Your Tailgating Retaliation

[Bill_R]

tailgaters are my pet peeve. Sometiems I'l flash the brakes. Sometimes hit them a little harder. Sometimes slow down until the hint that they aren't going to go any quicker. Sometimes, (if I can around here - mostly single lanes) I"ll move over.
Some of the idiots just can't count (to 2 or 3) and it's speed irrelevant - they tailgate regardless of how fast you are going. Many dont' even overtake when there is an opportunity and you slow down.


I was warned by cars flashign thier lights of an accident ahead yesterday (at first I thought it was the cops). Both the car in front of me adn the car behind had big gaps. Then there was a line-up behind the car behind me. The car in front slowed gradually and stopped for teh accident. I slowed very gradually and stopped (briefly) as did the car behind me. Then, I heard the screech of brakes. There had to be some IDIOT in that line behind who was tailgating and didn't even notice cars *gradually* slowing and the flash of lights warning. It isn't as if this was a sudden stop by the car behind me - FOOLS!

[JC]

I wonder if it was one or more of these reactions that caused the Burnley tunnel accident a few weeks ago? Probably.

If I can, I move out of the way and let them pass. I may light up the brake lights a bit, but never jam on the brakes. There have been exceptions, of course, but I am older and a little wiser now.

Most of the time, I would probably be classed as the "tailgater". Why? Because idiots insist on occupying the right hand lane of multi lane roads while doing less than the posted limit in conditions safe enough to do the posted limit. Although I don't actually get right up their clacker - usually a couple of car lengths, and a few dips of the high beam moves most people over. If not, I just "undertake" them when I can.

[5tumpy]

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

some of the replies in this thread are borderline on stupidity yourselves.....

speeding up when they're overtaking so they cant get in, do you realise how dangerous that is? wanting to cause a head on accident or something?
slamming on the brakes to cause an accident "because you have a large towbar so it wont damage your car"... bravo

If I wanted your opinion I would have asked for it... I didn't say it wouldn't damage my car, I said it would do more damage to his, and he'd be paying...

If your not going to contribute to the thread, then don't post mate... Why is it the admins close every 2nd thread, but don't delete useless BS like this, that's there for the sole purpose of starting a flame fest?

[LUXO_8]

have a look at the third post in the thread mate...... my contribution..
i just cant believe the attitude and unsafe practices ive read in this thread.......IMO worse than the orriginal tailgating offences

[GXL078]

Nudge THEIR car!!!
Nah, I give them a mouthful, they are usually P platers or nob parents in 4WDs that deserve all the abuse they get. Any white Commodore gets double

[HLC]

slow right down... and then when they go around, speed up again.

[JC]

Originally Posted by Wokkas

In the XR8, slow down to about half the speed limit, when they go to overtake me, plant me foot to the limit again, and repeat.

No matter how right or smart you may think you are, speeding up while someone is overtaking you is both illegal, and dangerous, and the reason for many head on collisions, especially at night where closing distances are hard to judge.

I can tell you that if you did that to me, you would probably end up wearing the side of my car (I need a new paint job). It would more than likely be you that the police judge to be in the wrong; speeding up while being overtaken, and not leaving room for the person overtaking to move back in safely is an offence. Based on the fact you said you slow down to half the speed limit, the overtaking would not mean exceeding the speed limit, so I would be OK.

Did you ever think that if you just let them go, you will be rid of them. Once they pull back in, a small high beam flash will let them know that you think they are an idiot - no point having them thinking you are the idiot. Your actions end up justifying theirs, and they will always think they are in the right.

And people wonder why the road toll is so high!

[JC]

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

have a look at the third post in the thread mate...... my contribution..
i just cant believe the attitude and unsafe practices ive read in this thread.......IMO worse than the orriginal tailgating offences

I totally agree with you. Some of these actions are sheer stupidity, and the person who did it to me would wear my car - at full throttle so I make sure theirs is cactus too.

Well, not really, but this statement is no less stupid than any of the others on here, and quite often what I would love to do to the idiot(s) holding up traffic. Chances are, if you are being tailgated, you are impeding traffic flow (bumper to bumper peak hour doesn't count - everyone is being tailgated, but at 10km/h does it matter?).

