This is Why Tailgating is a Bad Idea
 

Original story

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...065e2e3d71f35?

[IMG]www.gifs.com/gif/73O97w[/IMG]

Full Video:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSE3fkeHAmo"]Tailgater gets brake checked and then crashes - YouTube[/ame]

Did the person in front do anything wrong? Or should they have just gotten over and let the woman go on her speedy way?

Either way, goes to show you that being a d*ck on the roads is never a good idea.

What citation could they give the driver in front?


I like how they just kept going like nothing happened though, seriously why would you stop in that instance? Not their fault the person behind couldn't control her vehicle.


IDK how I stand on this, but it is a damn near everyday occurrence on the highways, people should expect this is coming no matter what. I do feel like the left lane is for passing though.

I hate people who drive slowly in the left lane, but I personally would never tailgate someone.

**** move by both front and rear drivers, but the front driver didnt do anything illegal.

I bet the person that crashed will cool their shit and stop tailgating in the future. And if not :iono:

For all we know a squirrel came out of no where and the driver in front had to apply some evasive braking :iono:

IDK about that.... they could probably figure something out. Reckless endangerment or something.


I agree with you, personally.

I side with the person who was not doing dumb shit.

One hand says tailgating is bad.

Another says that in a two lane road, the left lane is for passing and the right for cruising.

Personally, I always move over for persons who are within close proximity of my rear bumper and/or "pacing me." I do this without question, or dissent towards the other driver. I have no idea who you are, why you're in a rush, why you want to pass me. You may just think I'm driving too slow. And I have no problems with that. During the times when I want to be that person in a rush, I appreciate when people do move over and let me pass (which happens 1/20 times in DC metro area).

To brake check a tailgater is an act of aggressive driving. I bet he/she felt like a badass to cause this wreck. "Serves that MF right! Riding my ass like that!"

What if that Trailblazer (?) ended up on the other side of the freeway, destroying lives in the process? Would that Edge driver still feel the same way?

Was the Trailblazer speeding, probably. Was the Edge speeding, probably. I would guess that the truck was doing at or around posted limits. I don't see the point in that brake check. If someone else does, please enlighten me.

From what I understand, person behind is at fault 9/10. Should leave enough space to avoid what's going on up ahead. Also depends on which state you live in because there are different rules in different states.

With the way she reacted to the brake check, losing control so easily, it wouldn't surprise me if there was a phone in one hand.

Many states do have laws about impeding traffic that says you must relinquish the left lane to faster traffic. That said, I sort of feel the woman in the back got her just reward. If you are going to be an a$$ and tailgate someone then you had better be ready to take evasive action or brake if they slow quickly.

I especially liked the part of the video where they showed the yahoo in the pick-up truck tailgating, then passing of the right and yelling before cutting abruptly in front of the driver, losing control and crashing. I am sure none of that was his fault though. :lol:

I dislike left lane hogs (I rarely get tailgated because I move over), so I can understand the frustration. Brake checking is just d1ckish though - it means you are aware of a faster car behind you, but rather than moving over, you feel compelled to assert your "right" to hog the lane. I'd say brake checking is more dangerous than tailgating, because there is some malicious intent there.

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Both drivers are assholes IMO. The one in the left lane for brake-checking the car behind him instead of just moving over (as required in most states), and the tailgater for not leaving enough distance in front of him. They both should get some training on defensive driving.

Just wanna say I think that's well put.

I've brake checked people before, but only after I get over one or two lanes to let them pass and they still choose to continue to tailgate me after I try to go and get out of the way, but that is a preceding act of aggression on the road...

A lot of stupid people.


1. Driver in the front, because of unnecesary driving in the left lane.


2. Driver in the back, because of tailgating in general.


3. Driver in the back, because of tailgating with an obvious intention to force the other driver to move to the right, when moving to the right was unsafe because of a merging vehicle.

4. Driver in the front for tapping brakes, though the level of stupidity was relatively low here, it looks like a gentle tap not slamming on the brakes.

5. Driver in the rear for being unable to control their vehicle in an emergency situation.


6. Everybody for driving SUVs, which obviously contributed to 5.

Its tough to see in the video but it does not look to me like much of a brake check. If you watch the vehicle in the left lane when the brake lights go on the one in the right is not making much ground up on them. To me it looked more like the left lane put on the brakes and the one behind was not paying attention and locked it up in a panic caught the soft shoulder and lost control.

