# Tailgaters
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [February 26, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709 "2015-02-26T20:55:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/21 "2015-02-27T13:34:04Z")
I had a tailgater right on my ass for too long once. It was around 2 am and I was already in a shit mood. I said fuck it and gave my brakes a good jab, preparing to be rear ended. Then the car lit its lights and started its siren. It was a cop, likely trying to mess with what he thought might be an inebriated driver.
When he approached my car he was _pissed_. He had just barely avoided hitting me and was all worked up. I acted all innocent and said that I hit my brakes because of a deer I saw along the road. He said he didn’t see any deer. I told him that wasn’t surprising given how close he was to my car.
We both knew what had happened. I didn’t get a ticket, but had he written one I would have fought it.
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### Author:  [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/22 "2015-02-27T15:35:10Z")
The thing I’ll usually do is slow down to create more space in front of me and then accelerate into it, which should reestablish a safe following distance. If they’re being a jerk they’ll just accelerate right with me and gobble up the extra space, but it usually works at least for the absentminded tailgaters.
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### Author:  [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/23 "2015-02-27T17:04:47Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#):
>
> I tend to mess with them unless the wife is with me, no need in getting her killed.
>
> Especially if it is a road I know very well.
I haven’t done it in ages but ---- when I had an older big V8 in front of me I would slow down under the speed limit. When they tried to pass, I’d floor it and listen to the gas flowing through the 4-pot, and once they dropped back behind I’d slow again. There are times when a car that can out accelerate anything on the road is a nice thing.
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/24 "2015-02-27T17:19:32Z")
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> I had a tailgater right on my ass for too long once. It was around 2 am and I was already in a shit mood. I said fuck it and gave my brakes a good jab, preparing to be rear ended. Then the car lit its lights and started its siren. It was a cop, likely trying to mess with what he thought might be an inebriated driver.
>
> When he approached my car he was _pissed_. He had just barely avoided hitting me and was all worked up. I acted all innocent and said that I hit my brakes because of a deer I saw along the road. He said he didn’t see any deer. I told him that wasn’t surprising given how close he was to my car.
>
> We both knew what had happened. I didn’t get a ticket, but had he written one I would have fought it.
When I am tailgated at night. I just assume it’s a cop trying to get me to speed up and then give a ticket.
Had a friend get pulled over quite a while ago. She pulled onto the shoulder, and I guess stopped pretty fast. The cop rear ended her. :smack:
---
### Author:  [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/25 "2015-02-27T18:17:29Z")
> [@kopek](#):
>
> I haven’t done it in ages but ---- when I had an older big V8 in front of me I would slow down under the speed limit. When they tried to pass, I’d floor it and listen to the gas flowing through the 4-pot, and once they dropped back behind I’d slow again. There are times when a car that can out accelerate anything on the road is a nice thing.
↑ ↑ ↑ This… Ahhh, the good old days… 😃
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### Author:  [@yawuntz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawuntz)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/26 "2015-02-27T18:21:36Z")
> [@enipla](#):
>
> When I am tailgated at night. I just assume it’s a cop trying to get me to speed up and then give a ticket…
A very good assumption. I was sitting at a red light one night and, glancing into the rear-view, I happened to see an epaulette on the shoulder of the driver behind me. So the light changes, we take off, and he starts tailgating me. I wisely keep to the speed limit, he keeps pushing, but eventually gives up and passes me. As he passes, he gives me this dirty look! Why?!
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/27 "2015-02-27T18:42:27Z")
> [@Steve918](#):
>
> Slam repeatedly on the break peddle until the scum back off. Stop, jump out and ram your car key up their nostril while screaming, ‘Innit’ into their face, then drag the key out towards you, catastrophically rupturing the septum. So I’m told.
>
> I instinctively drive slower just to punish the self-entitled filth.
All of these are really stupidly bad and dangerous ideas, that will likely get you killed and one of us besides.
When there’s a tailgater, get over and let him pass.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/28 "2015-02-27T18:43:45Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#):
>
> If the speed limit is 65 or 70 and you’re doing 50 in normal weather, IMO you’re more dangerous than a tailgater.
Very true. Unless you are in the far right lane. Even so…
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### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/29 "2015-02-27T19:08:12Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> All of these are really stupidly bad and dangerous ideas, that will likely get you killed and one of us besides.
>
> When there’s a tailgater, get over and let him pass.
If it’s a two-lane road, do I have to pull over?!
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/30 "2015-02-27T19:14:41Z")
> [@gigi](#):
>
> If it’s a two-lane road, do I have to pull over?!
In many areas they have turn outs, so yes.
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### Author:  [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/31 "2015-02-27T19:35:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> All of these are really stupidly bad and dangerous ideas, that will likely get you killed and one of us besides.
>
> When there’s a tailgater, get over and let him pass.
No, jumping out of the car and ramming your key up the tailgater’s nose is a great idea and is _totally_ something serious that was said as an actual thing to do.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/32 "2015-02-27T19:51:28Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#):
>
> No, jumping out of the car and ramming your key up the tailgater’s nose is a great idea and is _totally_ something serious that was said as an actual thing to do.
