Tailgaters

No, and the reason is a fact. The more space between you and the car in front of you, the more time you have to react to any situation that could happen.

I'm with you. When I get tailgaters, I slow down and double tap my breaks. I'm amazed by how many times I have to do it more than once.

I also don't buy the argument that heavy commute traffic makes it necessary. My SIL and hubby do the same commute daily, and my hubby does not tailgate. He does have some other bad habits due to driving in heavy commuter traffic, but he does keep some distance between his car and the one in front.

I think tailgating is rude and incredibly dangerous. If someone is driving so slowly that I think it's a problem, then the logical thing to do would be to make sure I had plenty of stopping room if they were also to slam on the brakes, right? I assume that when people are driving more slowly, esp if they are in town, they are looking for an address or something along that line-- and that driver IS more likely to suddenly stop or turn.

By the way, I should probably confess that I am not a driver, nor do I ever want to be one. There's such a lack of common sense and courtesy on the road that I have zero interest. I can walk or bus to any place I need to be, really. I mean, my husband drives, however, for the many years before we got together, I was on the bus or on foot and completely content with it. It's a different way of living, slower, but I like it. There's really not enough medication in the world to convince me that driving a vehicle is a desirable prospect. Especially as a pedestrian-- it's my job to really watch the traffic and make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street--- there's a huge distracted lot of people behind the wheel. I'd rather be on the sidewalk than in the lanes with them. Don't trust'em.

First off, I LOVE Dallas and there is no way I'd move but......Every time you drive on our freeway system you are taking a chance. The exits are not the same throughout the system. It has to be he$$ for people just driving through.

If you are not doing 80+ mph you'll be run over, passing lane or not.
Rest assured if you flash your lights or honk, someone will road rage you and try to make you wreck.
If you put on your blinker to signal that you want to change lanes or exit, everyone speeds up.

No, I do not tailgate. Sometimes I wish I drove an old tank and I would just ram into some people. I am not willing to do that in my car and risk hurting myself, someone else, my car or possibly get shot. I don't "salute" people either because that too, will get you road raged and possibly shot.

I anticipate that everyone will be an a$$ so I am prepared. Occasionally, you'll see a nice person on the road.

I have a 6 lane very nice road with no turns on the way home from my errands that is FUN to drive on because it doesn't have a lot of traffic and you can enjoy the curves and speed. I drive a sports car and I LOVE this road and yes, I enjoy every moment of this road when I am driving.

Well, a couple weeks ago, I was enjoying myself as was a woman in the car next to me and suddenly we see a car headed toward us coming the WRONG way. Thankfully, my stranger friend saw this about the time I did and we both managed to scoot over the other 2 lanes. Then I see this foreign woman, holding onto the wheel, my horn blaring she looks scared to death because she just realized she was going the wrong way. She managed to get off the road but gees... there are some people who DO NOT deserve a drivers license. If you can't speak or read English then don't get on the road driving when you can't read the signs!!

I have been known to "brake check" when someone is tailgating me. I know that is not right either.

ETA: I can honestly say that the majority of issues I have with other drivers are moms in minivans and old men. I don't know why some women are the worst. I spent my time in a minivan and didn't hate other women for not driving one. I'm thankful I drive a car that will get the he$& out of dodge fast and leave everyone in my rear view mirror as well as being able to stop on a dime if needed.

I absolutely don't do it when traffic is moving quickly. Around here, traffic generally sucks at all hours of the day, and on every single freeway, so you pretty much need to take a Valium if you're going to be spending any time driving anywhere. It's enough to practically make your head explode. I can't even count the number of times traffic has been horribly snarled because of a major accident - and you KNOW it's because some @$$hole was tailgating and texting at the same time and failed to notice brake lights ahead. And then the rest of the 8 million people in this metro area are stuck at a complete standstill while the emergency crews haul his sorry butt off the freeway. UGH.

Now, when traffic is going under 20mph, you really have no choice but to tailgate. If you don't, every jerk alive is going to cut in front of you, and you'll never get where you're going.

You know what really drives me nuts? People who don't know how to merge in heavy traffic. Freakin' figure it out already!

I agree with you about the tailgating, but disagree about the honking or high beams. Shining your high beams at someone can temperately blind them (especially the many people that deal with some degree of night blindness) and could cause a serious accident. Instead of getting impatient how about just slowing down and driving a safe distance without feeling the need to honk? Wait until it is safe and move on. I think the biggest issue with all of this is that everyone is in too big of a hurry these days.

so glad to hear you were able to watch karma in action!!

There are people who are begging for accidents and to be victims...and of course, it's NEVER their fault...you weren't going fast enough...you weren't doing something right....

