How Do You Handle Tailgaters?

[ls1mike]

I either get out of the way or maintain the speed limit. I have found that some people might not even realize they are doing it. Does no good getting mad about it. I have done it before had something else on my mind, realized it and backed off. I do not know anyone else's state of mind or what they were doing and why. Are tailgaters annoying? Sure. But being an a-hole because someone else is makes you just as bad or in some cases worse.
I think a combination of growing up, having kids and towing the trailer has mellowed me out.

I do dislike the left lane campers and really don't understand it.
Washington state has cracked down on it regardless of speed. They have found people in the left lane not allowing even those who speed to pass has caused accidents, road rage and heavy traffic. They have even made commercials about it and talked about it on the news. They push the point hard it is not your place to police that lane. If the offender is driving dangerously the will be get caught at some point. Washington is a left lane to pass state.

 

[Nickdfresh]

When I first saw this thread, I thought it was about obnoxious, drunk football fans...

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
When I first saw this thread, I thought it was about obnoxious, drunk football fans...

LOL! I just peed a little

 

[serversurfer]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike
I do dislike the left lane campers and really don't understand it.
Washington state has cracked down on it regardless of speed. They have found people in the left lane not allowing even those who speed to pass has caused accidents, road rage and heavy traffic. They have even made commercials about it and talked about it on the news. They push the point hard it is not your place to police that lane. If the offender is driving dangerously the will be get caught at some point. Washington is a left lane to pass state.

Legal pot and sensible cops? Srsly? How's the job market??

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: serversurfer
Originally Posted By: ls1mike
I do dislike the left lane campers and really don't understand it.
Washington state has cracked down on it regardless of speed. They have found people in the left lane not allowing even those who speed to pass has caused accidents, road rage and heavy traffic. They have even made commercials about it and talked about it on the news. They push the point hard it is not your place to police that lane. If the offender is driving dangerously the will be get caught at some point. Washington is a left lane to pass state.

Legal pot and sensible cops? Srsly? How's the job market??

It is excellent.

 

[serversurfer]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike

It is excellent.

Well, if I find myself in need of a new place to live, I know where I'm looking first!

(Too bad they're not still issuing licenses…)

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I either don't watch the tailgater in my rear view mirror, or I move to a different lane. Once in a while I'll slow my vehicle enough, so the tailgater moves to another lane.
There are easy answers to everything.

 

[Vikas]

If the adjacent lane is free and you are in the rightmost lane and thee is a tailgater on your tail, then it is entirely tailgater's fault. More likely tailgater is just a moron and is not paying any attention and has just latched on to the car in front. If that is the case, just turn on your hazard blinker and take the feet of the gas. He will wake up and pass you.

On the other hand, if you are intentionally driving at speed limit and there is a vehicle in the other lane which you are subtly trying to match speed with or worse keep the speed differential at exactly one mile per hour so that both lanes are blocked, then you are the ****.

So which case is it?

There are few autobahn high speed run youtube videos. It is so shocking to see how every single car immediately moves to the right after completing their overtake pass. Also the overtake pass is done as quickly as their car allows it.

But on US highway 90% of the people either intentionally or due to ignorance or fear of cops, just straddle the car in the next lane and block the traffic behind for miles. The roadways are filled with ***** and morons.

You inherently know which category you fall in.

 

[totegoat]

Don't encounter them very often, but let them by when I can. If they want to cruise at 90mph, I let 'em.

 

[Rtstrider]

This typically happens to those in the passing lane. The best answer is move over to the right lane so they can pass and don't clog up the PASSING lane

With that said if I see one I'll do what I can, within reason, to let them pass

 

[grampi]

Whenever I have partaken in these discussions complaining about being tailgated, someone in the thread immediately assumes I'm being tailgated because I'm driving slow in the far left lane on a freeway. That is never the case with me as I stay right except to pass. Most of the time I'm tailgated it happens on 2 lane roads, where there is no place to pull over and let the speeder go by...and I'm not a slow driver. I typically drive 5 over the limit, it's just that it isn't fast enough for most of the drivers around here...they want to drive 10, 15, or even 20 MPH over the limit...I usually just keep slowing down when I get a tailgater and they usually get the message and pass me, or back off...

