What's the point of tailgating?

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
Originally Posted By: grampi
Valuing time is not an excuse to react to bad behavior with more bad behavior...if someone rapes my wife, that doesn't give me the right to go rape the rapers wife...

Wow, bringing up rape while discussing tailgaiting? Yikes. That's a bit too far.

I'm done.


It was an extreme example yes, but I think you get the jist of it...two wrongs don't make a right...

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

Anyone run into this one:

We have a few roads that go from four lanes to two lanes. The right lane ends/merges into the left lane. Folks here believe the right lane is a great passing lane. During rush hour, it is not uncommon for one or two to end up off the road and forcing there way in line.

 

[Hermann]

Originally Posted By: grampi
I don't know why so many drivers think that arriving at their destination in record time is the most important thing in the world...if getting to your destination at a certain time so important, leave earlier...quit expecting everyone else to "get out of your way."


They must really hate those big luxo-barges they are in, and cannot wait to get out.

 

[Barkleymut]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Some tailgating is just bad driving, though I am rarely tailgated as I am usually the fastest travelling car on the road. I see more inattentive drivers and slow drivers during commute time, and its getting worse with you gas hog vehicle drivers accelerating slow and then driving 10 under on state 2 lane highways. These are the Problem drivers. Pull over ASAP if some one wants to pass you. I do. Its the law (written or unwritten). You are not the traffic cop; speed limits are set WAY slow in most places.


Yup the guy driving a few under the speed limit is way more of a problem than someone driving 10-20 over. Physics is a course you should enroll in when you get into High School.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: Astro14

You do know that passing on the right is illegal in most states, right?

And that most states have a corresponding law; keep right, except to pass?

Sigh...do you always advocate breaking the law? along with passive-aggressive, antagonistic behaviour like brake checking?


I decided to check the Kansas law after reading this post. It appears passing on the right in Kansas is not breaking the law.

Driving in the right lane is required in Kansas.
Quote:
8-1522: Driving on roadways laned for traffic; driving in right lane required; exceptions. Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following rules in addition to all others consistent herewith shall apply.


(c) Upon a highway located outside the corporate limits of any city divided into two lanes of traffic proceeding in the same direction, all vehicles shall be driven in the right lane except when:

(1) Overtaking and passing another vehicle;

(2) preparing to make a proper left turn;

(3) otherwise directed by official traffic-control devices; or

(4) otherwise required by other provisions of law.

(d) Upon a highway located outside the corporate limits of any city divided into three or more lanes of traffic proceeding in the same direction, vehicles shall not be driven in the far left lane except when:

(1) Overtaking and passing another vehicle;

(2) preparing to make a proper left turn;

(3) otherwise directed by official traffic-control devices; or

(4) otherwise required by other provisions of law.



But, it appears passing on the right in Kansas is allowed whenever the road is wide enough to do it safely. If someone's parked in the left lane, it's A-ok to pass them on the right in Kansas.
Quote:
8-1517: Same; when passing on the right permitted. (a) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions:

(1) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn; or

(2) Upon a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two (2) or more lines of vehicles moving lawfully in the direction being traveled by the overtaking vehicle.

(b) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions permitting such movement in safety. Such movement shall not be made by driving off the roadway.

History: L. 1974, ch. 33, § 8-1517; July 1.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666


I decided to check the Kansas law after reading this post. It appears passing on the right in Kansas is not breaking the law.

Driving in the right lane is required in Kansas.
Quote:
8-1522: Driving on roadways laned for traffic; driving in right lane required; exceptions. Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following rules in addition to all others consistent herewith shall apply.


(c) Upon a highway located outside the corporate limits of any city divided into two lanes of traffic proceeding in the same direction, all vehicles shall be driven in the right lane except when:

(1) Overtaking and passing another vehicle;

(2) preparing to make a proper left turn;

(3) otherwise directed by official traffic-control devices; or

(4) otherwise required by other provisions of law.

(d) Upon a highway located outside the corporate limits of any city divided into three or more lanes of traffic proceeding in the same direction, vehicles shall not be driven in the far left lane except when:

(1) Overtaking and passing another vehicle;

(2) preparing to make a proper left turn;

(3) otherwise directed by official traffic-control devices; or

(4) otherwise required by other provisions of law.



But, it appears passing on the right in Kansas is allowed whenever the road is wide enough to do it safely. If someone's parked in the left lane, it's A-ok to pass them on the right in Kansas.
Quote:
8-1517: Same; when passing on the right permitted. (a) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions:

(1) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn; or

(2) Upon a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two (2) or more lines of vehicles moving lawfully in the direction being traveled by the overtaking vehicle.

(b) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions permitting such movement in safety. Such movement shall not be made by driving off the roadway.

History: L. 1974, ch. 33, § 8-1517; July 1.



