Insane Tailgater - what would you have done?

[RSBob]

Driving to work yesterday morning at 6:00 AM on a 2 lane highway where the speed is 55, there is a pickup doing 50 on a dry, non-slippery road. Since I gave up tailgating about 10 years ago, I use the 5 second rule and give him plenty of room. I see my opportunity and a broken line on my side and easily pass him leaving about 10 car lengths before pulling back ahead of him. While slowing, I look in the rear view seeing him rapidly gaining on me with another car right in front of me in a no passing area. Meanwhile he is relentlessly burying his headlights in my tail.

I see another passing area which is too short for him to follow and quickly lose him behind the car I overtake. Now back to double yellows for the next 5 miles I relax. Looking in the rear view, I see him passing over the double yellow into an oncoming curve. And then he is again in my tail pipe and I am blocked by another car. I reach for my mobile phone knowing this guy is certifiable and the phone is dead. Hmmm. If I brake-check him he will be into me in a heartbeat, there is so much traffic there is no way to get more than a few car lengths away. Knowing how many people carry guns there is no way I would want to do anything that might piss this low life off further. About another 5 miles is a police station so I just plan on driving there. But all the cruisers are locked away in a parking garage and so you never see cops around, but it's better than nothing. Heading that way, with him still on my tail, I make a quick right and he follows. Getting close to the station he figures out what's up and turns down a side street and disappears.

So the question is, and keeping it legal, since jail time for homicide is not my thing, what would you have done differently?

[tirwin]

That's about all you could've done. Like Frank Zappa said, there is more stupid in the universe than hydrogen.

Edit: Does WA have a "stand your ground" law?

[Ronnie's.930]

Rick, I would have shown him this - - ->





Butt seriously, I think you did all you could in the situation - well done.

[timmy2]

Just guessing here, but If I am correct about your somewhat remote location in WA, (Having driven past the apple quarantine signs numerous times on rather desolate roads).

Absolutely nothing different, too many wackos out there... The drive to the cop shop was a very intelligent move. Good choice.

[Cherry Bomb]

I've had a similar incident, but the tool in his F-150 sped passed me and swurved last second, nearly clipping the front wheel of my Cab. Then he did the typical brake check. I followed him to a name brand parking lot where he jumped out. I was good and mad, so I obliged. He was not making sense and was very rattled, not normal behavior. I realized the siuation could go either way, so I took his plate number and headed up to the LPD. Long story short, he was in the wrong and the friendlies knew it right away. I was given props for a "sweet ride" and talked a while with an Officer regarding the 911...lol.

The stupid ass told the Officer I passed him at 80mph! It was more like 54+ in a 45 to get by, as he was toying with me in a four lane section.

The Officer then asked how he managed to cut me off in his F-150?.....if my "obviously" faster car would have been long gone already....he actually admitted to cutting me off, after I passed him in a four lane section of road.

Officer warned if I had just brushed it off and went home, they would have me to blame as I left the scene, so to speak.

I ignore most things now. If there's no contact, there's no problem. Live to cruise another day. ;-)

[DanielDudley]

You did nothing to provoke him, and chose wisely to get rid of him. But he's still on your tail.

These guys come along. Best to forget them.

[billh1963]

Trucks always seem to be the worst. The only issues I have ever had with tailgating and crazy stuff is with someone in a pickup. I ignore them as best I can or turn off on other roads. Of course, I always carry in case I encounter a nut job.

[Cevan]

If you don't carry, go to Harber Freight and buy one of those huge Rambo knives they sell. They are dirt cheap Chinese crap but they look lethal. If someone approaches your window, just pull it out.
Otherwise, I think you did the right thing.

[stownsen914]

Not a whole lot you can do, but two things that come to mind:
1. Turn onto a cross street - slowing very carefully of course since you have a dip***** on your bumper. Make it a busy one and not a back road if possible.
2. Slow down by coasting (not braking) to 20 mph under the speed limit. The idiot may get frustrated and pass you. Or at least if the idiot hits you, it will be a lower speed accident.

