What motivates people to tailgate the person in front of them when they are driving? It certainly doesn’t make for a big reduction in the amount of time it takes to get somewhere, as you still must travel at the same speed as the car in front of you regardless of the spacing you allow between cars. The difference between allowing for a safe following distance and an unsafe following distance amounts to maybe half a second. Is anyone in that much of a hurry?
Yesterday, I saw someone following another car so closely that his brake lights were flickering on and off as he alternated between the gas pedal and the brake pedal. What’s more, people will still tailgate you when you’re stuck behind someone else. How can I speed up when there’s someone else in front of me? What do you want me to do??
I asked several of my co-workers what they do when they are being tailgated, and they all assured me that they do in fact slow down. Otherwise, you’d be rewarding someone for acting like a jerk. The fact that most people slow down should be a strong disincentive for tailgating. So why do they do it?
My guess is that people tailgate because it feels like you’re moving faster, since you have to react very quickly and slam on the brakes if the person slows down, just like you would need to do if you were traveling at a high rate of speed. Or maybe it’s because they just like to bully other people whenever they have the opportunity.
I think it is an anger reflex thing. They are mad because they have to slow down and it relieves them to pick on the person in front of them.
They know it bothers the person in front of them, so I think that is why they do it. Bully/asshole thing.
People tailgate because they think the driver in front of them cares. IMHO tailgaters are under the delusion that they are “unnerving” the person in front of them, because if the person in front of them brakes suddenly they know that the tailgater will slam into the back of them.
It also might have something to do with a “visual” display of impatience.
Whatever it is, it’s certainly a sign of an a-hole.
Well, if the person being tailgated were smart…he/she would realize that they need to move the hell on over to let the tailgator pass. Duh.
Kinda like the autobahn…you flash your brights as a signal for someone to move over. In Ohio, people haven’t figured this out yet. So we tailgate (safely) until they get the point.
Many people are just clueless. If you are being tailgated, and have room, or a lane to move on over, then please for the love of God move the hell over!
No, more than likely we are being obtuse. If I am already driving 10 mph over the speed limit and you are tailgating me, thus sending me the message that you want me to get out of the way so you can break the law excessivly instead of lightly, I slow down and show you the speed you are SUPPOSED to be driving. Leave the house earlier.
I am dating a guy who purposely slams on his brakes if he is being tailgated. This causes the tailgater to slam on their brakes, squeal, and sometimes swerve. I think he wants to be rear-ended. Now that’s unnerving.
No, tailgaters want to move ahead-- go faster. Meaning, if you’re going exactly 65 mph in the fast lane, and the speed limit is 65…you really need to move over.
Most people hover between 70-75 in the fast lane-- which means you have no farking business staying in the fast lane if you are doing exactly 65 mph.
I, personally,don’t agree with tailgating because it’s dangerous…but some people really need to learn the rules of the road. It’s not rocket science. Move over.
Oh absolutely; pull over if you can- best not to have a <ahem[sub]If ony this were the pit[/sub]> person like that right behind you and risk having them hit you; let them overtake and find a ditch to spin off into.
If someone is tailgating me, and I cannot go any faster b/c the nimrod in front of me and the nimrod in front of nimrod #1 are driving the exact speed limit----I still get over!!! I don’t want to get into an accident!
It is the rule of the road. Sorry…I know it’s not safe, but some people drive like their the only ones out on the highway.
It is illegal (I believe) in most states to pass on the right. So what is someone to do if they want to be an idiot and go 90 + mph!??!?! Move over and let him drive that fast. It’s his issue.
I do this. If I am not wearing a seatbelt, I make a big show of putting on my seat belt first, and then slam on the breaks. I have had people go into the ditch before. LOL. (I only do this if I cannot see their headlights in my rearview mirror though)
If they hit me, in my state, they are liable for the wreck. One car length per 10 mph is state law here, and insurance holds the person hitting the rear of the car liable. Generally slamming on my breaks stops the person from tailgating me the rest of the length of the road. (I don’t drive under the speedlimit, and generally don’t even do the speedlimit, 5-10 mph over, so it is not like I am braking often)
I believe that drastic braking without due cause (i.e. an obstruction in front of you) may be interpreted as ‘driving without due care and attention’ over here. I would not recommend hard braking as a remedy to the problem anyway; a rear-end impact at speed could cause loss of control of both vehicles.
I rarely drive faster than 7mph over the speed limit mainly because I care about my insurance rate and I already have one ticket. But I do tailgate people who drive exactly or under the speed limit with the intention of pissing them off and hopefully getting them out of my way. I let my foot float over the brake pedal and concentrate on their brake lights in case they decide to hit the brakes. But that doesn’t bother me when they do, I deserve it. When someone tailgates me, I assume it is for the same reason I do it, and I ignore them, because I know that is what would piss me off if I were the one tailgating.
I slow down to give me more stopping room. I don’t get over for two reasons: 1) You’re not going to bully me, and 2) I can’t trust what you’re going to do, so it’s better for me to stay my course and let you get over. If you want me to get over, * back off a bit *and let me feel comfortable doing so.
Oh, and, if I’m still going faster than the other vehicles to our right, back off. I shouldn’t have to get over and slow down just because you want to go faster.
I’m always surprised at the number of idiots in little cars that will tailgate my extended cab long-wheel base pickup.
If I am not wearing a seatbelt, I make a big show of putting on my seat belt first, and then slam on the breaks. I have had people go into the ditch before. LOL. (I only do this if I cannot see their headlights in my rearview mirror though)