Best Way to Avoid Tailgaters

  ARGUMENT 1:

  Forum: rec.autos.driving

  Thread: What's a best way to avoid tailgaters?

  Subject: Re: What's a best way to avoid tailgaters?

  Date: 2/22/2000  

 When I see someone approaching fast from behind, I either wait for him to pass

or doing my passing quick enough to get out his way by the time he is upon me.

 If there's a row of cars in front of the as far as the eye can see than I have

no compasion for tailgators.  I'll slow down to move back how ever number of car

lengths he should be beind me and then return to my original location.  After 5

minutes of speed-up/slow-down, they usually take a hime.  That or doing some

amazingly stupid just to move up one car length.  I'm the kind of asshole who'll

slamn on his brakes if you try to drive over the roof of my car and there's

solid traffic in front.

My Reactions 

     I was actually surprised by the aggressive nature of this posting.  If you look at the last part of this posting, it clear that the author finds it acceptable to retaliate against the actions of tailgaters.  I do not agree with this stance because this can only compound the problem and perhaps create an even more dangerous situation.  Perhaps it is because the author feels endangered due to the conditions (the subject is about tailgating on a two lane road.) Nevertheless, I disagree with this stance because "slamming on the brakes" can result in an accident, or it may even escalate into a fight.  Two wrongs never make a right.    

ARGUMENT 2:  

  Forum: rec.autos.driving

  Thread: What's a best way to avoid tailgaters?

  Subject: Re: What's a best way to avoid tailgaters?

  Date: 2/21/2000

This wont AVOID being tailgated but it will eventually get them off your 

ass. I like to just slow down VERY slowly, so they can barely notice it. 

Soon they'l realize they're going much slower tha the speed limit and will 

pass you. Usually works. 

 That works if there's a passing lane.  I agree wholeheartedly against

tailgating if there's a passing lane.  If you're on a 2-lane road, what you

wrote is just plain idiotic.  There's nothing worse than a roadhog who slows

down even further because others don't like the slowness.  You're making it

even worse.  And, if you're paranoid about being rear-ended, the last thing you should do is

hit the brakes.  Think about it.

I wish I could rear-end such people on purpose and then drive away (hit-n-run).

 They deserve to get rear-ended.  They're just asking for it. 

---------

Do you know how to tip the pizza guy?

Pizza Driver Homepage 

http://members.aol.com/pizzadryvr

My Reactions

     I thought this posting was interesting because it has some similarities to the previous posting that I presented on tailgating.  I agree with the author of this posting that slowing down in response to a tailgater will only make the problem worse.  As I mentioned earlier, this could result in an accident, and in addition, it could also make the traffic worse if it is on a two lane road.  The main reason that I chose to include this posting is because it demonstrates the aggressive driving ideas that I found lurking in the newsgroup discussions.  I was really surprised that the author of this posting feels that people who slow down in response to tailgaters deserve to be rear - ended.  It is scary to think that these types of ideas are present in the minds of some drivers on the road.  

Drivers Speeding Up

  Thread: Drivers Speeding Up (message 47 of 437)

  Date: 2/23/2000

   What is wrong with people?  About 50% of drivers speed up

while I'm in the process of passing them, which can be very

dangerous.  In most cases, I don't think they're doing it on

purpose.  Why can't people pay attention to their speed?

I notice this problem at night too, when I'm trying to get

in front of someone on a multi-lane road so I can turn on my

driving lights, they start speeding up and I end up going

faster than I want to in order to get in front of them.

Sometimes when I start to gain on them and they accelerate,

I'll drop back and they will slow down, so I drop back about

a hundred yards and turn on my driving and bright lights.

Hey, there are a lot of deer, and if they won't let me pass

them they're going to have to deal with my lights behind them.

And, why do people speed up after you pass them?  If these

people would only go that fast when I was behind them, I

wouldn't have to pass them.  Passing someone is the only

effective way of getting someone to speed up.

Why can't people go their own speed?  On multi-lane roads

I encounter drivers all the time who won't get out of the fast

lane, and speed up when you switch to the slow lane to pass

them.  It P's me off.  I usually speed up to pass them on the

right, get in front of them, then drop my speed to 5 or 10 MPH

faster than they were going.  And, of course, they are right

on my tail now, and sometimes get upset and pass me on

the right.   Why are drivers such idiots?

Speaking of idiots:  yesterday, while driving home on a

55 MPH country road, I got tired of following someone

who was fluctuating between 52 and 55.  So I passed, and

while doing so had to go 70 MPH just to get around this

moron who was speeding up.  When I was in front of him,

I realized I was going faster than what I wanted to go, so

I braked to get down to 60.  The problem was that this

a-hole was now going 70 behind me, and didn't like me

braking right in front of him.  He honked and flashed his

lights.

Well, I was about out of gas and was planning on getting

gas about 3/4 mile ahead.  I pulled in and he followed.

