How do I keep from allowing myself from getting angry at tailgaters?

Question

I generally drive the speed limit and I don't live in a large city where you simply must speed just to go with the flow. I used to and understand how to drive when in a city. But some people tailgate when they could easily go around or just wait a minute until there is rooom to do so. And it angers me. Sometimes I tap my brakes, sometimes not. And sometimes when I tap my brakes and it doesn't have any effect, then I "apply" my brakes for a second or two, hoping that will get the people to back off.

Thanks for the quick responses, people! I think I'll put on my emergency lights and turn on my windshield washer fluid, suggestions made by a couple of y'all. Thanks.

Answer 1

I am not sure what to do. If you have a tailgater you could try turning on your emergency flashers and they might get the hint and go around you. Then you can turn them off. Do an internet search for tailgaters

Answer 2

I live in a small town just like this, it takes ten minutes max to get anywhere but there are still tons of speeders and tailgaters for no reason. I guess they just have no common sense because even if they're in a hurry it takes ten minutes or less to get everywhere. If you're driving around the speed limit and in a safe manner (it sounds like you are) then I guess you just need to accept the fact that there are people out there who maybe aren't as reasonable drivers. Just keeping driving like you do and take a deep breath when you feel angered, ignore them, and continue driving safely. Why should you speed for them and get a ticket just to make them happy? Focus on your driving, and if they don't like it then too bad. Keep tapping your brakes (I even learned that in drivers ed so just do it lightly a couple times before stopping to avoid a collision) and keep checking your mirrors so you know they don't ram into you unexpectedly. Don't do anything to make them more aggravated, and if all else fails, try to pull over and let them go around you if they're stubborn.

Answer 3

Stay cool - drop your speed a little as if you were planning on making a turn - pull on your headlights (let them think you are braking) and speed up. Remembering the old adage... "I might be slow but I'm ahead of you" and be sure you laugh at them when they pass you in anger. Because if you give them the middle finger you might get shot because of their road rage.
When upset with a tailgater - move to the slow lane or make a turn - it's better to let the fool pass you than get hurt. Yesterday this happened to us...the DRUNK tailgater finally got to my friend who was driving so he took a different road. He was concerned for his safety and mine over "winning" again the tailgater. Hopefully a nice police officer will be around TO SEE the incident. Remember they have to see it happen. Otherwise get their license tag number and next time you see a fender bender..call in that tag!

Answer 4

When I'm driving my truck, which has a huge chrome steel bumper, I mostly ignore them...content in the knowledge that if they rearend me, they'll lose a lot more than I will. When I'm on my bike, I don't ALLOW them to tailgate me. I will immediately change lanes, or if necessary, I'll turn on my four-ways and pull to the shoulder and let them go by, then, when clear, pull back out. I once got stopped by a highway patrolman who saw me do that and he said it was "illegal to pull to the shoulder unless there was an emergency". I asked if he'd seen the guy riding my a** and he said tailgating was so common he no longer paid any attention to it. As you can imagine, we had quite a discussion about that. In the end, I convinced him it was the safe thing to do and he let me go without a ticket. I met a guy once who had hooked up a windshield washer pump and nozzles facing back from under the trunk on his Goldwing...he said a sudden shot of soapy water did wonders for making them back off...and did no harm...K ;o)

Answer 5

By hitting the brakes, you could be at fault, if there was an accident. They would say you did it out of spite or road rage and you would have to pay for their damage.

What I do, is to make a game out of it. The closer they get, the slower I go. That angers them more than it angers me.

When they slow down and back off some, then I speed up, if they get closer, then I slow down more.
That's a lot better than losing your cool and doing something you will regret later. Just have fun with it, and think how it is affecting that idiot behind you. Good luck.

Answer 6

I usually try to remember that I have done the same thing to others before, usually if I'm in a hurry to get somewhere. I've also been the one just trying to do the speed limit and laugh when some one tailgates me.

Answer 7

i have the same problem, used to live in houston,(they're bad about tailgating, and wheres the cops when it happens(an honest 1) )i have had to learn and ignore them the best io can without touching the brakes, takes some patience and you may not get used to it, (lord knows i haven't yet,) but don't let them kind of people push you into thinking you have to speed up just for them to quit doing that,seems they only want to go faster. safety first ! ! ! and utmost.they'll get over it.

Answer 8

You are a BAD driver. All the time you spend watching the car behind you is time you SHOULD spend on the road ahead.

You can only control your behavior.

Tapping your brakes or having a brke check is illegal and an area of YOUR behavior that is dangerous.

Answer 9

Provided you have a powerful enough car, the thing that really pisses tailgaters most is slowing down to 10 - 15 below the limit, and once they switch lanes to pass drop the hammer and block em off

Answer 10

Speed up or get out of the way! You probably also notice that when the first "tailgater" passes or turns there is a another one to take his place. This means YOU are the problem colgging up traffic.