[Racerbvd]

I generally don't have a problem with tailgaters, when I see a car coming up fast, I move over, if there is traffic, I speed up & move over, but if someone decides to play games...

[gamin]

You handled it correctly. Way too many nut jobs out there. I have had similar situations arise so now I carry at all times. Hope I never ever have to use a weapon but I do not want to be a victim. When seconds count the police are only minutes away.

[gamin]

Nice piece there racer. I've got one for home defense loaded with 410's.
Did you see the news about the Georgia businessman who made it company police to carry at work and then he bought every employee a judge. Just reported mass shooting at Kansas business. Wouldn't have happened at that Georgia outfit. Molon Labe.

[dad911]

Dash-cam. Cell Phone video. Had a friend who would flip pennies out the sunroof at the a-holes behind him.......

[billybek]

You did the right thing.
No need to make a crazy person crazier!

He must have been one of those self appointed law enforcement types....
I was hit from behind in my volkswagen when someone took offence to being passed by one. Crazy stuff...

[ckelly78z]

I understand now why people want dash cams to catch the crazy antics of heavily "medicated" or "medication needed", types of drivers so they have a leg to stand on with the cops.

When I get tailgaters, (which seems like nearly every day), I generally move my outside rearview mirror out, and down so their peircing headlights aren't reflected back in my eyes. I maintain speed, but occasionally start slowing down to make it easier for them to take their high stakes games past me and bother someone else.

You did the right thing by heading to the police station, you never know what kind of agenda these nutjobs have.

[pcardude]

I would have pulled onto the shoulder and waited for him to pass then just kept my distance behind him.

I have no time for retards like that.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

I understand now why people want dash cams to catch the crazy antics of heavily "medicated" or "medication needed", types of drivers so they have a leg to stand on with the cops.

When I get tailgaters, (which seems like nearly every day), I generally move my outside rearview mirror out, and down so their peircing headlights aren't reflected back in my eyes. I maintain speed, but occasionally start slowing down to make it easier for them to take their high stakes games past me and bother someone else.

You did the right thing by heading to the police station, you never know what kind of agenda these nutjobs have.

Why not just move over when faster traffic approaches

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

Why not just move over when faster traffic approaches

On a 2 lane road at 6:00 in the morning like the OP stated, i'm not pulling over, or speeding up for ANYONE except a cop, ambulence, or fire truck. I get the same thing on my way to work on 2 lane roads....most of the time, there are plenty of cars ahead of me, so why bother trying to go faster.

There is no moving over on a 2 lane road, that doesn't present an even more dangerous situation.

[oldE]

All kinds of crazy out there. A few years ago I had a fellow in an old mini pick up with a wooden box replacing the original bed catch up to me and plant his front bumper about a car length behind me at ~55mph. I touched the four way hazard lights for a single flash. I figured that was safer than touching the brakes. As we entered a 30 mph zone he overtook me on a blind crest then hit his brakes hard enough to lock the rear wheels (I remember seeing the tread pattern on his tires). I got his plate number and went to the RCMP office, but there was no one around.

More recently, I was out for a cruise and overtook an older Dodge minivan leaving an intersection. He must have objected to being overtaken by a Miata and did his best to keep up with me going up the mountain. As we approached the crest, I caught up to a slower vehicle and put that between us on a brief passing stretch.
As I pulled in to my lane again, I realized he was coming by the slower vehicle too, on a double solid line approaching a blind crest. There was a VW Golf coming the other way and the driver of the overtaken vehicle braked to give him room. Needless to say the VW driver was standing on the brakes and leaning on the horn. No one touched.
At that point, I pulled over and let the minivan driver go by. I don't like being first responder at collisions.

Stay safe out there
Les

[ledhedsymbols]

You did the only reasonable thing I think. If I have a chance I get over and slow down. I drive to and from the Everett Boeing plant every day for the day shift at work. I refer to it as "The Boeing 500.". Usually at least a couple fender benders a week. I don't play their game, and I have never seen anything like it. Gotta keep your head on a swivel for sure. I just don't play, let them race each other around. It's not worth it to be first!