# Why Do People Tailgate? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 9, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533 "2002-12-09T16:11:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/301 "2002-12-18T00:43:25Z")
Of couse, **Roadfood** , none of these facts applies to **Blown & Infected** , because he **is** the worlds most wonderfullist driver. And he will continue to tailgate because the laws of physics and reason, don’t apply to him. But what do we know, we’re disconnected posters. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/302 "2002-12-18T00:50:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by imthjckaz \* > \*\*Of couse, **Roadfood** , none of these facts applies to **Blown & Infected** , because he **is** the worlds most wonderfullist driver. And he will continue to tailgate because the laws of physics and reason, don’t apply to him. > > But what do we know, we’re disconnected posters. \*\* What’s that line often mentioned? Something like ‘80% of drivers think they are “above average” in driving skill.’ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/303 "2002-12-18T06:48:02Z")
**Roadfood** , I think **badmana** ’s point was about fatalities, rather than just accidents. A rear-ender isn’t necessarily fatal, or even _necessarily_ all that significant. I got rear-ended by some idiot that was following extremely closely, only a few feet behind. We were both travelling at about 30 mph. I had to brake, and of course he ran straight into the back of my car. He would not have had any chance to brake at all. We both pulled over. The only damage to the company’s Ford Escort I was driving was a bent number plate. He was driving some Toyota, I forget which model. The Ford’s bumper had broken the Toyota’s headlights and plastic grille, and buckled the hood. He, of course, was (literally) a raving lunatic. But I was able to return the company car without even reporting an accident. Now, I don’t mean that I enjoyed being tailgated or rear-ended, and I did point out that the guy was a raving nut-job, but let’s not carried away about the dangers. ---
**Author:** ![Blown\_Injected](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@Blown\_Injected](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blown_Injected)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/304 "2002-12-18T09:12:18Z")
quote: imthjckaz Of couse, Roadfood, none of these facts applies to Blown & Infected, because he is the worlds most wonderfullist driver. And he will continue to tailgate because the laws of physics and reason, don’t apply to him. ## But what do we know, we’re disconnected posters At least disconnected from the reality of the road. 1. Your laws are FLAWED you dumb fuck! I am talking real world. As it has been pointed out using the fairy tail numbers posted here. 2. I do not tail gate. Nothing is ALL the time. When I leave 80= feet between me and the car in front of me on the highway, it takes but 60 seconds for an ass like you fucks here to pull in front of me. 3. I said I have on occasion gotten a bit close, this does not mean 30’ or less like you asses might fantasize. But when I’m cut off I’ll let you know. If you are suffering brain damage, you are the one causein a hazard on the road - yea I’ll flash my lights in that case too. 4. Just got done with over 2 hours on the highway. I paid close attention to my reactions, easily less than one second… Just because you fucks are incompetent does not mean everybody else on the road is too. And there is almost nobody in traffic on rt 95 (going 75 in a 65) with 175’ space between them - but I’ll have to ASSume by your comments that you are the only true EXCEPTIONS on the road. ---
**Author:** ![Blown\_Injected](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@Blown\_Injected](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blown_Injected)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/305 "2002-12-18T09:16:57Z")
## Mr. Miskatonic quote: 1. Considering I don’t drive, Funny that you don’t even drive!!! Now if you just convince you butt buddies here to do the same, I’m sure the road would be a safer place. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/306 "2002-12-18T17:36:35Z")
> [@](#): > > ## \*Originally posted by Blown & Injected \* \*\*Mr. Miskatonic quote: > > 1. Considering I don’t drive, > > Funny that you don’t even drive!!! I bike, though, and I notice that habits people have from car vs. car become magnfied when they go car vs. bike. > [@](#): > > Now if you just convince you butt buddies here to do the same, I’m sure the road would be a safer place. \*\* They’re not the ones tailgating as a habit, are they? They do not participate willfully in an act that results in a signifigant percentage of car accidents in this world. They’re not the ones pulling a dangerous stunt and using the addicts excuse of “I can handle it.” ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/307 "2002-12-19T02:25:54Z")
