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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: redrider on March 04, 2015, 02:07:26 PM
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It's worse than ever. Some of them get closer when I politely give the back off hand wave. Yeah, I know it's illegal to do but dammit, I'm thinking of adding smoke or flames from the exhaust. A bit of diesel through the emissions test bung at the header. Viberider shows a flame set-up. About 5k and hit the switch. "Bubble the paint for you sir?"
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And of course tapping the brake might get you killed. Sigh.
Are you riding too slowly? Just sayin', it takes two to tailgate.
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You're fighting a losing battle.
Best to just move right and wave 'em past.
If it's busy multi-lane traffic, I don't think there's much you can do...
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One man's slow is another man's lugging. Nope. Tapping the brake sometimes works. For others its like a red blanket to a bull.
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it takes two to tailgate.
what a load of bollox.
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A giant mirror facing rearwards ;D
Dusty
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what a load of bollox.
Not really. If you're moving slower than the flow of traffic, people are going to bunch up behind you.
On paper, No, they shouldn't. They should keep a safe distance. In the real world, if you're riding too slow for the flow of traffic, you'll be tailgaited.
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It's worse than ever. Some of them get closer when I politely give the back off hand wave. Yeah, I know it's illegal to do but dammit, I'm thinking of adding smoke or flames from the exhaust. A bit of diesel through the emissions test bung at the header. Viberider shows a flame set-up. About 5k and hit the switch. "Bubble the paint for you sir?"
Probably there's a Master's thesis in sociology in the study of tailgating. For example, there's a BIG rise lately in this part of the country of people embezzling money from the Fire Department or Rescue Squad or Church association for whom they are treasurer, two Credit Unions have had millions stolen from them by their managers (one CU went under), and two county treasurers were fired (one jailed) for theft of money for which they were responsible. Someone could probably explain why that's happening in terms of the entitlement and materialism trend today.
Similar with tailgating. Why do people do something that's so aggressive and dangerous and makes them into such an arsewipe? Do they not see it? Do they not care? Do they think it's a good thing?
We're especially sensitive to it on our bikes, because they will stop faster than a car and because a collision isn't just a dent and an insurance claim (usually). Maybe it SEEMS like it's happening more often because there are more cars on the road today than there used to be?
I'm like you - I wish that a flamethrower or bazooka or caltrop dispenser were something that could be deployed, just to give the clueless driver something to think about and to dispense justice on the highways ....
Lannis
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Best to just move right and wave 'em past.
I started doing that about ten years ago and my blood pressure is better off for it. The only bit of advice I'll add is don't pull back into the lane and accelerate immediately after the car passes, because some drivers take that to mean you're going to get even by tailgating them, and react poorly.
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I like to ride alone and let tailgaters go by and then bye bye
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Why do people do something that's so aggressive and dangerous --
A couple of thoughts:
Motorcycle is smaller so the depth perception effect might make it seem farther.
Motorcycle is smaller, so it can be bullied.
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It seems to me lately the cars are going a lot faster than a couple of years back.
I used to be the fastest thing on the motorway, now all the cars fly by at least doing 80 or 90
Perhaps I'm just getting old ???
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It seems to me lately the cars are going a lot faster than a couple of years back.
I used to be the fastest thing on the motorway, now all the cars fly by at least doing 80 or 90
Perhaps I'm just getting old ???
Maybe, I know I am, but when I was young, if you were going 80 in a car, you were very aware of it, with all the noise and bouncing around and effort to keep it going the right direction. Now you can be going 80 in a car as effortlessly as when you're going 30, so every Bozo who feels the urge does it.
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Dumbs&$ts that hog the hammer lane hack me off about as bad as the tailgaters. Passing on the right is a very dangerous practice too. Especially when vehicles with a larger than average blind spot over the right shoulder are involved. Remember to stay out of the no zone on the highway. Good idea for all vehicles not just big trucks.
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You're fighting a losing battle.
Best to just move right and wave 'em past.
If you're being tailgated and you're in the left lane, then you're riding too slowly. Even if (or especially if) the guy is a maniac wanting to drive 100 mph or whatever. Slower traffic to the right.
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Isn't the rule if you’re not overtaking anything yourself move over?
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Isn't the rule if you’re not overtaking anything yourself move over?
It's the law in some states, and good etiquette everywhere else.
