Let them pass - the fiberglass is yours to loose....

So this morning I'm on the highway, two lanes, heavy traffic, left lane
going 70, right lane going essentially the same. Nobody is doing any passing, but rather just moving en masse.
A funny looking guy in a ford escort is riding my bumper at about 1/2 a car length; like he wants to pass. Also he occasionally would slow down, then speed up and get real close. This went on for ~10 miles.
After I got to work, it occurred to me that I should have just squeezed over and let the moron by so he could annoy the person in front of me. Its really not worth the possible damage that the idiot could do with a rear end collision.

So we both had the same exit; the moron, who turns out to be a woman,
passed me at the toll both then turned the same way I was going onto a four lane road. So I got to play the wide open exhaust note for her and also left her with the customary hand gesture.

But this just made me feel stupid for even engaging her. The fact is, the world is full of idiots and your best bet is to just steer clear of them.

Ken

 

When someone does something like that to me when I’m in my junk ride, I drive into the gravel on the side of the road. :p:

You’d be surprised how quickly they back off. :lol:

 

I just keep slowing down till they're forced to pass me. Although on our trip up to Ohio last weekend we were driving up 77N through WVA & I had to swerve suddenly to avoid hitting a woodchuck. The tailgater backed off after that. :lol:

 

I had someone tailgatting me while on RTE 80 in Joliet leaving Route 66 dragstrip, I was getting onto northbound I55 and that ramp is a little tricky as far as the apexes(multiple and decreasing radius). The pos Honda was on my butt, so I let the T-1 swaybars and Bilstein shocks do their thing as I sped up slowlyonto the ramp, the Honda tried to stay on my butt, but all of a sudden his headlights were gone, he couldn't handle the off ramp, went wide and slowed to avoid the ditch.

Mission accomplished! No more tailgater and a nice grin on my face.

 

Not possible where I live.

I employ a variety of techniques in dealing with tailgaters. They vary in harshness and are executed arbitrarily by me based on how much they've pissed me off, which is totally a subjective thing.

Sometimes I just move over. Other times I slow down. Some times I tuck in even closer behind them and weave so they see me flicking in and out of their side mirrors and can't ignore me. Some times I show them what Corvette taillights look like disappearing on the horizon.

Usually I just pull them along faster and faster until I just exceed their comfort level. You can usually pull them up to 10mph faster than they want to go, they look down and go :eek: and then back off.

I figure the cops gotta go through them to get to me and if they're on my butt...

 

move to the right lane. he will pass and be someone elses problem and you wont get your blood preasure up. everyone wins.

 

I love the kicking rocks idea.

Usually tailgaters only want to do 10 over the speed limit. If I am in Vette mode I will pass someone in the slow lane or the shoulder before i tailgate.

Actually I want to make about 25 bumper stickers that say "Tailgate me, I tailgate others" and affix them to cars that are known offenders.

I almost got hit yesterday by a POS Jetta. After he tailgated 2 other people on the onramp I did a flyby at 100mph when I got back up to him. Never #^*(%$ with a Vette... general rule. For him I want a bumper sticker made that says "I'm sorry. I can't drive."

Ok, that's enough. Oh, never been tailgated in my Vette, if someone closes in I give it a little of my 300hp.


[Modified by BrianandDenise, 8:31 PM 10/21/2002]

 

It pisses me off no end when I get tailgated. Especially when its a truck or suv as their headlights are blinding me if its nite. I look in the rear view mirror and all I see is their grill. Dont they realize my head is only about 4 ft in front of my back bumper???

If I have to make a fast stop, let alone a panic stop are their reflexes that good? Even if they are will their brakes be as good as ours are? Somehow I doubt it.

