How to handle tailgaters on the highway

I'd like to hear more about how you treat people who tail gate you on the highway.

I was cruisin the other day, night time, some guy (and gal) behind me in a small toyota compact car came right up behind me, flashing lights, doing about 80....I thought about slowing to 45, boxing him in, and then taking off.....but I was too tired, just pulled over to the next lane, and let the punk pass.....I noticed he kept on driving and flashed his lights to other cars in the fast lane, causing them to change lanes to let him pass.....
what an idiot..

anyway, driving a 911 just makes you "look" cool, even if you're obeying the speed limit.


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'83 911 sc cab euro

I have the good fortune of having a Ford Crown Victoria as my company car. It looks just like the SC Highway Patrol. I never get tailgaters in that car.

I do sometimes get tailgaters in the 911. I always let them pass. What else can you do??

More irritating to me is the ones that camp in the left lane. Once again, with the Crown Vic, they quickly move over but with the 911 it is a different story. I sometimes think that they slow me up on purpose, even though I am not one to flash lights or follow too close...

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E. William Reinecke
1988 Carrera Targa

depends on the car. If its a junker, just step on the brakes.

Seriously, I just go on driving. However, I never drive in the left lane if faster traffic is coming. I remember seeing a 911 turbo when I was about 10 that had written on the top of its windsheild (in reverse so it could be read from a rear view mirror), "Slower Traffic Keep right". That has always been in my mind and I believe the highways would be a better place if everyone adopted this motto. I mean how many times have you seen the soccor mom in a mini van doing 55mph in the fast lane of a 65mph highway.
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Paul
78SC Targa

[This message has been edited by pbs911 (edited 01-24-2001).]

I agree that Americans need to figure out this concept of the left lane being the passing lane. And that passing is an ACTIVE process, not something that you do passively, sitting in the left lane as you slowly approach another car.

I get really annoyed when someone is in the left lane trying to "pass" someone a half mile ahead because they have their cruise set at 1mph faster.

Thats when I do the flashing.

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Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe

I havn't done this yet but the next time a car starts tailgating, I'm going to put on my 4 way flashers and slow down.

The other problem with tailgating is in stop and go slow moving traffic. This should be done in a car other than your porsche preferably a pick up truck.

Every now and then someone will get on your tail to speed you up to the next red light. When this happens, I do the following. When I start out, I give myself about 15 to 20 feet between me and the car in front of me and maintain a constant speed.

This is great when there is a lot of traffic because the car behind you can't pass. I maintain a visual on the front car and when it slows down don't touch the brake until I am about 10 or 15 feet away ( not going too fast mind you) When I do stop, it is all of a sudden and I maintain enough space in front just in case the car behind me doesn't stop. The driver behind me has to slam on his brakes to stop and all of the contents in his car hit the floor, especially any coffee he's drinking. It's at this point in time that the driver behind you realize that he is tailgaiting and gives you a respectable distance from that point on. That always stops further tailgating. Try it, you'll like it.

Steve

I totally agreee with the slow driver in the fast lane problem. In Washington State, you do your passing in the right lane. I don't know why but everyone here heads immediately for the left lane as soon as they reach the end of the on-ramp.
As for the tailgaters, on the rare occasion that someone is going fast enough to tailgate me, I use my windshield washer squirters to their full potential. You'd be amazed how much ends up on their windshield if they're following close.
That's about as aggressive as I get. Proof I'm getting old I guess. (31) Man that sounds old!

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet

The answer is simple. Pull over and let them pass. They obviously want to get ahead of you and drive faster than you. What's the harm of letting them go?

You never know who is in that car, what chemicals they have ingested, what firearms they have, or how inclined they are to follow you home. I prefer to simply let them go on past, in 2 seconds they are out of your life forever, what's the biggie.
What is the point of slowing down, trying to impede them, turning on your flashers, holding them up, etc? What can you POSSIBLY gain by doing that? Seems like no upside, and only potential downside.

I have a novel approach which involves my daily driver as opposed to my 911. I have a 1987 Mercedes 300SDL Turbo(Diesel). I accelerate with the offender close behind me.I then take my foot completely off the accelerator and if possible let the car go down to around 1000 RPM. The offender is now increasingly frustrated and even closer. The next step is to completely floor the accelerator and allow the exhaust to blow the nastiest cloud of black smoke and carcinogens known to man. They then get off my tail works every time, especially with convertibles!!!!!