Only issue I'd have with this is that the first driver was just passing the semi, and the woman tailgating came up on her ass just as she was clearing the truck. Second thing, besides merging vehicle on the right, I've always been taught to give adequate room for trucks before getting back in the right lane. when the crash happened, she was right about where I would be when I'd finally consider it safe enough to get over.

In SA the tailgater is 100% to blame regardless of what the front car did. The law (& logic) says you need a safe following distance. No gap to swerve or stop means the tailgater caused their own problems.

We get tons if it here, and lots of bad accidents as a result!

Yes, it looks a bit of a tricky situation. I'd probably either change to the right lane in front of the semi giving space in front of me to the merging vehicle. There is still quite a lot of space there.


Or, most likely, I'd just accelerate for a while to quickly pass the merging SUV and the silver minivan, and then change to ther right lane.


Both solutions seems to be much better (at least in hindsight ;-) ) than what she actually did.

In Georgia, there is a "move out of the left lane" law, so both drivers could be cited. In addition, true brake-checking including sudden deceleration could be considered reckless driving, just sitting your foot on your brakes lightly enough for the lights to come on would not be (I would think), although I don't know how an officer could tell the difference unless there are skid marks.

I'm guessing it would be pretty easy to come up with a reason to ticket both, rabid speeding highway squirrels or not.

Left lane is called passing lane for a reason.. Doesn't matter if you're going 5, 10 or 30 over, there's ALWAYS somebody that go even faster. If you're in the left better check mirror and gtfo or get tailgated.

this

Brake checking is definitely something I'd never try in an 86 given that our rear ends crumple like paper if we get hit. I have slowed or showed my brakes to people who aggressively tail me, but never stomped the pedal.

Not rooting for the person who slammed the brakes, but really hope the lady that got wrecked feels embarrassed that over a million people have seen her bad driving.

Thanks!


You're welcome!

Depending on the state, the requirement to move from the left lane for faster traffic may or may be not dependent on whether you (or they) exceed the speed limit.


Compare, for example, Maryland:
On every roadway, except while overtaking and passing another vehicle going in the same direction or when preparing for a lawful left turn, any vehicle going 10 miles an hour or more below the applicable maximum speed limit or, if any existing conditions reasonably require a speed below that of the applicable maximum, at less than the normal speed of traffic under these conditions, shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.



v. Virginia:
Any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions existing, shall be driven in the lane nearest the right edge or right curb of the highway when such lane is available for travel except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or where right lanes are reserved for slow-moving traffic as permitted in this section;

Which means that you should not drive a slow as 60 in the left lane of the Capital Beltway in VA, even though the speed limit is 55. Because the normal speed there is 65-74.

It's one of few sensible speed-related laws in VA. Not that it is obeyed too often...

I think you are optimistic there M! The "normal speed of traffic" can not legally be over the posted speed limit. Just because cars go 100 all the time that does not make it the "normal" nor legal speed. The "normal" speed of traffic in your example would be 55 no matter how fast the cars normally drive. Try fighting a speeding ticket there with the defense "well cars normally go 74 and I was only doing 72" and let us know how you make out.

I do alot of freeway driving. Wisco doesn't have a the "Slower traffic keep right/left lane is for passing only" Law. Which is stupid considering over last summer they upped the speed limit to 70 on the major freeways. There are alot of ppl that don't want to/cant handle driving 70 that constantly sit in the left lane. Also when one truck try's to pass another its like watching paint dry. :mad0259:

Oh no, I wouldn't even try. But I think that technically someone driving 55 in 55 in the left lane while everyone is going 70 should get a ticket too.


Of course in reality they won't*, but this law gives me the feeling of righteousness and moral superiority when I come upon someone doing just the speed limit in the left lane ;-).




*Same as they won't get reckless driving conviction when they turn or change lanes without turn signal, though technically they should.

