The Smith System of Defensive driving

[Bill Judson]

All Good ideas

Meh, average at best . . . . I'm still on the fence

 

[meep]

The best I have found for tailgating tactics is this. Smoothly downshift a couple of gears while holding speed. Without doing something sudden like using the brakes or any fast brake-checking, just come off the gas. Once they hit the brakes, gently accelerate. If they close in, come off the gas again. Eg, drive like someone with poor throttle control. They’ll get annoyed, not see it as an aggressive move, and go around.

Or I hate to say this - this is why I still commute in a full-size pickup. I would rather DD something smaller, but I stay calmer when their grill isnt swallowing the rear of my car. I stay in a slower lane and they may ride up but the seem more likely to go around than tailgate a normal-speed grandpa truck.

 

[TiGeo]

The best I have found for tailgating tactics is this. Smoothly downshift a couple of gears while holding speed. Without doing something sudden like using the brakes or any fast brake-checking, just come off the gas. Once they hit the brakes, gently accelerate. If they close in, come off the gas again. Eg, drive like someone with poor throttle control. They’ll get annoyed, not see it as an aggressive move, and go around.

Or I hate to say this - this is why I still commute in a full-size pickup. I would rather DD something smaller, but I stay calmer when their grill isnt swallowing the rear of my car. I stay in a slower lane and they may ride up but the seem more likely to go around than tailgate a normal-speed grandpa truck.

Why wouldn't you simply move over? Assuming this is a multi-lane highway. If it's single lane then just pull over if there is no passing zones and let them go if it's really aggressive tailgating.

 

[meep]

Why wouldn't you simply move over? Assuming this is a multi-lane highway. If it's single lane then just pull over if there is no passing zones and let them go if it's really aggressive tailgating.

Why wouldn’t I move over? Already am or have.

 

[TiGeo]

Why wouldn’t I move over? Already am or have.

So slow lane tailgating? Wow. They usually just motor on around if I'm in the right lane crusing the limit. Would be weird to tailgate in that situation.

 

[Pablo]

So slow lane tailgating? Wow. They usually just motor on around if I'm in the right lane crusing the limit. Would be weird to tailgate in that situation.

Exactly. But here it's just two lane roads and long no passing lines. So in that case would you be that guy? Say speed limit is 45. I'm doing 50. Is he going to drive up my erse???? That is what young guys do here. So stupid. Be patient or pass me illegally I don't care but I'm not going to go 70 for you buttboy.

 

[TiGeo]

Exactly. But here it's just two lane roads and long no passing lines. So in that case would you be that guy? Say speed limit is 45. I'm doing 50. Is he going to drive up my erse???? That is what young guys do here. So stupid. Be patient or pass me illegally I don't care but I'm not going to go 70 for you buttboy.

I would just pull over if it was egregious.

 

[bullwinkle]

Exactly. But here it's just two lane roads and long no passing lines. So in that case would you be that guy? Say speed limit is 45. I'm doing 50. Is he going to drive up my erse???? That is what young guys do here. So stupid. Be patient or pass me illegally I don't care but I'm not going to go 70 for you buttboy.

Wait until there’s a long stretch to pull off, signal & slow down, then let them pass you. Then watch OSHP nail hem down the road! It happens here all the time…

 

[meep]

@TiGeo, exactly. It’s a laziness thing I think, too lazy to change lanes. And I’m not Slow, just usually at the limit or maybe 5 over - so slower than the average.

You’re also right to ask, sometimes it’s a two lane road. Maybe there’s a place to pull off, and maybe there’s not. I have pulled over before, or especially like if we are cruising looking at holiday decorations and we know the car approaching just wants to get home - I’ll pull over no question.

 

[snoofer]

The thing that gets me, is here in Colorado there are plenty of posted signs saying "Slower traffic keep right unless passing."
It's the Law..!
Ninety percent of the time, it's a plate from Texas...... That's Right, I said it....!

 

[Pablo]

The thing that gets me, is here in Colorado there are plenty of posted signs saying "Slower traffic keep right unless passing."
It's the Law..!
Ninety percent of the time, it's a plate from Texas...... That's Right, I said it....!

Not legal in most states

Probably some darn geezer named Pablo

 

[svtrit]

We train this method at work. I scored perfectly when tested as I was taught to drive this way. They rarely see perfect scores.

 

[nomas]

We train this method at work. I scored perfectly when tested as I was taught to drive this way. They rarely see perfect scores.

Well , you need to add that to your resume ..

 

[Bill Judson]

Why wouldn't you simply move over? Assuming this is a multi-lane highway. If it's single lane then just pull over if there is no passing zones and let them go if it's really aggressive tailgating.

He said he stays in the slower lane... you think he should move over to the shoulder?

When they tailgate me, I move to the far right lane and then simply go the speed limit and quit worrying about it. I'll even flip my rear view mirror up and not even look back.

They rarely tailgate me since I normally drive 5 to 10 miles over the speed limit.

I don't care but I'm not going to go 70 for you butt boy.

It's the funny people doing this? Weird.

Ninety percent of the time, it's a plate from Texas...... That's Right, I said it....!

That's because in Texas, cops rarely if ever give tickets to those cruising in the passing lane and I see people frequently barely doing the speed limit while in the passing lane (left lane)

Sounds like Colorado cops aren't handing out tickets for this either so in essence it's not really against the law if the law is never enforced.

 

[TiGeo]

He said he stays in the slower lane... you think he should move over to the shoulder? View attachment 252945

I was confused on the exact details here, if I'm on a two-lane road and someone is that bad w/r to tailgating, I'm pulling over/turning to get them around. On a multi-lane highway, no, I'm in the right lane and like you, let them sit there if they arne't going to just pass me.

 

[Bill Judson]

And if one lives in a state that allows pea shooters... it's best to keep on in the vehicle just in case someone starts shooting at you... that way you can be polite and return fire!

 

[AITG]

The Smith system is awesome - I learned it 50 years ago. A couple of other things I learned through accident investigation (the AI part of AITG) 1. don't look at what you're about to hit: look where you want to go to avoid the crash. And 2. Brake before you enter a curve, Go in slow and come out fast.

 

[TiGeo]

The Smith system is awesome - I learned it 50 years ago. A couple of other things I learned through accident investigation (the AI part of AITG) 1. don't look at what you're about to hit: look where you want to go to avoid the crash. And 2. Brake before you enter a curve, Go in slow and come out fast.

For sure you go where you are looking - this is a big one they teach you when you drive on a track...don't look at the wall..hahaha. For sure braking in the curve is bad, weight forward/unweighted r. wheels will cause a spin. Now trailbraking into a turn....another story

 

[Jetronic]

The Smith system is awesome - I learned it 50 years ago. A couple of other things I learned through accident investigation (the AI part of AITG) 1. don't look at what you're about to hit: look where you want to go to avoid the crash. And 2. Brake before you enter a curve, Go in slow and come out fast.

And for BIG vehicles, go in as wide as possible so you can tighten and go straight as soon as possible. With big I mean you will need more than 1 lane no matter what.

 

[TiGeo]

And if one lives in a state that allows pea shooters... it's best to keep on in the vehicle just in case someone starts shooting at you... that way you can be polite and return fire!

Like defensive driving, you drive so that isn't an issue in the first place.