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called 911 on a tailgater today

Off Course
#141

Brilliant. :cool:

Me, I hate a tailgaiter, but have learned to just pull over and let them by, if at all possible. If I can’t, they can just damned well stay on my tail, until they can pass. Not my problem if they’re in a hurry. And if they get too close, they’ll have the pleasure of having their radiator perforated by my ball hitch, which I keep on my truck 99% of the time, just in case. :winkgrin: That thing has saved my @$$ (literally!) on at least three occasions that I can think of.

Know what I find the most ironic? It’s that it’s almost always a tiny @$$ed car that insists on tailgaiting my big ole dually. Yeah, like they’ll win that fight, should it come down to that! They’ll be residing comfortably under my truck bed, more like. :lol:

#142

For some odd reason, slowing down, even when it’s almost to a crawl, doesn’t deter some of these fruitloops. It’s almost like they’re thinking the lane belongs to them so they’re aren’t going to slow down or pull around and will just tailgate even closer.

I know this wouldn’t work with a horse trailer, but when I’m in my car and I get a tailgaiter, if it’s safe to do so, I’ll start “drifting” to the left and then suddenly correct back into the lane. Do this a couple of times and the “gaiter” usually backs off or goes around thinking that I’m either drunk or I have a serious problem. I guess their “lane ownership” doesn’t extend as far as the crazy broad who can’t drive in a straight line.

#143

Good for you on calling 911. Some people drive like crazy people. I am a sales rep for Sherwin Williams and I call on stores in Texas and Louisiana so I am in my car on the highways all the time. I see lots of tailgating, driving too fast, cutting people off
as my hubby says “the crazy !&%^#$ *@#+!^%$ are out today”.

I am also a professional wedding cake designer and when I have a 4 or 5 tier cake in the back of my RAV I drive slow and careful - generally the speed limit but I take corners carefully. I have been cussed and treated to creative sign language on the roads by idiots. I turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to them
getting there with my cake intact is my goal.

I did have an idiot run up my backside coming home from Dallas on IH 45. I looked up (good grief, I was doing 70!) and he was nearly in my backseat. I tapped my break to let him know to back off. He didn’t. He was a young guy about 24. Gee
I kept going at 70
the people beside me did too. They had seen idiot driving like a fool. This little fellow was about to bust a gut in his fancy Ford truck. I just thought “slow down to the speed limit goober.”

LOL that was slightly evil but I was going the speed limit or over. I finally pushed my accelerator and outran him. My RAV could out run his Ford. What a twit. I kinda felt like Delores in Fried Green Tomatoes
I am older and have more insurance!

When I am hauling my horses in my Brenderup I never go over 60
I don’t care who is doing what. If it is dark it will be between 50-55
same if it was raining - never hauled in the rain yet but I will be going slow!

#144

[QUOTE=Schune;4360741]
There is no excuse for tailgating someone. However, unless you are hauling something attached to your truck/van/car/SUV, please drive the speed limit. It’s not safer if you drive 5-10 mph under; all it does is create a hazard for those who do obey the speed limit.[/QUOTE]

Is there any data to support this?

Just curious. I do the speed limit or 60, whichever is lower. Our freeways here are 70, so I stay in the slow lane. Haven’t had much of a problem with tailgaters (knock wood).

#145

[QUOTE=Sithly;4364865]
Is there any data to support this?

Just curious. I do the speed limit or 60, whichever is lower. Our freeways here are 70, so I stay in the slow lane. Haven’t had much of a problem with tailgaters (knock wood).[/QUOTE]

What I meant was is if everyone else on the highway is going the speed limit, which I think is a median of 65 mph, and you have someone piddling around going 50 or under, in no way is that safe. You make everyone else angry, and not to mention if you try to merge onto a highway or change lanes going at that lower speed, there’s a very good chance something is going to happen.

Also, by this I mean your average four door sedan, or minivan, SUV, truck, coupe, etc. I think it’s common sense to understand that when you see someone hauling an object behind their vehicle, they have different speed limitations.

Now if as a whole the speed limit was dropped 10 mph or so, that’s a different story.

#146

I’ve always said that speed doesn’t kill, the differential in speed does. :cool:

#147

Oh, no kidding!!

This morning I was cruising down the 4-lane highway at about 70, keeping in line with all the other traffic. All of a sudden, everybody is on their brakes, and trying to whip over into the left lane. I eventually see that it’s some bimbo on a cell phone going 50 in her Escalade. That’s a 20 mile speed difference.

If everybody goes 70, fine. If everybody goes 30, fine. But when one is going 50, and all the rest 70, there’s gonna be a problem.

#148

[QUOTE=Sithly;4364865]
Is there any data to support this?