I watched the video a few times and it seems like there was more going on than just the brake checking for the driver. They seemed to be passing a semi and coming up to a merge area at the same time the tailgating person ran up the back of the driver in the left lane. To me the driver in front didn't want to cut off the Semi and at the same time they wanted to give the merging driver room to get in. If they pulled over, besides cutting off the Semi, who know's how slow the merging car would be going. They'd be sandwiched between the semi in back and possible slow car in front. Not a good position to be in. Having said that they could have just stayed in the left lane and sped up enough to get past everyone then pulled over into the right lane. That's what I would have done. However, not knowing the actual speeds it's hard to say if they were truly in the wrong. I can say for sure that the tailgater was though. They were way too close and I bet, like someone mentioned, distracted till the last second when they got brake checked. Tailgating is a huge pet peeve of mine, for some reason it seems to happen a lot to me when I'm in a small car, my Miata or the BRZ. Mostly on a single lane where I'm leaving room in front and the car behind is up my trunk. I live in the land of huge PU trucks and I know I can stop a lot faster when needed than they can. Most of the time I will tap my brake but not slow down to say please move back and give me room. If I'm on the highway I only pass in the passing lane end of story, I also don't like passing on the right. Too risky. I've got a third brake light pulse on my Miata, I've been thinking how to add one to the BRZ.

The person who lost control of their car is in trouble here.

Its a 2 lane road with people merging onto this 2 land road.

tail-gater should have seen people merging and slow down to give another chance to the person in the left lane to go on the right lane safely.


Being on the highway and roads is not funny business. Always be prepared to be brake checked ALWAYS.

I drive 8 to 12 hours a day in my BRZ in New york city and NY/NJ. I never brake check people. I just put my hazard lights on if people tailgate me.

I see too many people who disregard safety of others around them. You want to tailgate, u should be on trial for attempted murder or be sent to prison without trial for terrorism.

Learn to drive!


Government and cities need to re look at giving away drivers licenses. Need to put some seriousness behind the classes and courses given to potential drivers.


/rant

I had a heated discussion with my son about using hazard lights in bad weather etc. I always thought it was okay he said, only when you are not moving. Turns out he was right.

http://blog.esurance.com/warning-you...s-incorrectly/

I learned to drive NY NJ and for years only got around on a motorcycle. I honestly thing driving a motorcycle makes you a much safer driver in a car. I'm always thinking what might happen next looking way ahead and back.

Lol haha

Thank you for this, I guess I will not use in NJ.

Lol most rear ends that almost happen to me were in NJ. good thing there is lots of room on the shoulder on the turnpike versus the expressway/parkways of nyc.

I will continue to use in NYC. Why? It works 100% of the time. they back off(sometimes people dont know they are too close to your bumper and need a bit of warning).

I dont want to brake check people, it makes them either rear end you or enrage them even further.

Btw I get tailgated in every lane except for left. (i only go on left to pass or when in b2b traffic)

I myself will be getting a motorcycle in mid summer :D

edit:

if people get confused by hazard lights... they need to take the bus/train/car pool

Lead SUV did nothing wrong. None of us know for sure if it was even a brake check, a rock hitting the car, or any of a million possibilities for tapping the brakes.
The lead car stayed in the left lane. as they should. while another SUV was pulling onto the highway to allow them in safely.
The "brake checker" has no reason to stop either unless they just want to take pictures to post on their Facebook about the idiot behind them.
There's no law stating you have to pull over and help other drivers out especially aggressive ones.

Oh ya the guy doing 55 is a moronic asshat but he is within the law. As much as that suck!!!

I fear people that use 4 ways while moving through heavy fog, rain or snow. See them in the distance and not sure if they are moving, on the side of the road or in the middle of a field. Do I drive around them, stay behind them or stop? Sometimes can't tell until you are very close and then you find you followed them into a snow covered field and they were stopped all along.

Canada :O

Hazard lights are for stopped cars indicating a hazard as per their name. See my prior post!

Our major highways have a speed limit of 100KPH. Most of the traffic, including the cops, drive between 120 and 130 (except around Toronto where it is more like 12 to 13). Semi trucks here must be governed to not exceed 105KPH. They are allowed to pass. Some trucks can do 105.2 KPH. They pass the ones doing 105. Do the math on how bloody long THAT takes!

I almost wish US cars came with a rear fog lamp. Until I get behind a bonehead in a Volvo with it on in nice weather that is. Around here people won't turn on the headlamps in the rain, dusk or dawn expecting them to know how to use a rear fog lamp would be asking too much.

I retrofitted one in my 99 RS and only used it a handful of times.

Be afraid to use one. Would just confuse the hell out of everybody and probably cause panic on the highways.