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: bubbatime
There is an epidemic lately of complete idiots that stay in the left lane doing the speed limit or under or for that matter even 10 or 15 over. The left lane is a passing lane not a driving lane throughout most of America. Not condoning his behavior, but I just spent eight hours on the interstate and a full 80% of drivers do not get over out of the left lane. What is going on in this country when 80% of the drivers are completely oblivious and discourteous to the drivers around them? It's infuriating.

You do not have the right to lollygag around in the left lane.


I understand your frustration as I see this a lot myself. As wrong as left lane camping is, and it is wrong, do you tailgate these people?

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I didn't know the left lane was legal to speed in. How much over the speed limit can I go in the left lane and not get a ticket? I can see it now, but officer I'm in the left lane, isn't called the fast lane?

Your feelings are irrelevant. It is not your job to enforce the law. I don't care if you are already doing 5 over or even 90mph. If you are in the left lane and are impeding someone's progress, MOVE OVER.


Talk about feelings? I don't understand why people have this mentality that they have a right to drive as fast as they want, regardless of what the speed limit is...

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Originally Posted By: KingCake
Put on cruise control and brake check every few minutes. One time a guy got out of his car and threatened me.

You sound like you could use a good punch to the face.


And you sound like an out-of-control, road raging mega speeder...

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Originally Posted By: KingCake
Castle doctrine disagrees with you. I'm standing my ground.


Standing your ground? In the left lane of a 70 mph highway, doing 68 mph? Is that how you choose to stand your ground? What are you talking about? What does stand your ground have anything to do with driving down a highway courteously?


Are people doing 20 MPH over the speed limit being courteous?

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I move over,let them pass,then I move back over and follow behind them. They officially become my decoy

I do this too...I figure if someone is gonna get nailed for speeding, it'll be the guy in front!

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I didn't know the left lane was legal to speed in. How much over the speed limit can I go in the left lane and not get a ticket? I can see it now, but officer I'm in the left lane, isn't called the fast lane?

Your feelings are irrelevant. It is not your job to enforce the law. I don't care if you are already doing 5 over or even 90mph. If you are in the left lane and are impeding someone's progress, MOVE OVER.


Talk about feelings? I don't understand why people have this mentality that they have a right to drive as fast as they want, regardless of what the speed limit is...

They don't. Nor do you have a right to decide who does and doesn't get to pass you. It's not hard.

I think rooflessVW kind of went nuts in this thread and I don't want to defend him, but the underlying point is pretty straightforward.

 

[Cujet]

Some yahoo in a beat up CRV felt like tailgating me on I95 early this morning in very light traffic. I moved over, he passed me. He then slowed down, got behind me and again, very close. I moved over again, he passed, then worked his way behind me again. What-ever. Not going to worry about it. I have a dash cam just in case...

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
Some yahoo in a beat up CRV felt like tailgating me on I95 early this morning in very light traffic. I moved over, he passed me. He then slowed down, got behind me and again, very close. I moved over again, he passed, then worked his way behind me again. What-ever. Not going to worry about it. I have a dash cam just in case...


You have a dash cam and I generally carry a couple eggs for intentional knucklehead tailgaters inches from my back bumper. They can follow me afterwards and even call the Police. It's their word against yours. If they approach my vehicle on foot, I'll introduce them to Smith & Wesson if necessary.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I didn't know the left lane was legal to speed in. How much over the speed limit can I go in the left lane and not get a ticket? I can see it now, but officer I'm in the left lane, isn't called the fast lane?

Your feelings are irrelevant. It is not your job to enforce the law. I don't care if you are already doing 5 over or even 90mph. If you are in the left lane and are impeding someone's progress, MOVE OVER.


Talk about feelings? I don't understand why people have this mentality that they have a right to drive as fast as they want, regardless of what the speed limit is...

They don't. Nor do you have a right to decide who does and doesn't get to pass you. It's not hard.


I didn't say, or imply that I do, and I don't block people who want to speed (I don't want them behind me)...I just don't get the whole I-want-to-speed-so-get-out-of-my-way mentality that so many drivers have these days...they're public roadways people...we all have to share them...it's not a free-for-all where you can just drive any ol' way you feel like driving...the roads are for everyone, not just the maniacs....