BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Ed T
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 04:56 PM

People with Ladas (older or newer) likely have many cars behind them, and speeding away is not an option:) 

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 04:49 PM

'"2) Lightly apply the hand brake which will make your brake lights go on"

Nonsense.'

You're absolutely right, it WAS the floor brake I tapped ever so slightly.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 04:29 PM

I don't think the hand brakenmakes the brake light come one. If I go outside and start my car, then apply the hand brake and leave it parked, the brake light doesn't come on. What happens is that when I drive off, I get a "stupid-driver" light and something starts smelling bad. I used to use the hand brake to slow down and surprise tailgaters. This isn't good if you don't want to risk being hit.

Oh, I almost forgot: it's not as much fun as WD-40, but requires less tech. Windshield washers. It helps if the squirters over-shoot a little. If it's rained recently, drive through all the puddles you can.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,BobL
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 04:11 PM

For the car customizer a number of options spring to mind:

1) Remotely operated spray can of WD40 on back of car at about windscreen height,
2) ditto expanding foam at radiator grille height,
3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heIQSnokZ8s

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 04:01 PM

"2) Lightly apply the hand brake which will make your brake lights go on"

Nonsense.

The brake lights are operated by the brake pedal, not the hand-brake. At least that's the case in Europe and the UK (which is where Eliza lives). Might be different in the US, but I'd be astonished if that's the case.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 04:00 PM

I remember some years past when driving an articulated truck that a car driver, annoyed with me, pulled around me and braked hard , which of course meant that I had to do the same. I am sure he was very pleased with himself as he accelerated off, knowing that it takes a while to get a heavy goods up to speed again.
I don't suppose he would have been so pleased if I had not braked in time!

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 03:43 PM

The passive-aggressive stuff is fun to think about it, but you're risking something by actually doing it.

I had a boss once who had a rainbow-black primer 69 Camaro, who would let a tailgater go just so far and slam on the brakes. She figured she was ready for the impact and could use the resultant funds to get stuff fixed on the car. I stop short sometimes, but never with other people in the car or close by in other cars. Sometimes it becomes a matter of "the closer you get, the slower I go". Sometimes they figure it out an back off, and sometimes they just keep riding your ass. Still, it's less dangerous if they hit you going really slowly than if you're up to speed.

Keep in mind that you're not crazy, but you don't know about the "other guy". In the US, sometimes these people have guns, but 100% of other drivers have cars, which cause more deaths than guns.

The most intelligent, safest thing to do is to pull over when you can and just let them drive on to find someone else to piss off.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 03:09 PM

Playing games with the brake lights is always tempting (mea culpa) but is very dangerous as evasive action by the tailgater could cause him to collide with another innocent motorist.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 03:00 PM

i) Make sure you have more speed available to you than the tailgater
2) Lightly apply the hand brake which will make your brake lights go on
3) Simultaneously accelerate and wave bye-bye

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 01:46 PM

By the way, it was an enormous 4X4, and the lass was smoking a cigarette. She had lots of face-piercings (you can see how close she was!) It does make one prejudiced against the 'type', which I always try to avoid. (I'm wondering now what was in the ciggie??)

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 01:42 PM

Yes, Ed, this was in my mind. I didn't want to provoke worse behaviour from her by slowing down etc. She may have even rammed me! I should really have turned off the main road into one of the villages, waited a couple of minutes then retraced my way to the road again. I couldn't have changed lanes as it's a single carriageway. My husband is quite concerned, but the crumpets and cake have taken away the shakes! He's had a bit of ginger cake too, while he watches the football. I'll try to forget the incident.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 01:41 PM

Advice from the police and advance driving institute is to slow down so you will not be in the situation where you have to brake suddenly causing the tailgater to hit you.

Aside from that you could always carry a rear-facing missile launcher...

An old Lada I had used to have a reversing spot light on a manual switch. That worked wonders for tailgaters when I switched it on.

:D tG

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 01:40 PM

Good advice, Bonzo. Get out of the way; a report to the police could prevent a future accident. It pays to be meek in such situations.

A method I definitely do not advise is dealing with the nut. One case reported here, on a multi-lane, the guy was flashing lights and tail-gating. When it was safe, the "victim" changed lanes, then the nut pulled in front and applied brakes- the "victim" was not quick enough with his brakes, and clipped the nut, throwing his car sideways across lanes and into a roll. Could have been deadly not only for the nut, but for others as well. Unfortunately, the nut lived.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Ed T
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 01:24 PM

Annoying a tailgater could present a danger, as incidents of road rage are on the rise in some locations.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 01:23 PM

The rule of thumb is "one car–length for every 10 mph"—so if the vehicle behind you is one car-length back, you shouldn't exceed 10 mph.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: frogprince
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 01:23 PM

I've had one particular instance of tailgating that stands out for me. I was on my way to work, before dawn, on a rural stretch of highway. It was four lane (two each way), but with frequent hills and curves, and in deer country. A heavy pickup pulled up tight behind, with his headlights glaring into my car. I slowed; he stayed right on my bumper. I switched lanes. He switched after me. Perhaps I should have pulled to the shoulder and stopped, but I was getting flat scared. If I accelerated to 75 mph, much to fast for the conditions, he would stay back at a reasonable distance. I was hoping dearly that there would be a patrolman along the way, but none appeared. He followed until I came to my turn-off point, and went on. It took a bit for my hair to settle back down.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 01:22 PM

I did consider pulling over, but there didn't seem to be many suitable stopping places. I'd much rather she had overtaken me and disappeared into the distance! I've been driving for over fifty years, all over Britain, without (touch wood) ever having had any sort of accident. I also keep up my speed to the correct limit so as not to delay people behind me. It's a good tip to take the number and report it, as she could be doing this to everyone and cause an accident. We get a lot of elderly drivers who only ever do forty mph, but I'd never do that to them, it's IMO terribly dangerous. Time for a nice cup of tea and some crumpets. Plus, my old friend I'd been visiting had made me a ginger cake to take away, so a slice of that will calm me down no end!
Thank you all for your advice!

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 01:17 PM

I have on occasion turned on my 'hazard' warning blinkers. This, along with gentle taps on the brake, will 'usually' get the point across. If not, finding another lane and slowing to get them in front of me is the best answer.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 01:16 PM

Yep, my tactic too.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 12:53 PM

Good advice from Bonzo.

If I'm tailgated, I just get slower and slower and slower until they get the message. If they can't overtake, tough.

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Ed T
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 12:52 PM

How about, pulling over somewhere and let them pass, versus continuing with the annoyance?

Subject: RE: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 12:51 PM

Gradually slow down and pull in, let the bugger pass you, take the registration and report to local police. The driver may have been reported before, and if not will go on record as having been reported.

I always have my camera on the passenger seat.

Subject: BS: How Should I Deal With Tailgating?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 12:44 PM

Have just got home (phew!) after driving quite a long way alone. I was tailgated for much of this distance by a large 4X4 driven by a young lass. I was already doing the limit of 60mph on a single carriageway, but she was nearly touching my rear bumper. I was very frightened, as at that speed she'd surely have hit me had I braked for any reason. Any hints or tips from drivers here on the best way to deal with this menace? I still feel quite shaken; it was so aggressive, and I was keeping up the correct speed all the way, not dawdling along at all.