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How do YOU deal with tailgaters?

#301
irjason said:
Wow, the number of people with the "go around me attitude" really surprise me. IMO Weather you are going the speed limit, or faster on the highway you're just as guilty as the tail gaiter of putting your life and the lives of everyone behind you at risk by not getting out of the way when you can do so safely.
It doesn't really matter if the person riding your bumper is right or not. It's a simple matter of courtesy to let them pass. It's not that hard, and far safer for everyone.

Bryan316: No offense, but you really should do some thinking about your attitude towards this before you kill someone, or get yourself killed...
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If I *can* get over a bit and let people go around me, I do. But often, I simply can't. There's no shoulder on the 2-lane that goes to our house, and there's no place for passing, either.

I'm not a slow driver by any means, but I'm not a speed demon, either, and I do get tailgated. If I can't move over, well...I'm not going to risk going off the road and flipping over, or flying off a cliff, so that someone in a sports car or a big truck can drive 65 mph on a winding 2-lane.

Cherie
 
#302
Ray Salamon said:
In PA, if you're closer than 3 seconds to the car in front of you, on any road, you're considered to be tailgating.
Obviously, in heavy traffic/stop-and-go stuff, you can be closer.
Edit:
FWIW:
At 65MPH, you're moving at roughly 95 feet per second.
Average human reaction from eye to feet is 0.18 seconds.
In the time it takes you to react alone (to even begin braking) you've moved a hair over 17 feet.
At that speed, stopping distances vary, but are rarely short.
Food for thought.
Click to expand...
In PA, people also often come to a complete stop at the end of the onramp to the freeway, then crane their heads around to see if anyone is coming at them...at least they in Lancaster County! :eek:
 
#303
irjason said:
Bryan316: No offense, but you really should do some thinking about your attitude towards this before you kill someone, or get yourself killed...
Click to expand...

Hold on a moment there, skippy... I do believe my very first post in this thread said...

Bryan316 said:
I'm usually camping at 75mph cuz I like my low insurance premiums. but when I'm in a hurry, 90mph is not unheard of.

But if I'm holding people up in the fast lane, I just jump over. If they're in a hurry, I'm gonna sympathise with them and let em get going....
Click to expand...

...If you're in a hurry, I understand, and will get out of the way. If you're a jerk and expect me to get outta the way simply cuz you don't wanna use the left lane for what it is intended for, then NO MERCY...
Click to expand...


I fail to see where my "attitude" problem lies.
 
#304
Here's an intersting link, spelling out the differing "Keep Right" (or lack thereof) rules state to state. disclaimer: I don't know how current or accurate it is.
If I'm reading the chart correctly - the "it's the Law you MUST move over" is only true in the following states:
Illinois
Kentucky
Maine
Massachusetts
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Washington

Almost all of them have a disclaimer attached to that, IE Kentucky and Maine add, "Only where the speed limit is 65"
Likewise there's only a few states where slower traffic is NOT encouraged to keep right.

Most follow the Uniform Vehicle Code and add their disclaimers to it. IE Georgia, "If below speed limit in left lane and blocking overtaking traffic, must move right."
I would presume this makes an exception when traffic is heavier and no-one is driving the speed limit (makes sense to me).

Only Virginia has the one being promoted heavily in this thread: "requires vehicles in the left lane to yield to faster traffic; State Police say this applies even when faster traffic is speeding."
 
#305
TL5 said:
Only Virginia has the one being promoted heavily in this thread: "requires vehicles in the left lane to yield to faster traffic; State Police say this applies even when faster traffic is speeding."
Click to expand...

Thanks for your insightful post. I don't know the law in most US states, but I do know that provincially here in Ontario the law mirrors what you've said about Virginia, and I believe that is true mostly across Canada.
 
#306
Bryan316 said:
Hold on a moment there, skippy... I do believe my very first post in this thread said...
I fail to see where my "attitude" problem lies.
Click to expand...
I don't see anything wrong with what you quoted, my comment came from these posts:

Bryan316 said:
...I absolutely believe, participate in, and support, vigilante justice. If I am wronged, and I know that the Law will not help the situation, be it no witnesses to side with me or no proof that I was wronged, then I WILL administer punishment...
Click to expand...


Bryan316 said:
That's fine by me. That's why I welded up that bull bar for my truck. If it can push a 3-ton workshop welding table, it can push you.
Click to expand...

Those comments don't sound like anyone I would feel safe being on the road with. Maybe I've misinterpreted your meaning there?
 
#307
txbasschik said:
If I *can* get over a bit and let people go around me, I do. But often, I simply can't. There's no shoulder on the 2-lane that goes to our house, and there's no place for passing, either.

I'm not a slow driver by any means, but I'm not a speed demon, either, and I do get tailgated. If I can't move over, well...I'm not going to risk going off the road and flipping over, or flying off a cliff, so that someone in a sports car or a big truck can drive 65 mph on a winding 2-lane.

Cherie
Click to expand...
Sounds fair to me. Those 2 lane roads are a whole other story. I know it's hard to let someone around in most cases. It's a shame that people aren't more patient.
 
#309
irjason said:
Those comments don't sound like anyone I would feel safe being on the road with. Maybe I've misinterpreted your meaning there?
Click to expand...

Yes. You have. If there's a lunatic out there who thinks they own the road, and is far more than dangerous to me, I've got a pretty strong solution for them. If someone tries to give me a "brake check" cuz they think I need to allow them to cut across three lanes of traffic to cut me off, I'll be more than capable of making them feel really lousy the rest of that day.

I have participated in vigilante justice far more in day-to-day stuff, than on the highway, really. But there's been two, maybe three times, I've done it in my vehicle. And more than one of my friends confirmed that I was completely justified in doing so. I've also helped people who were wronged and the legal system failed them, so I did my best to administer punishment befitting them. I'm not above an ass-whuppin' on someone who abuses a woman, someone who steals from another's home, someone who violates personal safety.

And I'm certainly not above giving a drunk driver a P.I.T. into a ditch. He'll kill less people being stuck in a culvert than continuing his deadly journey.
 
#311
I will usually get out of the way on the highway..although really Im never in the far left lane unless Im taking a left exit, I plan ahead so I dont need to go 90..but on like a two lane road if the speed limit is 35 and Im going 45 in the left lane blow it out your ass Im not moving.. but one time that caused a face to face with this crazy guy he started brighting me after I wouldnt move which just made me angry..he thought his wife sent me to annoy him or something and followed me to the grocery store..he was about a foot shorter than me so I wasnt real scared of being beaten up but I was a little worried he might shoot me. I need to change my ways I get into far too many of these situations
 
#312
True story:

495 stuck in traffic for 2 1/2 hours. I had to go to the bathroom, really bad...

Suddenly I got to the accident scene, nothing big; just a 4 car hit. There were ambulances but it didn't look very serious.

Well....I really had to go so I used a Wendys cup. Traffic picked up and were going about 55. I had no idea but there was a guy that was tailgating me, I rolled my window down to let it out and bam. Right on the window! :)
 
#320
Bad Brains said:
Michigan drivers are the biggest A-holes in the country.

How do you people deal with them?
Click to expand...

Tell me about it!

Fortunatly, I drive a Hummer, so unless they're in a big rig they'll just have to deal with me going "too slow".

I just ignore them. Life's too short to get all worked up over idiots riding my tail.

On the other hand, (disclaimer: I'm not a violent person) If someone were to hit my truck because of driving recklessly, (like riding my tail)
and my 11 mo son is in the car......There would be a serious woopin' to be had.

I drive the speed limit or a hair or two under. It's safer and more economical.
 

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