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by starnite on January 28th, 2007

starnite

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How do you handle tailgaters on the road?

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Answers. 57 helpful answers below.

  • by swabby429 on January 28th, 2007

    swabby429

    I go progressively slower and slower...they eventually lose patience and pass. I do this very gradually as to be almost unnoticeable.

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  • by Anonymous on January 28th, 2007

    Anonymous

      If I'm feeling cranky, I slow down.

      One particular instance comes to mind.  At the time, I lived in Lompoc, and worked in Goleta — about a 50-mile drive.  The early part of this trip is mostly across a narrow, winding road, with one lane in each direction, and very, very few safe or legal places to pass; with a posted speed limit of 55 MPH.

      On one morning, as I was starting this drive, I took note of a brown, 1970's vintage Toyota that was on my tail — almost exactly the color of (to put it delicately) solid digestive waste.  I was going about 10 MPH over the posted limit at the time, but I decided perhaps this was one occasion on which I should obey the speed limit, so I slowed down to 55 MPH.

      The Toyota closed in on me, riding so close that I could clearly see the man driving it, and the woman in the passenger seat; the two of them looking like the very worst stereotype you can imagine of a “white trailer-park trash” couple.  His mouth was moving, as if to be yelling and cursing at me, whereupon I decided that perhaps I was still going too fast, so I dropped another 10 to 45 MPH.

      He made a gesture at me, obviously intended to tell me what his IQ is by holding up that many fingers.  I guess I was still going too fast, so I slowed down to 35 MPH.

      I think I was down to about 25 when he decided to pass me in an entirely unsafe and illegal manner.

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  • by Anonymous on January 28th, 2007

    Anonymous

    I slow down gradually (or even change down a gear to slow down without braking), but if they look agressive I will just get out of the way, you never know what nut is behind the wheel of a car.

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  • by Glenn Blaylock on January 28th, 2007

    Glenn Blaylock

    The common theme here seems to be to go slower until the obnoxious fool passes you. This is my strategy too. However, there is something that I have often though would be a cool addition to a car. that would be a scrolling LED message bar with a few preprogrammed messages in it. I would set it up so that the driver could quickly select one of the messages with only a minimal amount of effort. One of the messages that would would program into such a bar would be, "If you will stop riding my bumper, I'll go faster." That way, you tell tell tailgater what they have to do to get you to go faster.

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  • by The Chief on July 22nd, 2009

    The Chief

    Depends on the circumstances.

    I am a master at p*ssing people like that off, if I feel like it.

    I can also drive pretty d*mned aggressively, if I want to lose them.

    But mostly, I just ignore them and let them eventually pass me and leave.

    However, regardless of what I am thinking about doing, I NEVER lose sight of the fact that I do NOT know how dangerous the person may be.

    Nor do I lose sight of how dangerous my own actions might be, both to myself and others.

    I may:

    -Slow down.
    -Drive EXACTLY the speed limit.
    -Set things up to allow him to pass.
    -Drive to safer neighborhoods...even a local police department.
    -Lose the guy in traffic.
    -Tap brakes.
    -Use my windshield wipers and fluid excessively. (Overspray gets on his windshield.)
    -Call 911, *HP, or local police department if necessary.
    -Run him off the road, if I had to.
    -Defend myself with whatever force required if he turns out to be dangerously into road rage.
    -Record description of vehicle and driver, as well as location.

    And probably a few other choices, too.

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  • by Skip_2_My_Lou on January 28th, 2007

    Skip_2_My_Lou

    I keep tapping the brake now and then just to piss them off, its not really safe to tailgate. If an accident up ahead had of occurred then there would'nt be enough time for tailgater to apply the breaks this resulting in them to crash into the vehicle in front.

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  • by Don Gorgeous George on July 22nd, 2009

    Don Gorgeous George

    I slam on the breaks, let him hit me, then I call the cops and complain the them about having severe back pains. JK.

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  • by Lisa was here on July 22nd, 2009

    Lisa was here

    I drive slowwwwww!!!

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  • by Route 66Truckerman on July 22nd, 2009

    Route 66Truckerman

    Pump my brakes!!

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  • by True-Feelings on July 22nd, 2009

    True-Feelings

    Slam on the brakes.

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  • by Junk Yard Dog on January 28th, 2007

