Tailgaters

[Chill]

I cannot stand them! why do they feel the need to drive 2 inches away from my bumper! are they really gonna get there any faster? I always try keep the distance between me and the vehicle in front in case i have to brake suddenly. (and its not as if i drive as if i'm carrying miss daisy )

Some people make me so angry! sorry but felt the need to vent.

[TonyM]

I'm right behind you there (but not too close!! )

I think it is one of the most dangerous practices on the road . I don't know why they do it - either they can't judge distances or they are not aware of the distance needed to stop. Either way they shouldn't be on the road.

I don't know how is best to deal with it. I tend to slow down to a speed that gives them a chance to stop if need be but this could be interpreted as provocative and anyway is very incovenient if you want to get a move on.

[jwardell]

Happens here in MA all the time, at very high highway speeds. Only happens to me when I'm also stuck behind someone. Once the front toyota --sorry, I mean slow car, gets out of the way they are no longer tailgating me as I'm a mile ahead of them Of course the driver of the tailgating SUV doesn't even remember I was there as they were on their cell phone the whole time.

[luVlee]

when ppl tailgate me, I normally tap the brake to get the brake lights to flash. I'm not braking so they can hit my car, just tapping the brake very slighting so it flashes. it works all the time. They take it as a warning and they start to slow down or sometimes since canadians are so nice they wave at me saying sorry.

[Johnny225]

You got to be careful about slowing down. Some people carry guns and will shoot you if you do. I found the best way is(if you have them) to activate your rear fogs, and then speed up.
Of course, the best thing to do is to change lanes and let them pass.

[luVlee]

there are no guns in canada, thank god for tat. And i don't think they will shoot a person driving a mini...tat's just WRONG.. haha don't u guys agree?

[Chill]

Yeah perhaps i'll try that Johnny, my main experience of it though is on the single roads without lanes

[Paul]

Having a baby on board (and a sign that says so) also makes no difference.

[KlausR]

Hmm, that´s remarkable...

In contrary to your problems I only encounter motorists who drive too close in front of me.
No, kidding aside...Although I keep closing up on other drivers whose perception of speed differs resolutely from mine I usually keep the distance until I notice an occasion for overtaking. I have the problem with taligaters just sometimes on the autobahn, but that is easily solved by pulling over to a slower lane for a few seconds and let them pass.

Klaus

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

Having a baby on board (and a sign that says so) also makes no difference.

because the ****** that do it probably can't read.

[Brown_TO]

On the highway, the most effective way to get a tailgater off your ass is to activate your windshield washers. Then wait 10 seconds...and do it again. The spray always blows back to the tailgater's windshield, forcing him to activate his wipers. Do that a few times and they quickly get the message, or they're distracted and forced to brake and back off.

[htrout13]

I like the windshield washer response... I know I hate it when my nice clean car gets sprayed by the guy in the lane next to me... when we're stopped...

I've always been a fan of the rear fog flicker - looks like brakes - but you don't slow down!

H

[trico]

It's not just tailgating. I find that when I stop my MCS at a stoplight drivers, especially those with big SUV's and 4WD trucks, seem to make a point of "rabbiting" up to my back coming to an abrupt halt merely inches from my rear bumper. There have been times that the speed at which they approach has caused me to prepare to be hit from behind and slowly inch the MCS forward as they approach. Is this a**hole driver phenomenon noticed by any of you elsewhere? I own two other vehicles, neither of which is a MINI, and this behavior does not seem to occur as often when I'm in those vehicles. Is this a MINI centric problem?

[Parc77]

I had a doughnut tailgater just the other day, driving co Astra down the A19 - lorrys and various other slow moving vehicles traveling 50 -60mph in the inside lane, I was behind another car in the outside lane passing these vehicles at a more than reasonable pace and this E36 323 BMW comes flying up behind getting closer with fog lights on (even tough there was only light drizzle), he was weaving about behind me as if to say im driving a powerful car move out of my way. Then there was a 4 car length gap in the inside lane - he tried to undertake but didnt succeed so he weaved back out, as soon as the car in front and myself had past the traffic in the inside lane we both pulled over - as any normal motorist would do. The BMW came past, I was just shaking my head from side to side in disbelief, the guy in the BMW obviously saw me so mimicked me shaking my head - at this point I just thought what a T0***r, even more so when i realised he had young kids in the car - he didnt accelerate away he just pulled in front of the guy infront of me, the car infront of me turned off, then the guy in the BMW just slammed on his brakes and invited me to go past - by putting his arm out of the window, encouraging his kids to do the same.
I just shook my head in disbelief again and then he floored it.
Think the guy needed to go on some sort of course - 1) endangering other road users lives 2) driving test 3) thinking about his kids lives 4) How to control road rage 5) when to use and not use fog lights. Rant over but tailgaters are usually thick, have no concept of driving skill/or driving in general. If am wanting to pass somebody I wait until they have moved out of the way, unless they insist on sticking in the outside lane (when there is more than one) then I just edge slightly closer then back off just to let them know im there.

[htrout13]

I've found that at stoplights the cars actually appear closer than they really are... Depending on what car you had before your mini, you'll find that the shorter length of the car makes you feel like the car behind you is on top of you...

Of course - I'm ready to drive onto the sidewalk when it looks like they're not stopping!!!

However that BMW is a real to$$er - what was he thinking!!!!