[JC]

Originally Posted by 5tumpy

If I wanted your opinion I would have asked for it... I didn't say it wouldn't damage my car, I said it would do more damage to his, and he'd be paying...

If your not going to contribute to the thread, then don't post mate... Why is it the admins close every 2nd thread, but don't delete useless BS like this, that's there for the sole purpose of starting a flame fest?

It is posts like yours that end up getting threads closed, not MADNC's. T00l.

[GXL078]

From the Australian Road Rules

145 Driver being overtaken not to increase speed
If a driver is overtaking another driver on a two-way road by
crossing a dividing line, or crossing to the right of the centre of
the road, the other driver must not increase the speed at which
the driver is driving until the first driver:
(a) has passed the other driver; and
(b) has returned to the marked lane or line of traffic where the
other driver is driving; and
(c) is a sufficient distance in front of the other driver to avoid
a collision.
Offence provision.
Note Centre of the road, dividing line, marked lane, overtake and
two-way road are defined in the dictionary.

[JC]

Originally Posted by ThoR_

Hey guys.

What do you do when someone is up your bum?

Cya

Never happened to me; I'm hetero. Perhaps you could share your experience though? I think we're all open minded about these things.

[XR8-260]

What annoys me are people who tailgate you when you are doing the speed limit. Often I am traveling 3 kays over the limit and some punk in his VN/VS (who thinks he's too kool for school : ) comes up behind me and starts playing bumper to bumper...

[FalconXR6]

The amount of people who have ticked the "tap the brakes" box is scary.

Frankly, that's just bloody stupid.

If a person is walking closely behing you on the footpath and you can see you are in there way, as they are walking faster than you, you move out of their bloody way. You dont abuse them or hinder their movement.

[SirJuggsalot]

Originally Posted by JC

No matter how right or smart you may think you are, speeding up while someone is overtaking you is both illegal, and dangerous, and the reason for many head on collisions, especially at night where closing distances are hard to judge.

I'm pretty sure hes refering to driving on at least a dual lane road...

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by 5tumpy

If I wanted your opinion I would have asked for it... I didn't say it wouldn't damage my car, I said it would do more damage to his, and he'd be paying...

If your not going to contribute to the thread, then don't post mate... Why is it the admins close every 2nd thread, but don't delete useless BS like this, that's there for the sole purpose of starting a flame fest?

He has a right to an opinion as do you.
No need to ask anyone's permission.

[JC]

Originally Posted by FalconXR6

The amount of people who have ticked the "tap the brakes" box is scary.

Frankly, that's just bloody stupid.

If a person is walking closely behing you on the footpath and you can see you are in there way, as they are walking faster than you, you move out of their bloody way. You dont abuse them or hinder their movement.

I took the "tap brakes" to mean exactly that - just enough to light up the tail-lights, but not actually slow the car much at all. The second option, slam on the brakes, is the scary one. I think a tap is actually polite - it lets them know that you think they are too close, without being dangerous.

The footpath analogy is a good one, why can't people apply it to the road? To answer my own question, I suppose it's in case they lose "their" position in traffic, or they really have no idea what's going on around them - both scary, selfish places to be when driving.

[XR8-260]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Where is the option that says "Keep left out of the way" before this happens ?

Retaliation implies doing something wrong to counteract something wrong.

There's also a rule that you shouldn't exceed the speed limit. There's another rule that says that you are not allowed to exceed the speed limit even when overtaking. I barely use the right lane but when I do I always make sure that I'm doing the limit or 3 kays above. If people want to tailgate me they can suffer in their jocks - they shouldn't be speeding anyway.

[oneredED]

I see tailgating all the time, and like many people here it is one of my pet hates. I can't stand being in a car driven by tailgater, and I'll vocally let them know quick smart! I'm not usually tailgated myself for some reason, but I do see it alot when a "young" or "minority group" driver tries to weave through traffic for no apparent reason and they make a bad (slower) lane decision. I find pulling up along side and tapping on the their window whilst they're tailgating usually snaps them out of it a bit...

