How Do You Deal With Tailgaters?

[ultrarunner]

Some of the mountain highways like 50 have passing lanes but are also highly traveled by vacation goers.

It never fails to have a lead car with a dozen or more held up behind.

However, it is increasingly rare for the slow lead car to maintain speed once a passing lane opens up… then it’s often pedal to the metal.

I just don’t get it but then I remember my state is reported to have improperly issued as many as 60,000 CDL licensed so anything is possible.

 

[rontaki]

Driving faster than the posted speed limit is against the law.
We should not be allowed to pick and choose which laws we obey.

I once broke the speed law in Arizona - the minimum speed law on a section of highway. At the time, I was driving an old VW van, and trying to get up to the minimum speed. Fortunately, the road was fairly empty.

 

[Bad Boy Biker]

GET OUT OF MY WAY!

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

My family is from Eastern Kentucky, and I started my driving education there. Lots of hills.

When I was a teenager living in Florida, my family got a cabin in North Carolina in the mountains. Tons of people from Florida were infesting the place, so they were all over the roads. They can't even drive in Florida on flat roads, so you can imagine how they drive in the mountains. Rode their brakes all the time, especially down hills. Moved at a snail's pace.

They piled cars up behind them. One old yankee doing 20 with 35 Southerners cussing behind him.

They drove my mother nuts. She taught me to use the engine to brake.

 

[Hay Dude]

One way to get someone off your tail on a back road is just drive real close to the shoulder, where all the little pebbles are. Kick up a few of those and they back off REAL fast.

I don’t condone this or recommend anyone do it. I have never participated in such a rude and inconsiderate tactic.

 

[Hay Dude]

If I am doing 5 mph over the speed limit and there are cars behind me, I am not the problem. They are the problem.

I agree.

On the PA Turnpike, the speed limit is 70. Most people do 90.
If you were doing 70-75, you’ll be lucky not to get rear-ended.

 

[steve tym]

Yes, I"m an impatient speeder, but it is MUCH less stressful to be the slow one. Not a care in the world, don't care what anybody else has to do.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Not true. If I'm in the fast lane going 15 mph over the limit, one idiot or another rides my bumper and expects me to move over. If I'm in the middle lane, same thing. If I'm in the slow lane, everyone goes 10 mph under, and I'm stuck behind them.

 

[WinterDeere]

I agree.

On the PA Turnpike, the speed limit is 70. Most people do 90.
If you were doing 70-75, you’ll be lucky not to get rear-ended.

If one guy is tailgating you, he's the problem. But if there are 5 piled up behind you, then you are the problem!

Like you said, most on the Turnpike around here are doing 90, so stay the hell out of the left lane, if you've got a trailer!

I'm usually the guy blowing past you over 90 mph, but I don't tailgate, as I don't want the stone chips. I'll hang back a respectable 4 - 5 seconds distance and flash you to move over, then blast past you once you do. I hate riding as a passenger with any driver who tailgates, which really describes most IMO, so I nearly always end up the designated driver wherever we go.

Anyone remember learning the "5 second rule" in driver's ed class? Basically, you start counting when the car ahead of you passes a landmark, whether that be a telephone pole or sign post. If you reach that landmark before "five Mississippi", then you're following too close, it's time to back off. I believe this roughly corresponds to the "1 car length per 10 mph" rule, that some others prefer. I adhere to this everywhere except the Shure-Kill Deathway (I-276), where allowing even 1 car length gap in front means being constantly cut off.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

People have always been stupid.