How do you handle tailgaters?

Question

It seems like everywhere I go people are always in a hurry and tailgating and driving too closely behind another car. It happens to me sometimes, and I don't know how to handle it. I drive the speed limit or 5 over sometimes and never drive and talk on my cell phone and I think you shouldn't while you are driving because its distracting.


So, what I want to know is, how do you handle tailgaters?

Answer 1

Turn on your right turn signal, and when its safe move over and let them , or just sit there and make them go around you, just DO NOT tap your brakes to display your brake lights, in most states this makes you at fault

Answer 2

If I can, I just signal and change lanes. If they're in a hurry, let 'em by. If they rear-end me because they were following too close, yes it will be their fault, but I'm not really interested in an accident to begin with. Also, people who go slower or block them in, you're showing you're no more mature than the person tailgating you. You never know what could be going on in someone's life. They could be on their way to the hospital, or some other kind of emergency. Most of the time that's not the case, but since you don't know the person behind you, you are not qualified to make that assumption. Also, it could lead to road rage. I've heard stories of people's cars getting rammed because the tailgater was basically a nutjob. That would certainly interfere with anyone's day and could have the potential to be deadly. Bottom line, just change lanes when possible. And be observant of your speed. If you are going slower than the speed limit, and there are no factors from prohibiting you to go the speed limit (i.e.traffic, weather) just speed up. If you drive 30 in a 45, people are going to tailgate and be angry.

Answer 3

First, when someone is tailgating you, add their following distance to yours. You've got to add his reaction time to yours, because you need the extra space.

Second, the best thing to do is get the tailgater safely around you. Do this by slowing slightly below the normal flow of traffic speed. This allows him more room to pass, and your slower speed makes it easier for him to do so. This is what you WANT. Think about the frame of mind of someone that is tailgating you. If not at first, very soon the tailgater gets impatient, frustrated, and maybe angry. Do you want him behind you, where you have no control over his actions? Tailgaters typically exercise poor judgment and endanger you and others trying to pass when it is not safe. If they still cannot pass after you've slowed a bit, then change lanes or pull off to the side and let them go by.

Answer 4

Pull over, slowing down or brake checking in basic terms reasons extra themes and can reason a crash. that is in basic terms as risky and irresponsible to brake examine somebody who's following too close as that is to tailgate.

Answer 5

Here is what I do when I encounter a tail gaiter in the day time, I will turn on parking lights real quick and they back off I don't put on brakes on the expressway I don't need to kill any one its not worth the pain , and at night I just slow down and let them by , hope this helps.

Answer 6

I like to slow down a bit, this really pisses them off. If they continue to ride my bumper I tap the brakes. Now, I must say that if you are in the left/fast lane and you are slowing down traffic then hell yea, I would tailgate you too. But if you are in the right lane and somebody can pass you on the left but they continue to tailgate, then go ahead and mess with them by slamming on your brakes and driving even slower.

Answer 7

First, stay out of the fast lane. If they still tailgate, just gradually slow down. If that doesn't work, turn out your hazard flashers.

Answer 8

I slow down so much to make them pass me and curse at me. Worth a good laugh. My father used to slow the car, stop, and pick up the hood as if the car stalled. The guy would curse and swear then my father would catch up at a light and smile. I miss that man.

Answer 9

I pull the emergency brake. This gives them no warning, and the gap between us closes extremely quickly. You would be surprised at how quickly they back off. WAY off. Some idiots require two pulls of the brake, but rarely if ever a third.

Answer 10

I tend to ignore them and focus on the traffic in front of me, and on either side, if I am in an accident it won't be my fault because some @sshole was following too close behind me. S/He'd be the one with the ticket, and the one who would have to pay for your car to be fixed.