Or do you have any tactics for dealing with them?
2006-09-10 09:38:35 · 44 answers · asked by Chris cc 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Such a good response! Wow. I personally might slow down a bit by easing off the gas, maybe to annoy as well as create a bit of extra space that might have become needed. What I'd like is a rack of grenades on the dashboard for them.
2006-09-10 10:40:04 · update #1
I rarely drive
However on the odd accasion that I have my reaction entitely depends on the circumstances.
If I can safely let them pass I will do so, otherwise I just ignore them and continue at the speed with which I am comfortable. I would dearly like to jam on the brakes but most times when I have been driving I have considered my life more important than teaching an idiot a lesson. It is fortunate that I am not driving at the moment as I feel like testing the brake idea.
2006-09-10 10:29:48 · answer #1 · answered by John H 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No. Slow down very gradually, until you've stopped.
If traffic density is too heavy for that to be safe then simply go slow (consistent speed) so that you can look out for help - RAC, AA, Police, the man on the Stop and Go, anyone, before you actually get out of your vehicle after waving them for help. Your hazard warning lights can also put off stupid tailgaters.
2006-09-10 09:57:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Big fat NO. I would usually slow down alittle, tailgating is normally an incentive to slow down. If they continue then I would hit my brakes and if i'm on a stretch of the road where they could overtake I move into the middle of the road as much as as is safe so they can't get passed.
2006-09-10 09:52:43 · answer #3 · answered by Sarah F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When someone is tailgaiting me, I maintain a safe speed, or just go slower, and I know they are ticked off, but sorry, I'm not going to let you make me move faster, since I try to keep a very safe distance ahead of me. Go around me, or if not possible, chill!! Everybody is in a rush these days, and these idiots that tailgate have to learn to take it a bit slower, so no one gets hurt. Besides, I love when someone that is tailgating me, after they get ahead of me, get stuck at the same light as I do, especially if they are in front of me, or next to me. Like I said, chill!! Slow down, and live longer.
2006-09-10 09:51:06 · answer #4 · answered by pokerjoni 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I actually slow down for them, or change lanes if I can.
I slow down in the hopes that they will slow down. If someone's riding my tail, I want to make sure I have even *more* distance between myself and the car in front of me, which is why I slow down.
If I'm driving at or above the speed limit (as I usually do), I never let some tailgating moron make me go even faster.
If I'm driving under the speed limit and I get a tailgater, then I will try to change lanes.
2006-09-10 09:39:48 · answer #5 · answered by I ♥ AUG 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have learned through the years not to take it personally if someone is tailgating me, they have no idea who I am and they are most likely in their own loop and are just showing signs of impatience. They don't focus on you specifically, to them you are just another car in their way. As a young driver, I have gone through these stages where I finally learned that getting angry behind the wheel is a dead end bumpy road and a waste of mental energy.
Being in another car makes things very impersonal, people act in ways they would never do normally if meeting them fact to face, so considering this and the fact that you have no idea about the other person's state of mind who is tailgating you, just slide over into another lane or pull into a parking lot if need be and let them by.
They could be mental, late for work, had a bad fight with their G'Friend/WIfe/B'Friend/got fired or laid off/Late for a concert/High on drugs/Wrapped up in their music as they are driving/running late to the airport/ Have an actual emergency or just mean and packing a gun or other weapon etc etc etc....
DO you really want to know what is going on in that car behind you who is tailgating you? DO you want to risk an ugly life scarring confrontation over that stupid sh*t? Just let them by and don't take nothing too personal while driving. Remember that people who have drivers licenses are either dumber or smarter than you, older or younger, got a bad temper or just emotionally unstable and they don't know you from Adam...
SO, do you really want to know all of this or would you rather just have a good day without any stupid events going on? Leave them to the cops, and if you see someone driving like a nutcase, just call 911 on them and describe the car and get the tag number if possible, but DO NOT EVER confront a stranger over driving issues. I have known of at least one person who was shot to death by a off duty Cop because he did just that in a road rage incident, a 22 year old guy and a Sixty year old Cop... two lives ruined forever over nothing important. Many places encourage that people report aggressive and unsafe drivers, so don't be shy...leave this sh*t to the Cops only, that is part of what they get paid to do.
Moving over and yeilding to them is not going to make you less of a man, or is an act of defeat and you won't teach anybody anything by provoking them. The act of driving a car on a road is no contest, it is just a road, so just let them by and don't get riled up...be mellow. Why possibly run the risk of provoking someone's pent up anger and have them unleash their mental unstability on you and create another road rage scenario...Like I said, leave them to the Cops, slide over and have a good day instead.
2006-09-10 10:14:14 · answer #6 · answered by Middy S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes, then I immediately get annoyed at myself for letting them stress me out and slow down to p**s them off. Just don't break too hard or they go into the back of you - that is the voice of experience as I am currently driving a courtesy car while mine is repaired for damage done due to said tailgater.
2006-09-10 09:51:45 · answer #7 · answered by drblonde 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, the correct action is to slow down. Don't slam on the breaks, but slow down until they pass you ( According to the D.O.T. and Highway Patrol.) I find this to be a well thought out strategy and an excellent way of dealing with tailgaters.
2006-09-10 09:47:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
depends what lane ur in? if u in slow lane at national speed limit and they have 2 more lanes to overtake in then i deliberately get slower and slower without using brakes.Same if on a single lane road and they aggressively up close and personal i slow right down and glare at them in mirrors and if they wanna fight over it i prepare to have my say about the fact its a xx limit and i have 3 little ones in back etc etc. If i in middle lane of motorway then i move as ur not supposed to cruise down there anyway. I have been known just once to cruise at limit then slam breaks on hard (without kids in back) he hit me up rear end and when i got out i claimed my oil light had come on and if He hadn't been so bloody close he'd have had time to stop quoting the highway codes 2 second rule word for word...he was cross but was wrong so felt like a c***t and i was the winner!!!!!!
2006-09-10 10:03:04 · answer #9 · answered by Lyndsey B 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sure...I just stomp on the brakes every 30 seconds or so, drive in the passing lane at 20 mph below the speed limit and always leave one turn signal 'on' at all times.
Have had to patch lots of bullet holes so far...
2006-09-10 09:42:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