What to do if tailgated

[magnatom]

I know this isn't directly related to commuting, but I know it is something people here will be interested in so....

Yesterday I was driving myself and the family back from Lancashire to Glasgow. It was a very nice drive just up until the very end. On the Clydeside expressway (for those who know it) coming West. I was in the right hand lane of two lanes (the speed lmit was just dropping from 50 to 40). I was in the outside lane, because a short distance ahead the road splits and I need to be in the right lane to head to Anniesland.

Anyway, I am probably sitting at 45 when the speed limit drops and starting to ease off a little (yes I know I should have been 40 or below). A car comes right up behind me and sits 2 metres off my backside. My reaction to this is to slow down. Not because it would irritate him (though it probably would) but to ensure if he does hit the back of methat it is at a lower speed. There are no cars in front of me, but there are cars in the other lane which can, and often do, change lanes with little warning.

So I slow to probably 37 (40 zone) and he sits probably even closer. The road splits off (single lane) and he remains glued to me. Eventually we join a dual carriageway and he pulls around me. Here I make my mistake and give the internantional w*nk sign. I shouldn't have, I know. However, I really had felt he had placed me and my family at serious risk and so was annoyed at the time. After he passed the car, he swerved in front of me and he then slammed the brakes on trying to get me to stop. I therefore, quickly changed to the outside lane, so he then swerved back out (nearly hitting me!) forcing me to swerve to the left again. We then both stopped in traffic beside each other and he started raving at me, whilst I suggested (and I did not swear as my family was in the car) that he was seriously endangering us.

Anyway as with nearly all of these 'big men' he did not get out the car and he drove off. I noted the plate at the time but forgot it due to my heart rate being it about 230! I am sure I would recognise the car again if I saw it though....

I know my sign did not help, fair enough. However, in no way did it constitute a reaction like that! So I can only assume that his raving was related to my slowing down and holding him up.

So what do you do when someone is tailgating you and you do not have the option to pull out the way? What is the official advice? I think I was right to slow down, for the sake of my families safety, but it did end up making him more agressive.

Before anyone asks, yes I was driving in the primary position...

 

[gavintc]

I do as you do and slowly slow down. In extreme cases, I will put the fog lights on as this can look like brake lights.

However, I try to avoid confrontation as I once got into a frightening case of road rage in London where I was sure the guy was out to kill me. So, once the tosser is past, I will slow down to let him get well away.

 

[domtyler]

Just slow right down, maybe put the hazards on. If the wife is in the car I will get her to take a picture through the rear window of the drivers face and number plate and then pretend to make a call. Obviously making self-gratification artist signs is rarely going to have the desired effect of making him see the error of his ways and backing off.

 

[LOGAN 5]

just when you needed your helmet cam

Seriously though I don't think you can do anything right with these bypes of drivers. They are intent on driving badly and aggressively. Think you did the right thing except the hand signal bit - only for your own safety as this obviosuly tipped the idiot over the edge. Dont' forget in their eyes it's always everybody elses fault.

 

[bgussin]

We don't have the red rear fog lights here in the States. I've driven a succession of manual shift cars for the last 25 years and nothing backs off a tailgaiter like holding in the clutch and shifting into reverse. At speed on the highway the look of surprise as they hit their brakes is priceless.
I also blink the back-up lights for cars behind me with high-beams on. Not always as successfull.
Years ago I read about a driver who mounted windshield washer sprayers on his rear bumper and filled the reservoir with red-colored water to spray tailgaters. I wouldn't go that far.
The older I get, the less confrontational I get. It's safer. YOu never know what combination of mental illness, drug reaction or interaction and bravado is rolled-up in the moron behind you.
Also be extra alert and understanding around hospitals, as many folks are driving to and from them frantic and upset.
On my bike I've found pulling out the cellphone (or mobile) works great for diffusing an agressive driver. I first make a voice memo of the license number. Gotta get a picture phone!

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Slow down, definitely, and make sure you have enough space in front of you at least.

I once had someone behind me who was very close (in a 30 limit which many think is 40 for some reason) and wasn't paying attention: chatting to her boyfriend, turning to look at him and so on .. I could almost read her lips in the mirror she was that close. She wasn't being aggressive, just not paying attention.

As luck would have it, the car in front of me had to make an emergency stop but at least I had plenty of space / time to stop more gently. As it was, even though I didn't have to jump on the brakes and slowed gradually, she still managed to clip the back of my (wife's) car due to REALLY not paying attention, but there was no damage done. Had I had to do an emergency stop myself, we'd have been in whiplash territory I'm sure.

Nowadays, especially with the family in the car, I'll often pull over ("when safe and convenient") into a layby or whatever and let them past. Not really possible in your case, I know, but worth doing otherwise: it's much easier to keep an eye on them when they're in front of you and much less stressful: at least it won't be you they drive into.