I leave about a car to a car and a half between me and the car in front of me. When exiting a place like Wolf Trap or some other theater venue, I am typically close, as is everyone else.

Common courtesy has gone by the way-side...people aren't taught to flash their high beams any more...from what I've seen in my 17 years in the mid-Atlantic region??? Maryland drivers are the worst...at least what I've seen about driving 55 in the "fast lane"...and then 70 in the "slow" lane and getting pissed when they have to slow down....lots of aggressive drivers out there!!

Yes, SO dangerous! As I commented yesterday, I drive a rural road to/from work everyday. I see accidents often. In fact, I just saw a pick up on its side on Thursday. There are accidents on my commute at least once a week and often more than that as evidenced by the flare ash on the road. And where is the highway patrol?!

I was trying to explain to my 16 yo new driver that not only is tailgating dangerous and illegal but that it is one of the reasons traffic gets backed up on the freeway! If a driver is driving too close they end up braking more often (and usually in the fast lane) which causes the people behind him/her to brake as well. Then you've got your classic domino affect and everyone has to slow down.

Tailgaters: just stop! You are putting all of US in danger because you selfishly only care about yourself! Just RELAX! We will all get there!

It sometimes depends where you live.
In western NY (I grew up there) it was rare (as least it was while I was living there).

In the DC area - you almost have to.
If there's more than 6 inches between bumpers cars will jump in.
You can try to be reasonable and leave space but then 10 to 20 cars will cram in front of you.
Do your best to let the crazies go around you so they get away from you.

Now that I live in southern Virginia I've had to unlearn some bad habits.
But it's a bit hair raising when you've got a narrow country road with deep (I mean REALLY DEEP - these ditches can eat cars and not even burp) ditches on both sides and you get some yahoo doing 70 who zips around you.
And in the warmer seasons you share the road with spandex wearing cyclists who aren't great at road sharing.
And in planting and harvesting times farm vehicles that take both sides of the road (I've had to back up quite a way before finding a driveway to pull into).
You really have to pay attention when you're driving!

I don't. I drive like an old grandma most of the time in my mini van. I live in the Phoenix area and the drivers here are crazy. Our licenses expire at 65, no tests, no nothing before then. Ridiculous. AZ is #1 in red light fatalities and if you cut that number in half, we are still #1! So I look both ways EVERY time I go through a green light and have actually seen people run red light right in front of me.

My husband is in sales, drives all over every day, puts 3,000 miles on his truck per month. HE is a tailgater and I.can't.stand.it. Every time we are in the car I tell him to back off. I keep asking him why he does it, I don't think he even realizes it. I think he just thinks he's going with the flow of traffic and technically he is. But there is NO WAY he would be able to stop in time if something happened in front of him. He stresses me out every time I'm with him but when I say it the first time, then he's good. Knock on wood, with all the driving he does, he has been in AZ like 15 years and has not had an accident. In fact, he's never had an accident. But I'm with you, I hate it and don't see the point. Grrrr

Tailgating is so dangerous. I hate it. If someone is tailgating me I move over and let them pass.

I believe the rule is O. car length for every 10 mph of speed, right?
Now in rush hour that may not be feasible, but I hate tailgaters!
"Hey, Tubby, what's your hurry in your minivan, eat in' your FroYo?
And some moms are the worst! With kids in the car!
I believe people should be retested for driving every 7-10 years!
I was redding your story HOPING karma was served--glad it was!

I own a huge Durango with a big nasty hitch on the back. Tailgaters get brake-checked.

My hubby is a dump truck driver. I guess I'm learning from him, lol.

ETA: I'm being sarcastic, by the way. ;-)

I don't tailgate and I cant stand people that do it.

I too get annoyed with the pokes out there, especially here in Florida. They get right into the fast lane and go under the speed limit (which is also very dangerous). I also have to deal with the tourists from all over the world that don't realize they can turn around at the next exit or light (u turns are legal here). I see many accidents that involve them.

I like driving my hubby's truck, very big diesel. I had someone so close behind me once that when I had to stop short I didn't even know they were there. They almost went under the truck. I think that person will think twice next time.

Just a thought. I haven't had a road test since 1987 so I wonder if the driving tests are still as strict. I see many drivers break basic laws all the time and figure they don't respect that a vehicle can easily become a deadly weapon.

People that are driving slow in the fast lane are sooooo irritating. I believe the rules of the road are slower traffic keep right. If you are going to drive the speed limit, great just stay out of the fast lane. People that are in the way are what we call over here in the Bay Area "Road Boulders" .

Hi, S.:

Write an e-mail to your chief of police and explain what you wrote here.

Good luck.
D.