Tailgaters suck!! - (vent session)
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: dallas tx usa
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (JQ87)
if you are in the right lane then the guy riding your butt deserves a little brake check by alll means, however i do make it a point to move over when i am in the left lane doin 70 on my way to austin and someone comes up behind me doin 75. it is just courtesy.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara, California
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (JQ87)
We have a plethora of them here in Northern California. Often they are talking on their Cell Phone and are not conscious of what they are doing. Try turning on your windshield washers at highway speeds. If they are following to close, much of your washer fluid ends up on their windshield. Once you get their attention, try flashing your brake lights.
Normally, if some idiot wants to tail gate, I will pull over into a slow lane and let the idiot by, but many of our freeways are so full, there if no way to get over quickly enough to please them.
Our worst offenders tend to be young men, often with shaved heads, driving rice burners with fartcan exhaust and a window full of speed shop decals, who want to bully a Vette Driver. I suspect the most powerful item in their vehicle is the audio amplifier.
My 2 cents worth.
ChuckD
Normally, if some idiot wants to tail gate, I will pull over into a slow lane and let the idiot by, but many of our freeways are so full, there if no way to get over quickly enough to please them.
Our worst offenders tend to be young men, often with shaved heads, driving rice burners with fartcan exhaust and a window full of speed shop decals, who want to bully a Vette Driver. I suspect the most powerful item in their vehicle is the audio amplifier.
My 2 cents worth.
ChuckD
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 0
From: Barely Here
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (JQ87)
Tailgating is tailgating; I assume that JQ87 knows the rules of ettiquette for the road. Sometimes a PIA tailgater (especially if they "think" they have a fast car [SHO = fast???]) will gate you no matter what. They deserve to suck fumes !!!
:cool: Coot
:cool: Coot
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 0
From: NOVA
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (vettmojo)
Vettemojo is 100% correct. It's all about driving courtesy. Let me reiterate, THE LEFT LANE IS FOR PASSING ONLY. IT IS NOT A TRAVEL LANE.
I don’t care if someone is going 100+ MPH, get out of their way. You are not the left lane police! :mad: If it bothers you that people speed, pull to the right, left them pass, and report them to the police on your cell phone.
I don’t care if someone is going 100+ MPH, get out of their way. You are not the left lane police! :mad: If it bothers you that people speed, pull to the right, left them pass, and report them to the police on your cell phone.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
From: Santa Cruz CA
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (JQ87)
Tail Gators Blow me ! ! :mad
Today, i had two different people tailgating me in traffic,
what i do is when i start going to about 10 miles an ahour and
they are right behind me, traffic comes to a stop, i hit the brakes quick, 10-0 mph quick
seems to do the trick, then they back off. if they hit me,
they can pay for a new rear end. I'm not gonna be worried because theres
nothing i can do if they hit me, as long as they pay for the damage. But i'll be
very very :mad :boxing
Today, i had two different people tailgating me in traffic,
what i do is when i start going to about 10 miles an ahour and
they are right behind me, traffic comes to a stop, i hit the brakes quick, 10-0 mph quick
seems to do the trick, then they back off. if they hit me,
they can pay for a new rear end. I'm not gonna be worried because theres
nothing i can do if they hit me, as long as they pay for the damage. But i'll be
very very :mad :boxing
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 964
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Park Texas
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (vettmojo)
Tailgaiting is tailgaiting and it is ILLEGAL. Period. It makes no difference what lane your are in. The law states that the following driver is to leave a safe distance between the cars to allow for a safe stopping distance. This is dependent upon traffic conditions, road conditions and weather conditions. You can be given a traffic citation for following too close (tailgating). The left lane is NOT FOR PASSING ONLY unless there is a specific highway sign which states "Left Lane for Passing Only". :seeya
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
From: Spring Tx
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (six_speed)
The attitude in the United States is to not cooperate overall when driving. It might be the law to allow traffic to pass, but it is not the customary practice. Why be like the Germans, who know how to drive and pass at a reasonable speed.
