Tailgaters

ECones wrote:

Naio wrote:

rjxj wrote:
I rode a motorcycle into town yesterday and had several tailgaters but the most amazing one was a F250 pulling a big FW. I usually do 5 over but this idiot must have wanted more. Why would someone who is operating a rig that cant stop good be tailgating anyone and go over the speed limit? This was in a 55 zone in deer country.

Yipes! I would have been scared, and pulled over til they went on by.

Edit: Would have given them the slow headshake, too, the one that says, 'I cannot believe how dumb you are.'

Same here. I just completed a 6000-mile trip on my motorcycle and on a couple of occasions I checked my mirrors to find cars so close I could see one headlight in each mirror in road construction. It was clear to anyone with a modicum of sense that there was traffic in front of me as far as we could see and I had nowhere to go.

I increase my following distance to the vehicle in front of me so it's less likely I'll have to stop quickly. That seems to irritate them worse. It's like it's absolutely critical they not lose the 5 seconds I'm costing them by opening the gap.

Why do they do it? I think it's a mental deficiency -- as in, they're blithering idiots.

I get them in the RV on two lane roads all the time. What really bugs me is that they'll tailgate ridiculously close as if they can't wait to get by. Then, give them a nice, long, legal passing lane without another car in sight, and they won't pass. What's up with that? :?

They need to follow somebody! :S

I have never figured out why they need to follow at one car length, maybe poor depth perception, it is very annoying.

Sprink-Fitter wrote:

rjxj wrote:
I rode a motorcycle into town yesterday and had several tailgaters but the most amazing one was a F250 pulling a big FW. I usually do 5 over but this idiot must have wanted more. Why would someone who is operating a rig that cant stop good be tailgating anyone and go over the speed limit? This was in a 55 zone in deer country.

You do 5 over and it's alright, someone wants to go a little faster and they are an idiot?

ECones wrote:

Naio wrote:

rjxj wrote:
I rode a motorcycle into town yesterday and had several tailgaters but the most amazing one was a F250 pulling a big FW. I usually do 5 over but this idiot must have wanted more. Why would someone who is operating a rig that cant stop good be tailgating anyone and go over the speed limit? This was in a 55 zone in deer country.

Yipes! I would have been scared, and pulled over til they went on by.

Edit: Would have given them the slow headshake, too, the one that says, 'I cannot believe how dumb you are.'

Same here. I just completed a 6000-mile trip on my motorcycle and on a couple of occasions I checked my mirrors to find cars so close I could see one headlight in each mirror in road construction. It was clear to anyone with a modicum of sense that there was traffic in front of me as far as we could see and I had nowhere to go.

I increase my following distance to the vehicle in front of me so it's less likely I'll have to stop quickly. That seems to irritate them worse. It's like it's absolutely critical they not lose the 5 seconds I'm costing them by opening the gap.

Why do they do it? I think it's a mental deficiency -- as in, they're blithering idiots.

I get them in the RV on two lane roads all the time. What really bugs me is that they'll tailgate ridiculously close as if they can't wait to get by. Then, give them a nice, long, legal passing lane without another car in sight, and they won't pass. What's up with that? :?

We kept jaw breaker candy in the bike just for the tailgaters. Drop a couple and the usually back off.

Yes, I do five over so as to not hold everyone behind me at 55 or less. If you had read what I said you would see that hes an idiot for TAILGATING. It's about TAILGATING. He's free to pass but dont TAILGATE and certainly dont TAILGATE in the worst possible way which would be something like an F250 with too big of a load behind it on the ASS of a motorcycle. Did tat make it more clear? Sorry if I wasn't clear about the TAILGATING part.

The world is full of lunatics. Do your best to get out of their way.
My natural inclination when people tailgate is to slow down, but that just agitates them more.

There is a custom made bumper sticker on the back of the trailer. It says" No I am not in a hurry". No, I am not one of those at the limit drivers. I am not one of those 65 in a 55 zone drivers either. Hate tailgaters. Hate those who don't use good opportunities to overtake even more.

I was an auto mechanic.. I always had used loose steel ball bearings...

Bill S. had a different plan.. he would display his hand gun.
County Sherriff, when off duty.

R.I.P. Bill, 2 years ago.

Chuck_thehammer wrote:
I was an auto mechanic.. I always had used loose steel ball bearings...

Bill S. had a different plan.. he would display his hand gun.
County Sherriff, when off duty.

R.I.P. Bill, 2 years ago.

Around here that would be considered brandishing a firearm and would be a crime whether he is a cop or not.

Some history.. Make what you want of it:

Proper following distance:
When I was in Driver's ED they taught one car length (20') for every 10 MPH as I recall (might be wrong) later they change it to "The time you travel in 2 seconds) much easier to gauge) and later still 3, 4 for large rigs (motor homes)

Later in life I went to work as a police dispatcher.. Well where the post was if I took my lunch break outside I could watch traffic on the freeway below.

Average following distance was the distance you travel in 1 second, and Read on

Then we moved the office twice, last move gave us over 150 Freeway cameras and often the best show on TV was the Freeway Follies.. Many were following at closer to 1/2 second.

Yes, Tailgating is a problem

Gas stove (Full size residential 4 Burner Kitchen range with oven) fell off a truck and landed in the second lane. We'd watch cars come up on it, all in the same lane, and all but the lead tailgating,, The first would change lanes at the last second and the next two... underwear

Finally 3 cars and a pickup
First changed lanes at last second
Second changed underwear
#3, I'm rather sure hit #2
And the pickup.. Did not stop, swerve or slow down. He place kicked that stove a good quarter mile and dropped it on the shoulder.

I called off the troopers I'd dispatched and called county back and re-seheduled pick up for the monrning and gave the updated location.

3oaks wrote:
Why, just because.

Why do some cops give a driver a ticket for impeding traffic if there is a line of vehicles behind that driver, even though that driver is going over the speed limit? And the next time hand out a speeding ticket for driving at that same speed when they are the only vehicle on the road? :h

I have yet to hear even a 3rd or 4th-hand account of anyone being cited for driving too slow. I'm sure I will now (DUIs don't count)...

it seems drivers are getting worse

kellertx5er wrote:

3oaks wrote:
Why, just because.

Why do some cops give a driver a ticket for impeding traffic if there is a line of vehicles behind that driver, even though that driver is going over the speed limit? And the next time hand out a speeding ticket for driving at that same speed when they are the only vehicle on the road? :h

I have yet to hear even a 3rd or 4th-hand account of anyone being cited for driving too slow. I'm sure I will now (DUIs don't count)...

I've always enjoyed this video. If you're offended by bad words mute the sound before watching ;)

Car pulled over for blocking fast lane