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CM Wagner

1968 911 S Coupe
Light Ivory

I couldn't agree with Jbanks more. I spent several years prosecuting here in Minneapolis and you can't beliebe the number of people who carry guns in thier cars and at least waive them at the slightest provovation. Nothing is cooler than not sinking down to the level of some creep with a big block who's just begging to get waxed.


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MRM 1984 Carrera Cab Eurospec

In the crowded highways around Denver,
the SUVs or large pickups love to tailgate. My sport muffler(two center pipes) at 5K works wonders with these idiots. But then I do move over afterwards. It is hard to hear your cell phone when you are that close to my 911's rear end. Last fall, I remember one
Jeep SUV driver literally freaked at the
noise/music when I dropped from 5th to 3rd,
twenty feet from his windshield. He was in
such a hurry to get away from me that he passed on the far right lane...

Bill


[This message has been edited by zotman72 (edited 01-24-2001).]

We all live busy lives, some just think they are busier than others. I would, however, hate to think I delayed someone on a very important mission of life, death, or job. Granted there is no good reason to tailgate when you have flashers, but some folks do not engage thier minds as well as the clutch and do dumb things under pressure. That my friends is not someone I wish to exchange insurance information with!

I *have* had firearms waved at me, so I tend to take the passive approach if someone's faster than I.

However, for some (obviously) harmless sheep, I'll just hit the windshield washer and hose 'em down. Minivans look great with Porsche windshield washer streaked all over them. Expeditions look even better with that crap all over their hoods. Do either of them have a chance at catching up to you? I hope not.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9
The Porsche Owners Gallery

If your driving in the left lane, it's your responsability to watch your rearview mirror for faster cars coming up on you. If you see one, your supposed to pull to the right and let them pass, regardless of how fast your driving. But if you don't pull over, they have no right to tailgate. I tap the pedal so they see the brake lites. They get the message and back off......

You never know who is in that car, what chemicals they have ingested, what firearms they have, or how inclined they are to follow you home.

What a sad, but true, statement.
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Paul
78SC Targa

Did you ever notice how someone driving faster than you in the left lane is an idiot and someone driving slower than you is a jerk??? :rolleyes

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Howie
79SC

Did you ever notice how someone driving faster than you in the left lane is an idiot and someone driving slower than you is a jerk??? :rolleyes

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Howie
79SC

Oops let's try that again...

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Howie
79SC

I keep bottles of pure grain alcohol and plenty of rags behind my seat. I find that insane, rage-prone tailgaters have a hard time waving a gun at me, following me home, or holding their crack pipe while they're trying to put out the fire in their lap. Just my experience, ymmv, etc.



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Aubrey Parker
'79 SC (silver/cork)

Get as far away from them as you can, without provoking them. Like you just wandered upon a rattlesnake.

You see, anyone that can follow another car at less than one car length at highway speeds, SIMPLY DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE PHYSICS OF MOTORING. Sorry for shouting. At this distance any competent driver would be unbearabley nervous. And many motorists do carry guns. I know people personally I would not want to irritate as a stranger. Especially at a time then they are obviously stressed and using poor judgment.

I saw a backwards license plate holder that said "The pedal on the right makes your car go faster," and an upside down one that said "If you can read this, turn me over." Funny, I thought.

Staying right except to pass is actually the LAW here in Washington. As a reminder, there are many clearly legible WSDOT signs on the freeway specifically to remind motorists of this requirement. And yet, Tyson is right, the right lane is by far the clearest, and cruising in it will get me to Seattle faster than the passing lane.

As far as passing too slowly, that goes with cruising in blind spots, cruising in the fast lane, reading books while driving, the list goes on. Other drivers scare me.



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'83 SC

If you drive a fast beater like I do, this is not an issue. Folks stay clear of a beater, especially if you have an NRA bumpersticker

The P-car is its own parade. I don't care who is behind me. Now if you are being harassed, that is different. There is NOTHING more effective than to ever so smoothly placing a .44 on your dash. You'll never seen anyone leave you alone so fast!