I personally love tailgaters. Ill just let them pass then follow about 100 yards back and watch their brake lights. Cheaper and arguably more effective than a radar detector.

 

I had a bus doing that to me yesterday, not exactly confidence building. Driving along a couple of mph above the limit and i have the bus pushing from behind. Normally, its a case of sod them, I've got better things to worry about. However if I'm feeling crabby on the motorway, I'll let them pass and then let them know with the HIDS.

 

on 4 lane highways, if i see a car coming fast from behind, i'll speed up and change lane if there was traffic on the slow lane and let them pass. if i'm on a 2 lane highway, i'll tap my brakes often and slow down often to let the other driver know.

another great idea is maybe we should all carry a big saying "stop tailgating or i'm calling the cops".

 

First an admission, I've been known to tailgate. I know this because my wife, if with me, is screaming at me. I never do it under normal conditions but I can get damn frustrated when it's two lanes and no one is in the passing lane ahead except for some damn idiot that will not speed up enough to pass the car on the right. Instead the two car's drive side-by-side for endless miles blocking everyone.

I seldom get tailgated but it happens, especially when you're in a long line of traffic on 2-lane roads with no possibility of passing. How do I deal with tailgaters? I gradually slow down and the majority of them get the message and pass. 95% of the time that works. If they are too stupid to pass - and there are some like that and generally they drive the biggest damn SUV on the road - I change the position of my rear view mirror and forget about them. If I suspected they were drunk or something, I'd definitely pull off.

Happy motoring.

 

I am very rarely tailgated, but here in SoCal I don't take the chance of screwing around with people by slowing down preteding to let them pass and then speed up when they do. It just isn't worth it. On the highway I usually cruise at 75-80mph in the 65mph zone and 80MPH in the 70 mph zone. If I see someone catching up to me when I'm pretty alert and in a 'driving' mood I will speed up with them until I can see it either even out or me pull away from them. If I'm not in a 'driving' mood I just pull over and let them by then pull back out once they've passed.
-Steve

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GChambers
[B]As I read these posts, it amazes me how many of you performance car owners don't know how to drive! I almost never get tailgated BECAUSE I don't cruise in the PASSING lane. If you are in the left lane and there is light traffic, you need to move over. If you are in the left lane and there is light traffic and someone is tailgating you, YOU ARE THE MORON. GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY! If they flash their lights at you in the attempt to have you move over, YOU HAVE BEEN A MORON FOR QUITE A WHILE AND YOU HAVE PISSED THEM OFF!

 

Happens to me all the time. One of the most annoying driving habits people have in California. 90%+ of the time this happens I have to slam on the brakes. I always check my mirror, and find the road behind me empty most of the time.

Though you should see behavior at busy 4-way stop signs. These are one of the few remaining bastions of courtesy on L.A. roads. Every day people are waving other cars to "go ahead", when they would not think twice to tailgate or cut someone off anyplace else.

 

Someone mentioned the 'fake brake light' a while back. What if you made a switch for the reverse lights? Just tap a button and they come on like normal. I think that could be pretty funny. Especially at low speeds when they are really close and only looking at your bumper!

 

i had an MGB that the reverse lights would come on by just moving the stick in line with the reverse gear. But the person behind probably jusy thought it was an electrical problem heheh

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dlq04
[B]First an admission, I've been known to tailgate.