In Europe, they're dead serious about it. You can get pulled over for riding in the fast lane if you're not passing something, and "passing on the right" is about like a DUI here. A truck driver doing it will lose his CDL. Here, it's just normal practice.
Lannis
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Isn't the rule if you’re not overtaking anything yourself move over?
As long as your on a four lane road.....yes.
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If you're being tailgated and you're in the left lane, then you're riding too slowly. Even if (or especially if) the guy is a maniac wanting to drive 100 mph or whatever. Slower traffic to the right.
Agreed. The left lane is called the passing lane for a reason. My personal favorite is when people tailgate me when I am allowing for a safe following distance behind a slower driver on a single lane road....
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Most of them do it for the same reason a dog licks his balls.
Because it feels good and because they can.
Take down his number for later reference when you can Pass the parked car at speed and loft a rock into his windshield.
That will feel almost as good as licking your balls.
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Here, it's just normal practice.
Lannis
......driving like a 'Murican
Re the tailgating thing - too many NASCAR fans on the road. Friggin' stupidity. Wish the LEOs would pay more attention to this.
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The trend on the highways I travel it seems the left lane is the drive slow because I'm on the phone lane.
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A giant mirror facing rearwards ;D
Dusty
You boys are slipping ???
There have been many studies done over the years as to why traffic seems to run in packs when there is open space to be had . Read one of them back in the early 1970s , so wolfpacks and tailgaters are nothin new . Don't think anyone has ever came up with a real answer to this behavior , except that humans are stupid and like to run in packs. Dunno
Dusty
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My wife suggested a windshield cleaner reservoir in the saddle bag, a pump and the sprayer pointed back.
The law about moving is well intended, but when everybody on a four lane road is going 80 or more and the clown who thinks we'll all move for him so he can do 90 or more comes along, then it's difficult to appease him. When he hangs four foot off my tail light I get bothered.
I think a mounted camera and a flash trigger would be effective.
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My wife suggested a windshield cleaner reservoir in the saddle bag, a pump and the sprayer pointed back.
The law about moving is well intended, but when everybody on a four lane road is going 80 or more and the clown who thinks we'll all move for him so he can do 90 or more comes along, then it's difficult to appease him. When he hangs four foot off my tail light I get bothered.
I think a mounted camera and a flash trigger would be effective.
I'll still get out of his way, I'm not a traffic cop, it's not for me to tell him how to drive. If I end up highway pizza I still loose no matter who's fault it is.
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I hate it when I'm speeding in the slow lane and they are still tailgating me and there is no one in the fast lane. I have actually moved to the fast lane to let them pass me and 9 out of 10 times they are not turning right. My assumption is that they are just flat out stupid.
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Not really. If you're moving slower than the flow of traffic, people are going to bunch up behind you.
On paper, No, they shouldn't. They should keep a safe distance. In the real world, if you're riding too slow for the flow of traffic, you'll be tailgaited.
The sad thing is: if you run with traffic and they are all speeding, and you get picked out of the litter by the cop... you still get a ticket..
That's a lesson I learned.. so what do you do?
The only thing I can think of is get over to the right and let the multi lanes go by you unless you want to risk a ticket with the rest of them.
Oh.. and don't have a bright red vehicle.. I love them.. but never again..
3 tickets with a slow bright red vehicle and zero with a black corvette in my previous history..
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I can't go any faster than the car in front of me and this guy still won't get off my ass. I an not going too slow. I am keeping up with traffic.
I think the 'being tailgated' feeling is sometimes exagerated by the fact that our mirrors are at the same height as headlights.
Tailgating at 80 mph is rampant in the Seattle area.
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A rusty lugnut produced from the rider's left breast pocket and lobbed as inconspicuously as possible over the rider's left shoulder will make a resounding CRACK when it hits the tailgater's windshield.
Not sayin' I would ever do such a deed but I have read about it on the internet.
Repeatedly.
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My Norge has a Whelen TIR3 for an extra brake light. For some reason, I don't get tailgated much ;)
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:+=copcar
The law about moving is well intended, but when everybody on a four lane road is going 80 or more and the clown who thinks we'll all move for him so he can do 90 or more comes along, then it's difficult to appease him. When he hangs four foot off my tail light I get bothered.
So where do you draw the line? If you're doing 72 in a 70 in the left lane and someone wants to proceed at 75 - are you justified to hold him up? Who appointed you enforcer of speed limits?
KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS!
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Just let them by. I once had a tractor trailer in heavy traffic get right up behind me, I had no where to go so I turned around and gave him the back off, he then tried to almost kill me, he pulled up next to me in my lane and the breakdown, not sure how he didn't run me over and then chased me, of course being on the bike I got a lot of distance between us but i could see him in the mirrors driving like a nut through traffic.
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Agree with Rocker: let em pass.
My cage commute in Houston can be horrid for same reason. It gets really, really old.
Stay chilly.
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It seems to me lately the cars are going a lot faster than a couple of years back.
I used to be the fastest thing on the motorway, now all the cars fly by at least doing 80 or 90
Perhaps I'm just getting old ???
News stories today: Iowa and a neighboring state are considering raising speed limits. In Iowa to 75 on the Interstates and the other (don't recall which) the move is to raise some secondary road limits from 55 to 60. So it isn't just our perception. Folks are responding to the ever increasing tension in their lives and speeding on the road is one symptom.
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And of course tapping the brake might get you killed. Sigh.
Are you riding too slowly? Just sayin', it takes two to tailgate.
When I took my motorcycle endorsement test in Texas.
"Tapping on your brakes" was the Correct answer to.
What do you do when a car is tailgating your motorcycle?
I was so shocked that I didn't even argue with the tester.
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Tapping the brakes is dangerous business. Though I haven't always been successful, I try to avoid any sort of angry, warning, or threatening behavior when riding. Maybe the 'steel cut oats' thread and this thread could come together...non-lethal, methane-based tailgating avoidance strategies...
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In Russia, it seems, everyone has a dash-cam. Perhaps we are just behind the curve on this one. I agree with the folks who just let them by whenever possible.
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When bottled up on a multi lane and getting tailgated, with no option to move over or speed up, I have moved over to the extreme edge of my lane, usually toward the middle on a four lane. Don't know if it confuses them or what, but most will give me a bit more room.
I agree with don't do things to piss them off, a bike will lose that confrontation.
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I've thought about this forever, and my solution has always been when possible, add 5mph to traffic. Of course you can't do that a lot of the time. When I was young we used to carry 1" bearing balls or a pocket full of marbles, but that only works at higher speeds and risks innocent vehicles nearby.
I'm thinking about this;
http://www.larsonelectronics.com/showproduct.aspx?productid=48246&gclid=CIn7ifnHkcQCFbPm7Aodli0ASQ (http://www.larsonelectronics.com/showproduct.aspx?productid=48246&gclid=CIn7ifnHkcQCFbPm7Aodli0ASQ)
(http://www.larsonelectronics.com/images/product/large/48246.jpg)
Small, 2x2x1/2" high intensity strobe. On the LeMans, I have enough rear fender that I can mount it above or below the licence plate. If nothing else it has to catch their attention, which will either back them off or let me know if I have to confront them at the next stop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmnFrT-b1u8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmnFrT-b1u8)
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My brother in law who is a great guy in his mid 60's, is a tailgater, I hate driving with him, I try in a polite way point out if the car or truck in front should brake he will end up in the trunk, he thinks I nuts. I have a friend same thing, we are in his MGB and he is tailgating a tractor trailer I mention if the truck blew a tire we would be killed he said no his reactions are so good he would avoid a accident. These are smart people, I don't get it.
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Bit of a drift here.
Not a tailgater, but I was in a parking lot the other day and I saw a woman drive off holding a bowl (with a spoon or fork in it) in her hand. Sheesh.
Rich A
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Cars have gotten to good, your just not involved in driving anymore. Make everyone drive a 3 on the tree with no PS or PB, then you have to drive the car not just go along for the ride!
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Sheesh, with stability control, traction control, ABS, collision avoidance, Airbags, 5mph bumpers, cruise control, active suspension...on and on and on, maybe the message is they can skillfully avoid creaming one of us. They are certainly fully insulated from the driving experience.
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Cars have gotten to good, your just not involved in driving anymore. Make everyone drive a 3 on the tree with no PS or PB, then you have to drive the car not just go along for the ride!
:D Everyone should start out in a 1950 International pickup . Non synchronized transmissions , very little go , and even less whoa ;)
Dusty
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I wonder if a motorcycle is large enough to trigger the anti-collision systems now advertised for some new cars. Maybe I should put a radar reflector on the back . . .
