What do you do when another driver tailgates you?

14 Comments

  • Sam - 11 years ago

    There's a connection between left lane camping, and fools who speed in the right lane. If the left lane were clear, the sane drivers could keep right and just let the speeders go by.

    Think about it: Germany's highways are statistically safer than America's. They aren't slower by any stretch; they're more orderly. People never pass on the right, and if you're in a German right-hand lane you can drive as slowly as you want without trouble. If someone wants to pass, they don't tailgate -- they go to your left. It's simple, and it works.

    Instead of trying to passive-aggressively slow those who drive faster, why not work together so everyone gets there without getting in each other's way?

  • Patrick - 11 years ago

    Since I am a State Examiner and Instructor, some of the comments are just plain bad and some are ok. For me, driving in the right hand lane if I am not passing anyone going more then 10 miles an hour under the posted speed is fine. But, it is exceptable to roll down your window and wave someone else to go around you if there is another lane for them to pass on, or if there is a solid yellow line and a broken line next to you so they can go around you. D.O.L. gives out the CD version of the drivers guides and you can read the rules any time on line at http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/docs/driverguide-en.pdf in english or the other 6 langues. Have fun, drive safe, play nice.

  • Laura Gold - 11 years ago

    Sudden braking, could cause an accident in which I might be the victim, so I wouldn't recommend doing that. Slowing down may take awhile to work and doesn't educate tailgaters; it just makes them get more annoyed with the slow poke. Changing into a slower lane, if that is a reasonable option, is good; but it's not always an option (for example: on a highway with one lane in each direction). Speeding up, assuming I am going the speed limit and/or moving with the flow of traffic, isn't a good option, since it's not very safe. Doing nothing, except sitting and fuming, benefits no one.

    None of these methods, in my opinion, educates the tailgater, who may not realize that he/she is following too closely.

    However, I have found a reasonably safe and effective way to educate the tailgaters. When they get too close, I simply maintain my current speed (again, assuming I can't move over and I'm going the proper speed to begin with) and turn on my emergency flashers. That usually makes them back off. When they are far enough behind me, I turn them off. If they get too close again, I turn them back on. That is usually enough to educate all but the stupidest tailgaters. It says, "You are too close to my tailgate. I'm not going to speed up or get out of your way (assuming I'm already in the slow lane to allow for faster traffic to pass me and I'm traveling at the proper speed). Either pass me or slow down."

    An alternative that also works, especially for cars that are coming up too quickly from behind, is to lightly tap my brakes several times, without actually slowing down. The flashing red taillights, gets their attention and alters them to the fact that they are in danger of rear-ending me.

  • Mike - 11 years ago

    There are some real idiots out on the roads, and they all think that they are fine but other people are the problem.

    If someone wants to go faster than you, why the heck would you not get out of their way? You move to the right (like you are supposed to) and they get out of your life forever. Isn't that a good thing? Why do people (mainly men) have such fragile egos about being passed? If the person who wants to go faster is speeding, let the cops catch them.

    Hitting the brakes? Really? In such a crash, it's actually the person in front who is most vulnerable. Ever watch NASCAR? Which car gets spun into other traffic and maybe flips over? It's the one in front, not the one that hit them from behind. People who "brake check" tailgaters are morons with egos bigger than their brains.

    Slowing down and/or gesturing at the other driver are also very aggressive moves. What if that tailgater turns road rager on you? Like I said, it's the car in front which is in the vulnerable position. They could spin you out pretty easily, just like you see cops doing in all the chase videos. And if they have a gun in the car, it's a lot easier to aim forward than backward.

    Just move over and live to drive another day. If you can't move over, then just hold your speed and don't provide any reason to escalate the situation.

  • Jerry - 11 years ago

    What amazes me is the dumbass who speeds up behind me, as if they were going to a fire. Then, when I change lanes, they stay along side me for miles.

  • Michael Waters - 11 years ago

    ".I slam on the brakes!"

    That's a really dangerous tactic, although I can relate to the emotion. What if the tailgater actually slams into you? Even if you're in the "right," I'd think a traffic accident wouldn't be worth it. Or, what if when you are rammed, you lose control and veer toward the oncoming traffic? Or you veer into other cars driving in your direction, creating a chain-reaction?

    I can identify with the emotion, but buddy, your tactic is pretty dangerous. It would be better to slowly and gradually reduce your speed (assuming you're not in the fast lane, in which case, just change lanes and let the guy pass). This sends the rude insensate off in a huff (and you can enjoy that!).

  • Michael Waters - 11 years ago

    "If you are angry over "left lane campers" likely you regularly speed and present a danger to the driving public."

    Perhaps.

    What I've noticed during my ample freeway driving is that people upset with a left-lane-camper TAILGATE the camper as they try to "push" the camper to a faster speed or another lane.