Yeah, but “Slam repeatedly on the break peddle until the scum back off. … instinctively drive slower just to punish the self-entitled filth.” are both common and dangerous.
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### Author:  [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/33 "2015-02-27T19:53:20Z")
I’m easily annoyed (as some Dopers may have noticed) and the drivers where I live are often _very_ annoying. But, after a few close calls, I drive cooperatively and avoid confrontation. Some drivers here are very aggressive and keep handguns in their glove compartment.
> [@Steve918](#):
>
> … I instinctively drive slower just to punish the self-entitled filth.
>
> What are they trying to achieve, apart from the delight in bullying another person?
[my underlining] :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@JuliaSqueezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JuliaSqueezer)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/34 "2015-02-27T20:03:34Z")
I hate them, but try not to overreact. No direct confrontation, thanks.
With that said, I do have to say that I often miss my old Chrysler. For some reason, that car was blessed/cursed with an incredibly strong windshield washer pump. Unless I tapped very lightly on the switch to get fluid onto my own windshield, the fluid would shoot in an arc over the roof of the car and land with a big blue splash on the windshield of the tailgater. Very effective in getting them to back off.
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### Author:  [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/35 "2015-02-27T20:29:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> . . . When there’s a tailgater, get over and let him pass.
That just passes the problem on to another victim.
If someone throws a bomb into your house…just throw it into someone else’s house…
We’re trying to think of ways to communicate to the tailgater: don’t do this.
(Secondarily, we’re trying to think of ways to piss the effing s.o.b. off. So our morality isn’t perfect…)
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/36 "2015-02-27T20:34:50Z")
> [@kopek](#):
>
> I haven’t done it in ages but ---- when I had an older big V8 in front of me I would slow down under the speed limit. When they tried to pass, I’d floor it and listen to the gas flowing through the 4-pot, and once they dropped back behind I’d slow again. There are times when a car that can out accelerate anything on the road is a nice thing.
Where I reside, this tactic would very likely result in your untimely death in a car riddled with bullet holes and/or shotgun blasts.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/37 "2015-02-27T20:37:56Z")
> [@Trinopus](#):
>
> That just passes the problem on to another victim.
>
> If someone throws a bomb into your house…just throw it into someone else’s house…
>
> We’re trying to think of ways to communicate to the tailgater: don’t do this.
>
> (Secondarily, we’re trying to think of ways to piss the effing s.o.b. off. So our morality isn’t perfect…)
No, it passes the problem on onto the police.
And if you _piss the effing s.o.b. off_ he gets worse not better.
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### Author:  [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/38 "2015-02-27T21:07:27Z")
Y’know how different people from different cultures have a different sense of personal space? Like people who grew up in New York City can be completely oblivious to each other when they’re sitting 4 inches apart while people from Crane (Texas) can’t seem to stand within 3 yards of each other without their xenophobia/agoraphobia kicking in?
Y’know how some guys think this line \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is a full six inches long because a nice girl assured them that’s an average size?
Some drivers are like that. They just think it’s normal to drive in really closely-spaced packs, probably because they’re accustomed to being in rush hour traffic around Los Angeles, or New York or some other densely-packed roadways where leaving more than a wheel’s-width of space between bumpers is interpreted as begging for someone to squeeze in there with an 18-wheeler (or ‘bump’ your car in the attempt if you’re oblivious enough to fail to yield the right-of-way).
It’s not a matter of ego or competitiveness or even being mean. It’s just that, even though the road conditions may allow miles of spacing between vehicles, they’re accustomed to different driving habits and they’ve stopped thinking about safety and/or their behavior on the road. You could convince them to recognize a man as their birth-mother faster than you’d ever succeed in making them cognizant of their risky habit.
–G!
Do not attribute to malice
what is better explained
by sheer stupidity.
…–Samurai Proverb
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### Author:  [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/39 "2015-02-27T21:32:52Z")
> [@septimus](#):
>
> I’m easily annoyed (as some Dopers may have noticed) and the drivers where I live are often _very_ annoying. But, after a few close calls, I drive cooperatively and avoid confrontation. Some drivers here are very aggressive and keep handguns in their glove compartment.
> [my underlining] :rolleyes:
You know? This sounds Very close to “News Worthy”.
I wonder if its a slow day for news?
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2015, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/40 "2015-02-27T22:05:40Z")
> [@Grestarian](#):
>
> Some drivers are like that. They just think it’s normal to drive in really closely-spaced packs, probably because they’re accustomed to being in rush hour traffic around Los Angeles, or New York or some other densely-packed roadways where leaving more than a wheel’s-width of space between bumpers is interpreted as begging for someone to squeeze in there with an 18-wheeler (or ‘bump’ your car in the attempt if you’re oblivious enough to fail to yield the right-of-way)
Yeah… I’m going to have to disagree with you on that. There’s a difference between snuggling bumpers in stop-and-go traffic and riding up someone’s rectum on a two-lane road. The latter is the act of an aggressive dick trying to intimidate, not someone worried about a car slipping in from the shoulder.
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