In all seriousness, I usually don't do anything. I once did slam my brakes on to "intimidate" a tailgater. He promptly slammed his Proton Satria GTi into the **** end my car, and straight into my towbar (both of us still doing about 60km/h when he hit). He quickly pulled a U-turn and took off, (falsely assuming he had damaged my car as well as his own).

I haven't "break tested" another car since, but it was an interesting event.

[FalconXR6]

Originally Posted by 3

There's also a rule that you shouldn't exceed the speed limit. There's another rule that says that you are not allowed to exceed the speed limit even when overtaking. I barely use the right lane but when I do I always make sure that I'm doing the limit or 3 kays above. If people want to tailgate me they can suffer in their jocks - they shouldn't be speeding anyway.

There's a difference between a law (or "rule") that is widely regarded as blatant revenue rasing and one that is sensible and beneficial to motorists.

[JC]

Originally Posted by 3

There's also a rule that you shouldn't exceed the speed limit. There's another rule that says that you are not allowed to exceed the speed limit even when overtaking. I barely use the right lane but when I do I always make sure that I'm doing the limit or 3 kays above. If people want to tailgate me they can suffer in their jocks - they shouldn't be speeding anyway.

So you're some sort of self-appointed mobile roadblock? Good on you, there's nothing like having a bit of consideration for other drivers. /sarcasm.

[XR8-260]

Originally Posted by JC

So you're some sort of self-appointed mobile roadblock? Good on you, there's nothing like having a bit of consideration for other drivers. /sarcasm.

What's a self appointed mobile roadblock? Never heard of them... /sarcasm. Sticking to the speed limit is consideration for other drivers wouldn't you think?

[JC]

Originally Posted by 3

What's a self appointed mobile roadblock? Never heard of them... /sarcasm. Sticking to the speed limit is a consideration for other drivers wouldn't you think?

No, because I'll bet you're not even doing the speed limit. Let's say you're in an 80 zone, with the standard Ford speed error of 5% (minimum), that means you are doing 76, plus the 3 you think you are doing, is 79. So you ARE a mobile roadblock. If you are in mutli-lane traffic, it is considerate to keep left unless overtaking. On roads where the limit is more than 90 km/h, that consideration becomes law.

My own personal theory is that if you practice it in all speed zones, there is no chance of being done for hogging the right lane when you shouldn't be there, although it is an offence that is not highly policed, as cameras have a hard time telling if you should be there (overtaking) or not.

The simple fact is, if more people were aware of what was happening around them, and paid due care and consideration to all motorists, traffic would flow a hell of a a lot better - but all our government(s) tell us we should be doing is keeping an eye on the speedo (and nothing else) to avoid getting done for speeding.

[FRDGAL]

Originally Posted by 3

There's also a rule that you shouldn't exceed the speed limit. There's another rule that says that you are not allowed to exceed the speed limit even when overtaking. I barely use the right lane but when I do I always make sure that I'm doing the limit or 3 kays above. If people want to tailgate me they can suffer in their jocks - they shouldn't be speeding anyway.

I agree with you 100%. The right lane is not a speeding lane. It is limited to the same speed limit as any other lane. But people seem to think otherwise and so when we're sitting in it at 100k's, we're apparently in the wrong for doing the right speed? Go figure...

And JC your reply to 3's post is a little confusing to me. Are you suggesting that we all speed up (and break the law doing so) just so that the right lane speeders can pass through? Because that's the impression people have of the right lane, that it's apparently for getting through quicker. At a point it is but it's still restricted to the designated speed limit and I won't cross over that limit for someone that thinks it's a "fast" lane.

Consideration for other drivers huh? How about tailgaters have some consideration for the intimidation and pressure they put on the driver infront of them! And not to mention, the risk their tailgating causes to themselves and other drivers! Where's THEIR consideration?!

[BF MKII UTE]

I'm just amazed at how many people here are only temporary members.
Yes tailgating is dam annoying but how hard is it to let the morons go without bothering yourself and ignore them?