    This is a case of two distinct kinds of stupidity: the camper oblivious to what's behind him, and the tailgater oblivious to the danger he's not only placing himself in, but the rest of us surrounding this very common situation.

    My personal response to the rudeness of a tailgater is as follows: If I'm in the far left "fast" lane, I'll change lanes even though I think the guy behind me is being rude. But I'll move over because the left lane is reserved for passing, not for camping.

    But if I'm not in the fast lane and some dilbert rides my tail, I'll either roll down the window and gesticulate wildly for him to back off (this works 90% of the time) or VERY GRADUALLY SLOW DOWN while enjoying the
    view in the rearview mirror as the offending person gets upset and passes in a huff (while I smile).

    Literally every day I see lines of lemmings TAILGATING EACH OTHER. Their insensitivity and stupidity baffle me. How difficult is it to see that this is dangerous? Or is it that having the patience of a flea supersedes common sense. Still, it shouldn't take a brain surgeon to know that you will not arrive at your destination any sooner by tailgating. It's a prime example of stupidity and irrational behavior seen daily.

    Personally, when I spot a clump of cars all of whom are tailgating one another, I create the most distance I can between me and them. They are a chain-reaction accident waiting to happen!

    I finish by stating I'm convinced tailgating is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do, but I believe that too many people are either too impatient, too insensitive, or too stupid to see it.

  • Spare Change - 11 years ago

    Let it be noted that I only do this when I am stuck behind another car and someone is tailgating me.
    I drive an SUV, so I roll down the back window and start flipping pennies out the back. They usually back off pretty quick, in fact, most times when the window starts to come down they change lanes or slow down. Im not saying its right, but it works for me.

  • Road Planner - 11 years ago

    Which is more deadly, tailgating and speeding or "left lane camping"? Checkout the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission's website. So called "left land camping" doesn't even appear in the to 20 deadliest driving habits. Tailgating and speeding make the top 5. Rather obsessing over what the law says, it would be more reasonable to focus on what makes the road safer. If you are angry over "left lane campers" likely you regularly speed and present a danger to the driving public - that cannot be said about "left lane campers", they are just annoying.

  • ThatGuy - 11 years ago

    I drive on the right or middle lane depending if it's two or three lanes. Set the cruise control at 5 above the speed limit. The problem is people going 80 in a 40 mph lane because they left to late & are in a hurry expecting others to break the speed laws too. I've had all the cop interaction over 10 mph over speed tickets I ever care to have. I now keep my visor down & covering my rear view so I can ignore their dumb ass. I wish I could easily block out the door mirror as well until such time as needing to change lanes. Otherwise I'm aggravated to the point of slowing down, slamming on brakes, pulling off the road to let them by or wanting to get a snow melter spark for my tail pipe & flame thrower their ass. Or do a drive by. PEOPLE NEED TO SLOW THE F@#%K DOWN & OBEY THE F_N! TRAFFIC LAWS! or risk getting in a life & DEATH CONFRONTATION! You're suppose to be at least a car length per 10 mph speed away from the car in front of you. Rear end collisions are always your fault. Get off my ass or go around.

  • Waldo - 11 years ago

    It always amazes me how ignorant of the traffic laws people are around here. Refusing to merge to the right hand lane is the same fine as speeding - it's a moving violation. If somebody is tailgating you, it's probably because you're impeding the flow of traffic by not using the right hand lane - "keep right except to pass" is also law. Often times, not only are you impeding traffic, but you are most likely speeding as well, albeit, at a lesser speed than the tailgater behind you. I've never understood why these people think their speed is the only correct speed on the road. How hard is it to use the right lane when not passing anyone? For that matter, how hard is it to adjust your speed to the flow of traffic around you? Left-lane campers, get out of the way instead of making yourselves a bigger danger to everyone around you.

  • Big Effin D - 11 years ago

    Surprised this wasn't on the poll...I slam on the brakes! Ran a few off into the median with that on the freeway...note all were going over the speed limit already when they came up on my rear, so it was only fair to correct a few problems with THEIR driving habits!!!

  • Mike - 11 years ago

    It's not surprising that more people actually prefer to act like jerks, slow down and force people to pass on the right. After having driven the roads of this state for over 28 years, and seen countless examples of this very behavior, in spite of the myriad signs on our state's highways that say "slower traffic keep right" or keep right "except to pass".... to all you jerk off's who think you're so much more important than everybody else and therefore willfully ignore the laws and social mores of the road.... you people should get off the road, you're all unsafe as well as being antisocial morons.

  • Mattw112 - 11 years ago

    What is wrong with you people? If you are getting passed on the left, you are going under the speed limit,... get over. You shouldn't make people do dangerous things because you can't drive and follow the law.

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