    Junk Yard Dog

    If going slower does not work, I spit out and up. The wind resistence, if timed propery will allow my phlem to land appropriately on their windshield in a fashionable manner. If said tailgator insists on flashing his highbeams, as many around my neck of the woods do, I will "school" them. Schooling is a technique I learned from a fellow deffensive driver. It consists of speeding up to the next vehicle traveling in the same direction in the other lane, provided you are traveling on a 4 lane highway. At the moment of positioning your vehicle directly side by side to the one you sped up to, you set your cruise control at his speed. Now the two of you are traveling the same direction, in the two lanes, at the same speed, and said tailgater can only pound his dashboard out of frustration. I only brake check tailgaters when there are no other vehicles in the vicinity, because I would not want to be resopnsible for innocent travelers to be harmed by my actions. I consider tailgating and being cut off as wreckless endangerment, and take the law into my own hands. I also consider any more-serious attemps to attack me as I am driving as assault with a deadly weapon such as swerving at me, brake checking me, throwing things, and forcing me off the road. I will enforce the laws as I see fit in these respects, and have been known to utilize my Louisville Slugger, my pellet gun to shoot out mirrors and lights, and on one occasion I busted out a grill of a speeding semi with a frozen can of Mountain Dew, because he was 3 inches from my bumper for almost 5 minutes, he then proceeded to attempt to ram me into the ditch, but missed, as I calculated his reaction, and prepared. I HATE ASS RIDERS! Retaliation is dangerous, illeagal, and I do NOT reccomend it to anyone....

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  • by Mendtos on July 22nd, 2009

    Mendtos

    Antagonize them relentlessly

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  • by tapatio on July 22nd, 2009

    tapatio

    Just keep going where I'm going. Here in Los Angeles we call this "driving".

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  • by Anonymous on July 22nd, 2009

    Anonymous

    I had a convertible on the highway do that to me; gave them a shower with the windshield wash fluid. After a few 1 finger salutes, at me, they backed off. ;)

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  • by Anonymous on July 22nd, 2009

    Anonymous

    .......

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  • by bk12321 on July 22nd, 2009

    bk12321

    most likely i slow down or just dont change what im doing

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  • by R U Sirius on July 22nd, 2009

    R U Sirius

    Very interesting question............on monday my wife got rear-ended by an SUV because she slowed down at a yellow light. The lady was pissed because she assumed she was going through the yellow.

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  • by merry1 in a Texican COAT on July 22nd, 2009

    merry1 in a Texican COAT

    I drive ever so slightly slower and slower until they wake up from their nap or cell phone call or whatever is narcotizing them and then they pass me.

    If that still does not wake them up, I'll put on my turn signal as if I'm turning into a driveway up ahead and that will make them pass.

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  • by TERRYTUKER on July 22nd, 2009

    TERRYTUKER

    pull over slowly and let that narcissistic punk go

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  • by Endangered Sea Kitten on July 22nd, 2009

    Endangered Sea Kitten

    Brake.

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  • by nothingisreal on July 22nd, 2009

    nothingisreal

    Flip him off.

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  • by broken on February 12th, 2007

    broken

    My college roommate has a bumper sticker that says "Sorry for driving so close in front of you!"

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  • by timetogetserious on January 28th, 2007

    timetogetserious

    I will normally slow down.

    If i an really in a foul mood i will quickly hit the brakes then accelerate again. It seems to work as it scares the living daylights out of them.

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  • by anonymous on July 23rd, 2009

    anonymous

    i stop, get out of the car, and show that shitbag that im more agressive than him

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  • by dancer on July 22nd, 2009

    dancer

    I slow down to where they're practically sitting. They pass pretty fast.

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  • by Brickson on February 11th, 2007

    Brickson

    I make it very easy for them to pass me.

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  • by That Guy Again on July 23rd, 2009

    That Guy Again

    In my younger more agressive Z28 Camaro and Nova SS days I would slow to slightly below the spped limit. When they were right on my ass I would drop it into the lowest gear possible and slam on the brakes. As their headlights would dip I would hit 5,000RPM and dump the clutch and leave them in an acrid cloud of tire smoke.

    These days I slow to the speed limit, set the cruise and drive with my left tires on the edge of the yellow lines. Since tailgaters usually like to offset to the left they get to look at the tractor trailers in the oncoming traffic.

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  • by Millenium - The Mysterious M. . . GONE! on July 23rd, 2009

    Millenium - The Mysterious M. . . GONE!

    I'll get over if I can. You never know if there's an emergency they're trying to get to. Otherwise, if I CAN'T get over. . . .I flip the review mirror up and I ignore them. It's THEIR problem. . . . not MINE!

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  • by JoeSchmo6114 on July 22nd, 2009

    JoeSchmo6114

    Slow down a bit, usually to the exact speed limit until I notice they're about to pass. As they change lanes I speed up to match theirs for a bit but then let them go so I don't end up shot.

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  • by Spicy Hot on July 22nd, 2009

    Spicy Hot

    I move into the next lane, if that is possible, if not I just ignore them.

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  • by CoRoNa_ChiCK ILOVEMYH@TERS on July 22nd, 2009

    CoRoNa_ChiCK ILOVEMYH@TERS

    I ride the brakes

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  • by Nancy on July 22nd, 2009

    Nancy

    Well I used to go faster and faster until I got a ticket and the guy behind me got away. Now, I pull over and wave them on. I love when they feel stupid because they got by me but they can't get any further than that due to the traffic that's in front of the rest of the cars!

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  • by azlotto on July 22nd, 2009

    azlotto

    Nothing...I need a free paint job.

    +5

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  • by Anonymous on March 15th, 2007

    Anonymous

    My wife actually came up with this idea and it works a psychological nightmare for the tailgater.

