# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![JerseyDiamond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyDiamond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyDiamond)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/61 "2002-12-10T02:57:11Z")
OMG. I can’t stand people when I am driving. This is where I really need to work on my people skills. Try driving in northern NJ and NYC. ☹ It drives me frigin crazy…ahhhhhhhhhh If everyone in the fast lane has to get into the slow lane to pass you up, you are an idiot and you need to get over! If I pass you and you decide you need to keep you highbeams on, know that the police are on my cell phone and will be pulling you over shortly. (there is always an officer not far away) Also know that if you do tailgate me, I _will_ step on my brakes! There is no need to tailgate me. If _ **I** _ am going to slow for you (_I have a heavy foot_), you are going way to fast. If you have an emergency and want me to move because me doing 80mph is too slow, flash your lights and I will move. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/62 "2002-12-10T03:01:31Z")
I’m sending this pile-up to the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/63 "2002-12-10T03:13:25Z")
Actually, one of the best reasons to drive on the left and pass on the right is that if someone comes up behind you in the right lane, he or she can easily see around your car. If you are cruising in the left lane (which is the root of all fucking evil,) he or she can’t see as well what’s in the right lane because the bulk of your car is in the way. Driving in the left lane is stupid, reckless, and rightfully illegal in most places. I just wish it was enforced with more rigor. ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/64 "2002-12-10T03:37:30Z")
I’ve heard a lot of people here recommending flashing your lights at someone who is driving too slowly. Aside from signaling semis that they’re in the clear, I’ve always been taught that flashing your lights was extremely rude. Anybody else trained that way? ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/65 "2002-12-10T03:44:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by roadkiller \* > \*\*I tailgate people when they’re going at least 5 mph slower than the posted limit, in hopes of getting them to speed up! \*\* And I bet that works real good, don’t it? Tell ya what, Sparky, you just tend to your own driving instead of trying to control mine, 'kay? ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/66 "2002-12-10T04:03:12Z")
Usually works pretty good here in my town. And if I’m going too slow, theres a 95% chance that I’m gonna get tailgated. Then I realize, “Hey, why an I going 23 ina 30?” and I speed up. ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/67 "2002-12-10T04:51:43Z")
I find a huge difference in how folks talk about tailgating and “left lane camping” between here and [caranddriver.com](http://caranddriver.com) (forum). I think the SDMB has too many intellectual types that maybe understand the human aspect of driving but not the technical aspect. (Not ALL of course, just some). Now really, it’s pretty dumb to hit your brakes to get rid of a tailgater. It just pisses them off and might make you the victim of road rage. What if he passes you on the right and then gets in front of you? He could easily cut you off and slam on his brakes. What then? And then there’s people here who actually ADMIT to driving slowly in the left lane??? If you see someone trying to pass you (that includes someone approaching from behind, flashing their lights or closing the gap) then you need to move over. You can’t demand THEY move, because the general accepted rule of the road is if you’re slower than the folks behind you, you need to move right. If there is traffic then speed up, find a gap, and move right. Or slow down, find a gap, and move right. NOT sit there, making gestures behind you and tapping your brakes. If there is traffic, then yes, tailgating not helpful. But I do a lot of my tailgating (well, not really tailing, I still remain over 2 car length’s behind) when there is no traffic. If there is little traffic on the right side (and you’re on the left) I make a point of flashing my lights. You should NEVER be on the left lane, period. (By this I mean, if I’m already passing everyone on the left lane and you’re the only one sitting there going the limit). I find several folks here want to rant about tailgaters while going over the speed limit…what does this have to do with anything? The left lane is for passing, not for speeding. If you are doing 100 mph in the center lane and I pass you on the left lane, that’s the proper way. Just because you’re going fast does not give you the “right” of the left lane. If you speed up because someone is catching up behind you and you don’t feel comfortable going faster, then move right, slow down, move left and speed up. See? Simple! If you have any comments on my spelling or grammer, please direct them to that brick wall. Badmana ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/68 "2002-12-10T05:07:49Z")
Very well said, **badmana**. ---
