Of course not. But violators do not deserve to have their lives put at risk. That is the inherent idiocy of any “I have the right to tailgate” assertion. Your right to manage your own time does not extend to the point where you can risk another person’s life.
Make it the frickin’ law, as it is in many jurisdictions: left lane for passing only. If you ain’t passing, you can get a ticket. I would fully support that. I log a decent amount of highway time, and it’s extremely frustrating to have a slowpoke clogging up the basepaths.
And that still doesn’t mean I get to ride their bumpers at 80 MPH, risking their lives, because I want them to get out of my way. Flash your lights/highbeams if you want them to know you want them out of the way. Tailgating serves one purpose, which is to send the message, “Hey, you’re in danger, better move.” Only a dipshit would believe he had the right to do that, and in my experience, more often than not, it’s some pussy who wouldn’t say “boo” to you face to face.
So you’re saying you’d support a different law addressing safe driving than the current one addressing safe driving because…why exactly? BTW, flashing your headlights/highbeams isn’t all that smart either–it’s aggressive driving/road rage.
**What don’t you understand? Why is what I propose inconsistent with any current law? If you drive in the left lane, it should be to pass. That is already the law in many jurisdictions. It is not a replacement of the “don’t tailgate” laws, which I also support enthusiastically.
Huh? No, driving a foot from someone’s bumper is a pretty good sign of road rage, if you’re looking for an example.
Riding a safe distance and flashing one’s lights (not keeping your high beams on, or anything like that) to signal you want to pass is something else entirely. I have done it on more than one occasion, calmly and without anger. Am I unknowingly violating the law? If I am, I’ll stop.
How about a list from Maine’s Bureau of Highway Safety, Bob?
Their list includes (and thus it should be obvious I’ve snipped a few items):
[quote]
[ul][li]Refusing to allow another motorist to pass [/li][li]Slow driving [/li][li]Tailgating [/li][li]Headlight flashing[/ul][/li][/quote]
Now remember that it’s still an offense to travel at greater than the posted speed limit, so “slow driving” does not equal “slower than I wish the driver in front were driving.” Also, not all jurisdictions, as you are evidently aware, have the “right lane only unless you’re passing” rule.
The advice at the end of the linked page is extremely good, IMHO. For Bill, there’s a comment on the page which is tailor-made apparently:
**Um, that would be Maine’s list of things that can prompt road rage (in addition to “eye contact,” “loud music,” and “argument over parking place”). I’m sure there have been even more innocuous things that have cause another to go into a rage. Certainly, though, this is not a list of things that are illegal. That was my question, you understand?
**Yes, otherwise my desire that this change take place would be odd indeed.
I understand what the list is, Bob. Surely you understand that the intentional flashign of headlights into someone’s eyes (via their rear-view of course, is an act of rage? Or maybe you don’t–thus the problem of getting you to understand sensible actions in this thread.
Errrr…
If you understood what the list is, Monty (i.e., a list of “The Common Causes of Road Rage,” as stated on the page itself, and not things that are signs of road rage), why in the world would you post that link in response to somebody who wants to know if his behavior can be consiudered road rage? Or were you just hoping that nobody would actually bother to check out the link and just take you at your word?
Flashing your lights at somebody can certainly trigger road rage (as can, accordin to the list, playing music too loudly or making excessive eye contact). But nowhere on the page you linked to does it even hint that flashing ones lights is a symptom* of road rage.
Errrr…
If you understood what the list is, Monty (i.e., a list of “The Common Causes of Road Rage,” as stated on the page itself, and not things that are signs of road rage), why in the world would you post that link in response to somebody who wants to know if his behavior can be consiudered road rage? Or were you just hoping that nobody would actually bother to check out the link and just take you at your word?
Flashing your lights at somebody can certainly trigger road rage (as can, accordin to the list, playing music too loudly or making excessive eye contact). But nowhere on the page you linked to does it even hint that flashing ones lights is a symptom* of road rage.
In fact, the page you linked to clearly defines road rage as “a term used to describe an aggression shown by a driver. **Most often it is used to refer to extreme acts of aggression, such as a physical assault, that occur as a direct result of a disagreement between drivers. **”
So no, I for one don’t understand that flashing one’s headlights at the driver in front of you is an act of rage. Annoyance, definitely. But rage? Give me a break.
