What do you do when someone is tailgating you?

[Tazicket]

Just curious. There's a stretch of road that I always get tailgated on, and I don't change anything about how I'm driving.

 

[transparant]

I go slower. THat makes them pull around me and get in front.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I slow down. The way I see it if somebody is on my **** and I have to stop suddenly they are going to hit me. I would rather be going at a slower speed if such an impact were to happen. And as the above poster mentioned, I hope that by slowing down that the tailgater will just go ahead and pass me.

 

[Charade]

Whatever happened to "defensive" driving classes? Seems some people took the "offensive" ones instead.

9 times outta 10, I will "mess" with people who are being *********. The other 1 time the other person is just a little crazier than I am so I back off.

 

[Amirah95]

My DH taps the break to scare them. I move out of the way. I have my kid back there and I'll do whatever I have to do to not get hit back there.

 

[transparant]

Whatever happened to "defensive" driving classes? Seems some people took the "offensive" ones instead.

9 times outta 10, I will "mess" with people who are being *********. The other 1 time the other person is just a little crazier than I am so I back off.

You sound like my DH.

 

[powellrj]

I was hit by a semi from behind when I was sitting at a stop sign. Its not an experience I ever wish to repeat. I get out of the way!

 

[golfgal]

I put do nothing because if I am being tailgated it is usually because I can't do anything to change the situation (slow car in front of me, no where else to go, etc).

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Whatever happened to "defensive" driving classes? Seems some people took the "offensive" ones instead.

9 times outta 10, I will "mess" with people who are being *********. The other 1 time the other person is just a little crazier than I am so I back off.

Uh yeah, that pretty much describes me as well. It may be slowing down, speeding up, boxing them in, it all depends on the circumstances around me.

 

[Charade]

And don't forget, "road rage" is now a mental disorder treatable with medication.

"It's not my fault! I'm genetically predisposed to be a jerk on the highway!!"

 

[buddy&wooz]

I usually just keep to the speed limit and wait them out. But if I feel threatened in any way I'll turn off and let them pass.

My favorite tailgating story- I was two cars behind a police car, and the person directly behind the cop was right on his tail. This went on for about half a mile, then the cop just stopped dead in the road, right in the middle of an overpass. The car behind him slammed his breaks and stopped just short of hitting the police car. Cop exits car, gives driver ticket.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

There's nothing more irritating than to have someone tailgate me. I'll tell you a story about something that happened just yesterday. It happened when I was coming home from work. I got off the train, got in the car and drove off. Well, I got on the freeway and got my car up to speed. At some point I decided to pass the car in front of me, so I pulled into the left hand lane. I had been in this lane for a few minutes when this car comes speeding up behind me and flashes his lights to get me to pull over. After taking a few seconds to determin he wasn't a police officer, regular or unmarked, I decided to slow down to the speed of the car beside me...and stayed like that for quite a while. Well, needless to say that really irritated him. He was right on my tail the whole time. Eventually I decided that he had had enough and sped up and into the right hand lane. He then pulled up beside me and... (not the correct finger, but I think the point gets across). I waved at him and he sped off.

 

[AllyandJack]

I ignore 'em. Not my problem that they're late/impatient/stupid. I go over the speed limit - usually 75 or so. There is no reason on this planet you need to go faster than that unless you have lights on your vehicle.

However, when they dart into the next lane to try and cut in front of me, I'll speed up so they end up back behind me again when they hit traffic in their newly chosen lane. I have no patience for people who drive like that. Sure they might be crazy. But, they shouldn't be so sure that I'm sane.

 

[MamaLema]

I get out of the way...and have an incredible urge to wave to them when we are beside each other at the next red light

 

[Patch'sD]

I will generally slow down to the speed limit, not to annoy the person but to get into a safer environment. This would give the tailgater more time to stop if I have to make a emergency stop. I try to get into the right lane allowing the driver the left lane to pass if available. it just seems to me that even going 5 to 10 mph over the speed limit is not acceptable and the tailgaters want to go faster. I will let them pass, why should I save them from getting a speeding ticket.

 

[ericamanda01]

I take my foot off the gas and slow down. I never hit my brake becuase I really don't want to get hit, but I want it to be obvious what I am doing. I REALLY want a bumper sticker that says, "I am in no hurry to get your ticket!"

 

[Jennifer48]

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.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I get out of their way. Then watch them tailgate the person in front of me.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

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.

If I'm sitting in moving traffic and it's just been a horrible drive, I will do a few break checks. Sorry, I'm a snarky NY driver. Sometimes my attitude gets the best of me.

 

[lbgraves]

Around here most of the roads are just two lanes so there is no where to get out of their way. I go the speed limit & continue to do the same when there is an idiot behind me.