Why do you tailgate?

[Anonymous]

I don’t mean if someone is parked in the left lane doing 55. On a two lane road with someone driving 40 in a 35, why would you tailgate/y safely pass? (I happen to have driven the stretch 15 minutes earlier and saw there was a speed trap, but regardless-5 over the speed limit is not bizarrely slow.) I do really want to understand!

[Anonymous]

To communicate I would like to go faster.

I very rarely tailgate now, kids are teenagers so I try to emulate good driving, but I spent 4 years in Germany and this nit so subtle ‘communication’ took a while to integrate back into the terrible US driving norms.

[Anonymous]

I thought this was a food and sports question (exiting the thread).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was a food and sports question (exiting the thread).

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was a food and sports question (exiting the thread).

+1

Same, and was very confused about why anyone would pose the question (so much fun!).

[Anonymous]

People tailgate because they are selfish and don't consider the danger they are putting others in. They want to get where they are going fast and damn the fool who gets in their way. That's pretty much it. Selfishness.

[Anonymous]

I don't tailgate but have always assumed that the tailgater wants me to drive faster.

Is it more complicated than that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To communicate I would like to go faster.

I very rarely tailgate now, kids are teenagers so I try to emulate good driving, but I spent 4 years in Germany and this nit so subtle ‘communication’ took a while to integrate back into the terrible US driving norms.

This is more of a local norm. It's a clear message in the Northeast.

[Anonymous]

Better question: what do you do to piss off the tailgater? I sometimes turn on my lights. Or slow down more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better question: what do you do to piss off the tailgater? I sometimes turn on my lights. Or slow down more.

I turn on my flashers and slow down. Brake checking is too dangerous.

[Anonymous]

DW is a lifelong tailgater and genuinely believes it is a generous educational gift to her fellow drivers. There's no convincing her otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better question: what do you do to piss off the tailgater? I sometimes turn on my lights. Or slow down more.

I just keep driving as usual, it doesn't take anything more than driving the speed limit and stopping at stop signs to piss off the average tailgater.

[Anonymous]

It enrages me. Thankfully, I'm not a violent person. One day the tailgater will do it to the wrong person. I typically drive about 7-8 over the speed limit unless I am in a residential area. If someone is right on my bumper, I gently slow down to the speed limit and set my cruise control. I don't drive in the left lane unless I'm actively passing. If you are closer that about two car links, you are the a$$hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To communicate I would like to go faster.

I very rarely tailgate now, kids are teenagers so I try to emulate good driving, but I spent 4 years in Germany and this nit so subtle ‘communication’ took a while to integrate back into the terrible US driving norms.

So pull around me into the passing lane and PASS me!

Why are you tailgating me in the RIGHT lane? You can go around! Why stay behind me? The passing lane’s next to you! Use it!


Why don’t you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DW is a lifelong tailgater and genuinely believes it is a generous educational gift to her fellow drivers. There's no convincing her otherwise.

She’s going to get an education in physics and reaction time one day, if she tailgates me. I drive a POS car I care nothing about. I’ll brake check her so hard the fillings will fly out of her teeth. Or she’ll hit me, and then she’s gonna pay up.

Either way, one day someone is going to educate her, too.