How Do You Deal With Tailgaters?

[bdhsfz6]

I pretty much ignored tailgaters for most of my driving career but over the last 5 years or so, it seems to be getting worse. In the past, I would do things like slow down until the offending vehicle passes me or tap my brakes a few times. On one occasion, I was driving my old 72 Chevy pickup when a late model BMW began riding my a$$. Just then, a deer started across the road in front of me and I hit the brakes hard. I missed the deer but the beemer didn't miss me. He plowed into my 6" channel iron rear bumper and stove in the front end of the car but left hardly a mark on my iron bumper. I guess the smile I had on my face didn't help the other drivers demeanor much as we exchanged insurance info. He sued, claiming I stopped for no reason but lost, since in my state, there in no excuse for a rear end collision. Still cost me though since I had to hire a lawyer.

The most recent incident, and the one that prompted this post, happened while I was towing my Kubota L3430 on a flatbed trailer. I was doing the speed limit on a rural 2 lane highway when a pickup began tailgating. Yeah, you guessed it, another deer crossed in front of me and I hit the brakes. The pickup plowed into the trailer doing a considerable amount of damage. Not the least of which was a bent up bucket and a bent tractor FEL arm. This time, I was out a considerable sum. Yes, insurance paid most of it but it took over a year for the payout while the insurance companies fought it out. I also lost the use of my tractor and trailer for several months.

Now, I guess I'm a bit paranoid about tailgaters. These days, my usual method is to just pull over and let the tailgater pass. It's so common around here now that pulling over is getting old, especially when towing a trailer. I'm curious what others here do.

 

[dodge man]

Pretty much the same thing you do. I’m betting most of the time if you talked to the person and got a honest answer they would tell you they aren’t tailgaters. You can just tell when someone is behind you or you meet them at a stop sign they are in a hurry. Years ago I discovered when I was in a hurry I really wasn’t. It’s a needless mindset.

 

[masseyrider]

I go out of my way to do exactly the speed limit or just a bit below. Ideally when there is on coming traffic.
And I'll go out of my way to start to set up a left turn really early to trap them behind me. If there is on coming traffic I'll wait for them to pass even if they are a safe turning distance away to begin with.
Funny how there is a high density of Black Forest vehicles in this area and they are the ones doing much of the speeding and tailgating.
Entitled much?

 

[Tinhack]

Taping the brakes without reason can get you "cuffed up" in many states. It depends on how the state defines reckless driving. Having a dash cam can help if, in deed, a deer or animal crossed your path. But it better show an unavoidable encounter. Be warned that not all rear-end collisions create an automatic fault.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I generally just gradually slow down ... I also have at least one dash camera on, sometimes up to 4! (Depending on which vehicle I'm driving)

A slower speed rear end is safer than a fast one!

 

[MossRoad]

I just ignore them.

 

[RB5]

Funny how this thread pops up after I had a fun trip home from the city 2 days ago. I was almost rear ended by a one ton dually 4x4 with a big lift kit. I was in the fast lane on a 2 lanes each way. I was going 5 to 10 mph over the speed limit, and the car in front of me was blocking the fast lane. I got over as soon as I could. I really think this truck was going to rear end me if I did not. That wasn't the only incident. I don't usually drive home from Dallas on Sunday evenings. Now what I wanted to do... Have a trailer full of big round hay bales. Watch in the mirror as my buddy goes out the window and climbs onto the trailer to undo the straps. That incident happened to be the 3rd one I had to deal with on that trip. One of the others was a smaller car zig zagging through traffic.

As the population increases her this is something I have do deal with more often. My guess is a lot of you guys on here have similar issues.

 

[masseyrider]

I just ignore them.

There's always a logical one to ruin the fun.

 

[bigtiller]

I drive a little slower and ignore them.
20 years ago I sometimes would through a lit cigarette out the window and watch it bounce off their windshield.

 

[not2old]

I usually follow the two second rule. When someone is way too close behind, like about one parking space while on the highway, I increase the distance from the car ahead to three or four seconds. That gives me more space to slow down more slowly if necessary.