He got out of his car and was about 6 1/2 feet tall, and

looked like someone out of the Deliverance movie.

He approached me in my truck, which I had intentionally

remained in, and started yelling.  He accused me of

braking right in front of him, and I told him he sped up

from 55 to 70 while I was passing him.  He said he

didn't speed up.  I told him I was just braking to get

down from 70 to 60.  He said I braked right in front of

him.  I was going to tell him that the only way my

braking from 70 to 60 could affect him, was if he sped

up while I was passing him, and the only way he could

be on my tail going 70 MPH was if he went from 55 to

70.  But since this guy didn't seem to be the type to

comprehend any sort of valid argument, I jumped out

of my truck and kicked his A-ss.  Actually, since he was

headed back to his car, I said nothing, waited for him

to leave, then pulled up to the gas pump.

I think it is my right to pass someone.  I also think that

if someone's going 55 I have the right to pass them

and go 60 if I want to.  The problem is that the world

can't seem to comprehend right from wrong, and if

you violate their personal perception of what is

right, some of them will threaten or become violent

with you.  I don't want to become another road rage

victim.  I guess I'll have to start slowing down without

hitting the brakes.  Sometimes it's just difficult, after

someone f-cks with you, intentionally or not. 

[ http://www.deja.com/ ]

My Reactions

     I also find it annoying when people speed up as I try to pass them.  Not only is this foolish, but it is also very dangerous. In fact, I used to enjoy tailing or cutting of drivers who sped up and would not let me change lane.  I think the whole basis for this type of behavior was because I felt threatened by their actions.  Nevertheless, I can honestly say that I now realize the errors of that type of thinking.  Perhaps it is a result of participating in the QDCs, but I feel that I can control myself better now when drivers don't let me change lane.  However, if you are one of those drivers who strongly feel that retaliation is a valid response to this type of behavior, I encourage you to read the second part of this posting.  The second half of this posting is a good example of a road rage incident that occurred because the author decided to pass the other driver.  It is important to remember that we can never be sure of how another driver will react in a particular situation.  

Safe Driving?

  Thread: Faster can mean Safer (Re: Aggressive Drivers)  

   Date: 2/19/2000

IMHO, Dan's summary of safe speeding was very well stated.  The 

virtues of safe speed are genuine.

I agree with the term "safe speed".  I personally travel in the higher

speed percentiles myself and feel much safer driving in a manner that lets

me actively avoid problems.  I didn't completely agree with Dan's points

because I thought (I could be wrong) his post read like it was a general

rule that faster drivers are the safer drivers.  While that can be true, I

think (like you've stated) that it's true only to a point, and it's not

necessarily fair to the "slow" drivers that do drive safely and

courteously.  

Reckless drivers, and people that drive with their brains

jammed in neutral, are the problem drivers, and I think speeders and

slowpokes are equally represented in those two categories.

 Dennis

My Reactions 

    Before I took this class, I also thought that there was such a thing as "safe speeding."  I used to believe that, since I was always at a higher state of awareness while I was driving at high speeds, that was not considered reckless driving.  Now, I see that this type of behavior is dangerous, and therefore, all types of speeding can be considered a form of aggressive/reckless driving.  In response to this posting, I don't think that faster drivers are the safer drivers.  That statement seems to contradict itself.  While speeding, a driver faces greater risks of getting into an accident or losing control of his/her vehicle.  Therefore, I think it is necessary to educate the public to help everyone realize that speeding is not a safe driving habit.

Aggressive Driving on the Freeways

   Thread: Freeway Drivers   (message 41 of 375)

    Date: 2/12/2000

 Tail gaters are easy to get rid of.  Just tap your brakes a few times til

they back off (after all, they are at fault if they  hit you). I fucking hate tailgaters.

I used to drive a 350 Statesman.  Oh the power :)  Tailgaters used to get a

suprise and a half.. I'd hit the brakes and slam it back to first (turbo

400) and hit the accelerator - I was going forward again really quickly,

while they'd just realised I'd hit the brake and we're still skidding to a stop :)

 Muhahahahah

 (Yes.. "Women Drivers"!) :Þ 

My Reactions  

   This is another example of the aggressive nature of these newsgroup postings.  At this point, I was feeling a little discouraged from continuing this report because I was getting annoyed by the vulgar and aggressive nature of these postings.  I am surprised how people can be so direct and vulgar in these newsgroups postings.  Maybe it is because there is a feeling of anonymity in the newsgroup environment, and therefore, people feel that it is okay to behave in this manner.  Personally, I am sick of this type of attitude in newsgroups - someone should do something to clean it up. 

     This particular posting is interesting because it was made by a woman driver.  I guess we can throw out all those stereotypes that only men are aggressive drivers.  I disagree completely with the author's viewpoint on dealing with tailgaters, and feel that she needs to change her way of thinking.  For one thing, it is ridiculous to justify slamming on the brakes by arguing that "it is their fault if they hit you."  Although I agree that tailgating is wrong, drivers shouldn't aggravate the problem by retaliating.    

