Idiot behind the wheel

[nerfherder]

Odd. The only reaction I have to tailgaters is to drop my speed to 5-10 mph under the speed limit, then I start jamming on the brakes until they back off. I have been known to come to a complete stop in the road, just to annoy the tailgater behind me.

The technique I was taught if someone tailgates you is to leave a gap in front of you equal to your braking distance plus his. So, if you leave 2 seconds on a clear, dry day, then leave 4 seconds. This allows you to brake more gently and not have him tail-end you.

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

The technique I was taught if someone tailgates you is to leave a gap in front of you equal to your braking distance plus his. So, if you leave 2 seconds on a clear, dry day, then leave 4 seconds. This allows you to brake more gently and not have him tail-end you.

That's great - unless a kid, a dog, a deer, or something runs out in front of your car. How do you plan ahead for the unexpected? Also, if the tailgaters followed your advice, the rest of us wouldn't have to worry about them....

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great advice! I just wish the tailgaters would follow it.

 

[nerfherder]

That's great - unless a kid, a dog, a deer, or something runs out in front of your car. How do you plan ahead for the unexpected?

Defensive driving and observation - drive to the limits of visibility and look out for potential danger areas like parked cars or junctions. With training it is possible to improve your driving skills (especially awareness and attitude) significantly, as I'm sure megamania would agree.

Oh, I just found where I got that advice from "Roadcraft: the essential police driver's handbook":

"One way of keeping a safe distance on fast roads between you and the vehicle in front is by leaving a gap of at least two seconds. But remember your overall stopping distance depends on your speed and the condition of the road surface. An easy way to count two seconds is to say:

Only a fool breaks the two-second rule

The distance should be at least doubled in wet weather and further increased in icy conditions. If the vehicle behind you is too close, drop back further from the vehicle in front. This will allow you to brake more gently in an emergency and may prevent you being rammed from behind"

Also, if the tailgaters followed your advice, the rest of us wouldn't have to worry about them....

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great advice! I just wish the tailgaters would follow it.

Amen!

 

[Dimwhit]

It is not madness, you do that to subtly encourage the person in front of you to get out of the way or speed up and to make sure no one can squeeze in front of you. Some think doing that is being an ass, but few things are as enraging as missing a green/yellow light by a few seconds because someone being a slave to the artificially low speed limits.

 

[megamania]

Defensive driving and observation - drive to the limits of visibility and look out for potential danger areas like parked cars or junctions. With training it is possible to improve your driving skills (especially awareness and attitude) significantly, as I'm sure megamania would agree.

Amen!

Yes I do. It becomes instinctive after a while.

 

[Banshee16]

It always amazes me when I see tailgaiting in a line of traffic. I can drive along for miles never touching my brake, leaving a 2-3 second gap to the car in front, who I see braking and accelerating alternately in order to keep within a car's length of the vehicle in front of him. Madness!

Easy way to deal with them is to gradually slow down if they're riding your behind like that. Sure, it'll piss them off, but they'll get the point. Of course, I'm in Canada, where I can generally rely on not getting shot for pissing off another driver. Not so sure south of the border.

Tailgating's generally bad for multiple reasons.....increased brake wear, not having enough response time to stop if something happens etc. Generally, you should be far enough back that you can avoid sitting in the other guy's front seat if he hits the brakes.

Of course, what makes it all really fun is when you're trying to leave 2 car lenths, and some moron pulls up, and jumps into that space.....like you were just leaving that space there for the fun of it.

Banshee

 

[megamania]

Of course, what makes it all really fun is when you're trying to leave 2 car lenths, and some moron pulls up, and jumps into that space.....like you were just leaving that space there for the fun of it.

Banshee

seen it done often.

 

[megamania]

The scariest drivers I've ever seen....

Long Island


Quebec (especially when they cross into Vermont)

 

[Banshee16]

Odd. The only reaction I have to tailgaters is to drop my speed to 5-10 mph under the speed limit, then I start jamming on the brakes until they back off. I have been known to come to a complete stop in the road, just to annoy the tailgater behind me.

That's where you need to be careful. Generally, slowing down in front of a tailgater, and lightly touching the brakes can work.....but there are a few risks, like if the guy overreacts, and swerves, and hits someone else as a result....or if it pisses him off, and he retaliates.

Two years ago, I had someone get pissed off in a similar situation, and he came up beside me, and swerved his car to the side, sending me briefly into the oncoming lane of traffic, while I was madly braking so I could swing back in behind him into my own lane, and avoid running into anything. He was playing a very dangerous game. Unfortunately, I was so much in shock that I didn't get his plate#.

Banshee

 

[Banshee16]

The scariest drivers I've ever seen....

Long Island


Quebec (especially when they cross into Vermont)

For those of us from Quebec, we find Ontario drivers pretty bad. Ottawa and Toronto drivers particularly. Toronto drivers...just crazy at times. I was about to proceed with the green light through an intersection, only to almost get T-boned by a moron in an SUV who barrelled down the onramp at about 120 km/hr., through the intersection, through the red light, and back up on ramp......

If I hadn't double checked my side, I would have been dead....getting hit in the driver side of a Cavalier, by an SUV that's double or triple the weight travelling at over 100 would have been very bad.

And I can't count the number of times I've watched people run reds in Ottawa. I've almost been smoked twice, while walking across an intersection with the walk signal, and some guy felt that the red light didn't apply to him.

Banshee