True tailgaters tailgate no matter where they are or what lane they are in. I've been tailgated many a time on residential streets and the slow lane on the highway even though I am exceeding the speed limit and there is no one in the left lane! Normally what I do is just let off the gas pedal and let my car slow down until they get the message.

In the last half year I had to "brake-check" three people. One truck who backed off in a left turn and I quickly moved over to let by, one nervous-wreck lady with her son who didn't get it the first time(so I did it again), and then some middle-aged suit in an SUV who started mouthing at me (but wisely decided it best to back down).

That ***** doesn't work with me and the 12y.o. beater. I have all the right to defend my self on the sidewalk and road from agression.

I always let tailgaters by. Better they get the ticket than me...

A few more comments since I admit to tailgating: I don't tailgate motorcycles and even if I'm doing 100 in the left lane, I move over for someone that wants to go 110 (this actually happens fairly often in Houston).

I hate tailgaters. The State Troopers even do it around here. I have wanted to rig a high pressure spray of brake fluid or Biodiesel to soak their car. But I am too lazy so I just try the Zen aproach and let the douch by.

Yes, Staties tailgate perhaps the most here in Mass. It's pretty much SOP for them, as is cruising at around 90 mph. But then again, they rank right up there with the Kennedy's above God, Himself, in the pecking order of things, so it's no surprise.

I usually try to let faster traffic by, no matter what speed I'm going. But there's gotta be a reasonable opportunity for me to do so. I actually think it's a reflection upon my own lack of attention/poor driving if someone's gotta pass me on the right. At the same time, it irritates me (to put it lightly) when someone stakes out claim to the "fast lane" at their whopping 5 mph-under-the-limit. And then proceeds to pace the rest of traffic thereby making it impossible to get around them without pulling off somewhat aggressive use of steering and throttle. I don't know if it's due to selfishness, indifference/lack of consideration, or obliviousness to the traffic patterns around them. But if LEO's truly wanted to crack down on road rage, there's certainly one place to start.

But in the original post: HOV lanes in California usually don't allow you to move over (double double yellow line). There may be some hard divider, as well. And if there's already someone even slower in front of me, WTF am I expected to do for the a$$hat behind me? Leapfrog the guy Lightning McQueen-style? I guess try to take down the plate number, so if the hit-and-run occurs, at least you know who to go after.

brake checking makes you as bad as the tailgater.

the gradual let off of the gas is a better solution. Doing a brake check may get you shot or someone killed sometime.

Pull on your headlights without braking, that'll often slow them down.