Tailgating rant
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Lately, I've been putting many more miles on my wife's Pontiac Vibe on rural 2-lane roads with a speed limit of 55. Even at 60 mph, I still get tailgated frequently. If they don't pass after the first open road where they could, I turn on the windshield washer. If that doesn't help them decide, I turn on the headlights (and taillights) for about 2 seconds. Then I start slowing down. By the time I slow down to about 45, they usually decide to pass.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 15,212
Likes: 1,007
From: BOOMER SOONER
tailgating is everywhere, even in laid back oklahoma where people tend to be otherwise quite respectful. I think it has just become acceptable in our fast paced society.
I do wish i had a "rear horn" for those times when some idiot wants to drive 10 feet off of my rear.
I do wish i had a "rear horn" for those times when some idiot wants to drive 10 feet off of my rear.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,158
Likes: 152
From: Chicago IL
In this wonderful socialist state it's illegal to exceed the speed limit as elsewhere. Now follow this carefully....but....if you are going the speed limit in the fast lane and someone is behind you who wants to go faster you MUST get over!!!!!!
Otherwise you are guilty of impeding traffic! Now, tailgating is illegal too in this worker's utopia. So who gets the ticket if a crazed soccer mom is tailgating you at 55 in a 55? Hmmmmm? Well, you do of course if you are driving the vette. Vettes always get the tickets.
I always just signal and get over. If it's a commercial truck, van, or car with company markings I take note and call a complaint to the firm. If it's a big truck that's really close I open my window and show em my cell phone. My goodness you should see their speed drop. They get the point really quick that you will call the mounties.
Who will probably then ticket you for driving a vette.
Cynical. you bet. And I get tailgated whether in my Grand Cherokee Hemi or vette ---- and both of em are faster than most cars on the road.
ps. if you shoot em the bird, slow down, tap the brakes, hit the brakes or anything of the sort when you are being tailgated you are guilty of some kind of road rage or 'endangering' offense. Neat eh?
Bottom line is that a high percentage of drivers are fools plain and simple. If it's not a trucker in a hurry it's a soccer mom in a hurry, or a self important young besuited businessman or woman in a hurry or some **** in what he/she thinks is a fast car out to prove something to ya.......
patience is the only remedy for all this since if you take any action other than signaling and moving over you too, my friend, will be a lawbreaker too.
Otherwise you are guilty of impeding traffic! Now, tailgating is illegal too in this worker's utopia. So who gets the ticket if a crazed soccer mom is tailgating you at 55 in a 55? Hmmmmm? Well, you do of course if you are driving the vette. Vettes always get the tickets.
I always just signal and get over. If it's a commercial truck, van, or car with company markings I take note and call a complaint to the firm. If it's a big truck that's really close I open my window and show em my cell phone. My goodness you should see their speed drop. They get the point really quick that you will call the mounties.
Who will probably then ticket you for driving a vette.
Cynical. you bet. And I get tailgated whether in my Grand Cherokee Hemi or vette ---- and both of em are faster than most cars on the road.
ps. if you shoot em the bird, slow down, tap the brakes, hit the brakes or anything of the sort when you are being tailgated you are guilty of some kind of road rage or 'endangering' offense. Neat eh?
Bottom line is that a high percentage of drivers are fools plain and simple. If it's not a trucker in a hurry it's a soccer mom in a hurry, or a self important young besuited businessman or woman in a hurry or some **** in what he/she thinks is a fast car out to prove something to ya.......
patience is the only remedy for all this since if you take any action other than signaling and moving over you too, my friend, will be a lawbreaker too.
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 527
Likes: 1
From: Torrance CA
Don't have the ability anymore but in my supra turbo back in my college days, I'd dial in a ton of extra fuel for a moment on my a/f controller (3" turboback no cats) rev hard and let off...few seconds of that would result in flames shooting out the exhaust. That got rid of a tailgater at least once, in addition to making the adjacent 4 lanes of traffic on the 405 slow down but oh wells...
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 798
Likes: 0
From: Dana Point CA
I have found the smaller and lower a vehicle is, the easier it is for someone behind you to see in front of your car and the more likely you will be tailgated. I had a Mini Cooper S and finally sold it due the constant tailgating. The Vette is almost tailgated as much. Too often I look at the tail gater in my mirror only to see them with their phone stuck in their ear.
I bought the module from a CF sponsor that caused the center brake light to flash rapidly when the brakes are applied, and I have found that gets them to back off when I tap the brake.
My full size GMC Sierra rarely gets tailgated.
I bought the module from a CF sponsor that caused the center brake light to flash rapidly when the brakes are applied, and I have found that gets them to back off when I tap the brake.
My full size GMC Sierra rarely gets tailgated.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
but if its illegal to exceed the speed limit and you are GOING the speed limit, that idiot behind you shouldnt be going faster, and shouldnt be following too closely , so why should you have to move over?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,647
Likes: 1
From: Objects in your mirror are losing , Long Island, NY
St. Jude Donor '08
I do it all the time..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,434
Likes: 3,625
From: Commerce Texas
Rant: off.
Last edited by 4thC4at60; Oct 6, 2007 at 01:37 PM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: Centralia Illinois
I see this all of the time not only in my vert. I talked to State Patrol and advised to maintain you legad speed, do not slam on your brakes, stay legal and learn to deal with idiots. As Ron White quotes, "you connot cure stupid"
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area CA
Agreed! Being tailgated is wrong BUT so is hogging the left lane. Both are current epidemics.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area CA
At the same time... whoever drives behind a slow driver should not tailgate her.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 282
Likes: 40
From: Seattle WA
Around here you actually have to drive in the righmost lane to get somewhere because of all the drivers in the left lane going under the speed limit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,127
Likes: 3
From: syracuse ny & venice fl when snowing in ny
i installed strobe lights in my rear lights. when they get to close i turn them on. most back off immediately! some (a few) anchor it and test their abs! LOL. it works most of the time!
another favorite one of mine is when there is no oncoming traffic, i swerve like i am trying to miss a dog running out in front of me. that also works a lot of the time.
both are fun.
when neither work i just anchor it off the side of the road and they fly by with a horrible look on their face like "OH you saw me tailgating! "
have a nice day
fred
another favorite one of mine is when there is no oncoming traffic, i swerve like i am trying to miss a dog running out in front of me. that also works a lot of the time.
both are fun.
when neither work i just anchor it off the side of the road and they fly by with a horrible look on their face like "OH you saw me tailgating! "
have a nice day
fred
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,087
Likes: 29
From: Murfreesboro TN