What's the point of tailgating?

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: nwjones18
I had a woman tailgating me in a minivan for several miles in town once. I was going about 5mph over the speed limit and she just kept following me about a foot off my bumper. There was no traffic and she could have passed. After a while she started holding her hand out the window flipping me off. I had a big weight distributing hitch on my old truck, and I brake checked her. Tore the front of her van all to pieces. She was quite unhappy with me, and when the officer got there I told him exactly what had happened, he laughed and wrote up the accident as no fault.. I realize this wasn't the best thing to do, but sometimes anger gets the best of you.



He wrote up the accident as no fault? It absolutely was the lady's fault for following too closely...she should've been ticketed...

 

[PF52]

I've ridden with people who were chronic tailgaters; they'd just get right up there behind the guy in front and stay there for miles as if was completely normal. Then if that guy turned off or something, they'd just go on ahead and find another guy's bumper to stare at. As a passenger, it was very tedious because it was impossible to see very far ahead. I can't imagine it would be any better for the driver.

 

[Boatowner]

I don't get the in town tailgaters. Here you can see at the intersection ahead you will be stopped for the cross traffic in two direction to have separate green lights. So you might as well coast up the to red light. Yet people are in a big rush to get up to that red light and stop, maybe because they are late for work. I have coasted up next to them at the light plenty of times.

Best tailgating situation I got caught in was in a massive traffic jam on I-5 southbound in Washington in 2001. I had this woman riding my bumper, no big deal at 5 mph, but every time I let a little space get between me and the car in front she would honk and flash her lights. I never did figure out how I was slowing her down any. She finally got around me so she could ride the bumper of the next car.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: nwjones18
I had a woman tailgating me in a minivan for several miles in town once. I was going about 5mph over the speed limit and she just kept following me about a foot off my bumper. There was no traffic and she could have passed. After a while she started holding her hand out the window flipping me off. I had a big weight distributing hitch on my old truck, and I brake checked her. Tore the front of her van all to pieces. She was quite unhappy with me, and when the officer got there I told him exactly what had happened, he laughed and wrote up the accident as no fault.. I realize this wasn't the best thing to do, but sometimes anger gets the best of you.



He wrote up the accident as no fault? It absolutely was the lady's fault for following too closely...she should've been ticketed...


He's lucky he didn't get a ticket for causing the accident. Yopu can call it wrong, but that's the way it is--brake checking so as to intentionally cause someone to hit you or the ditch is considered causing the accident.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Hermann
My least favorite drivers are the campers in the middle lane on three lane highways. These folks are just not compotent enough drivers to allow mergers access if they stay in the right lane. And they are not brave enough to venture in the fast lane.


Ever driven in a city with both left and right lane exits, with exits every quarter mile? I'm thinking I84 in Hartford.

Middle lane is safe if you've never been in the area before, and are driving through, and it's rush hour.

 

[mpvue]

we were away in Maine for the weekend and coming home to PA passing through MA my Dad had a contractor van come up REAL fast on his bumper while my Dad was passing another car; we were over 70 or so.
the guy couldn't wait to let us move back over, so he did the 'fly past you on the right' routine, while giving a thumbs-down out the window (huh?)
maybe he just assumed we were going too slow for him (my family was in my Dad's truck, a highlander hybrid w/ a roof box and a rear box on the hitch)
I see this a lot; the tailgaters get SO impatient they pass on the right, and the supposedly slow driver in the left lane is stuck in the left while the idiots all pass him.
to the OP, I think the tailgaters DO think you'll be intimidated and move over; I don't care. if I'm in the left lane, it's because I'm passing or there is a long row of people also going fast in the left lane.
if there is a whole row of people all doing over the speed limit in the left lane, where does the tailgater think he's going to get to?

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: nwjones18
I had a woman tailgating me in a minivan for several miles in town once. I was going about 5mph over the speed limit and she just kept following me about a foot off my bumper. There was no traffic and she could have passed. After a while she started holding her hand out the window flipping me off. I had a big weight distributing hitch on my old truck, and I brake checked her. Tore the front of her van all to pieces. She was quite unhappy with me, and when the officer got there I told him exactly what had happened, he laughed and wrote up the accident as no fault.. I realize this wasn't the best thing to do, but sometimes anger gets the best of you.



He wrote up the accident as no fault? It absolutely was the lady's fault for following too closely...she should've been ticketed...


He's lucky he didn't get a ticket for causing the accident. Yopu can call it wrong, but that's the way it is--brake checking so as to intentionally cause someone to hit you or the ditch is considered causing the accident.


That's ridiculous...if the woman hadn't been tailgating in the first place the incident would never have happened...it was her fault and she should've been ticketed..

 

[supton]

Been that way for a long time. I recall talking to my dad about doing brake checks for this, and he told me the same thing. And that was in '95 or so.

Like I said, agree or disagree, it's how the law goes.

 

[jeepman3071]

There are A LOT of tailgaters in my area. It might be because I live near a college campus. It is almost always someone driving an [insert expensive car here] and talking on the phone. The road I drive on is Route 44. This road has a speed limit of 45mph for a majority of the length of it. I usually drive 50mph-55mph depending on conditions and traffic.