Let them think they've "won", who cares? I did have one bloke make the w****r sign at me as he went past: my "crime" was to be (roughly) sticking to the speed limit and pulling over to let him pass . Most people don't realise why you've pulled over, and are probably baffled as to why you come back out behind them .. if they even notice. Some even thank you !!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I will always point my camera at the offending vehicle and make a show of taking several pictures. I also find going through the motions of making a mobile call whilst watching in the rear view mirror helps.

I know this isn't directly related to commuting, but I know it is something people here will be interested in so....

Yesterday I was driving myself and the family back from Lancashire to Glasgow. It was a very nice drive just up until the very end. On the Clydeside expressway (for those who know it) coming West. I was in the right hand lane of two lanes (the speed lmit was just dropping from 50 to 40). I was in the outside lane, because a short distance ahead the road splits and I need to be in the right lane to head to Anniesland.

Anyway, I am probably sitting at 45 when the speed limit drops and starting to ease off a little (yes I know I should have been 40 or below). A car comes right up behind me and sits 2 metres off my backside. My reaction to this is to slow down. Not because it would irritate him (though it probably would) but to ensure if he does hit the back of methat it is at a lower speed. There are no cars in front of me, but there are cars in the other lane which can, and often do, change lanes with little warning.

So I slow to probably 37 (40 zone) and he sits probably even closer. The road splits off (single lane) and he remains glued to me. Eventually we join a dual carriageway and he pulls around me. Here I make my mistake and give the internantional w*nk sign. I shouldn't have, I know. However, I really had felt he had placed me and my family at serious risk and so was annoyed at the time. After he passed the car, he swerved in front of me and he then slammed the brakes on trying to get me to stop. I therefore, quickly changed to the outside lane, so he then swerved back out (nearly hitting me!) forcing me to swerve to the left again. We then both stopped in traffic beside each other and he started raving at me, whilst I suggested (and I did not swear as my family was in the car) that he was seriously endangering us.

Anyway as with nearly all of these 'big men' he did not get out the car and he drove off. I noted the plate at the time but forgot it due to my heart rate being it about 230! I am sure I would recognise the car again if I saw it though....

I know my sign did not help, fair enough. However, in no way did it constitute a reaction like that! So I can only assume that his raving was related to my slowing down and holding him up.

So what do you do when someone is tailgating you and you do not have the option to pull out the way? What is the official advice? I think I was right to slow down, for the sake of my families safety, but it did end up making him more agressive.

Before anyone asks, yes I was driving in the primary position...

 

[fossyant]

You mean you didn't have your camera ?

Best thing is to slow down, and/or flick your lights on - they ARE going to crash at some point.

The 'banker' sign can set them off - but he was being exactly that - your crime, driving at the speed limit.

 

[LLB]

I find leaning out of the window shaking my fist works wonders

Seriously though, just drive at the limit if you are in it and just then let them past when you can. That is what they want at the end of the day

 

[medals]

Aggressive tailgaters like that are stressed out and dangerous. They're going through some sort of crisis and you're in the way!

I suppose the only way to play it, is with a straight bat. Keep within the speed limit and when the t*at gets to pass you, don't react. It isn't easy 'cos he/she's putting you & yours at risk. But once they've passed, the moment's gone and they're out of your life.

I get it all the time on my scooter. It'll do 60 mph no probs, but around town in 30 mph areas I'm always getting tits who'll tailgate & try to overtake and I'm doing at least 30mph myself.

 

[bryce]

I used to feather the brake pedal when someone did this (so the light comes on without slowing down). I don't do it anymore though as it's dangerous - i.e. the car behind brakes, causes the one behind it to brake etc.
Now I just let go of the accelerator completely - and slow right down gradually to annoy whoever's behind me.

 

[LLB]

The problem with tailgaters is that they just don't give a shoot about you. They aren't going to ram you (well very unlikely) so the only way you are going to connect is if you jump on the brakes.

 

[small fish]

I've never tested this theory - but I've been told that squirting your windscreen washers is a good thing to do - the overspray hits their windscreen and they have to put their wipers on - and get your subliminal message that you are not happy.

 

[Amanda P]

Had a guy in a lorry do this to me a few months ago. The scary thing was that when I let him past, it turned out it was an articulated truck, and the trailer was a fuel tanker.

He then went on to tailgate the car ahead of me until that driver pulled onto the hard shoulder too, and then the next...

I thought there was some sort of test you had to pass...

 

[Angelfishsolo]

This can work yes. even better if your jets are a little out of alignment and spray further away from the windscreen / windshield.

I've never tested this theory - but I've been told that squirting your windscreen washers is a good thing to do - the overspray hits their windscreen and they have to put their wipers on - and get your subliminal message that you are not happy.