How Do You Deal With Tailgaters?

[WinterDeere]

Speed limit in the USA varies by state, and type of roadway ...

As it should, not everywhere has the same conditions. But I think the prior comment to which you were responding referred to the fact that there was a federally-imposed 55 mph for all roads in all states, not all that long ago. Heck, Sammy Hagar even wrote his most famous song, on that topic.

Some places allow all vehicles to travel 80 mph ... Other places they have a "split speed limit" which allows cars 5-15 mph faster than trucks, California for instance puts trailers in that category with the trucks 3 axles or more ...

This is standard in Germany, but like Paul, I'd never seen it here. I wish our PA lawmakers would realize that a Porsche 911 is safer to the public at 100 mph than any tri-axle dump truck at 40 mph... but they don't.

 

[steve tym]

Speed doesn't kill, it's the difference in speed. If everyone is doing 80, and there is one slowpoke doing the 65 mph speed limit, he's in the right, but also the dangerous one on the road.

 

[WinterDeere]

Speed doesn't kill, it's the difference in speed. If everyone is doing 80, and there is one slowpoke doing the 65 mph speed limit, he's in the right, but also the dangerous one on the road.

Not sure how you can claim that. When two cars doing a very similar 80 mph come together, at least one of them is going to find a stationary roadside obstacle. It's not like roads don't have things like barriers, bridges, and guard rails dotted all over our roadsides. We also have plenty of data to refute your claim, from 100 years of driving records in countries with differing speed limits. Speed does indeed kill.

I spent a good part of my 20's working in Germany, back when most of their highway system (Autobahn) was still totally unregulated for speed. Your only speed limit was your horsepower, and highway speeds were typically 140 - 250 km/h (85 - 160 mph).

The Germans used to laugh because highway accidents in the USA do not generate all that many fatalities, by comparison, due to our low speeds. I remember at least 3 large pile ups during my years in Germany, where the number of fatalities was greater than or equal to the number of cars. The worst I personally saw was something like 100 fatalities in a single 90-car pile up, but they've had many others much worse.

It'd be nice if everyone were a driving enthusiast, or had better training, but they aren't and they don't. I know I drive fast when I'm in one of my sports cars, but I also tend to be one of the slower guys on the road in my truck, and slower yet when pulling a heavy trailer. If folks just did more to adjust their driving to the conditions and their vehicle, perhaps we wouldn't have so many stupid limits that cause such a general apathy for speed limits.

 

[paulsharvey]

I hear over and over, "if I drive the speed limit, ill get ran over", thats a BS excuse. Interstate, if its at 65/70, and you run 65/70, your not getting ran Over, your gettinf passed, which is maybe an injury to your pride, but nothing else. Now, going 45 mph (often the posted min of interstate), that likely is a bit unsafe, as if someone is going 90 and your going 45, they Could get into you before they realize the speed difference.

Yes, I would Like to run 85 in a lot of places, but, the idea you can't run 65 is crap.

 

[MossRoad]

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.

If you're in the fast lane going 15 over and someone comes up behind you and you won't move over, in Indiana you'll get a ticket for impeded traffic.

The guy speeding faster than you would also get a speeding ticket, if caught, but they'll go after anyone in the left lane impeding traffic.

 

[Topzide]

In my state, they passed the "hindering traffic" laws. Meaning on a dual or up lane road. If you're holding up traffic, you can be ticketed! So left lane riders doing speed limit, traffic stacking up behind you, better move to the right or risk a ticket.

I'll pass and move back over when safe to do so. No need to ride the left lane! No big deal to change lanes to allow the "knuckle heads" to fly by!

 

[MossRoad]

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.

It wasn't a 5 second rule. It's a 2 second rule. 5 seconds would put you almost a tenth of a mile behind the car in front of you at 70mph.

 

[MossRoad]

People have always been stupid.

They're letting cows drive lawnmowers!

 

[MossRoad]

Do smokestacks in the bed help?

They're great for melting the skin off the palm of your hand... if you need such a procedure.

 

[paulsharvey]

It wasn't a 5 second rule. It's a 2 second rule. 5 seconds would put you almost a tenth of a mile behind the car in front of you at 70mph.

All my many many mandatory company driver trainings, have stretched follow distance to 4 seconds or 5 seconds in rain. It was 2 decades ago, lengthened to 3 atleast 20 years ago.