In my job I always have a digital camera, a few shots backwards is enough evidence if the moron does something stupid. Sometimes with flash will make them back way off.

Then I move to the right and let him pass, taking photos as he does.

Last time I tapped the brakes I got rear ended, found myself sliding down the left lane sideways at 70 mph, with my 1 year old in the right seat (before right side airbags). The moron was not legal in the country, drunk, driving someone else's car (his was already impounded) with no drivers license. Won't do that again. It's not worth it.

I just get documentation for when the moron hits someone else and I drive up after the collision.

HTH

Woodwork

 

Tailgaters really tick me off big time so much so that I have thought seriously of developing a device with a nozzle under the rear bumper that would spray black paint all over the front of the tailgater's car. It would be aimed low so the tailgater wouldn't even know he'd been hit until he stopped his car and found the front bumper and grill covered in black paint.

Tapping the brakes (or hitting them hard) it not such a good idea given the superior braking of our car. I've tried that and have come close to putting myself into an accident. With the worst of the tailgaters (who are testosterone bloated males or passive-aggressive females, usually driving SUVs with bad brakes) this is an especially bad idea

 

Rick - Change that black paint to oil or tacks and you got yourself a deal!

 

Take a handfull of pennies and throw them back at the offending car. this girl iam datings uncle does that.

 

I love that idea. I am anxious to try it.
Also, with the top down, you can flick pennies up with your thumb. They won't know what's going on if you don't make it obvious.

Hoof. How about:
You're close enough to pay for my new car.

My brakes are better than yours, and I'd like a new paint job.(With a smiley face)

I particularly like the second one myself.

 

Last time I hit my brakes, I too got rear-ended. kid had no insurance, and I assume was an illegal alien. He just got out and kept saying no police, no police. Didn't hardly speak english.

Almost no damage to my car (pos intrepid), couple more scuffs on the bumper, but his front end and lights were smashed. I didn't really care, so we both just left.

on another note, a guy i worked with hit his brakes on I95 to get a tail-gater off his butt. He got hit, and the car behind both of them hit the tail-gater. He told the cop he hit his brakes to get the guy to back off. Cop gave him a ticket for illegal braking on an interstate or something, and reckless driving. The other drivers were ticketed for following too close. Cop basically told him you can't just jam on your brakes on an interstate 'cause you don't like how someone's driving. The cop recommended easying off the gas to just below the limit, that's usually enough to motivate them to go around.

Not saying I agree or anything, just saying that's what happened to him. And I agree with some of the others; If you're in the fast lane, for the love of God, get the heck out of the way (assuming it's not heavy traffic). Someone always wants to go faster than you, so move over so they can get a ticket and keep the cops up the road occupied.

 

Here's what I usually do:
1) When safe to do so, I move over to the next lane and let the tailgater pass. The left-most lane is a passing lane, not a cruising lane. If I am going 80 or 85 in the fast lane, and somebody still wants to go faster, then by all means, I change lanes when safe to do so and let them pass.
2) When travelling with a passenger in the carpool lane, usually the lane next to me is at a dead stop or moving slowly, so the only thing I can do is to speed up a bit and try to move over when safe to do so. However, today I found myself to be the fifth or six car behind a slow driver in the carpool lane! In such a case, there is nothing I can do about a tailgater other than to keep a reasonably safe distance behind the driver in front of me and to use the squirting windshield wipers. Nothing puts the fear of God in California drivers like the thought of rain. (California drivers will actually brake as soon as rain drops begin to fall.)

I don't recommend throwing anything out the window. That's probably littering, and you could get a steep fine for that. Also, your fingerprints may still be on any object you throw out the window.

I don't recommend slamming hard on the brakes. I most certainly would rather not get into an accident. My Prelude is not built like a Volvo or a Benz. If Soccer Mom in her 5,000 lb SUV strikes me at 80 mph in my 3,042 lb car going 75 mph, I will be in lots of pain. If you feel that it's better for you to get rear-ended and hurt rather than the family of four in a station wagon a quarter mile up ahead, then it's your prerogative. Personally, I just get out of the way when it's safe to do so. That's just my selfish, self-preservation instinct telling me to llive.

 

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the use of a fake brake light. Basically you wire a button to your brake lights, put it somewhere on your dash, and when someone is following you closely, let off the gas, push the button to turn on the brake lights (without having to actually press the brakes), and then step on the gas once the tailgater steps on his brakes. This way there is less of a chance of you getting rear ended from actually pressing the brakes. It gives the appearance that you are slowing down when you are not really.

I used to have one on my old civic. Worked like a charm. Always used to get at least 1 car length distance everytime.

 

If they are tailgating you around dusk, make sure your parking lights are off. when they get really close, turn on your parking lights. Most people will think, just for a second, that its your brake lights. They will drop back a little.

If that dosnt work then do what i heard about awhile ago, people would have someone on their a$$ and throw a D-cell battery out of the sun roof, lol. j/k
I wouldn't reccomend that.
I would how ever reccomend the idea about the programmable LED sign. Or have a laminated pice of paper with a similar message, written on it.

 

We all have been in a hurry to get somwhere at one time or another and have driven in an unsafe (unfriendly) manner. If I am being tailgated I will pull into the right lane to allow the person to pass. If trafic does not permit ie jammed highway, get off and find a two lane that parrells the highway (more fun that way). If on a two lane road and there is a pasing opertunity I slow down put my right turn signal on and they get the hint that the should pass. I never engage in offensive driving while being tailgated. Life is to short and the S is to small. Be patient the a** hole will go away and as along as he does and your still driving your S unscathed your ahead of the game.