"If you won't, or make excuses for why you won't, you are actually saying that what your real motive is is to sanctimoniously teach the tailgaters a lesson. Well you just won't manage that. Life's too short. Pull over, save your anxiety and quell their frustration."

It's not about teaching any lessons, but rather about persuading the perpetrator to drop back to a safe position, and remember, there are places where pulling over isn't an option.

Try it on a motorway like M25 when you are in a three lane 60mph traffic jam and the prick behind is trying to force you, and everyone else, to get out of his way. If the guy in front of you sneezes, you're going to have chummy in your boot.