What do you guys do when being tailgated?

Question

just wondering what the general reaction to being tailgate (followed very closely while driving).

My favorite strategy, though I do not recommend, was when I was being followed down a one-lane country road at night. The car behind me was obnoxiously tailgating with the high-beams on (no where to pull over anyway as it was a one-lane rural road). My friend in the passenger seat, as we approached our turn, decided to stand in teh front seat and "moon" the offending driver. A little unorthodox, yes, but it worked...

Answer 1

I used to toss trash out my window until that act was considered a projected missile, so I stopped that.  Then I did the braking thing...that got old.  So I come up with a new idea, I would slam on my brakes and turn on my left signal light at the last minute.  Of course I'd make a turn into a driveway or onto another street but it was always fun to watch them trying to get stopped without hitting you....THERE HAS TO BE A REASON WHY YOU ARE HITTING YOUR BRAKES SO HARD.  If they hit you from the rear end, all you have to tell the police is that you had your signal light on and were making your turn and they ran into you because they weren't paying attention....never tell the police they were tailgating you!  Then when I got bored with this one, I just drive like I'm drunk - swerving all over the place, speeding up and slowing down this one usually gets them to back off.  Then I have slowed way down, hey if they didn't like the speed I was going before then they really hate it now!  If they try to pass then I speed up.  It really does depend on my mood and what I'm game for!

Answer 2

I usually tap the brakes & slow down, and if they are really obnoxious give them the finger if they pass me.

Answer 3

i just keep tapping on the breaks and slow down even more, and when thet can get past me ( not easy at times ) i put my lights on full beam

Answer 4

Turn the mirrors and ignore them.  I don't need to see them because I know they are there.  Turning the mirrors reduces the distraction. Slow down so they pass

Until they pass, I enjoy the drafting partner.

I find it amazing how someone has the courage to tailgate, but not enough balls to pass.

Answer 5

I try to pull over if I can.  Otherwise, I will slow down and go really slow until he/she backs off or passes me.

Answer 6

I drive a semi & get people that follow me too closely.  They think they are in NASCAR or something like that.  The best thing to do is gradually slow down & let them pass you.  Don't "moon" them or give them the finger.  You don't know if they are high on drugs or carrying a loaded gun.

Answer 7

I hate people who do that, i usually slow down even more.

Answer 8

well your way is certainly dangerious and shows that stupid little kid attitude about driving safely--you should pull over and let the guy go by--anything else is stupid. What would you tell the cop and the judge and your insurance company when the report says you hit a tree with your hairy *** hanging out of your pants??  One lane road --just slow down and be responsible for your own car--he will eventually pass someplace along that road.

Answer 9

Mash the brakes. Let them eat my bumper

Answer 10

Coast and let the car slow down.      It may not have worked,  the perv may want you to do it again,  and tailgate more often.

Answer 11

Handle Tailgaters Safely. In a large vehicle, it is often hard to see whether a vehicle is close behind you. You may be tailgated:

When you are traveling slowly. Drivers trapped behind slow vehicles often follow too closely.

In bad weather many passenger vehicle drivers follow large vehicles closely, especially when it is hard to see the road ahead.

Do not speed up. It is safer to be tailgated at a low speed than a high speed.

Avoid tricks. Do not turn on your taillights or flash your brake lights.

Answer 12

Resorting to tricks or trying to get back at someone on the road is just plain stupid!  I accept the fact that I can not control what the driver behind me is doing. Mad Jack is right: most of the time they're never going to pass you anyway (why the 'f' is that, anyway?).

But I can always control what's in front of me and where I'm going. So what I do is treat the offending driver behind me like a trailer that I'm towing. That means I have to be more careful. That means that I give myself more space behind the car in front of me. I will slow for any potentially dangerous situation (blind corner, intersection,etc.). I will take longer to stop when approaching a stop sign or red light. I'll drive anyway that will safely keep the "trailer" behind me from crashing into me in a dangerous situation.

Answer 13

I usually put my directional on and pull over to the side to let them pass. They can't take the road with them! Once when I did this, I even saw the guy pulled over down the road, and smiled when I drove by him! I wouldn't recommend what you friend did that you described, because there are all kinds of jerks out there. My point is, you might just do that to the wrong one next time.