**Author:** ![Guybud5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Guybud5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guybud5)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/69 "2002-12-10T05:14:23Z")
The real art of tailgating is to make your presence feel more dangerous than it is… in other words, every time they slow down, pump the breaks to give the impression that you are on the bare edge of control. A few drunk swerves does wonders… And at night, speeding up to the bumper and then cutting off the headlights does wonders. They freak when they can’t see who is behind them. Mind you these techniques are not to be used on every or even most drivers. However, the dumbass in the Buick doing 55 in the inside lane on the freeway next to the logging truck has it coming. People don’t realize that to drive below the flow of traffic causes wrecks in blind corners, on hills, etc. I’ve found that Jeep headlights do wonders on the retinas of these highway plagues. If someone is tailgating me, they are sending a clear message that I am impeding the flow of traffic. I’m gonna move over and keep it moving. ---
**Author:** ![alex\_arg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@alex\_arg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alex_arg)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/70 "2002-12-10T06:00:38Z")
When somebody does something that pisses me off, I tailgate. Tis’ wonderful to see the anxious looks in their rearview mirrors. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/71 "2002-12-10T06:22:48Z")
Another good reason to avoid Mexico. Bright, real bright - somebody pisses you off, so you give them veto rights to your life and the lives of everybody else in your car? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/72 "2002-12-10T06:37:18Z")
I also find tailgaters EXTREMELY annoying. If I see you coming up on me which is not often since I cruise at 80 i’ll move if i’m in the left lane. if i’m anywhere right you move. If I have cars to my right and you still tailgate me then you’re an idiot. If all else fails do what my friend did. He installed a switch in his dash that turned on his breaklights. Works like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/73 "2002-12-10T07:07:49Z")
Steelerphan–you guys got any mustard? We forgot ours. I was so sure this was about the pre-game festivities. Glad I’m not alone. I’d like to comment on tailgating on roads without a passing lane. Under these conditions, I can’t imagine speeding up to accommodate a tailgater. My choice is to slow down, figuring it will make it easier for them to pass me. It does amaze me to find people tailgate when there is a column of many cars backed up behind a semi. Their thought processes must not work like mine–what are they trying to gain? Another situation that puzzles me is the behavior of drivers who have trucks or SUVs or other types of 4-wheel drive vehicles and seem to want to goad “car-drivers” into going faster under icy, snowy or other poor road conditions. While I consider myself a fast driver, I become much more cautious when it’s slippery, since my car doesn’t handle too well. I’ve never understood tailgating under these conditions. It just doesn’t seem rational to want to pressure someone into going faster than they can drive safely. On roads without a passing lane, I’ve even been known to move over onto the shoulder if someone is stubborn about tailgating me and will not pass. But all bets are off if the road conditions are bad or the shoulder unsafe. I’ll just slow down and keep slowing down until the tailgater passes me. My most satisfying experience: Icy morning, I was going 45 in a 55 when the driver behind started riding my bumper. I slowed down to 40…then to 30…figuring he’d pull out into the (totally empty) on-coming traffic lane to pass me. But no. It was too icy and the snow on the shoulder too deep to pull off the road. So I just kept slowing down, … to 15…to 10…and FINALLY, he passed and I happily resumed poking along at 45. Ten miles farther along the road I passed his car, which had slid off into the ditch. Yes! ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/74 "2002-12-10T07:16:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Ten miles farther along the road I passed his car, which had slid off into the ditch. That _ **is** _ a wonderful feeling, isn’t it? Almost makes me want to go to church… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scorpio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Scorpio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scorpio)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/75 "2002-12-10T07:35:14Z")
I haven’t encountered fast lanes before - tell me, if you’re in the fast line, going faster than the posted speed limit but slower than the cars behind you, and the cops pull you over, can you be booked for speeding and for obstructing at the same time? ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/76 "2002-12-10T08:26:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lovelyluka \* > \*\*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. \*\* I do that too, sometimes. If I get hit from behind, it’s automatically the other guy’s fault in this state (part of the reason why insurance fraud is so big in Texas). I only do it if the guy behind me is driving a nice car, though. No point in getting in an accident if the other guy is broke and has no insurance. So far, people have been able to react in time - of course, I don’t slam on the brakes or squeal my tires, just brake moderately hard. ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/77 "2002-12-10T10:49:35Z")
