# Tailgaters **URL:** \ **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:** 5
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/81 "2015-03-02T13:59:28Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > That is not defensive driving, that’s aggressive driving. You’re slowing down, in a deliberate attempt to aggravate an already aggravating situation. You’re deliberately provoking someone who may have anger issues. Would you do this if you knew he had a gun? A car can be as deadly as a gun. > > The only sane way to deal with him is to get out of his way; to get as much distance between you as possible. It’s not your job to police other drivers by deliberately provoking them. If someone is tailgating me, then slowing down to give myself more time/space for emergency braking is a reasonable course of action. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/82 "2015-03-02T14:14:20Z")
I actually just came in to complain about “break peddle”. Ouch. Seriously? But while I am here, I admit I despise people who regularly go ten miles below the limit and slow down for a green light. This happens all the time on our 40 mph road and they are a problem! Tailgaters are assholes, absolutely. But if you can’t handle normal driving speeds maybe you need to not be on the roads at rush hour. The fault is on both sides. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/83 "2015-03-02T16:06:10Z")
I don’t see how it’s even an issue. They still sell Yosemite Sam “BACK OFF” mud flaps, right? ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/84 "2015-03-02T17:09:12Z")
My beef is a faster car in the left lane, while I’m in the right lane coming up behind a car going significantly slower than either of us. Being polite, I let the left-land car pass me and when it’s even with the slow car, I pull into the left lane to also pass. Too many times the person in the left lane thinks I’m getting too close so they slow down so that I’ll slow down and increase the distance between us. However, if they kept going their original speed there would be plenty of distance between us in a second or two. The other beef is after the other car passes both of us, sometimes they move into the right hand lane (in front of the slower car) and then slow down, so either I pass them, or more strangely, they slow down just enough so we now end up going the same speed and because they’re next to me I can’t pull over either. Pick one speed and stick with it! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/85 "2015-03-02T17:15:08Z")
I’m a mild-mannered driver but tailgaters make me irrationally angry. I usually slow down, tap my brakes, and act like I’m adjusting my rear view mirror to let them know I’m watching them. If it’s bad enough I’ll just pull over and let them speed off to their death. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/86 "2015-03-02T17:27:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > In many areas they have turn outs, so yes. To paraphrase Office Space, why do I have to pull over if he’s the one who sucks? I guess I don’t get the requirement to pull over if you have five cars behind you on a two-lane road. If I’m at or above the speed limit, what is the issue beyond that the road is busy enough to have that many people on it? And won’t they all just speed up and still be on each other’s butts? ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/87 "2015-03-02T18:14:15Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > Drive faster. Genius! > [@Fleetwood](#): > > Just get out of my way. Ditto to above! > [@eschereal](#): > > Same to you, pals. I drive the speed that I drive, deal with it. I am not going to waste my time moving over for you, that is as much an imposition on me as my slowness is on you. And if you are so close that I cannot even see your headlights, I _will_ slow down, because that means I need extra room to stop so that you are not plowing into me. So get around me if you can, if not, try budgeting your time better next time. THIS! 🙂 > [@eschereal](#): > > …And, you know, lay off the meth. Sorry, I have to call you on a false assumption. You don’t need to be on any drug to show this kind of immature attitude. Although it helps. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/88 "2015-03-02T18:43:31Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I guess I don’t get the requirement to pull over if you have five cars behind you on a two-lane road. If I’m at or above the speed limit, what is the issue beyond that the road is busy enough to have that many people on it? And won’t they all just speed up and still be on each other’s butts? 1. Its the law. 2. It prevents road rage. 3. Your speedometer is likely incorrect 4. Someone in that line may have a very real emergency. So- why be a dick? Follow the law, and use the turn-out. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/89 "2015-03-03T04:15:35Z")
Oh, is that one of their excuses?! My speedometer must be wrong?!! Right. If the limit is 40 and I’m going 50 (give or take, I guess), is road rage really an appropriate response? Anyhoo, if anyone besides the first car has a “real emergency”, they’re still going to be waiting in line. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/90 "2015-03-03T04:51:57Z")
> [@rock\_party](#): > > The final stretch into work is a three mile, narrow two lane road. There’s no way to pass (legally). > > The speed limit is 40 but every now and then I’ll be behind some granny going 30. Yea, sometimes I get a little close, but there’ll be an entire line of cars bunched up…all because of one > pokey-ass idiot. That’s what your horn is for. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/91 "2015-03-03T12:00:23Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > That’s what your horn is for. Wait, that’s a totally different ticket. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/92 "2015-03-03T13:55:23Z")
What I hate almost as much as someone tailgating me is someone in front of me tailgating the car in front of him and constantly tapping or riding his brakes. So I’m seeing his taillights go blink blink blink like morse code, which forces me to be hyper vigilant because I don’t know if I have to prepare for a traffic slowdown of if he’s just backing off an inch from the guy in front of him. If you have to constantly hit your brakes, you’re too damn close! ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/93 "2015-03-03T14:09:04Z")