    She politely reaches over and hits the emergency flashers. the tailgater goes ballistic, not knowing exactly whats going on inside your vehicle or if theres trouble ahead on the road.

    Yeah, it works just fine and dandy.

    Try it. watch the front end come down on a tailgater.

    Its all psychological.............

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  • by Think-About-It on March 2nd, 2007

    Think-About-It

    Move to the other lane or pull of the road for 1 minute, works every time.

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  • by romelang1 on February 24th, 2007

    romelang1

    I adjust my rear-view mirror so I can't see their grille filling up my back window, and drive on as I normally do. If they are tailgating me, it's their problem, not mine.

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  • by bida4ver on February 12th, 2007

    bida4ver

    i will call a police and take the plate no. for an agressive driving

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  • by Anonymous on February 11th, 2007

    Anonymous

    Really it depends on how pissed off you get. SLOW down.....if they hit you then they hit you. I have been so mad before from somebody tailgating me that i followed them and politely went off....
    Thats how we do it in the south.. :)

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  • by AntigoneRising on February 11th, 2007

    AntigoneRising

    Well, I slow down, gradually getting slower. Usually that works, and they pass you. Sometimes, that just causes them to get closer to your bumper. At which time, I notice a squirrel in the lane, and have to hit the brakes...

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  • by Midnighttoker on February 12th, 2007

    Midnighttoker

    slow down a bit. if that doesn't work, tap the brakes. if doesn't work, watch out, i'm lockin em down.

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  • by munchkin_kids_downunder on February 12th, 2007

    munchkin_kids_downunder

    slow down, it annoys then worse then me.

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  • by American idle on February 20th, 2007

    American idle

    Stay the speed limit.

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  • by steviewonderduck on February 24th, 2007

    steviewonderduck

    This reminds me of one of my few opportunities to get sweet revenge on a tailgater. The 'prick' as i have named him was driving over the speed limit about one mile behind me as i was turning onto a rural 55 in Oregon. By the time he got to me I was still accelerating and he wasn't happy with my 0-60 time apparently. I waited a few minutes and eventually slowed down to 35. With this he passed me in a double yellow and informed me of my number one status.

    neglecting to notice the biker cop driving right behind him. i pulled over and notified the cop about his gesture. His car was towed. yay.

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  • by Nick_P2467 on April 27th, 2011

    Nick_P2467

    It depends entirely on the circumstances. If it's an A road and a it's a 60mph limit and you're going 45mph like an incapable, inconsiderate individual that likes to cause accidents then the answer is.... Pull over with indicators in normal way (not typical of people like you), rethink your outlook on the value of other peoples lives and take into account that other people have places to get to and the time allocated for their journey is probably calculated with driving on or close to the speed limit.
    If your blind so you aren't capable of driving at the limit, don't drive. Like at night for example some peoples eyes aren't up for the job.
    If you're old and incapable of driving at the speed limit, don't drive.
    If you don't have the ability to drive at the limit, don't drive.
    If your pleasure comes from pissing other people off, don't drive.
    There is a reason that driving instructors push new drivers to drive up to the limit.

    All this said, if you are driving at the limit, and there have been opportunities for the tailgater to overtake you (without you accelerating and trying to kill people). Then.....unless you are confident about confronting the individual ie. It's not 4 men in his/her car against just you in your car. Then signal to pull in and signal them to pull in after you. Somewhere public is the perfect choice and make sure you can't be trapped in and you can easily jump in your car and drive away then....., then Handle it like a man.
    Three things can happen, either they will overtake without stopping and then you get your satisfaction from their false confidence.
    Or they stop and look very aggressive at which point to get back in your car and lock the door and leave.
    Or they look slightly aggressive but you explain to them the 2 second rule and that you don't appreciate their risking of your lives and unless they apologise, you have their details and will report them to the police.
    Always be ready for ever individual to be the worst individual.

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  • by princessemmabelle on February 24th, 2007

    princessemmabelle

    Slow down and when I am sure we can see each other in my rear view mirror I flip them off...

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  • by schizoidess on January 4th, 2012

    schizoidess

    If there's no way for me to move over (like if this is on a one-lane road with no place to pull over), I incrementally slow down. If they persist in tailgating me, I roll down my window, whip out my camera (a feature on my phone) and start recording them tailgating me. I make sure to make it very obvious to them that they are being recorded and this hasn't failed to freak them out and make them back off completely.

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  • by jjpark on January 4th, 2012

    jjpark

    Slow down.

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  • by kuyakev on February 11th, 2007

    kuyakev

    use you rear bumper...thats what its for

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  • by wobalome on March 15th, 2007

    wobalome

    Sorry but if it bothers me that much I move out of the way let him go. I once did this and passed him further down the road in a pile up. If I had held him up slowed down and carried on that pile up could have had me in it. Let them go.

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  • by precious on March 15th, 2007

    precious

    i just slow down and if im feeling really naughty and its dark i put my fog lights on they soon back off then, they have no choice they cant see

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