[xr8svo]

I just get out of there way as i would rather them anoy someone else. I hate when u doing the speed limit in the left lane and there is no traffic around and some fool decides it is a good idea to sit on your tail when there is no reason they cant just move to the right lane and speed on as they please this is when i just take my foot of the accelerator until they decide to go round then they are someone elses problem not mine.

[XR8-260]

Originally Posted by JC

No, because I'll bet you're not even doing the speed limit. Let's say you're in an 80 zone, with the standard Ford speed error of 5% (minimum), that means you are doing 76, plus the 3 you think you are doing, is 79. So you ARE a mobile roadblock.

I am aware of that. When I drive I always go a little faster to compensate for the speedo inaccuracy. If going the speed LIMIT means that I'm a mobile roadblock then so be it. But like I said, I barely use the right lane anyway.

[Qwikcorty]

in the f100 i just tap the brakes, and most get the message

[JC]

Originally Posted by FRDGAL_AU6

I agree with you 100%. The right lane is not a speeding lane. It is limited to the same speed limit as any other lane. But people seem to think otherwise and so when we're sitting in it at 100k's, we're apparently in the wrong for doing the right speed? Go figure...

And JC your reply to 3's post is a little confusing to me. Are you suggesting that we all speed up (and break the law doing so) just so that the right lane speeders can pass through? Because that's the impression people have of the right lane, that it's apparently for getting through quicker. At a point it is but it's still restricted to the designated speed limit and I won't cross over that limit for someone that thinks it's a "fast" lane.

Consideration for other drivers huh? How about tailgaters have some consideration for the intimidation and pressure they put on the driver infront of them! And not to mention, the risk their tailgating causes to themselves and other drivers! Where's THEIR consideration?!

In short, yes, I am saying that if to move over to the left, you need to speed up a bit (say to 103), then you should do so, and by law, if you're not overtaking in the right hand lane, you have no business being there. Of course, during peak traffic times, this all changes, but only because people make it that way. If they still honoured the right hand lane basic rule of keep left unless overtaking, traffic as a whole would flow better - just look at the autobahns in Europe, or the multilane highways in the US. It works, because drivers make it work. It doesn't work here, because mobile roadblocks are the ones that won't allow it to work.

And yes, my point on consideration is for all drivers, the tailgaters, and tailgatees (is that a new word). The people in the left, the ones in the centre, and the ones (legally overtaking) in the right.

It's not much, but the other day I slowed by around 5km/h and waved to a merging car to let them in (I didn't have to - they had a broken white line across the merging lane which means they must give way - it was an on ramp). The driver smiled in the rear vision mirror and waved - it's not the first time I've let someone in like that, but it is the first time in a long time that I've had a wave as thanks. Normally you get nothing, because most people would think it's their right to have merged in anyway. I'm not trying to say I'm a saint - in other instances, I have actually blocked someone from merging, but only because they tried to create their own zipper effect (instead of one/one, they tried to squeeze in behind the car I had merged with in a form one lane situation). But I do try to be courteous and have consideration for other drivers - those who have been in a car with me know that I will switch lanes to allow traffic to flow better. :-)

[robjh80]

I'm a bit older and "supposedly" wiser now so as others have said I pretty much just get out of their way and let them go and annoy the very next car in front of me........that's the funny thing with tailgaters, do they actually think that they are going to push or harass every single car out of the lane they wish to occupy?, they usually dont get anywhere and are invariably sitting at the next set of traffic lights like everyone else.

[5L]

had this last night. it started when a bloke almost crashed into me at a round-a-bout as he wasnt going to give way to me (i was to his right), so he then nailed it up behind me and sat heaps close to my bumper. so i tapped the brakes to hopefully get some distance between us. this didnt do a thing so i jumped on the anchors a bit harder. he backed off then changed lanes pulled up next to me and started swerving towards my car. then he sped up changed infront of me and slammed his brakes on and was coming to a stop in a main rd (lol he must of been really upset with me, although he initially was in the wrong.) i threw the xr8 back to second and went round the outside.

seems that dropkicks can also drive newish magna wagons.