The custom here in Texas to pull over while on a two lane highway is slowing dying. When you are being followed or approached by a faster vehicle on a rural road, you pull over on the shoulder to allow room for passing. Usually get a friendly five fingered wave when this occurs. I have let many Vettes run this way.
Speaking of following laws, how many run without front tags vowing 'never on my car' yet complain of the left lane passing problems. Hmmm. Selective law obeying.
Just my observations.
Jim
The custom here in Texas to pull over while on a two lane highway is slowing dying. When you are being followed or approached by a faster vehicle on a rural road, you pull over on the shoulder to allow room for passing. Usually get a friendly five fingered wave when this occurs. I have let many Vettes run this way.
Speaking of following laws, how many run without front tags vowing 'never on my car' yet complain of the left lane passing problems. Hmmm. Selective law obeying.
Just my observations.
Jim
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Hayward, Ca
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (JQ87)
Some idiots will tailgate you no matter how fast you go. I have been tailgated when there is someone in front and to the side and I have nowhere else to go. For these jerks I just keep getting slower and slower till they get the hint. :mad
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (JQ87)
Go drive in San Juan, Pr......
I had to rent a car down there once. Tailgating seems to be normal driving. after a week down there, back here in the U.S. is a Sunday drive.
I really don't worry about tailgaters too much, they usually have to slow down for the curves. I do hate heavy traffic when you get someone behind you that doesn't seem to be paying attention, and has to slam on brakes to keep from hitting your rear.....time after time...
jimilane
I had to rent a car down there once. Tailgating seems to be normal driving. after a week down there, back here in the U.S. is a Sunday drive.
I really don't worry about tailgaters too much, they usually have to slow down for the curves. I do hate heavy traffic when you get someone behind you that doesn't seem to be paying attention, and has to slam on brakes to keep from hitting your rear.....time after time...
jimilane
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 0
From: NOVA
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (Ed Ut)
This is VA law:
§ 46.2-802. Drive on right side of highways.
Except as otherwise provided by law, on all highways of sufficient width, the driver of a vehicle shall drive on the right half of the highway, unless it is impracticable to travel on such side of the highway and except when overtaking and passing another vehicle, subject to the provisions applicable to overtaking and passing set forth in Article 4 (§ 46.2-837 et seq.) of this chapter.
The left lane is FOR PASSING, it is NOT a travel lane. :mad
§ 46.2-802. Drive on right side of highways.
Except as otherwise provided by law, on all highways of sufficient width, the driver of a vehicle shall drive on the right half of the highway, unless it is impracticable to travel on such side of the highway and except when overtaking and passing another vehicle, subject to the provisions applicable to overtaking and passing set forth in Article 4 (§ 46.2-837 et seq.) of this chapter.
The left lane is FOR PASSING, it is NOT a travel lane. :mad
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Ga
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (JQ87)
I have gotten over the tailgate road rage thing because I have found something that really works under any and all conditions,
I gradually slow down a bit to set the mood then turn on the right blinker and slowly pull over to the right lane if on the highway or pull to the side of the road and come to a complete stop on a single lane highway. Then I abruptly pull back to where I was and keep the same speed as before. I have never been known to go lower than the speed limit anyway so if I am being tailgated it is always by one who is greatly exceeding the posted limit anyway! I think the tailgater thinks about it far longer this way. Life is way too short to get into a roadrage thing. :boxing :boxing
[Modified by cerby, 1:16 PM 8/17/2001]
I gradually slow down a bit to set the mood then turn on the right blinker and slowly pull over to the right lane if on the highway or pull to the side of the road and come to a complete stop on a single lane highway. Then I abruptly pull back to where I was and keep the same speed as before. I have never been known to go lower than the speed limit anyway so if I am being tailgated it is always by one who is greatly exceeding the posted limit anyway! I think the tailgater thinks about it far longer this way. Life is way too short to get into a roadrage thing. :boxing :boxing
[Modified by cerby, 1:16 PM 8/17/2001]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 0
From: NC
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (six_speed)
This is NC law:
In reference to the bold text above, I was driving 5-7 over the limit. He was traveling faster and at an unsafe distance. He was in the wrong! Period!