It sounds about the same in California:

Quote:

V C Section 21754 Passing on the Right
Passing on the Right

21754. The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass to the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions:

(a) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn.

(b) Upon a highway within a business or residence district with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles in the direction of travel.

(c) Upon any highway outside of a business or residence district with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width and clearly marked for two or more lines of moving traffic in the direction of travel.

(d) Upon a one-way street.

(e) Upon a highway divided into two roadways where traffic is restricted to one direction upon each of such roadways.

The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a slow moving vehicle from the duty to drive as closely as practicable to the right hand edge of the roadway.

Amended Sec. 39, Ch. 491, Stats. 2010. Effective January 1, 2011.

 

[ARB1977]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
Originally Posted By: ARB1977
As long as folks are going the speed limit pass them on the right.


You do know that passing on the right is illegal in most states, right?

And that most states have a corresponding law; keep right, except to pass?

Sigh...do you always advocate breaking the law? along with passive-aggressive, antagonistic behaviour like brake checking?

Common courtesy is to move to the right if you don't understand that you shouldn't be driving.

 

[snoofer]

Happened to me just yesterday....Driving through my neighborhood the posted 30 mph.
Noticed a van with two young males right on my bumper for about 5 blocks.
I had stopped at stop sign...waited for cars to pass, then took a left. As I was turning I heard the driver yell "Get off the F_____ street.
I had my 8 year old son with me and he asked what the guy had said?
I told him I wasn't sure. This...for some reason made my blood BOIL.
I tiurned the car around and started to follow this van about a mile into the local Walmart. I parked a couple rows over...just to see who driving, but in reality.... I was ready to put my fist through this loudmouths skull!
Two young kids...maybe 17 or 18 got out texting on their cell phones. I had already told my son to lock the doors and stay in the car. When he had asked "why? Where are you going? I thought for a second....there is No way I would want my son to see this. Plus....these were two young kids...just shootin their mouths.
I got back in the car and left it at that.....but I hadn't been that fired up in a very long time. The thing that really got to me was, if my kid had heard what he said ......How do you explain something like that?

 

[HTSS_TR]

What I hate is a sport sedan like BMW, Audi ... driven at 30 MPH while speed limit is 45 MPH and no car on front of them for 1/2 miles. If they can not drive at or near speed limit on empty roads, then why bother own a sport sedan ?

The other I don't like is people racing in parking lot, pedestrians and kids can be anywhere any second, 30-35 MPH in a parking lot is too dangerous.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
What I hate is a sport sedan like BMW, Audi ... driven at 30 MPH while speed limit is 45 MPH and no car on front of them for 1/2 miles. If they can not drive at or near speed limit on empty roads, then why bother own a sport sedan ?

The other I don't like is people racing in parking lot, pedestrians and kids can be anywhere any second, 30-35 MPH in a parking lot is too dangerous.

I got stuck in the left center lane at 48mph in a 65 zone behind a 7-series.

Finally got an opening to pass him and it's Methuselah hunched over behind the wheel.

I can only hope that when I'm that age that I can afford a nice new 7'er. I also hope that when I'm that age I can still drive well enough to not think that 48 mph is an acceptable freeway speed

 

[ARB1977]

Originally Posted By: snoofer
Happened to me just yesterday....Driving through my neighborhood the posted 30 mph.
Noticed a van with two young males right on my bumper for about 5 blocks.
I had stopped at stop sign...waited for cars to pass, then took a left. As I was turning I heard the driver yell "Get off the F_____ street.
I had my 8 year old son with me and he asked what the guy had said?
I told him I wasn't sure. This...for some reason made my blood BOIL.
I tiurned the car around and started to follow this van about a mile into the local Walmart. I parked a couple rows over...just to see who driving, but in reality.... I was ready to put my fist through this loudmouths skull!
Two young kids...maybe 17 or 18 got out texting on their cell phones. I had already told my son to lock the doors and stay in the car. When he had asked "why? Where are you going? I thought for a second....there is No way I would want my son to see this. Plus....these were two young kids...just shootin their mouths.
I got back in the car and left it at that.....but I hadn't been that fired up in a very long time. The thing that really got to me was, if my kid had heard what he said ......How do you explain something like that?


Those were punks who don't deserve to be on the road.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: 2002 Maxima SE
Anyone run into this one:

We have a few roads that go from four lanes to two lanes. The right lane ends/merges into the left lane. Folks here believe the right lane is a great passing lane. During rush hour, it is not uncommon for one or two to end up off the road and forcing there way in line.

That's one of my biggest pet peeves when stuck in traffic. I see it every week. There are no less than 5 signs that clearly say "EXIT ONLY." These people are either too stupid to know how to read a friggin sign, or they're inconsiderate douchebags who want to cut the line and make traffic 100x worse for the rest of us. So, if I'm in the middle lane and they want to cut back in at the exit ramp, I purposely don't let them in.

