tailgating.... is it just utah?

[redstrosekNic]

Many tailgaters here in NE Ohio...

My favorite are the idiots that pass me up in order to beat me to the red light ahead. I have had people flip me off while passing, just to be sitting next to me at the light about 1000 ft ahead. Think about the sheer amount of fuel the nation would collectively save if people were aware of the concept of coasting.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by genrex

I love driving in sparsely-populated areas. Once you get off the main highway and onto the secondary highway in those areas, the psychology of the drivers is completely different. Nobody is in a hurry, nobody tailgates. The pace of life is completely different. There is no rat race. Some of those drivers have probably never passed anyone in their entire life, just happy as can be.

_

Yep. Driving through rural America on 2-lane roads is a delight.

[teenerted1]

75mph eh, where you in a construction zone? oh wait all of SLC is a construction zone.
everyone there blasts down the road next to each others bumper at light speed.
outside of the tremonton to the 80mph zone south of provo, people tend to drive a little more normal. but the SLC area is full of nuts speeding.

i get to enjoy a few hrs of that in a couple weeks, on my drive to NM for turkey day.

[nynor]

today:

Enraged motorist confronts cop in unmarked police car | ksl.com

karma is a *****.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by speeder

Yep. Driving through rural America on 2-lane roads is a delight.

Farmers are friendly and typically in no big hurry.

[widgeon13]

I don't see as much tailgating as I used to a few years ago. I also don't commute anymore since I'm retired.

[SiberianDVM]

I see it everyday on my 100 mile roundtrip commute. Since my DD is a fairly low to the ground RSX, every SUVs or pickups headlights blind me, and I usually have to drive both ways in the dark.

For about a year, the SAME Nissan pickup would tailgate me every morning. This guy was REALLY aggressive.

Then one day he wasn't there, and I haven't seen him since. I've often wondered if he's dead, in jail, lost his license, moved away.........

[petrolhead611]

I've driven in many countries on different continents but to my mind the Italians are tail-gaiting world leaders. On highways they seem to think thast they are in a kart race,without of course having the low momentum and slicks of a kart to help them slow quickly or swerve. The only sane and safe thing to do is to let them pass.

[motion]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Just in Utah? No. Everywhere. Miami/Lauderdale is really bad. And Italy is absurd. You always have someone wanting to pass there.

Ian

I was driving I-95 through Miami yesterday. Doing 80 in a 55 and I had 10 cars on my rear nose to tail, trying to get by me. Felt like Talladega.

As I get older, I've learned to calm down and tune out the world around me, and the things I have no control over. That means driving in the next-to-slow lane a few mph over the limit and not getting worked up by other drivers. I usually prefer my F150, just because its so slow and big. My other cars are usually trying too hard to go fast.

Of course, driving in rural Montana is a whole nother thing. People are extremely respectful and usually wave at you, even if they don't know you.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

I've driven in many countries on different continents but to my mind the Italians are tail-gaiting world leaders. On highways they seem to think thast they are in a kart race,without of course having the low momentum and slicks of a kart to help them slow quickly or swerve. The only sane and safe thing to do is to let them pass.

To UK drivers credit I do not see many accidents in the UK like I do in Canada. Tailgating I think is bad in North America.The smaller the car you have the more likely u have a half ton inches from u at a red light.Once moving I hate to say it but many female drivers tailgate as they do not understand how long it takes to stop their car before they pile into u.Sextist yes. But just what I notice. Add drivers on cellphones who disregard the no distraction rule and this includes both men and women, I find it incredible. Also I am retired so try to drive as little as possible.

[Drisump]

I believe that it is a phenomenon of the day (tailgating). On a two lane road when the tailgater is looking for an opportunity to pass....I'll cut some slack, but in tight traffic where everyone is relegated to the pace the traffic dictates and you still have a car on your bumper, that really drives me crazy.You can't even get out of the way. I wonder if the shorter stopping distances in modern cars give comfort to these drivers. Thing is, if everyone can stop that quickly, there isn't any real advantage. I found in driving Italy was very interesting, yes they would tailgate but usually when you're using the left lane at a speed they find "inappropriate"...in other words, unless you're doing 120+mph, and you're rearview is clear, you use the left lane only to ACTIVELY pass (ie. doing a half mph faster than the next lane, doesn't constitute active passing, unlike here). It seems whenever I take the 911 out in the city, I have at least some experience with tailgating in heavy traffic. Cheers

[bivenator]

I will sometimes check my brakes when being tailgated. Just to make sure they are working properly.

[Drisump]

Originally Posted by motion

I was driving I-95 through Miami yesterday. Doing 80 in a 55 and I had 10 cars on my rear nose to tail, trying to get by me. Felt like Talladega.

As I get older, I've learned to calm down and tune out the world around me, and the things I have no control over. That means driving in the next-to-slow lane a few mph over the limit and not getting worked up by other drivers. I usually prefer my F150, just because its so slow and big. My other cars are usually trying too hard to go fast.

Of course, driving in rural Montana is a whole nother thing. People are extremely respectful and usually wave at you, even if they don't know you.

In British Columbia a driver caught doing 40 KPH over the limit (25mph) would be impounded and the total bill would be in excess of 2K each ( towing, storage, ticket, compulsory insurance rate increase). IMHO penalties far over the top since there is no provision for the situation at all, a deserted early morning four lane or a busy city street, is all handled the same. So all visitors to our part of the world, beware. Cheers

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by bivenator

I will sometimes check my brakes when being tailgated. Just to make sure they are working properly.

I tried that a year ago and nearly got rearended. It has been suggested to me that I put my headlites on momentarily and that way u don't slow down and get rearended. Meaning the main headlight switch which would flash the rear lites on momentarily.

[Hugh R]

I thought that's what windshield washers were for.

[coldstart]

I think it is funny that Porsche 911 drivers are complaining about tailgating. We are known as the worst offenders! I personally witnessed one of the complainers on this thread engage is some serious tailgating-- and he is now complaining about 'other' tailgaters!

It is too bad that no one here is being self-reflective or honest with themselves. While I have never rear-ended anyone, I have been guilty of driving way too close to other cars multiple times to get them to move over. I have learned to take it easier on the road and remember what is important. EDIT: At least most of the time!

I do find it is really frustrating when people stick to the left lane going well below the speed limit. Tailgating usually works as a wake-up call to them to move the F*^% out of the way when you get in the slow car in the lefthand lane's grill or use the highbeams.

[StevoRocket]

France is the worst in Europe, they tailgate and nearly remove your rear bodywork as they overtake.

They also tailgate slipstream to save fuel behind huge trucks - about 3-4feet away at 60mph.

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I thought that's what windshield washers were for.

+1000 especially if they are in a clean car.

[john70t]

Had a friend who turned his back spray nozzle around. Considered brake fluid.

[vash]

Originally Posted by coldstart

I think it is funny that Porsche 911 drivers are complaining about tailgating. We are known as the worst offenders! I personally witnessed one of the complainers on this thread engage is some serious tailgating-- and he is now complaining about 'other' tailgaters!

It is too bad that no one here is being self-reflective or honest with themselves. While I have never rear-ended anyone, I have been guilty of driving way too close to other cars multiple times to get them to move over. I have learned to take it easier on the road and remember what is important. EDIT: At least most of the time!

I do find it is really frustrating when people stick to the left lane going well below the speed limit. Tailgating usually works as a wake-up call to them to move the F*^% out of the way when you get in the slow car in the lefthand lane's grill or use the highbeams.

I used to be bad. I rear ended some nice ladies in Austin tx and learned my lesson. This was 25 years ago. I check myself now. Easy to relapse.