How Do You Deal With Tailgaters?

[ultrarunner]

Just finished 1800 miles mostly at night and big pickups were the only tailgaters and most had piercing headlights enhanced by lift kits.

If someone wants to pass it’s the sooner the better… always say to myself maybe a medical emergency?

The extremely bright headlights on many newer vehicles are a hazard in my book…

I read some OEM may actually be too bright.

 

[bcp]

Brrt Plug 2" Trailer Hitch Accessory

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Bruce

 

[square1]

brake, gas, brake, gas, brake, gas

I think it was my 2nd daughter that took forever to teach those aren't On/Off switches.

 

[steve tym]

If there is a line of cars behind you, you are the problem.
I usually drive as fast as the car in front of me will allow.
I feel comfortable with the space between me and the guy in front of me, but I suspect from their point of view, I'm probably up the butt.
Sat at a red light the other day for four cycles of the light (our left turning arrow never changed), finally honked my horn at the guy in front of me, he just points to the red light. People behind me were going around us. Three seconds later the light turns green. Figures.

 

[lman]

I use my horn occasionally to remind the driver in front of me that when the light turns green they can go instead of continuing to play on their cell phone. I believe the line of traffic behind me appreciates the reminder.

 

[Torvy]

Where I live, using the horn is a major social gaffe. It's great.

Growing up, the horn was the greeting of kids cruising 'the loop'. (A stretch of 4-lane on a US hwy through town). It was our equivalent to social media or a dating app.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Growing up, the horn was the greeting of kids cruising 'the loop'. (A stretch of 4-lane on a US hwy through town). It was our equivalent to social media or a dating app.

I remember being in Wray Colorado doing construction in the late 70's. The cruise up and down the "main drag" and waving was their thing. They would end up in a large burger joint parking lot, then periodically, go back to cruising...

 

[Torvy]

I remember being in Wray Colorado doing construction in the late 70's. The cruise up and down the "main drag" and waving was their thing. They would end up in a large burger joint parking lot, then periodically, go back to cruising...

We had a truck stop/cafe at one end and a turnaround at the other. The highway curve a bit left out of town, a short 'fork' went straight for a block around a monument.

In between we had a DQ and an A&W to stop if you wanted to chat. Bowling alley was on the same highway, too.

Town was (still is) under 5000 pop.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

If there is a line of cars behind you, you are the problem.
I usually drive as fast as the car in front of me will allow.
I feel comfortable with the space between me and the guy in front of me, but I suspect from their point of view, I'm probably up the butt.

It's not just rude. The problem is simple physics. People don't understand that. When you tailgate, you shorten the time you have to react to a problem very drastically, and you don't give yourself enough room to brake.

You also distract the victim in front of you from the road ahead.

 

[fidowanttobe]

If there is a line of cars behind you, you are the problem.

"Oh look Hon! There is no one in front of us, and everyone is behind us AGAIN! What luck!"