Tailgaters p*ss me off. What can you do about them?

bungee

the best thing to do is drive your own car instead of the car behind you. all you basically done was make a bad situation worse. Don't do anything stupid<<

z32dude

Yes I agree its quite pointless and dangerous when people do that. The best thing is to let them go by. If you cant get onto a two lane road I would even pull off the road or over to the side to let them go if their really obnoxious. Sometimes I slow down a bit just to p**s them off but this isn't always the best idea because you never know if that person riding behind you is a homicidal maniac with a gun. Well you already know that they prefer to drive with little regard for their own safety or anyone else's, so I say screw em and let them go by. They'll get whats coming to them, probably in the form of a ticket or an accident.

UCANTCME

The best thing to do is get the tailgater safely around you. Do this by slowing slightly below the normal flow of traffic speed. This allows him more room to pass, and your slower speed makes it easier for him to do so.

This is what you WANT. Think about the frame of mind of someone that is tailgating you. If not at first, very soon the tailgater gets impatient, frustrated, and maybe angry.

Do you want him behind you, where you have no control over his actions? Tailgaters typically exercise poor judgment and endanger you and others trying to pass when it is not safe.

If they still cannot pass after you've slowed a bit, then change lanes or pull off to the side and let them go by. For all of my testosterone-laden brothers out there, just let it go. Your lives are worth more than your egos.

Don't hit the brakes suddenly, and do not tap your brake lights to warn the other driver to back off.

Slamming on the brakes to get rid of a tailgater is against the law almost everywhere, not to mention that some folks get shot for doing it.

You'd be irritating a person who is already angry, which is not too smart. Why make the other guy's problem your problem?

Tapping your brake lights to get an impatient driver to back off is also not a good tactic.

While not illegal (but check -- there may be exceptions), when you tap your brake lights without actually braking, you are crying "wolf." You are training the other driver not to take your brake lights seriously.

Let's say you can't get the guy off your tail and he follows you for several blocks. If something requiring immediate response happens and you actually DO hit the brakes, the tailgater's reaction time may be longer because he is thinking you are just "tapping" your brake lights again -- and by tailgating he is already too close for comfort.

PAUL G

Legally you should ease off the accelerator in order to give yourself more space between you and the vehicle in front. Driving at speed, and tapping or slamming on the brakes isn't only stupid, it's bloody dangerous! You could end up in an accident, then try to explain yourself to the police and insurance company!
Yes, it's annoying when you get tailgated, but you need to remain calm, try taking the number plate and reporting them to the police.

Chappers

Drive a good 10 - 15 mph below what you where previously doing, so through the 30 you should have gone 20. That usually proves a point.

scullion

Tailgating is stupid and dangerous, as is obstructing or endangering someone who is tailgating you. I find the best way to deal with tailgaters is to make sure I am in the correct lane (the left lane unless overtaking), that I am driving at the appropriate speed for the road conditions (and for the manoeuvre I am performing) and to pull over and let them pass when it is safe to do so.

I'd rather arrive in one piece than try to re-educate a pillock on the road by being one myself.

Just let him pass so he can tailgate the car in front of you instead. There's no point getting wound up about it. Your journey make take a few seconds longer but it'll be far less stressful.Your actions of sudden braking and blocking him at 50 will just make him drive more aggressively and closer to you.

JAJ

I have turned on my emergency flashers before. It usually scares the crap out of the tailgater and he always seem to back off real quick.

"isitme"

Officially, you're supposed to slow down, however, you could try standing on the brakes and whilst your filling-in your whiplash claim, ask him why he didn't see the 'dog' that ran out in front of you!

Lucky Ellie

Throw some rubbish out of your window at them.
Bricks normally cause them to back off quickly

Dave R

I know what you mean. I tap brakes and sometimes roll down my window and wave them on. Ohhh they don't like that. Oh well life's a you know what.

It just amazes me that people can be nice in person but they seem to hate you when driving.

dadseimaj

What we WANT to do and what we SHOULD do are two different things. The safest course of action would be so let him pass and go annoy somebody else.What most people end up doing is react badly. Remember two wrongs don't make a right

Fellside13

I usually find that it is a suitable time to use my windscreen washers. Even more so if it is a cabriolet!!

ja133

Personally, I piss off all tailgaters. When I am tailgated, I slow down and take my time. I also make a complete stop for 5 seconds at a stop sign, just to piss them off. I also short stop at red lights, and if they rear end me, it's not my fault. They are the ones to get the ticket for following too closely.

daddy_mack

I have several years experience in dealing with tailgaters and one thing that you need to know is that tailgaters don't want to hit you. In knowing that I have big brake kits and at least 4 piston calipers on my rides, plus sticky rubber compounds. I can stop on a dime but tailgaters can't which causes them to swerve into the ditch or oncoming traffic. I rather not do that but I deal with them daily and they never seem to learn.

genghis41f

Unfortunately, it seems that your particular tailgater wouldn't take a hint! You should have let him shunt your car and make him take the insurance hit (I know that this is not at all practical, as your car would be damaged)

I get tailgated too, although I'm not going slowly. The last time, I just tapped the brakes and it did scare the tailgater into backing off.

On a previous occasion, the tailgater flashed me to show his annoyance at being stuck behind me even though I was certainly not going slow... so I waved back and grinned in the rear view mirror! :-)

Night-ranger

Two things : Use your hazards until he backs off since they really do not like to draw too much outside attention to themselves they will ultimately backoff . Or / and flash them the two fingered piece sign . This can get a favorable response ........

slam on, if they go into you, it's always their fault.

Su-Shi

If you have fog lights in both rear clusters, you could try flicking them on and off to make it look as though you are braking.

Breaking when some idiot is that close to you could end up in an accident and although it wouldn't be your fault as such, you could still end up damaging your car.

Lucky Man 2

Tap the brake pedal now and again when being tailgated.

Boo

I personally like to flick the rear fogs on occasionally. That usually works and you don't risk getting rear ended.(ooo-er missus)

gembolatino

slam your brakes on, if someone hits you from behind it's always their fault

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