I understand these systems will be mandatory in EU next year but some work only at low speeds.
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Here is a situation for you to think about.....
A truck is traveling at the 70mph speed limit on the interstate, the driver sees an on ramp ahead and also notices a vehicle turning onto the ramp, the truck driver checks for a clear lane then signals and gets into the left lane, the on ramp vehicle proceeds to accelerate to 70mph along side the truck, meanwhile as this is happening another vehicle approaches the truck still in the left lane and starts tailgating, the on ramp vehicle is still along side the truck and shows no signs of speeding up or letting off, so the truck driver now starts to slow a bit to let the on ramp vehicle get clear and then merge back in the right lane, as the truck is just about clear of the on ramp vehicle the driver turns on the signal to merge right, and just as he is starting to merge right, the tailgating vehicle now cuts into the right lane and blocks the lane change even though the truck has the signal flashing, while this is happening another vehicle comes up from behind and proceeds to pass on the right also while the trucks signal is still flashing. So the driver turns off the signal and proceeds to let all of the traffic pass on right so he can get out of the pack and then merge back into the right lane. All the while getting salute gestures, blinded by flashing high beams, and what ever else the passing motorists care to do.
So who is at fault? Am I the so called lane hog now? Notice I said 'I'. This happens to me quite often. And often the vehicles that cut into the right lane, will exit in a few miles. And they have no idea as to why I was in the left lane to begin with because they don't just watch and pay attention. It isn't hard. And it isn't limited to certain vehicles, cars, trucks, motorcycles all do it.
It is to the point where I now know where the busy junctions are on my run and will be in the left lane before I get to them. Boy does that piss off Joe Blow motorist! Gee someone actually watching ahead for merging traffic. Can't have that.
Maybe that is why I absolutely hate riding my Jackal on the interstates. I will do it but I ain't enjoying it! I make every effort to take alternative routes. Gee isn't that why we ride in the first place?
So next time you are commuting, traveling, riding your Guzzi, just watch and pay attention, yours and my blood pressure will thank you.
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Rod brings up some VERY good points . Most truck drivers are courteous and careful , their livelihood depends on being so . Most of the time , give that driver some room , and he will reciprocate . Back in the day when every car and bike could turn off its headlights , lots of car and MC operators would signal to a truck that they had room to pull back into the right lane after a pass , and most pros would respond by flashing their trailer lights . Just a friendly gesture , that unfortunately may have another meaning these days . Oh well , I still try to give truckers a heads up , seems the polite thing to do .
Dusty
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I have not been a professional trucker but I have driven farm trucks and truck/trailers with 30+ tons of honey bees on board cross country. Every car driver should have to drive a large truck or semi a few times in traffic, etc. and I would guess from then on they would be a much better more attentive and polite driver. Maybe tie a bee hive onto the bike of your bike as I don't remember having much tailgating even though in a vehicle the windows were all up. ;D
GliderJohn
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Interesting bit of footage on the TV news here a couple of days ago taken from the Go-Pro or similar helmet cam of a bloke who was rear ended at a set of lights in Canberra. He gets up and turns around and the driver of the car that hit him/her still has her phone in her hand in front of her face!
God help us!
Pete
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Here is a situation for you to think about.....
A truck is traveling at the 70mph speed limit on the interstate, etc
I actually followed all of that, and I feel your pain. It reminds me of driving in Italy: Everyone on the roads is either a beat-up old truck (full of chickens in cages or whatever) poking along at 55 kph, or an Alfa Romeo wanting to zoom past at 180 kph.
Meanwhile you just want to drive a nice, normal 130 kph (about 85 mph), and everyone hates you. You can't win..
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It seems to me lately the cars are going a lot faster than a couple of years back.
I used to be the fastest thing on the motorway, now all the cars fly by at least doing 80 or 90
Perhaps I'm just getting old ???
Cars are so much better today and family sedans, SUV's etc are powerful, quiet, and smooth decreasing the drivers sense of speed. In a Lexus and similar cars 80 MPH feels like a stroll. Modern family cars out perform muscle cars from the old days.So granny today is driving a car that would kick a GTO's ass.
Bill
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I wonder if a motorcycle is large enough to trigger the anti-collision systems now advertised for some new cars. Maybe I should put a radar reflector on the back . . .