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: snoofer
Happened to me just yesterday....Driving through my neighborhood the posted 30 mph.
Noticed a van with two young males right on my bumper for about 5 blocks.
I had stopped at stop sign...waited for cars to pass, then took a left. As I was turning I heard the driver yell "Get off the F_____ street.
I had my 8 year old son with me and he asked what the guy had said?
I told him I wasn't sure. This...for some reason made my blood BOIL.
I tiurned the car around and started to follow this van about a mile into the local Walmart. I parked a couple rows over...just to see who driving, but in reality.... I was ready to put my fist through this loudmouths skull!
Two young kids...maybe 17 or 18 got out texting on their cell phones. I had already told my son to lock the doors and stay in the car. When he had asked "why? Where are you going? I thought for a second....there is No way I would want my son to see this. Plus....these were two young kids...just shootin their mouths.
I got back in the car and left it at that.....but I hadn't been that fired up in a very long time. The thing that really got to me was, if my kid had heard what he said ......How do you explain something like that?




I think you should have calmly approached those to punks and explained what they did was WRONG. No need to discuss or have a conversation just let them know it was wrong and dangerous to tailgate, then add the next time that do that to somebody else they may not be so lucky.

Too many people walk away when they need to call people out when they are clearly taking dangerous actions.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
ARCO,

You sound more intelligent when discussing oil related tropics.

I don't care what the cause, you come as close to my head as my rearview mirror with an axe, you will be met by something with a little more reach.

Stupid to die over uncontrolled anger or machismo.
Jamming on the brakes without reason (driving a deadly weapon) to cause an accident is excusable but knocking someones side view mirror off with a stick is inexcusable? Bad behavoir must be corrected. I will not stand for this bad behavoir anymore. I've had it. I sternly verbally warned a driver at a light who sped up to block my pass when i was passing him in a legal passing zone with oncoming traffic. This illegal behavior put my life at risk. I diagnolly boxed him in at then next stoplight and told him to "Never, ever do that again". No Fingers, no swearing. Just a low, loud baritone voice emanating from a 6'2" 240lb frame. I think he got the message. I havent seen him on the road since.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Some tailgating is just bad driving, though I am rarely tailgated as I am usually the fastest travelling car on the road. I see more inattentive drivers and slow drivers during commute time, and its getting worse with you gas hog vehicle drivers accelerating slow and then driving 10 under on state 2 lane highways. These are the Problem drivers. Pull over ASAP if some one wants to pass you. I do. Its the law (written or unwritten). You are not the traffic cop; speed limits are set WAY slow in most places.


Yup the guy driving a few under the speed limit is way more of a problem than someone driving 10-20 over. Physics is a course you should enroll in when you get into High School.
Defending another slug on the road, eh? How bout 5 over as NORMAL speed on a 2 lane state highway during commuting and the slug moving 10-20 under blocking 20 or more carsin line and ruining the efficient commute. Sorry, NO EXCUSE for slugs, only careless ignorance and selfishness.

 

[rjundi]

Too many guns in the US legal and illegal.

Not worth confronting morons. I usually let them go by.

The only thing I have ever done being tailgated going 35MPH in a 30MPH zone is let my gas pedal go when I saw a police officer going the opposite direction. The car went right up my bumper and the officer spun around with lights on. Interestingly when I pulled over to let CPO pass he asked out the window if I knew the driver. I said no told them person was erractic maybe drunk(not really) and he pulled the car over.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
If I'm being tailgated, I just keep going maintaining my current speed and/or stay beside a car in the next lane, so the tailgater can't pass. It's fun watching him get all angry and frustrated that he can't pass.
Oh, Its YOU, YOU!!! (Said in Judge Smails character). I will have a stale urine balloon ready for you windshield when I finally get past

 

[Boatowner]

Quote:
I think you should have calmly approached those to punks and explained what they did was WRONG. No need to discuss or have a conversation just let them know it was wrong and dangerous to tailgate, then add the next time that do that to somebody else they may not be so lucky.

Too many people walk away when they need to call people out when they are clearly taking dangerous actions.

Really bad idea. Why let a situation escalate when you already know the two youths have issues. Sometimes you just have to shake your head and move on.

People are crazy. A local woman hit her boyfriend with the car after she chased him down for an argument. Multiple witnesses. She told the police he jumped onto her hood. He ended up in the trauma center. You don't want to end up in a situation like that, with or without your son present.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Another peeve: People flipping the bird.
Try doing that to someone in line at COSTCO or at the movie theater. I might imagine different results than when someone is cowardly "safe" in their mild steel can cocoon with 4 tires.

 

[KrisZ]

I remember an old Disney cartoon showing in an exaggerated, for the time period, manner the change of character the moment people sat in an automobile. I think this thread is proof that it isn't an exaggeration any more.