Tailgaters frustrate me

[StilesA70]

Originally Posted by radroach

Since I've come home to memphis I've been spending days making christmas deliveries (honey, no tofu) in my car, and frustratingly have been dealing with lots of tailgaters in traffic, lots of Dodge RAM's and toyota monstrosities, also uninsured and unlicensed motorists talking on their cell phone behind me, every single light. Some are pushing up close to my car before I even get moving in 1st, and then ride me through 2nd if I try to shift slowly before 3000 RPMs. I can't take much of this, and I can see them glaring at me through the back window and it frustrates me.

I think I need a clever bumper sticker, perhaps a picture of Jeremy Clarkson with his bulldog eyes staring back at them. Any hints or tips?

I am right there with you. They are just a split second away from rear-ending you if they aren't paying attention. Changing lanes and letting them past is the way to go. If I can't change lanes and they just won't back off I will put my left foot on the brake just enough to get the brake lights to come on and speed up at the same time. They usually take the hint or are just confused and back off anyway.

[Frost]

I think the root cause of all these problems is the fact that in North America we don't enforce the lanes like they do in Europe.

Very few people truly understand that the left lane on a highway is for PASSING ONLY. Not cruising, not going superfast, not just cuz... PASSING ONLY. If the freeway / highway is wide open and no cars are on it except you, you shouldn't have to be on the left lane.

Back to the topic, if someone is tailgating me and I am NOT in the left lane, they stay there. I am not risking a lane change and thus risking an-at-fault incident so they can go further.

[daiheadjai]

Originally Posted by BlueDubbinTDI

They're called douchbags and they're everywhere. Its the little people that try and prove they're a badass and that having an inferior car is still ok because they can intimidate you with bullshit driving tactics. Take no notice, they hate that.

Unfortunately, I find pickup trucks and SUVs (particularly Ford Explorers) do this the most.

[Deep Six]

A cat less el header and 3" header back exhaust will keep them farther behind you or else their ears will start to bleed.

[N1rve]

I understand what you mean.... I almost get merged into A LOT. It's like they can't see my car.

[SloS14]

Ask yourself, are you driving in such a manner that would anger those behind you?

• hanging out in the left lane and not passing, or passing slowly
  
• rather than just stopping at a stop light, rolling at 1mph in hopes of being able to roll through it
  
• keeping a ridiculous amount of space between you and the car in front of you (see first item)

If not, get over anyway. If you brake check someone, you might get shot..or raped then shot, or shot then raped.

[Pizzman]

Originally Posted by lo_Opy

Just give them a litlle break check.

LOL no such thing as a "little brake check" with a tailsniffer at 75 mph.
If you have experience with that you should play the lottery. By the time you let up your brake lights are on, and they probably aren't looking down at your rear. Texting, yelling at the kids, beating their wife yes, but paying close attention, NO!
I would brake check a friend in a similar car for fun (not at 80, or tailgating), but a truck at 75?
goodnight rear bumper, hello out of control (yes idiot, but death aint cool) f-150 with kids in the back.


The best thing to do with a tailgater is to put your windshield wiper sprayer on. The overspray from yours makes them put theirs on and slow down. I have aimed my minivans rear spray to spray my back windshield, barely and coat the car beind me if they get to close.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by Pizzman

LOL no such thing as a "little brake check" with a tailsniffer at 75 mph.
If you have experience with that you should play the lottery. By the time you let up your brake lights are on, and they probably aren't looking down at your rear. Texting, yelling at the kids, beating their wife yes, but paying close attention, NO!
I would brake check a friend in a similar car for fun (not at 80, or tailgating), but a truck at 75?
goodnight rear bumper, hello out of control (yes idiot, but death aint cool) f-150 with kids in the back.


The best thing to do with a tailgater is to put your windshield wiper sprayer on. The overspray from yours makes them put theirs on and slow down. I have aimed my minivans rear spray to spray my back windshield, barely and coat the car beind me if they get to close.

Might as well add a flame thrower, spikes, and an ejector seat

[Andrew025]

Just get used to the fact that everyone is an asshole and in a hurry.
Either move over so you don't have to deal with them or stay there and go slower to piss them off more.

If I'm on a highway I'll move over asap as long as I'm not cutting a car off.
On regular streets? Fuck them, I'm not moving so your prick self can go 50 in a 35.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by radroach

..................and frustratingly have been dealing with lots of tailgaters in traffic, ...........Any hints or tips?

As a fellow FR-S driver, I hear you, but, I don't know what to say ...... I never had that problem with my miata ....

humfrz

[lo_Opy]

Originally Posted by Pizzman

LOL no such thing as a "little brake check" with a tailsniffer at 75 mph.
If you have experience with that you should play the lottery. By the time you let up your brake lights are on, and they probably aren't looking down at your rear. Texting, yelling at the kids, beating their wife yes, but paying close attention, NO!
I would brake check a friend in a similar car for fun (not at 80, or tailgating), but a truck at 75?
goodnight rear bumper, hello out of control (yes idiot, but death aint cool) f-150 with kids in the back.


The best thing to do with a tailgater is to put your windshield wiper sprayer on. The overspray from yours makes them put theirs on and slow down. I have aimed my minivans rear spray to spray my back windshield, barely and coat the car beind me if they get to close.

Well obviously not at 75 mph. I'm talking like at 30-40 mph. And again obviously make sure they are paying attention to your car before brake checking them. I've done it plenty of times I love how they go from riding your ass to falling back a couple car lengths after.

[Pizzman]

Originally Posted by N1rve

Might as well add a flame thrower, spikes, and an ejector seat

yup. or fill the reservoir with pee!! It really stinks after a few weeks.


My family rides in the minivan, so back the fuck off my shit!!!!


Also just get over LOLOLOLOLOL. As this seems so difficult I was trying to give another option that wouldn't result in deaths

[Pizzman]

Originally Posted by lo_Opy

Well obviously not at 75 mph. I'm talking like at 30-40 mph. And again obviously make sure they are paying attention to your car before brake checking them. I've done it plenty of times I love how they go from riding your ass to falling back a couple car lengths after.

Ok well still that is a lot of trust you are putting into someone who


A. you don't know
B. sucks at driving
C. might have a lazy eye

[Taro]

Pickup trucks are lucky the 86 isn't a convertible. Otherwise I'd just do what they do...have loose, heavy objects in the back so they can fly behind and smash their windshields.

Actually, to be honest, if the 86 was open top, I'd keep a sack of bricks on hand just to throw at pickup trucks. Serious. Nothing pisses me off more than dudebros and their damn F-950 Colorado Whateverthefucks. Not Prius owners. Not Bimmer assholes who don't signal, not taxi drivers who cut you off, not the Asian aunties in their BMW suvs who can't see, not even left lane turtles.