Now, slamming on your brakes so as to cause the car behind you to crash into you, well, THAT is clearly road rage. Read the OP and tell me who in this thread is the one full of rage, OK?
I have two routes to my regular Saturday class in fencing: one through straight roads with 45mph speed limits where everyone goes 50, but with 8 traffic lights. The other is through twisty turny roads with 35mph as the speed limit tops, and where I am guaranteed to get at least one slow local driver in front of me, something that usually doesn’t happen on the other route.
The twisty turny route takes 15 minutes, the straight route 20 minutes, almost every time. The twisty turny route has only 5 traffic lights. Those three less lights make all the difference.
Timed lights, to address that irrelevant diversion, are timed to let you go through at the posted speed limit only. No traffic authority in the country is going to time their traffic lights to reward speeding.
First off, I’m in general a very considerate person. In fact, it’s my courteous nature that makes me so upset when I encounter intentionally non-courteous people.
Now, to give you specific examples of my behavior vis-à-vis time wasters off-the-road:
If I’m on an escalator and someone plugs the whole thing when I wish to pass, I say “excuse me” in a polite tone and when they move to the side, I pass.
If a telemarketer calls, I immediately interrupt them, say “Sorry, I’m not interested”, and without waiting for a reply hang up.
When religious zealots want to convert me, I say “sorry, I’m happy with my faith, take care.” (I don’t bother telling them I’m an atheist, as this seems to prolong things). If they accept this as the end of the discussion, we politely say our goodbyes. If they attempt to continue, I take a firmer stance, perhaps “I’m not interested. Take care.” If they still continue, I say “goodbye” and close the door on them (or turn and walk away).
If someone important to me wants to talk with me about something unimportant to me, but is obviously important to them, I stop what I’m doing and take an active interest in what they have to say. Just because it’s unimportant to me doesn’t make it a time waster, especially if the person is important to me.
Let me make clear my exact tailgating procedure:
First, as I made clear earlier, if this is a one lane road and there’s no way to pull over, I don’t tailgate. If traffic is heavy and the person ahead has people in front of them and can’t pull to the side, I would never tailgate. If there is a lane to either side, I go around them.
But, in the case where one person is blocking the fast lane with traffic behind, and has the ability to speed up or slow down and move to the side, but chooses to stay in this blocking position…
I stay behind them at a reasonable distance (i.e. not tailgating) for a reasonable time, perhaps 20 or 30 seconds. It should be clear to them that someone wants to get by. A reasonable driver will either a) speed up, b) move over, or c) put on their blinker to indicate they intend to move over as they can. In those cases, I do nothing, wait patiently and move forward when I can.
But if they don’t do any of these things, they make their obstinacy and inconsideration apparent. I move up close, but not as close as I could be. Often, the person will a) speed up, b) move to the right, or c) put on their blinker to indicate an interest in moving. In these cases, I immediately back off. I’ve made my point and they’ve listened.
Sometimes they don’t. They’ll make no changes, or even better hit their brakes to indicate they have no interest in other people in the world and/or they are somehow entitled to the precious use of the fast lane at the expense of others. I close the distance to as close as I feel can be driven safely, possibly as close as several feet. We do this until they move over. Usually it’s immediate, possibly with a friendly finger for me. That’s fine. They can be upset, just as a dog is when his nose is pushed into his mistake. As long as they stop shitting on the carpet, I’m happy.
The thing is, I like to believe that next time they won’t hog the fast lane, that they’ll remember their little spanking and move over like a good doggie. And for this kindness I do to mankind, I’m convinced there’s a special place reserved for me in heaven.
No, it is not necessarily so, and your cite didn’t suggest otherwise. It is on a list accompanying “eye contact,” which is surely not an act of rage. It is an act, like anything I suppose, that could prompt some nitwit to fly into a rage. So could your hat. I also suspect you’re not clear which side of the “don’t tailgate” side of the debate I fall on. Whatever.
I was once busted for speeding. I was trying to pass another car on a dual lane highway to get out of the way of a tailgater who really, REALLY wanted to go above the speed limit.
I sped up to about 10mph above the speed limit to pass the law abiding driver in the slow lane, and just then, right at that moment, both myself and the tailgater went through a radar speed trap. We were both pulled over.
I explained to the officer, “Sir, honestly, I was just trying to get out of the way of the tailgating guy behind me. Please verify this with your radar operator… the guy behind me was tailgating real bad…”
So the officer got on his field radio and verified same with the radar operator 300 yards earlier on the highway. The radar guy verified that indeed, I was being tailgated with terrifying menace.
