Tailgaters

DutchmenSport wrote:
Whatever you do, drive the speed you are most comfortable with and do not let anyone behind you intimidate you. If you are in the far right lane, no intention of moving to the left, you really don't even need to look in your mirrors. Just keep driving and let them eventually pass you. Drive peacefully and enjoy the ride! When towing my trailer, as long as I am above the "minimum" speed limit, I don't care what's going on behind me. I usually tow at 60-65 if on an interstate, but very seldom any faster. I sometimes have someone riding my bumper, but I simply ignore them. On 2 lane roads, depending on the road, I try to run the speed limit, whatever that is. I've heard too many stories about small town speed traps, so I'm not speeding on unknown roads. I don't care whose behind me riding my bumper.

Drive safe, stay to the right and just ignore everyone. As you said, they have ample opportunity to pass. If they don't pass, they must enjoy following you.

Well there it is! No more need be said. You just described my driving mode while traveling with the TC and Rhino on the trailer behind me right down to speeds.

DutchmenSport wrote:
Whatever you do, drive the speed you are most comfortable with and do not let anyone behind you intimidate you. If you are in the far right lane, no intention of moving to the left, you really don't even need to look in your mirrors. Just keep driving and let them eventually pass you. Drive peacefully and enjoy the ride! When towing my trailer, as long as I am above the "minimum" speed limit, I don't care what's going on behind me. I usually tow at 60-65 if on an interstate, but very seldom any faster. I sometimes have someone riding my bumper, but I simply ignore them. On 2 lane roads, depending on the road, I try to run the speed limit, whatever that is. I've heard too many stories about small town speed traps, so I'm not speeding on unknown roads. I don't care whose behind me riding my bumper.

Drive safe, stay to the right and just ignore everyone. As you said, they have ample opportunity to pass. If they don't pass, they must enjoy following you.

When it's my turn to drive, DH tells me this too, plus - "don't let anyone push you. Focus on your driving. We're not in a hurry."

amandasgramma wrote:

korbe wrote:
I'm not quite sure how it happens, but when somebody gets on my asss, my vehicle begins to slow down. Can't quite figure out why.....

Mine, too!!!!! Not sure what it is...something about space quotient .......the smaller the space, the slower we go....:) :)

I hope the both of you are in the RIGHT lane when you decide to play these little games.

When I am towing, I usually stick to the right as much as I can. If some clown is tailgating you in the right lane, they are in the wrong almost 100% of the time. If you are in the LEFT lane and someone is tailgating you, YOU are in the wrong almost 100% of the time.

Personally, I don't get too bothered by some clown tailgating me. They will eventually wake up and realize there is another lane.

I find just the opposite to be true. Nobody wants to be behind me. They will pass, pull in, then slow down or pull off at the exit immediately after getting in front of me.

If the road topography is flat enough where the truck won't need to be shifting much, set the cruise at low to middle 60s, around 1800RPM because that is where it stays in top gear comfortably, & whoever comes up behind has to deal with it. On a two lane a trucker may get some help in the form of a slow down when a passing opportunity comes up but cars have plenty surplus hp to get around without help.

I actually do have a custom bumper sticker on the trailer back which says "No, I am not in a hurry". It must annoy some of the tailgaters.

I don't worry much about the tail-gaters. The ones that get to me are the folks in the itty-bitty plastic cars that just passed me, and suddenly pull in right in front of me. One guy cleared me by only an inch, so I had to slam the brakes. Obviously, these people don't think. Force of a 7 ton steel truck vs. a small one ton plastic car. The math doesn't work out too well for them.

I seen a bumper sticker once that said " I'm not in YOUR hurry" . I think of it often when I am trying to hurry somewhere.

In todays world, with all states having concealed carry, plus all the road rage you read about, why not just ignore them? Maybe they just "jacked" that car and are back there loading a crack pipe.....not a good time to be tapping your brakes or flipping them off because you feel they are following a little too close.

Maybe they are drafting? It can save them gas ;)

For me, I want to avoid accidents.
I try to keep a safe distance between myself and the vehicle in front of me.
If I have a tailgater behind me, I need to increase the distance in front of me so that I have plenty of braking distance in front so I can avoid having to jam on the brakes and risk getting rear ended by the tailgater.
This safety space doesn't always work out as cars will/do change into my safety space in front of me.
The tailgater won't stay back there long....
They will figure it out and go around. Well, maybe....
I just try to enjoy the ride.