would right behind you. In this case, I change lanes (usually to the passing lane if clear) -- and they pass on the right.

Delicate and orchestrated operation is often required as an Eco-Driver. Just be advised that it may take some experimenting to see what works in your region.

RH77

[Dust]

Never thought about using the rearview to reflect their headlights back. Thought about doing it when I got pulled over by cops though. Their spotlight is my sideviews really pissed me off.

[99metro]

Curly

I guess we all need a reminder of what our actions, or unfortunate "wrong place at the wrong time" circumstances can do it an instant.

My very last instance of letting "them" get to me was just a few days ago. Extreme tailgater at low speed - me behind a slow big rig just coming off a red light. I slowed down with the throttle. The guy passed slowly, but stared me down as he did this. I think he was a gang-banger by the looks of things. I realized I could have turned into a statistic if there weren't so many witnesses.

This thread has calmed me down greatly. Treat aggressive drivers like you would a wild gorilla (remember the movie Congo). Direct eye to eye contact is a challenge and might just be enough to cause a road rage incident or worse. Don't give them any reason you are getting back at them, or giving them an excuse to take you out. We gotta be safe, and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Show them what a good driver is - maybe they (or a new driver) can learn from you.

I know they make your blood boil, but consider that in the moment that it does boil, that it is a challenge to yourself on anger management. I know I am a work in progress, but I'm progressing. I want to make it home for dinner tonight, and hypermile again tomorrow.

later

[i_am_socket]

I had a guy going crazy behind me this morning. Coming out of a toll booth and to a sharp-ish turn where a reasonably safe top speed is about 45. I'm passing a truck on the left doing 45 (why speed up only to slam on the brakes?) and this nut in an Audi starts honking at me and waving to get out of his way before I've even passed the truck.

I was in a very chill mood this morning so I just kept the same speed, passed the truck, and the guy zipped around me before I could change lanes, pulled right in front of me and hit his brakes. Fortunately it was right at the turn so I was already off the gas. Guy sped up again after the turn and took off in his little turbo coupe.

Two minutes later I'm right behind him at a traffic light. Karma works.

[Joe_Bloe]

Originally Posted by RH77

The most troublesome are those on a cell-phone -- these folks are merely using my vehicle as a "reference point" to follow, despite the speed. You could come to a stop in a 70 zone and these morons would right behind you.RH77

AIEEEEEE, you just hit my biggest button. I've even seen my wife do this in the rare occasion that she "allows me to allow her to drive" when I'm in the car. Usually she just won't do it, she insists I drive, because gee, I'm aware of what's going on around us and she sometimes isn't.

She doesn't even have to be on the phone, she just picks a set of taillights and does whatever they do. Usually from too close a following distance.

[hypermiler01]