Now, if he would have been at a safe distance, I would have bee more than happy to move over.
sec. 20-146. Drive on right side of highway; exceptions
(b) Upon all highways any vehicle proceeding at less than the legal maximum speed limit shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for thru traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the highway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn.
(b) Upon all highways any vehicle proceeding at less than the legal maximum speed limit shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for thru traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the highway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn.
Now, if he would have been at a safe distance, I would have bee more than happy to move over.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 0
From: NOVA
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (JQ87)
Originally posted by JQ87:
Now, if he would have been at a safe distance, I would have bee more than happy to move over.
Now, if he would have been at a safe distance, I would have bee more than happy to move over.
Furthermore, situations like that don’t bother me that much. If I was the guy behind you I wouldn’t tailgate you, I would have passed you in the right lane.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Oxford AL
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (six_speed)
I usually never see the tailgaters - I don't worry too much about what's behind me :p: What does get my 
going is the footholes in the jalopies with bodies held together by rust who decide that in front of my vette is the PERFECT place to pull out from the side street! I guess they figure "Hey, he'll stop!" 
that's so cute, how a* holes got changed to footholes... :blueangel:
[Modified by claybama red 94 LT1, 10:20 PM 8/17/2001]
going is the footholes in the jalopies with bodies held together by rust who decide that in front of my vette is the PERFECT place to pull out from the side street! I guess they figure "Hey, he'll stop!" that's so cute, how a* holes got changed to footholes... :blueangel:
[Modified by claybama red 94 LT1, 10:20 PM 8/17/2001]
Instructor
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Ridgefield CT
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (JQ87)
Around here (NYC suburb) almost no one uses the right lane so I find it's a little faster than the middle or left lane. Also, the radar cops are aimed at the left lane. I love it when they grab some idiot in a Lexus that just about shoved someone into the left lane.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 0
From: na
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (six_speed)
Tailgating is one of the reasons that I selected the A-4. Try being stopped in line in traffic on a hill at a stopsign. I had to used the emergency brake so as not to roll back with the 4+3.
On the interstate it's fun just to blast off in a safe spot up to 85 or so. Most cars won't do that and it takes them too long to get up to speed. Just pull ahead and slow down again and reset your cruise control.
I had one however that I got concerned about. We were in a rental car going from Simi Valley to Fresno late at night. This car kept passing us and slowing down. If the wife had not been in the car I may have taken action.
On the interstate it's fun just to blast off in a safe spot up to 85 or so. Most cars won't do that and it takes them too long to get up to speed. Just pull ahead and slow down again and reset your cruise control.
I had one however that I got concerned about. We were in a rental car going from Simi Valley to Fresno late at night. This car kept passing us and slowing down. If the wife had not been in the car I may have taken action.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 71,447
Likes: 6
From: Miami bound
CI 4-5-6-7 Veteran
Re: Tailgaters suck!! -
I have to add my vote to the "move, you are in my way" side of this argument. I drive faster than traffic about 99% of the time. If the car in front of me doesn't get the hint after a few minutes, I will pull up on his bumper, and make sure I fill up his rear view and left hand mirrors. But only for a second, then I'll back off and allow him time to do the right thing. People that move when they see me coming get a friendly wave. Am I a foothole? Probably. However, I am also the first to get out of the way if someone is actually going faster than me.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Hayward, Ca
Re: Tailgaters suck!! - (JQ87)
What makes a tailgater even worse is when you get an idiot that doesn't know that his car can't stop as fast as yours. Happened to me yesterday and the fool :jester almost went thru his windshield as I easily stopped for some backed up traffic. He did back off after that. :D