I think that everyone involved is in the wrong. CynicalGabe should not have been in the fast lane without passing, Soccermom shouldn’t tailgate, and pickup driver shouldn’t drive aggressively.
Okay, now it’s in the Pit. Have at it.
You know, if you’re driving during the day, you could always turn on your lights. Your back lights come on, and most people interpret them as brake lights. And you haven’t slowed down. A little trick I use on one lane roads when someone’s a little close for comfort.
As to the OP, asshattery all around by all three parties. But I’d say that Gabe was more wrong than the SUV. If you can see someone coming up behind you from a distance, you should be taking steps to not be there when they reach you. You didn’t suddenly find someone on your ass. You took steps to make sure she’d be there, so you could be a (self-admitted) asshole.
“Everyone who drives slower than me is an asshole, and everyone who drives faster than me is a maniac” - George Carlin
Shame you didn’t have a rear-facing paintball gun installed under your rear bumper. I remember reading somewhere about a guy who had one and would paint the front end of a car that tailgated him.
Seconded.
And I think this is significant:
Why do I get the feeling that the problem wasn’t just that she was tailgaiting, but that she was driving a vehicle CynicalGabe doesn’t like? Even though he knows nothing about her and her vehicular needs?
And if I nod and smile, do I get a cookie?
Funny, I’ve been driving for about 25 years, and know all about the effects of “risky behavior”. Thanks for the update.
Jeebus-how righteous are you?
Tailgating is a common and dangerous indulgence. Some people react to it one way and some another. OP related a funny story about teamwork amongst drivers-so rarely seen today. Candid came out and took things a bit further–it’s his opinion. Somehow this turned into a diatribe against agressive drivers and risky behavior with wrist slapping and sanctimony all 'round.
Look! Everyone deplores aggressive drivers and risky behavior! I am stunned! Never in all my days would I have thought… :rolleyes:
Kids-what have we learned here today?
IMO, we’ve learned that if serendipity should happen to you-don’t share. 'Cause everyone will horn in and say how bad you are for doing what you did. As if you were gonna make a habit of it and ask for leglislation to give it weight.
I cast my vote for CynicalGabe and Blue Cool Dude. Gabe was already exceeding the speed limit, and it wasn’t fast enough for ESM. Tailgaters should never be rewarded for their impatience. YOU GO GABE!!!
Folks, I’ve been tailgated when I’m going 10 mph over the speed limit and the lane next to me is wide open (this has happened with both left and right lanes). I’ve been tailgated when I’ve been going 10 mph under the limit because the twit 4 cars ahead of me is going 10 mph under the limit and there is no room to pass him (usually on an on ramp near my home, but that’s another thread). This morning I was tailgated, while doing 70 mph in a 55 mph zone, and that’s the speed traffic was moving at, regardless of what the idiot behind me wanted it to do. I’m afraid I rank tailgaters with bullies (which is what they are, AFAIC), and other pond scum. I will not endanger myself by tailgating the guy ahead of me just because the guy behind me wants to go faster. You don’t like it? Tough. Neither do I. I’ll move over or otherwise get you off my tail if I can, but if I can’t, all you’ll accomplish by tailgating me is make me angry. As Dr. David Bruce Banner once said, “You won’t like me when I’m angry.”
CJ
I’m on I-95 every day for about 30 minutes. Speed limit is 65 for most of it. The passing lane typically moves at 80. And, the cops don’t care. I’ve looked up to see a cop in my rear view numerous times. I move over, let him go by, and then get my speed back up.
Now, if the passing lane is moving 70, some of us accept it, “oh, he’ll move over eventually”. However, some people will now start shooting out to the right. Typically, the guy going 70 has cars to his right whose speed he is matching. What’s this mean? It means that “Mr. Goes 80 Every Other Day of the Week and Knows it’s a Manageable Speed” is now going over 2 lanes to the right in his effort to get around “Mr. Going 70 in the Left Lane and is Oblivious That he has a Mile of Open Road ahead of Him and a Mile of Cars Stacked-UP Behind Him”.
Sometimes this means moving into a lane with a very slow moving vehicle. . .a scaredy-cat going 60 in a 65. It always means 2 lane changes to the right. 2 lane changes to the left, moving past people with a lot of speed differentials.
That’s the scary part of being out there.
Is “Mr. 80” wrong? No question.
Is he as much a permanent fixture on the highway as the mileage markers? Definitely.
Do you want to make the highway a little safer for everybody at the risk to your precious ego? Please move over or travel the community speed.
This is a very interesting thread! For some reason, my BS meter is going off. I simply cannot believe that there are this many conscientious and courteous drivers out there! In my experience, 98% of all drivers are assholes at one time or another.
I am with Cynical Gabe on this one. To be given a chance to frustrate a tailgater is a wonderful opportunity! Usually, I just pull over, but sometimes you can’t. That’s when I will spin around in my seat, point directly at them and start screaming (this works especially well with teenage girls and soccer moms, no one wants to tailgate a psycho). Sometimes, a simple tap of the brakes will get them to back off. Once, I tried this with an Evil Soccer Mom who was too tightly wound.
I tapped my brakes, she over-reacts and slams on hers. Her child, drinking a soda, was apparently not belted in. I could see him in my rear-view mirror fly off the seat and hit the dash, his cup of soda exploding all over the interior of the car.
Serves her right for not belting him in!
It’s nice to see someone taking pride in being an asshole. You go, you!
This is appalling; completely unacceptable. You “tapped” your brakes, and yet she “slams” on hers?
Tense, people; tense!
Gabe was the first asshole here. The tailgater made things worse and then Gabe, blue truck and tailgater conspired to turn it into a pretty dangerous situation. Tailgating is a worse crime than clogging the lane and not allowing someone to pass. But the tailgating wouldn’t have happened if Gabe wasn’t being a crappy driver by clogging the passing lane.
Exactly. CynicalGabe was wrong first. ESM was wrong second, and probably a more egregious foul, but still two (or more) wrongs don’t make a right. If you’re not passing then stay to the right wherever possible.
"Tis the truth. I still wonder at her over-reaction! The tapping of my brakes did not alter my car’s momentum at all, just lit the lights. I can only speculate that the kids had driven her right to the edge.
collapses with mirth
And who’s gonna win in that collision? Sheesh, I like breathing. And walking. And using the restroom by myself.
C’mon, I-80 by Davis has 5 lanes each way. And heck, I-5 has just two lanes for most of it’s stretch but there aren’t that many people cruising in the left lane.
I can’t say this any simpler.
There is no such thing as tailgating in the left lane. If someone is ‘tailgating’ you in the left lane then you’re driving too slow. Get over.
I’m quoting this again, because Yookeroo really nailed this one.
In never ceases to amaze me how certain people just can’t understand how the highways work. If you are in the left lane and someone is behind you then you are doing something wrong. Move over.