Or the ones who go charging up on the car in front like that, only slamming on the brakes right at the last second as if to say, “Gadzooks! There’s a car ahead of me!” You don’t fucking say. I swear some people can’t see more than 5 feet down the highway… ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/94 "2015-03-03T15:06:40Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > To paraphrase Office Space, why do I have to pull over if he’s the one who sucks? > > I guess I don’t get the requirement to pull over if you have five cars behind you on a two-lane road. If I’m at or above the speed limit, what is the issue beyond that the road is busy enough to have that many people on it? The turn-outs effectively add a (temporary) extra lane, so you aren’t really “pulling over” (as in, off the road onto the shoulder) so much as moving to the right lane to allow others to pass on the left. Particularly as I’ve gotten older and ostensibly wiser, I’m much happier to let the other assholes get around me and out of my life forever if there’s a safe opportunity to do so, rather than play passive-aggressive “let’s teach them a lesson” games or feel like I’ve lost my manhood if I allow someone to drive 5 mph faster than me. > [@solost](#): > > What I hate almost as much as someone tailgating me is someone in front of me tailgating the car in front of him and constantly tapping or riding his brakes. So I’m seeing his taillights go blink blink blink like morse code, which forces me to be hyper vigilant because I don’t know if I have to prepare for a traffic slowdown of if he’s just backing off an inch from the guy in front of him. Agreed, this is nerve-wracking. Even worse are the idiots who do this when there’s nobody in front of them. Are they watching a DVD on their dashboard console? Braking for the ghosts of dead deer? Afraid that the brake pedal will become jealous of the accelerator if it doesn’t get equal attention? Practicing tap dancing as they drive? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/95 "2015-03-03T15:33:29Z")
> [@solost](#): > > What I hate almost as much as someone tailgating me is someone in front of me tailgating the car in front of him and constantly tapping or riding his brakes. So I’m seeing his taillights go blink blink blink like morse code, which forces me to be hyper vigilant because I don’t know if I have to prepare for a traffic slowdown of if he’s just backing off an inch from the guy in front of him. If you have to constantly hit your brakes, you’re too damn close! To me, this is more amusing than annoying. Hypervigilance is not required if you are following at a safe distance; just drop back a bit and snicker at what an idiot this guy is for not being able to use his accelerator pedal in moderation. If you’re not sure whether you need to prep for a traffic slowdown, then I suggest watching further up the road to see what the cars up there are doing. If you don’t feel you can spare the attention to achieve this, then guess what - _you_ are following too close. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/96 "2015-03-03T16:35:49Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Hypervigilance is not required if you are following at a safe distance Is an ordinary safe following distance, and ordinary vigilance, sufficient when someone directly in front of you is doing something that makes an accident more likely? If the tailgater is obscuring your view of the preceding vehicle’s brake lights, you’ll have even a moment’s less warning of an abrupt brake. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/97 "2015-03-03T17:33:38Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Is an ordinary safe following distance, and ordinary vigilance, sufficient when someone directly in front of you is doing something that makes an accident more likely? > > If the tailgater is obscuring your view of the preceding vehicle’s brake lights, you’ll have even a moment’s less warning of an abrupt brake. It’s a simple rule: If a following distance of X (where X is the current distance between you and the vehicle in front of you) demands hypervigilance on your part to avoid causing an accident, then increasing your following distance to some value greater than X should allow you to return to ordinary levels of vigilance. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/98 "2015-03-03T17:43:53Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > To me, this is more amusing than annoying. Hypervigilance is not required if you are following at a safe distance; just drop back a bit and snicker at what an idiot this guy is for not being able to use his accelerator pedal in moderation. > > If you’re not sure whether you need to prep for a traffic slowdown, then I suggest watching further up the road to see what the cars up there are doing. If you don’t feel you can spare the attention to achieve this, then guess what - _you_ are following too close. I do watch further up the road when I’m able, and I don’t tailgate, thank you very much. But I’ve had traffic come to a sudden catastrophic stop in front of me many times over the years, to the point where I’ve had a close call stopping in time, even allowing proper distance in front. I’ve never rear-ended anybody, but I’ve _been_ rear-ended because somebody 3 cars behind me wasn’t paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/99 "2015-03-03T18:08:32Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Oh, is that one of their excuses?! My speedometer must be wrong?!! Right. If the limit is 40 and I’m going 50 (give or take, I guess), is road rage really an appropriate response? > > Anyhoo, if anyone besides the first car has a “real emergency”, they’re still going to be waiting in line. People familiar with a road are going to go faster than those not. I’ve seen turnouts mostly on two lane winding roads - and I am happy to use them. Why do you want five cars piled up behind you? They will, almost by definition, be zipping off faster than you, so you won’t be slowed down at all. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709/100 "2015-03-03T18:31:40Z")
> [@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…) I always liked the bumper sticker that said: If you can read this, you’re too fucking close. Back off! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters/713709.md?page=6)