Bad Driving Sighting

   Thread: Bad Driving sighting (message 3 of 12)

While riding the mass transit to work today I was watching people drive. 

Well, here is one guy, newspaper in one hand that is also clutching the

steering wheel, lighter in the other hand while he bends his head over to

light the cigarette. Can we see several bad things that can happen from this scenario? 

Like for example he was bending his head over to light the cigarette so it was near

the flammable newspaper, he had both hands busy while still trying to

control the car with just one hand (that is also busy clutching a

newspaper), and last but certianly not least reading while driving!

People truly amaze me sometimes with the stupid stunts they pull. And

people wonder why we have all these accidents everyday on our roads.

Tigress

-- 

These opinions are mine, not those of Georgia Tech.  It is the opinion of

Tech that I should be looking for a job.

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   /,`.-'`'    -.  ;-;;,_     [ http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress ]

  |,4-  ) )-,_..;\ (  `'- 

 '---''(_/--'  `-'\_)         

My Reactions

   I feel that this posting presents one of the mistakes that many drivers make while on the road.  Too many drivers try to multi-task while they are driving.  I, myself, have been known to eat and occasionally talk on the phone while I drive.  This can be dangerous because it may take attention off of driving, but I think it does not necessarily indicate a bad driver.  It all depends - some drivers can multitask while driving better than others.  I think it is okay to do some things on the road, but it is just necessary to be extra careful.  And, by all means, use your common sense - after all, the main priority on the road is driving!

Best Tunes for Driving

My Reactions    

     This report is a good example of how music and driving go hand in hand.  The major consensus I found on this particular topic is that everyone seems to prefer listening to some kind of music while they drive.  I think it's because they find that it makes driving more pleasurable.  An interesting point to make is that most drivers seem to synchronize the music with their particular mood.  Take this particular newsgroup posting for example - the author would start off with some conservative jazz and later switch to some faster tempo music to help keep him awake.  Personally, I can relate to the author of this posting because I also like to synchronize the music with my mood.  I find that music makes the drive much more pleasurable - and also keeps me from falling asleep! 

     Perhaps the main reason I chose to include this posting in my newsgroup report is that it is much more positive as compared to the previous newsgroup postings.  There was no berating or derogatory comments on this thread, which I found surprising since the previous postings on tailgating were very aggressive and vulgar in nature.  This probably has something to do with the particular newsgroup topic.  Tailgating is an aggressive act, and therefore, it is obvious that the subject will elicit responses/ideas that are aggressive in nature.  The subject of music, on the other hand, is something that more people can relate to, and is not usually perceived as threatening.  Therefore, this can probably explain why the messages of this particular posting were much more friendly in nature. 

Drunk Drivers

 My Reactions   

     The author of this posting makes a good point - why do people still drink and drive?  Maybe it's because they falsely believe that it will have no effect on their driving habit.  After all, driving sometimes becomes such an automatic event that we often take the whole process for granted.  Another reason why repeat offenders continue to drink and drive may be because our laws are too lenient.  It is impossible for officers to catch every drunk driver, and therefore, there may be certain occasions when a drunk can get away with the act of drunk driving.  This can serve as a form of positive reinforcement, and therefore, lead the drunk to falsely believe that it is okay to drink and drive as long as he/she does not get caught.  Perhaps the only remedy to this situation is to impose tougher, maybe even drastic penalties, such as sending them to jail.  

The Final Solution

  My Reactions

     This author has an interesting point.  Maybe we need to do something drastic like this in order to keep the roads a safer place to be.  However, I just don't see how feasible a solution like this would be.  It would cost too much money to enforce, and there just isn't enough prisons to hold everyone.  I think the government is too lenient on excessive speeders mainly because everyone does it one time or another - sometimes without even realizing it.  That would mean that we would have to put everyone in jail.  In fact, the people who make the laws are probably also guilty of excessive speeding.

Road Rage

My Reactions

     This is a sad example of a road rage incident gone too far.  I personally believe that no one should lose their life over a road rage incident.  This posting could probably serve as evidence of how important it is to develop emotional intelligence.  The whole situation probably occurred because the individual lost control of his emotions, and therefore, failed to act rationally.  This class spends a lot of time talking about emotional intelligence, but I think that now we should try and educate the whole society about the importance of emotional intelligence is.  After all, there is no need for this type of senseless violence.

Fun with Tailgaters

My Reactions

   Wow! This is the first constructive comment I found on the subject of tailgaters.  As I mentioned earlier, the whole topic of tailgating seemed to elicit a long string of aggressive and vulgar responses to the subject.  This posting, however, is very different from the rest.  The author makes a good point by stating how retaliating to a tailgater can result into a road rage incident.  In fact, several of the postings that I presented earlier highlight how widespread the problem of road rage is in our society.  Therefore, solutions such as this one presented by JDavis1277 are probably the correct methods to addressing the problem of tailgaters.

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