Even when doing 55mph (10 over the speed limit) I've had people 1 foot off my rear bumper. Talking on the phone, putting on makeup, etc, all while staying 1 foot off my bumper. This is unacceptable. There are often school buses which seem to pull out from side roads, people getting their mail, etc. One tap of the brakes and both of us would collide. I used to brake check those who followed too closely, but that would only result in getting the finger. I've now learned to just turn the rear view mirror up temporarily and ignore them.

Don't even get me started about drivers in the snow. I think people follow even closer in the snow around here, like their Chevy Trailblazer can stop instantly because it has 4WD. I also notice it happens to be a lot of WHITE cars that tailgate me without their headlights on in a blizzard.

 

[eljefino]

Might be good to have a quasi plausible rationale for brake checking someone. Like you saw a squirrel and didn't want to hit it.

Anyone who "deserves" tailgating, if there's someone doing it and I'm 3rd car in the conga line, I give the first two cars plenty of space. Then if there's a brake check or whatever I'm not a part of it.

Just my suspicion, but most chronic tailgaters don't drive stick shifts or have never had anything underpowered. They just touch the applicable pedal and get what their ADHD brain wants, without thinking about the mechanics involved or having any empathy for what the car needs to waste to always change speed. Similarly I respect 18 wheelers who perform "traffic calming" in stop and go interstate traffic and will hang out the next lane over doing the same thing if I get a good opportunity.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: supton
Been that way for a long time. I recall talking to my dad about doing brake checks for this, and he told me the same thing. And that was in '95 or so.

Like I said, agree or disagree, it's how the law goes.


"I'm sorry officer, I saw a cat run in front of my car and hit the brakes. This lady rear-ended me since she was following too close"

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
Originally Posted By: supton
Been that way for a long time. I recall talking to my dad about doing brake checks for this, and he told me the same thing. And that was in '95 or so.

Like I said, agree or disagree, it's how the law goes.


"I'm sorry officer, I saw a cat run in front of my car and hit the brakes. This lady rear-ended me since she was following too close"

 

[dja4260]

I'm guilty of brake checking tailgaters. They usually stop right away. At lights they will stare and I'll sternly ask them why they feel the need to ride my behind....

When I'm on my motorcycle it infuriates me! I've gotten off the bike at lights and again sternly asked them what their problem is. Most are terrified ladies on the phone.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Just my suspicion, but most chronic tailgaters don't drive stick shifts or have never had anything underpowered. They just touch the applicable pedal and get what their ADHD brain wants, without thinking about the mechanics involved or having any empathy for what the car needs to waste to always change speed.


Last time I drove a U-Haul truck I found myself tailgating at a point or two (well, what felt like it, only it was probably like 2 truck lengths at 60) because it was underpowered and was going to lose speed like mad on the incline that was coming up--cut in front of a loaded UHaul and I didn't have have much choice. So ironically I'd think driving underpowered vehicles may also lead to tailgating, out of necessity of maintaining momentum.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: supton
Been that way for a long time. I recall talking to my dad about doing brake checks for this, and he told me the same thing. And that was in '95 or so.

Like I said, agree or disagree, it's how the law goes.


Proving that the driver in front was doing a brake check is impossible...all the driver has to do is say an animal ran out in front of him/her...however, plowing into the back of someone else's vehicle IS proof that the person was following too closely...

 

[chiks]

Originally Posted By: grampi
I have been noticing more and more tailgaters...what are these people trying to accomplish?


The same thing that the following groups wants to accomplish, just all at the same time

1. Exhibitionists
2. Doggy style lovers
3. Nudist beach lovers
4. In your face gangbanger

 

[chiks]

Originally Posted By: abycat
Some guy was tailgating me yesterday and i mean like a foot away so i tapped the brakes. I think he spilled something haha. He even got out and asked my why i hit the brakes. I told him to not make two mistakes today and [censored] off.


I do that all the time. scares the [censored] out of them.

 

[Smokescreen]

I am glad I live where I do...on my double divided highway with it being sparsely populated with cars, there is never any tail-gaters...ever, its like the Cadillac of hi ways (Seinfeld reference intended) Its so nice that people change lanes often half a mile before in advance just pass by with a smile on their face, sometimes even waving.

 

[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.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: grampi
I have been noticing more and more tailgaters...what are these people trying to accomplish?

Now, before people start jumping on my case about driving too slowly, or being a left lane camper, I'll tell you I'm not one of those drivers. I typically drive 5-10 MPH over the limit, and when I'm driving on 4 or more lane roads, I stay right except to pass.

I don't know if these people who tailgate think they're going to intimidate me into driving faster, or if they just fail to see any danger in following too closely, but I don't care for the fact that they're willing to put other drivers in danger just because they're in a hurry. I think the police need to start cracking down on these people...


I've noticed that Ohioans are by far the worst offenders at this. They'll crawl up my a-- even when I'm going 5 over the limit in the right lane! They really ought to be put in their place by the local authorities, but the authorities, while ubiquitous on these roads, only care about catching speeders.