Other than road rage, what's the best solution for tailgaters?

Question

You know how it is if you live anywhere only accessible by two lane roads and don't drive 100MPH! Always someone who just tailgates you all the way. Since spotlights are evidently not legal, I've thought about doing the mirror tint on the rear window of my van. Calling the cops is useless as it is illegal to tailgate but the cops will do NOTHING. Calling in a tailgater as a drunk driver is fun sometimes and usually works but is kind of overkill and the type that tailgates is really STUPID. They generally understand nothing less than a big ticket or jail time. Obviously, you can't get this. So, what to do? I don't know.

Answer 1

In short, either speed it up a bit or find a place to pull to the right and let the faster traffic pass. There are laws against tailgating, but there are also laws that prohibit impeding the flow of traffic.
If the majority of the traffic is moving faster than you care to, you are as much in violation of the "rules of the road" as the guy who you feel is "too close" for your comfort.
The best advice I can give is: If you have someone approach rapidly (and they give you the customary "flash" (or two) of their brights, give them a wave of acknowlegement (and make sure they see it), then use the nearest turnout.

It 'aint rocket science!

Answer 2

More amusing than tapping the brake pedal, or slamming on the brakes is to increase your own speed (to increase the distance between you and the tailgater) and then pull on the hand brake. This will act on the rear wheels and slow your vehicle without illuminating the brake lights. At the same time, watch the facial expressions of the ID10Ts behind you as they realize what is happening. Be prepared to release the hand brake and accelerate to avoid the impending collision. I've had a good success rate using this method and no collisions. The tailgater will either get the message and back off or use the first opportunity to pass.

Answer 3

i maintain speed and ignore them in the van, but i do open up the space between me and the car ahead for safety. if i know that there is an speeder ambush site from the cops coming up in a mile, i'll let them pass, and laugh at em when i see them pulled over.

those that tailgate motorcycle's are potential killers. bikes can stop half the distance than a car, and if something causes a rider to go down, there's no way in hell the cager will be able to miss hitting them. some bikers deal with them in various ways. usually, they'll flick a couple of marbles over their shoulder so the windblast carries said marble into the windsheild of the tailgater, they'll drop a good sized nut or bolt off the scoot; makes alotta racket when it starts bouncing underneath the cage. some bikers are hardcore....they'll open fire on a tailgater. be responsible, dont tailgate bikes.

Answer 4

I'm an OTR Truck driver and I now the frustration. Unfortunately for the tailgater, if he/she tailgates my tractor pulling a 53' trailer, I can't see them. If I have to slow down or stop, they'll slam right into my trailer bumper. Won't do anything to MY rig, but they're little SUV'll crumple up like a peice of aluminum foil, and it'll be THEIR ticket. I guess my point being, there is really nothing LEGAL you want to be doing to deter a tailgater. Drive safely, keep an eye on them, but ultimately be responsible for YOUR vehical. I know they're a pain in the @$$, but take some comfort in knowing that you're being the responsible driver. These numbskulls are going to hit somebody eventually, and if they do it enough times, their insurance is just gonna drop 'em or the state's gonna just take their license... Either way, they won't have the privelage of tailgating anymore.

Answer 5

Pull the emergency brake. Nothing gets a tailgater's attention faster than a gap that vanishes with no warning and no brake lights. They want to be macho and ride your butt, but in reality, deep down the last thing they want is to hit you. They know that if they do, they will be owned for the rest of their life. I do this all the time. I drive 50 miles of freeway each weekday, and every time I do this to someone, they stay at least a hundred yards back.

Answer 6

What can you do to get them to back off? Nothing! What you can do however is to put more space between you & the car in front of you. It will allow you to slow down more gradually giving them a chance to react & slow down as well. Since the person behind you is too stupid to drive their own car, they have no idea that they will be in your back seat before they realize that you had to panic break for some reason. Just keep your cool & forgive them for being stupid. Hey, who knows, maybe they were abused children......?

Answer 7

Tapping the brakes works really well to send that message of "Back Off" ... and it's great fun to watch your rearender's facial expressions in your rear view mirror when you do this. Just be prepared to have your unwanted bumper guest roar by you at the first available chance usually motioning in some obsene manner. Just smile and wave.

Answer 8

Normally, i just slow down a bit or i just stay the same speed then they will back off... If that doesn't work pull off the side of the road and let them pass..

Answer 9

Frankly, I don't have a problem with it, and I don't drive over the speed limit either (or not much or not intentionally).

Best thing to do would be move over and let them pass if you have room enough on the shoulder to do so.

Answer 10

I slow way down, or sometimes hit the brakes if I'm in my mini truck. If I'm on my motorcycle, I give them the finger, then twist the wick.