# Tailgaters, I've got your answer here

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [July 30, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974 "2003-07-30T20:04:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 8

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**Author:** ![wedgerat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@wedgerat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgerat)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/141 "2003-08-08T21:13:50Z")

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Why then do people tailgate me? You maintain it’s because I “have done something very inconsiderate to incur their wrath”, yet you’ve already labeled me as a considerate driver.

Please remember that I had already described all my sins.  
[list=1]  
[li]I drive _below_ the speed limit.[/li][li]I drive on roads with long stretches on no-pass zones.[/li][li]I slow down for curves.[/li][li]I do not pull off to let people pass.[/li][/list=1]  
Please also keep in mind that it’s painfully obvious that I’m either drunk or a new driver. For all the tailgaters know, I’m prone to sudden stops (I am), easily distracted (I am), and still confused over which animals to brake for (I am). It is much more unsafe to tailgate me than it is to tailgate most people. Why then am I, on an average one hour drive on a very quiet road, tailgated by _at least_ five different cars?

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**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/142 "2003-08-08T22:52:46Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by DarkMika \*  
> Why then do people tailgate me? You maintain it’s because I “have done something very inconsiderate to incur their wrath”, yet you’ve already labeled me as a considerate driver.
> 
> Please remember that I had already described all my sins.  
> [list=1]  
> [li]I drive _below_ the speed limit.[/li][li]I drive on roads with long stretches on no-pass zones.[/li][li]I slow down for curves.[/li][li]I do not pull off to let people pass.[/li][/list=1]

I think I remember that you mentioned in your last post that you cannot pull over to let people pass because there are no turnouts, right? (Just wanted to clarify that.) The only thing that would be inconsiderate (but not warranting tailgating) would be _not_ turning out at a safe turnout when you’ve got a tail behind you. But since there are no turnouts, you’re off the hook there. 🙂

> [@](#):
>
> Please also keep in mind that it’s painfully obvious that I’m either drunk or a new driver. For all the tailgaters know, I’m prone to sudden stops (I am), easily distracted (I am), and still confused over which animals to brake for (I am). It is much more unsafe to tailgate me than it is to tailgate most people. Why then am I, on an average one hour drive on a very quiet road, tailgated by _at least_ five different cars?

Because they are _psychic!_ Or they think they are. They _think_ they know why you are doing what you are doing. (But they are wrong.) Or, more likely, they _don’t care_ what your driving problems are. They just care about themselves. They are in their own little self-absorbed world, and God Forbid, you got in the way of that, so they are going to “teach you a lesson” by doing something illegal and unsafe. Because how _dare_ you drive out in public! :rolleyes:

Bill H, where art thou? Your silence is conspicuous!

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