What do you do when being tailgated? (Houston, Miami: subdivision, move)

[tstone]

I just keep going and let them eventually go around me. And leave plenty of room in front of me so I don't cause a pileup. This is really part of driving in any big city. If you can't handle it and can't leave your feelings at the door, get off the freeways.

[a_guerrajr]

Did you ever consider that you might be going to slow and you need to move?

I encounter that everyday , some dumbass is going 60 in the fast lane, and everyone else is going 70-75 ( normal traffic flow )

[TexasCatherine]

If someone is right on my tail, I tap my brakes -- not hard enough to actually slow down, just enough so they see the red brake lights and hopefully back off. Like others have said, if tailgaters don't like the speed I'm going on a 2 lane road, go on around me! If I'm in the left lane on the highway and am overtaking someone to the right of me, then whoever tailgates me will just have to dig deep for a little patience and common sense. I'll move over just as soon as it's safe, buddy!

[tstone]

Originally Posted by a_guerrajr

I encounter that everyday , some dumbass is going 60 in the fast lane, and everyone else is going 70-75 ( normal traffic flow )

Either that or all 4 lanes with about two dozen cars are going 70-75, and they all come up on some dumbass in the middle of the freeway doing 55.

[elnina]

Brake ( just be sensitive with it ). Did it again... today.

[behtypa]

Originally Posted by a_guerrajr

Did you ever consider that you might be going to slow and you need to move?

I encounter that everyday , some dumbass is going 60 in the fast lane, and everyone else is going 70-75 ( normal traffic flow )

The last time it happened to me, I was going with a traffic flow @60 in a 50mph zone. The jer.., I mean rude person, was tailgating me like he could squeeze in, but it was packed in front of me. I could not figure out what was he/she thinking??

I let him/her through (I changed right) and the same story happened with Camry in front of me : he/she was tailgating that car too. WTF?

I don't understand why does one have to step one others nerves, when there is no space up front anyway? Like we have to treat him/her like an emergency?

[behtypa]

Originally Posted by elnina

Brake ( just be sensitive with it ). Did it again... today.

It did not help last time.
Tap on break, tap tap, tap.
- Still tailgating.
Honk, honk.
- Still there, like he/she is deaf.

I just hanged right to let them through. And the same story happened with the next car.

[elikhom]

Doesn't happen to me much since I drive a little faster than average and if I see someone coming much faster than me I usually merge to the right.

[Mod cut: I am sure you can express yourself without cussing, no? ]

[dumeril7]

First, I get out of the left lane if I'm in it. If I'm not in the left lane, then I slow down. Not to ***** them off, but to encourage them (as well as make it easier for them) to pass, and to create more room in front of me in case I need it. No brakes, I just ease off the gas a little (and not quickly). Doesnt' take much. Somebody tailgating is dangerous because it shortens/eliminates the window for evasive action should something unexpected happen, so I try to give myself more room in case its necessary so I don't get rear-ended by the tailgater. Meanwhile, going even slower encourages him to make his move. Its a win-win -- he gets around the slowpoke, I get the maniac off my tail.

D7

[Svensk08]

In my experience, nothing works to deter certain tailgaters:

1. Some people who tailgate have very poor depth perception and simply cannot tell how close they are to the vehicle in front. This can be due to a physical disability or even DUI.

2. Those drivers who talk on their cell phones, text or are otherwise distracted are multitasking and often have no idea of the distance between their vehicle and the one in front. Recent studies show the human brain can perform only one or two tasks really well at one time.

3. People who are lots more important than I am think that riding my bumper will make me go as far over the speed limit as they're driving, or even pull over so they can sweep past.