What do you do when someone is tailgating you?

[RealMickeysGirl]

I tap the breaks so the break lights flash. They eventually get the hint.

 

[jimmalru80]

I try to avoid any situation that may result in a road rage incident. Life is too short. I move out of the way.

 

[jbdreamer]

My answer is non of the above. I don't slow down, but I will tap my breaks to let them know to back off. It works.

 

[jbdreamer]

I like to piss stupid drivers off. If they are tailgating me I usually start to slow down. 7 times out of 10, they realize they are too close and start to back off. Once they do that, I'll go back to the speed limit. The others, I'll just stay doing the speed limit. They can pass me if they want but I'm obeying the rules of the road so I'm not pulling over for them.

I can't stand people that will flash their brights at me. If you want to pass me, go around. I'm not moving just for you.

But if you are in the left lane then it is you who should move. It IS the passing lane.

 

[Honeibee]

Oh it makes me nutso when somebody tailgates me. I'm doing the speed limit - or I'll go 5mph above. And thats it! I already got one speeding ticket and thank you very much I do not want to make another $115 donation to the local government. (JSYK I got that speeding ticket in a newly posted speed zone. They had just changed the speed limit from 55 to 35 THAT MORNING!)

If I'm in my car sometimes I'll tap the brakes which means a very polite "Please back off." Sometimes if there is no one else on the road I'll start swerving like a madwoman and that generally worries them enough to give me some space.

However, if I am on my motorcycle and I have some BIG OLD SUV on my tail, I'll just pull over. This REALLY makes me mad because if I get hit in my car, OK the car will be damaged. But if they hit me on my bike I'll be dead. Which is why I generally just take my motorcycle out early on a weekend morning.

I want so much to make up a big sign I can flash that says "Hey, if you want to be up my rear end I hope you bought some Vaseline!"

 

[AC7179]

I tap my brakes to scare them a little.

 

[damo]

I've resorted to putting my windshield washer on when there is nothing I can do otherwise and the person is just being an idiot. The spray is usually enough to get them to back off.

 

[Stitchfans]

I slow down also that they will go around me, usually flipping me off as they do.

 

[Hercules10]

I reload.

 

[AuntieM03]

It depends on my mood. If they catch me on a good day I will get out of the way. If not I will slow down, especially if there is a car next to me that I can keep pace with so that the person can't get around.

 

[Chicago526]

It depends, but usually nothing. I do make sure I'm keeping up with traffic (not normally an issue since I usually to 10 over on the interstate anyway) and if I'm in the far left lane (rare, I don't like to go THAT fast) I will move over. But if I'm in the center or right lane and I'm keep up with the flow, forget it, they can pass me. If not, they are welcome to stay 2 feet off my bumper. Usually they get the idea after about a mile (usually less) that I'm not speeding up and I'm not moving over so they pass me. If they give me a one finger salute I don't notice, I'm paying attention to my driving (and singing along to my radio ) to notice other driver's hand gestures.

 

[Disney Doll]

I do nothing if there is nothing I can do...in other words if I am on a road where I cannot move to a different lane.

If I am on a 2 lane or larger road, I will move to the right to let the person who is in such a hurry pass me.

 

[Honu]

I try to avoid any situation that may result in a road rage incident. Life is too short. I move out of the way.

I do the same. It's MUCH safer for the slower driver to change lanes and let the other car/cars pass. People are going to speed, there is nothing you can do to stop them. You are only putting yourself and other cars at risk by playing games with them.

 

[ckret01]

I turn my wipers on and clean my windshield. If they are that close to me they usually back right off when my windshield wiper fluid starts hitting their windshield. And I keep doing it until they get the point.


I will not start a fight with crazy drivers cuz who knows if they will pull out a gun or something....just not worth it.

 

[lbgraves]

It really depends on what kind of mood I'm in.

If I'm out for a fun drive I will usually slow down and let them pass. I have no use for bad drivers. It is nice to see them up the road a bit, pulled over the by state troopers.

:

That is so true!!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I voted that I slow down, but it all depends. I make sure that I'm going the speed limit (I'm usually going at least the speed limit...). If I'm behind someone I do slow down a little to give myself more stopping distance since I don't want the tailgater to rearend me even if it would be their fault. Sometimes I will do a "brake check" if I think the person is just not paying attention. Very often they will then back off a little when they realize they are too close, as I will do if I am following a little too close without realizing it.

 

[lauraf]

I voted to get out of the way. I don't play games while driving, it causes road rage and accidents. Why should I care whether someone is in a hurry or not, I don't wan't to be part of the accident. I love my car! I'm not driving to teach someone a lesson, I leave that for the police.

 

[WeirdEyes]

I admit that I like to drive fast so I normally go about 5-10 MPH over the speed limit on the interstate. Now, if I'm in crowded areas (such as residential), I go the speed limit. I usually don't tailgate anybody, but if you're in the fast lane going 65 in a 70 zone, get the heck over! There's no reason for anyone to ride the whole length of the interstate in the fast lane. Can you tell this is one of my pet peeves?

 

[Jennifer48]

But if you are in the left lane then it is you who should move. It IS the passing lane.

But I'm not in the left lane when people do it. That is my point. I don't drive slow in the passing lane.

 

[Colleen456]

I voted slow down but I don't always do that. Just depends on how close they are. One time I was driving on a 2 lane highway and a semi pulled up behind me and got on my tail right away. He had the chance to pass me about 10 miles after he got behind me and he chose to annoy me. Well when he started to flip me off I pulled out the cell phone and called 911. They very nice Sheriff had someone pull him over about a mile or two down the road. Don't mess with me when my kid is in the car!

In this case I didn't alter my speed at all and did nothing to provoke him. Maybe he didn't like mini-vans.