I asked the officer who was near me… “Well do you believe me now?”
And he said yes, but he proceeded to write me a ticket anyway for going 10 mph above the speed limit.
I asked him “Well what are you supposed to do when you’re forced into that situation beyond your control?”
The copper told me “Well all you can do is just plain pull over and let 'em go - hopefully we’ll catch 'em in the act…”
I explained to the officer “You did catch him in the act… I was being intimidated to speed up above the speed limit to get out of the tailgaters way. What am I supposed to do in these situations?”
And the copper repeated once again… “You just have to pull over and get out of his way.”
But I couldn’t get out of the tailgaters way - WITHOUT going over the speed limit. There was a slower car in the slow lane. I got busted for speeding as a result.
That’s where the tailgating rationalisation falls down in my opinion.
Don’t know. Wouldn’t change my stance if it is. It’s also illegal to go over 65, and I regularly do that too. I’d dare say most (all?) of the people I know would describe me as a courteous law-abiding person. Perhaps I have 'em all fooled.
Let me get this straight. You think people who drive slower than you only do so because they haven’t learned that they can drive faster? And the way they learn it is to be tailgated?
Have you ever seen someone educated successfully in this method?
Why should I pull over (and slow myself down) because someone else is an asshole? I’d never get to where I’m going if I pulled over for every asshole.
I’m a guy.
‘Can’t pass’? I drive a Beetle. I can pass nearly anywhere. I choose to obey the law. Tailgaters have chosen not to. I only ask that they grow a pair and solve their own problem.
Yes, I really want them to stop tailgating me.
Yes, I refuse to go faster for them. I try not to reward rude behavior. How about you?
Bear in mind, I ALWAYS speed, except when I’m transitioning to or from zero mph.
First of all, I have yet to see a 30 MPH zone on a construction-free limited access highway.
Secondly, the 30 MPH i do see are divided into two groups: residential areas (the large majority,) and access roads to residential areas. When I am in the residential areas, with their common side roads/driveways and pedestrians, I go 35-37. This is to keep with the flow of traffic, as doing so is a compromise between pedestrians/driveway safety and safety vis-a-vis other drivers. And 30 does seem a bit slow.
On the other hand, when I see a 30 MPH zone in an access road with relativelty little obstructions, there are also three possibilities: the traffic engineers are stupid, it is a speed trap, or both. Therefore, to play it safe when I am in a completely idiotic 30 MPH zone i drive 30. You would suggest I drive 45…or higher :eek: :eek: in an area which would either endanger residents or get me a $100 ticket in an speed trap? :wally
Unless, of course, you think that traffic engineers are stupid for placing 30 MPH zones in residential areas. Would you like to provide a cite that 45…or higher…is completely safe?
Trying not to get too deep into this argument…again.
First off lets stop playing the “endangering everyone on the road” card. If pile ups were common then you might have an argument but the fact is, deadly piles up and rear end hits causing death are very low on the fatality scale. Fast drivers are typically better at avoiding problems in the first place. Slow drivers (IMO) tend to believe stopping is always the best choice.
I’m very much a driver like Bill H. (sorry folks) I drive fast and try never to hinder any other driver. I always make good accellerations up to the limit (or beyond) on the ramps and signal all changes.
Flashing your lights (in Ontario) is a viable option to signal to pass someone. Maybe you americans aren’t used to it but it’s used here to signal I’m coming up fast and would like to pass.
Also, sure, you guys like to fantasize about jumping on the brakes to hit a tail gater but that’s also very rare…why? Because we tail gaters aren’t fucking stupid (in general). If I think the guy I’m closing on is fucked up (and has a bad case of road rage) I’m going to keep my eyes on his car and react fast enough to avoid an accident. Then, I’m going to pass this prick and either call the police or reply with my own super-fast braking.
And yes, braking for no reason is dangerous / careless driving. You try it and you’ll find out. The reason why accidents are fairly rare is because 90% of people understand that it’s all about co-operation when you’re driving. You let faster people pass, stay right, maintain speed (heck, stay in a pack if you must) and be aware of your surroundings. If even 1% of people tried to cause accidents (and yes, I can make everyone in this thread hit me if I wanted) then the roads were be a mess.