Roadfood, I know this isn’t GQ which is why I ASKED if someone had any stats, not to prove and disprove what you were saying, just wondering what the fatal satistics were (you didn’t provide anything in that regards). And even in your post you kept on about tailgaters “endangering my life.” All I’m saying is tailgating is illegal, but you’re not going to get killed (unless a truck with 40 tonnes of contrete hits you), so stop with the hyperbole. I can understand no one wants to get into an accident (espically when it’s not your fault) but how many times have you been hit from the rear? I’ve been hit once (no damage) and you don’t see me freaking on people tailing me. I don’t tap my brakes or do the crazy things people say they do. And what I’m trying to point out is tailgating is not as dangerous and wide spread as a cause of accidents. It’s annoying, but not like racing through red lights in traffic. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/308 "2002-12-19T02:48:08Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve been hit once (no damage) and you don’t see me freaking on people tailing me. I’ve been hit once. Someone behind me was not paying attention and hit the back of my car, causing the rear bumper and trunk to dig into the tires, the gas tank to enter the passenger compartment by way of the back seat, and the entire car to slide, wheels locked as they were, for nearly 100 feet. My car was totaled. The car that was driven by that moron who hit me was totaled. The car in front of mine sustained nearly 1000$US in damage. Four people were hurt, two seriously so. Tailgating is not guaranteed death, and it didn’t kill me. I was told by the doctors in the ER that only luck saved my life. I was in what used to be the back seat of that car. But you know what? It doesn’t have to kill you to cause very, very major problems in your life. Tailgating is bad news. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/309 "2002-12-19T20:27:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by badmana \* > \*\*Roadfood, I know this isn’t GQ which is why I ASKED if someone had any stats, not to prove and disprove what you were saying, just wondering what the fatal satistics were (you didn’t provide anything in that regards). > > And even in your post you kept on about tailgaters “endangering my life.” All I’m saying is tailgating is illegal, but you’re not going to get killed (unless a truck with 40 tonnes of contrete hits you), so stop with the hyperbole. > > I can understand no one wants to get into an accident (espically when it’s not your fault) but how many times have you been hit from the rear? I’ve been hit once (no damage) and you don’t see me freaking on people tailing me. I don’t tap my brakes or do the crazy things people say they do. > > And what I’m trying to point out is tailgating is not as dangerous and wide spread as a cause of accidents. It’s annoying, but not like racing through red lights in traffic. \*\* Many of the cites I provided indicated that tailgating is involved in between 50% and 60% of all accidents. So you certainly have a point that it’s not dangerous, it’s just annoying. I mean, something that causes **half** of all accidents certainly can’t be considered dangerous. Especially since, as you keep pointing out, “dangerous” means “fatal”. You’ve convinced me, you and Blown & Injected. I’ve been a fool for being concerned about tailgating. Being tailgated only risks getting into a slight accident. Silly me for worrying about getting my rear bumper lightly tapped. I’m joinin’ you guys. From now on, it’s twenty feet or less of following distance for me, yahoo! ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/310 "2002-12-19T20:35:06Z")
I just cannot believe this thread is still open… Oh well… ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/311 "2002-12-19T21:25:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siemsi \* > \*\*I just cannot believe this thread is still open… Oh well… \*\* Well of course it is still open. B&I and minions are re-educating us. 😃 I mean, anyone who drives a pic-up truck and starts making claims about stopping distances… Bawhahahahaha … cough, cough, … sorry. I forgot it was a special truck with a special driver… My bad… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Blown\_Injected](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@Blown\_Injected](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blown_Injected)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/312 "2002-12-19T23:11:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GusNSpot \* > \*\*Well of course it is still open. B&I and minions are re-educating us. 😃 > > I mean, anyone who drives a pic-up truck and starts making claims about stopping distances… Bawhahahahaha … cough, cough, … sorry. I forgot it was a special truck with a special driver… > > My bad… :smack: \*\* proving my point about “disconnected” an explorer sport has way better F/R weight distribution than a pick up and since I’m addressing you, for the record, i did not say i can tail gate and you better not do it to me - chump i said i follow at a safe distance and you just make sure you don’t hit me - talk about blowing a comment out of proportion damn i have even resorted to the great unwashed tactics of name calling again - it is hopeless BTW I’m done here so I’ll let my ace out - I’ve trained the police in driving tactics - the “in” crowd i travel with are mostly race car drivers - i guess i need to really readjust my thought on normal = average people with regard to driving and try to make allowances for The OP, why is it done? Because people want to keep moving and get pissed at those that hold up the FLOW of traffic. Personally there are lots of other things I want more than the faster lane, as a result I’ll wait for the road to clear before moving in to the faster lane and if there is somebody that wants to go faster than me, I do not take it personally or try to impose my will on them. Move over and let’em go. They may be referred to as cannonfodder. - even the Sgt.'s I’ve trained can’t always get out of a speeding ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/313 "2002-12-19T23:37:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blown & Injected \* > \*\*1) Your laws are FLAWED you dumb fuck! I am talking real world. As it has been pointed out using the fairy tail numbers posted here. > \*\* Gwar? The laws of physics are unable to describe the real world? ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/314 "2002-12-20T00:07:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siemsi \* > \*\*I just cannot believe this thread is still open… Oh well… \*\* OF course it’s still open. Those idiot anti-tailgaters just won’t give up. I mean, I was beaten over the head enough times that it finally sunk in to me that tailgating is just not dangerous. Typically, as Desmostylus pointed out, if the driver in front has to brake suddenly, the result is only minor damage. And even catsix, a raving anti-tailgater, could only come up with two totaled cars. No loss of life, so as badmana has kindly shown me, what’s the big deal? Personally, now that I’ve been educated, I’d like to see laws for mandatory tailgating. Think of how many more cars we could fit on the roads if those idiots would stop leaving those gigantic, wasteful gaps in front of them? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/315 "2002-12-20T00:52:42Z")
What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate. Some men you just can’t reach. (Strother Martin, _Cool Hand Luke_) ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/316 "2002-12-20T01:08:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > \*\*What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate. Some men you just can’t reach. (Strother Martin, _Cool Hand Luke_) \*\* Actually, not to be anal, but the correct quote is “What we have here is failure to communicate.” He said no “a” before “failure”. Not sure what you mean, though. Seems to me you’ve communicated very well. You’ve convinced me of the error of my previous ways. Most people would call that a victory. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/317 "2002-12-20T01:20:38Z")
**Roadfood** , yep, I messed up the quote. I meant it more as a general observation about this thread. It’s difficult to work out exactly what people are arguing about. So far, no one has stepped up and said “I tailgate because I enjoy scaring people”, or “because I want to crash into people”, or anything like that. It’s more like an ongoing, unresolvable argument about what “dangerous” means. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/318 "2002-12-20T05:55:26Z")
Btw, anyone who has questions about their response time can check it out here. All you have to do is depress the button when you see pink, and that takes me over a quarter of a second. There is no way someone can analyze the implications of a break light and calculate relative speeds and then press a gas pedal down an inch or two in less than 2 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/319 "2002-12-20T06:18:14Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > quote: > > > > Originally posted by cainxinth > > My father does it also, so there’s at least two of us. And other dopers have attested to tailgating responsibly. > > \*Originally posted by Blown & Injected \* > \*\*Well said. > When I said I get close, it is only temporary AND I keep my left foot hovering over the brake. \*\* You agreed to tailgating responsibly… How can I be given a ticket for tailgating or reckless driving if it is not illegal or dangerous? You’ll pay for any future one I get, right? And you teach the police to drive? :smack: That has what to do with normal traffic and normal drivers? We all know the police can break the law and get away with it. Where do police Sgt. get traffic tickets? And have to pay them? ---
**Author:** ![Blown\_Injected](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@Blown\_Injected](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blown_Injected)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/320 "2002-12-20T21:39:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Super Gnat \* > \*\*Gwar? The laws of physics are unable to describe the real world? \*\* well since I am still subscribed to this thread and I am getting email and since there is a resemblance of logic to this part: If you took the same physics classes I took when I was at UMCP you would have learned that the laws must be applicable to the situation under observation. Your math was only partially able to explain part of the situation - in the real world the cars are continuously braking and the rate of acceleration changes, it is different at different speeds. Even the act of moving around within the lane has a suprising affect on braking. And I’ve know cops to get and pay for tickets even in their own jurisdiction. Even get parking tickets while on duty in court parked in their own special court parking section. Yes they badge their way out more often than not, but it does happen on occasion. Email notification - off [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533.md?page=17)