I think it’s important to mention that tailgating doesn’t always occur in a multi-lane highway. I don’t usually drive on an interstate, and I get tailgated all the time on route 9 or rt 3 when someone is speeding in an unsafe passing zone. And I’m not about to pull off to the side of the road so they can get home 5 minutes faster. My trick is usually to just keep slowing down until they back off. No braking, just easing off the gas and letting the car coast. Once they’re off my bumper I speed up. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/78 "2002-12-10T11:02:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siemsi \* > BTW…how is that blaming a victim for a crime? I say think if Murphy’s Law: if you think you’re going to get rear-ended…move the hell over. Yes. There is always an option. No, not always. There’s a two-lane stretch of road on the way to my train station, with a couple of curves and such in it, which is why there are “No Passing” signs all over it. At least once a month I’m driving in tail end of a pack of cars and some asshole rides up my tailpipe. I’ve even had them flash their lights and lean on the horn. _ **There’s no fucking place to go** _ There’s traffic coming the other way. Even if there wasn’t, you can’t see around the curves. There are cars in front of me. A couple times I’ve been run off the road in those situations. _ **This is just plain fucking bad driving dumb** _ There is NO excuse for this, and nowhere for the victims to go. Get it? _Tailgaiting is **wrong** , it is **rude** , it is **dangerous** and if you do it **you are a bad driver!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/79 "2002-12-10T11:11:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LunaSea \* > I try to be a courteous driver. I don’t tailgate, but I do drive fast. If I’m bearing down on someone in the fast lane, I slow down and leave them plenty of space in front of me. I will wait patiently until you have a chance to move over. Why not have the same courtesy for me and get over so that I may pass you? You aren’t the police, why do you feel the need to control how fast I drive? If I get caught, so be it. I won’t complain about my ticket, just it promply and in full. You are NOT a curteous driver when you do this. Got it? YOU aren’t the police - why do YOU feel the need to control someone else’s driving by asking them to move over for YOUR convenience? If it is possible for THEM to move over, then it is possible for YOU to move over to pass them if you’re in such a goddamn hurry. I am amazed at the people on this list who causually admit to frequent lawbreaking (routinely driving 7, 10, or more miles over the speed limit) and to being bullies. And yes, you ARE being bullies, even if you don’t think of yourselves in that manner. You are also being \*unsafe, rude, \*and a _bad driver_ ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533/80 "2002-12-10T11:32:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lezlers \* > **lee:** you mentioned something about people tailgating you when you’re making a left hand turn. Was there a left hand turn lane? I ask this because I know people that take a very unnecesarily long time slowing down before oh-so-casually _drifting_ into the left hand turn lane are the source of much road rage amoungst myself and most everyone i’ve driven with. You don’t have to fly into the lane or anything, but sheesh, does it _really_ take you 1/2 mile to get in the left turn lane? (not you lee, that was a hypothetical question) 🙂 I used to live up where **lee** is talking about. She’s got it right. On Touhy you _have_ to scoot over at least a MILE before your left turn. And I’m not talking about “drifting”, I’m talking about jumping your butt into the left lane. I, too, have gotten the same treatment of being getting _hysterical_ because you’re making a left. Hell, I’ve been stopped at a light _in a left turn lane_ on that road and had some jackass stopped on my bumper _leaning on the horn because he wants me to turn left on red!_ And, no, not every intersection on Touhy had a dedicated left turn lane. Most of the time you’re lefting from a left-and-straight lane. I actually saw a driver in a mini-van _ram_ somebody (as in, slow down when they do, then suddenly speed up and crash into them) who was properly signaling a left turn, who slowed down to make the turn. No different now that I live in Indiana. I was making a left into my driveway when this ninny old lady slams on her brakes, swerving and squealing. _She stops in the middle of the road and gets out_, SCREAMING at me as I get out of my parked truck. Now, it so happens I’ve across the street from a sheriff’s deputy, who is watching all this. The woman is screaming “You can’t make a left there! It’s illegal! You can’t make a left there!” Well, yes, actually I _can_ make a left there, it’s perfectly legal. “You don’t need to make a left there!” “Excuse me? Lady, I live here!” “No you don’t!” :rolleyes: The sherriff actually cuffed her. You see, not only was she being an idiot driver, she was also now blocking traffic. The whole time she’s screaming I’m the one who should be arrested, I shouldn’t be allowed to make left turns there. _It’s a residential stip_ People make left turns all over it to get into their driveways. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tailgate/141533.md?page=5)