Just curious. I do the speed limit or 60, whichever is lower. Our freeways here are 70, so I stay in the slow lane. Haven’t had much of a problem with tailgaters (knock wood).[/QUOTE]

If I understand you, you choose to drive 60 in the slow lane on a 4 lane highway with a posted 70 MPH limit- so drivers heading east, for example, only have two lanes to choose from- and you are occupying one of those lanes going fully 10 miles an hour slowerthan the posted limit of 70? Depending on the volume of traffic
if it is heavy, then yes, you are clogging that artery somewhat. Run up closer to 65-67 and it’ll flow better.

If I get tailgaters, an empty, dusty pebbly shoulder is my friend. Either to get them off my butt by pulling over or sling dirt on them, just depends :slight_smile:

If I get someone sitting directly beside my trailer’s axles for too long- riding the turtles is my friend. Blowing a tire at 70 is a possibility, and I’d rather they not be camped on my shoulder when it happens. I tolerate them sitting there in traffic, of course I do- but running 70 in the wide open, it bothers me.

Overall I really do NOT worry about what is behind me. Not much I can do about it. I mind the road ahead- with great caution so I have ample stopping distance. Pulling a big trailer through ATL will break you of worrying too much, there’s too many idiots to count :slight_smile:

#149

[QUOTE=Auventera Two;4365260]
Oh, no kidding!!

This morning I was cruising down the 4-lane highway at about 70, keeping in line with all the other traffic. All of a sudden, everybody is on their brakes, and trying to whip over into the left lane. I eventually see that it’s some bimbo on a cell phone going 50 in her Escalade. That’s a 20 mile speed difference.

If everybody goes 70, fine. If everybody goes 30, fine. But when one is going 50, and all the rest 70, there’s gonna be a problem.[/QUOTE]

One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone tries to merge when they’re going -15 or more under the speed limit.

I was driving home with my sister one time going north on I-75, and we’re in the left lane crusing at 75. We pass a rest stop, and some Ahole is merging going only 50 or so; well, that’s fine, he’s got the whole right lane to himself.

But noooooo, he decides it’s imperative to cut all the way over to the left lane, right in front of my sister’s Jeep which is traveling 25 mph faster than his car, causing us to almost run off the road! There was no reason he needed to do that, whatsoever.

That’s driving 101, peeps. When you’re at the end of the entrance ramp and merging, you need to be going the speed limit unless there is stopped or congested traffic.

#150

News flash – It’s not up to the majority on the road to decide the minimum speed on interstate and federal highways. It’s posted right under the speed limit. Those highways have multiple lanes to accommodate different speeds.

If I’m hauling, I’ll be damned if I’ll go faster than 55-60. I stay in the far right lane. I don’t pull out in front of faster drivers, and I speed up or slow down to make sure I don’t block traffic merging on to the highway. People going faster than me can pass me on the left. That’s why they’re called passing lanes. On two-lane roads, I’ll pull over and let other drivers by. If that poses too big of an inconvenience or if you’re in that much of a hurry, take a plane.

PS – I also go 55-60 in my car, too. I’ve improved my gas mileage by about 10%.

#151

[QUOTE=YoTambien;4364773]

I know this wouldn’t work with a horse trailer, but when I’m in my car and I get a tailgaiter, if it’s safe to do so, I’ll start “drifting” to the left and then suddenly correct back into the lane. Do this a couple of times and the “gaiter” usually backs off or goes around thinking that I’m either drunk or I have a serious problem. I guess their “lane ownership” doesn’t extend as far as the crazy broad who can’t drive in a straight line.[/QUOTE]

Facepalm so again, because you don’t like how the person behind you is driving that gives you license to drive poorly and be more focused on pissing off the person behind you than the road in front of you, to the point of not driving your car in a straight line. Sorry, you are as bad as the tail gater and I hope you get a ticket some day for illegal crossing of the center line or reckless driving.

#152

I hate tail gating folks
but haven’t yet had any plow into me. At least not from tail gating
I did have someone slide into the back of my SUV a few years ago on ice, but they just couldn’t stop. Felt bad for them too
older couple in thier very first ever brand new car. Slid under my Disco while I was stopped at a light, they weren’t going much over 10 mph and still totalled their car. :no: Nobody was hurt
the front end just crumpled on their Maxima enough for the engine to drop out. The older gent just stood there shaking his head with tears in his eyes
I told him insurance would get him a new one poor guy. I had that Disco only one year then, traded in my own Maxima for it. Told hubby the Maxima had a cheap body on it
apparently I was right.
BUT
my 4 year old truck has been hit 4x. And only once was I even in the thing at the time! :eek: Apparently the tall 4x4 F250 becomes invisible in a parking lot
even when parked nowhere near any other cars at all. :mad: The one time I was driving it and was hit was on my own road
narrow and windy road with short visibility and no shoulder
and some asshat in another F250 flew around the curve over the line with his tow mirrors extended even though he was trailering. He took out my mirror and kept going. Broke the blinker on it
no way to repalce blinker only though. Factory only sells entire mirrors
and mine are $800 per mirror. sigh So now I have a truck with 3 dents and a broken mirror and less than 14k miles on it. :no:
I hate CT drivers.