My fav is still to just let them crawl up my butt crack then tap the brakes just enuff to give 'em a heart attack. Any number of times Ive seen them going sideways onto the shoulder as they thought they were about to nail me. Tap the brakes then get on the gas just to be safe. heh heh heh :smash: :smash: :smash:
:blueangel:

 

when i am being tailgated with nowhere to go for long enough i usually slow down gradually until they get over to pass......................then hammer it and leave them in the dust. :lol:

 

I've done that before & it IS satisfying. :smash: :yesnod:

 

I'm the nicest guy in the world until you ride my bumper. Don't EVEN get me started with tailgaters. :mad :mad :mad :mad


[Modified by rainsux89, 3:37 PM 10/21/2002]

 

i wish i had a neon sign in my back window i could turn on that said "get off my butt!!!"

 

:yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: True.

 

9 times out of 10 you are being tailgated for a reason. 9 times out of 10 its because you are in the left lane and they want to get by. its not hard to figure this one out. simple solution is merge to the right... works 10 times out of 10 for me. no rocks, no brakes, no problems. try this one first then the other ones. :yesnod:

 

I had a bit of "Tailgater Revenge" a couple of years ago while visiting St. Louis.

We were caught in a bit of semi-rush hour traffic (all lanes full but still running around 60mph). I was complaining to my passenger about how difficult it is in city traffic to maintain your distance from the car in front of you without having that space snapped up by another driver. I was simultaneously complaining about the kid in the Geo Storm right behind me that was following a bit too closely.

About that time the car in front of me swerved suddenly. I had enough time to react (due to vigilance in maintaining distance) and also managed to dodge a full sized truck wheel/tire assembly.

Unfortunately, the Geo driver had no such luck and the wheel/tire slammed square into the center of his nose. Sparks were flying, plastic was shredding as he was forced to pull over to the side of the road. The wheel/tire firmly imbedded in his grill/spoiler.

I imbibed satisfaction that each driver's skill was rewarded appropriately.

 

Totalled, no doubt, by a pickup spare. :lol:

One less tailgating Geo. :cheers:

 

Headed up I-71 to Columbus just a few weeks ago, I was cruising at a pleasant 70mph when I needed to pass a truck. Having plenty of room, I pulled into the left hand lane, and some guy in a beat up clunker comes screaming up behind me. He was close.. very very close.. I'd say two feet from me, if that. Tapping the brakes got me very little, as he would slam on his brakes, then come right back on me. He was so close that if I miss-calculated, he would have hit me and I might have lost control. He couldn't wait the 30 seconds it took for me to pass the truck and get back in the right hand lane. When I did, he went by and flipped me the bird. Being slightly hot-tempered, I caught up with this Grizzly Adams wanna-be and we exchanged pleasantries. Since I had my wife in the car, I eventually backed off and let the punk "win" the encounter. She, of course, was concerned that he might have had a gun, etc, which could have been true... who knows. I have heard rumors that some people carry firearms for defensive purposes, even though Ohio does not allow concealed carry. :rolleyes:

Point is, I was all fired up, adrenaline pumping, just all outta sorts. It took me a while to calm down and damn near ruined my day. Sure, I would have liked to beat the crap outta him, or tossed the handful of pennies I had in my console up in the air as he was following me, but what would that have gotten me. A ticket or jail time, maybe, or worse? And for what? Because some bitter old bum in a rust bucket thought I was going too slow?

Not worth it. Enjoy your ride. Someone on your butt? Relax, let them pass, shake your head at them if you must do some kind of gesture. You are driving the Vette after all. Let your mind dwell on more important things than the piece of crap who thought you were going too slow. Who cares what he/she thinks anyway.

The Zen of Corvette Driving...


[Modified by DVAST8R_88, 3:29 PM 10/22/2002]

 

Fortunately, vettes come manufactured with an anti-tailgating device which is under your right foot.

 

I usually just pull over, let them pass, and when they are in front of me I clap for their ability to pass a Vette that is going between 70-75. It is amazing how many pickup driver that pass a Vette have a bowling average of one. At least I think that is what they are trying to tell me when they raise their hand and display a single finger....WAIT....it may be their IQ. :D