#153

Kharma

I was going out a two lane road, in my car, doing about 60, which is 5 mph over speed limit, when a ‘twit’ in an escalade flies up behind me and was so close I could not read her Liscens plate. I was taking to the friend I was late meeting (hands free) and griping about it. I came over one of those little rises in the road and saw the biggest fattest skunk I’ve ever seen sitting right on the yellow line. Seriously HUGE, I had just enough time to make a little swerve and miss him, escalade not so much, well I was really sorry about the skunk.:yes: Not as sorry as the woman behind me. :no:I am not even sure if she saw it or not, but I am sure she smelled it. :lol::lol:

It had its tail up and over its back as I zipped passed it, does that mean they are about to spray? I don’t think it made any difference, I smelled it for about a mile. She had pulled over
:lol:

#154

I agree entirely with mp. It is not safe to haul fast. There is just too much momentum.

I too drive courtesly. If I am going slower for any reason, I keep to the right, and, if on a two-lane road, pull over when I can.

Twice I have been crashed into(fortunately, not hauling.). The first time, I suddenly had to slow down, and the people in the fancy Saab behind me were tailgating so close that they barely had time to take their foot off the gas and apply the brakes before smashing into me, totaling my car. Fortunately, that time, no one was hurt.
The second time was last November. I was driving my mother’s car, my senior citizen mother in the passenger seat. We were stopped waiting for the truck ahead of us to make a left-hand turn when an oblivious driver coming from behind drove directly into us at about 40mph. Both vehicles were totaled. The police found my mother’s glasses in the back seat. She mostly healed up after 3 or 4 months. For me, even after physical therapy, my shoulder still hasn’t healed completely, and after about 5 minutes of riding, it gets so stiff and sore that I really can’t “ride” to speak of.

Driving is an awesome responsibilty! Consider the forces involved, and the other people!

The next time I am run into by someone who is closely tailgating, or not paying attention to what they SHOULD be paying attention to, namely, driving, I think I will: 1. Get out of the car, if I still can; 2. Go ask the other driver if he/she is hurt; and , if the answer is no, then: 3. KICK THE CR@P OUT OF THEM!!!

1 Like
#155

A note from the legal perspective: if the sign says the speed limit is 65, that is supposed to be the MAXIMUM speed limit. The lower number, say 45mph, is the MINIMUM. Which means, legally, you should NOT be driving 70 mph, and certainly you are not REQUIRED to drive 70 mph. You should be driving between 45 and 65, weather permitting. Which means that sometimes, if it is very foggy, very slippery, etc, you could be ticketed for going 45mph as “unsafe and excessive speed for conditions.” (However, if going slower than the minimum you should have your emergency flashers on.)

#156

Uh, not all cops are jacka**es, thanks. I’ve stopped plenty of people for following too closely. We see it, we stop it; at least my squad does. Broad generalizations on law enforcement are just like people who say horse people are rich/snobby/redneck.

#157

[QUOTE=Rienzi;4366063]
A note from the legal perspective: if the sign says the speed limit is 65, that is supposed to be the MAXIMUM speed limit. The lower number, say 45mph, is the MINIMUM. Which means, legally, you should NOT be driving 70 mph, and certainly you are not REQUIRED to drive 70 mph. You should be driving between 45 and 65, weather permitting. Which means that sometimes, if it is very foggy, very slippery, etc, you could be ticketed for going 45mph as “unsafe and excessive speed for conditions.” (However, if going slower than the minimum you should have your emergency flashers on.)[/QUOTE]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a speed limit sign with two numbers on it.

#158

Aside from making people angry (anecdotally), is there any actual data that supports the theory that driving 10 mph under the speed limit is more dangerous?

Just to be clear, I’m talking about going 60 on a two-lane freeway with a max limit of 70 and a min of 40. Assume good weather and good visibility.

If there’s actual data suggesting it’s more dangerous, I would consider changing my driving habits. If the only danger is pissing people off, quite frankly I don’t care. They are free to pass.

My truck weighs over 5000 lbs, my fully loaded trailer about 5500. That’s nothing compared to what some of you haul, but IMO it’s still too much mass to stop on a dime. I like my odds much better at 60 mph than 70. (Not to mention the big difference in fuel economy.)

Unless there’s some proof that going under the limit is significantly more dangerous, I’ll stick to pissing people off in the slow lane. :smiley:

#159

Well this isn’t horse related but one time I was driving on the highway and there was an idiot behind me tailgating me and flashing their car’s high beams at me. I looked in the rearview mirror and waved at the driver behind me.

The driver then proceeded to pass me, rolled down the window and threw her drink at my car. Yep, I know it was a stupid thing for me to do. I was in the slow lane. No idea what the driver was thinking. Some people are idiots and there are a lot of sue happy people out there so be careful.

#160

You’ve not been around much then, have you?

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