I understand these systems will be mandatory in EU next year but some work only at low speeds.
AAA study concludes we are 26% more likely to not be detected by these systems. A while back I thought a chaff dispenser would be nice to have.
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Dont blame you.
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A rusty lugnut produced from the rider's left breast pocket and lobbed as inconspicuously as possible over the rider's left shoulder will make a resounding CRACK when it hits the tailgater's windshield.
Not sayin' I would ever do such a deed but I have read about it on the internet.
Repeatedly.
Paint balls.
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tailgating is not only dangerous and discourteous, the tailgater rides his brakes thereby wearing out brakes and wasting gas.
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I bet you don't get too many tailgaters with those bees around! Talk about a hazardous load. Almost wrecked the Jackal 'cause of a bee getting jammed between the helmet liner and upper cheek. I was fine with it, thought it was dead, until it wanted back out and started buzzing and moving. Made for an exciting quick stop.
Anymore if someone wants to tailgate me in the truck. Eh, I let 'em, it's their windshield not mine. I think it must have to do with this instant society we live in now. Nobody can take the time to wait. Gotta have it now, gotta get there now, not five minutes from now, now. I tend to be the opposite, enjoy the ride, slow down a bit, turn the tunes up a little, watch everyone else lose their minds. I find I am much less stressed out at the end of the day and can sleep better. Don't have to unwind the nerves.
I have not been a professional trucker but I have driven farm trucks and truck/trailers with 30+ tons of honey bees on board cross country. Every car driver should have to drive a large truck or semi a few times in traffic, etc. and I would guess from then on they would be a much better more attentive and polite driver. Maybe tie a bee hive onto the bike of your bike as I don't remember having much tailgating even though in a vehicle the windows were all up. ;D
GliderJohn
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Anymore if someone wants to tailgate me in the truck. Eh, I let 'em, it's their windshield not mine. I think it must have to do with this instant society we live in now. Nobody can take the time to wait. Gotta have it now, gotta get there now, not five minutes from now, now. I tend to be the opposite, enjoy the ride, slow down a bit, turn the tunes up a little, watch everyone else lose their minds. I find I am much less stressed out at the end of the day and can sleep better. Don't have to unwind the nerves.
My normal commuter rig is a 2002 Honda Insight. Definitely not a road dominator.
Even when in the slow (or next to slow) lane and appropriate for the traffic volume, people like to tailgate.
I have a little license plate frame that says "60 mph, 70 - 85 MPG. Think Green".
Most tailgate for a few seconds then peel around me.
I just keep doing my thing.
Its quite enjoyable now.
People zip by me in the faster lanes fighting it out.. trying to get ahead of each other and really not getting much ahead, especially with each other.
I cruise along watching all this craziness and show up stress free.
Some tailgaters after they peel around me, go right up to the next person.. It appears to be endless for them..
So it really doesn't matter how fast you're going relative to them.. they'd still tailgate you to feel like they are getting ahead.
And that's where I've come to.
Our culture has a basic ingrained philosophy that we are taught early and continually re-enforced thru out life.
Its that we must ALWAYS ATTEMPT to push beyond the boundaries of what's possible or normal, otherwise you're not doing you're part in this society.
Its permeates almost everything we do.
So now we have a society basically ingrained that we much always attempt to overachieve.
Tailgaters in my opinion are just a reflection of that philosophy.
No matter the speed limit and no matter what speed the person in front of them is doing.. the core programming tells them to go faster to feel they are getting ahead of everyone else.
Unless this cultural programming changes I just don't see this changing on the roads generally.
And frankly I don't see that cultural programming changing in this society.
It permeates everywhere..
I guess I am getting older & just don't see the point to all this craziness.. :( :(
Ok I know the point.. but I am not going to go there.
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Paint balls.
Nice to think about but since these tailgaters are idiots escalating a hazardous situation is not recommended. Since I made it this far I wish to live awhile longer. I have no problem pulling over at the first opportunity to get them by me. If someone pursues me further it turns into a different scenario.
For the sake of a bar room discussion the old timers were credited with using clear marbles.
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I've heard people that would throw old spark plugs of such at the tailgater, but that can be dangerous. For both of you. Carry some M&Ms or dog kibbles in your pocket? Not that I'm suggesting you should throw them, but want to open up that part of the discussion.
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Unfortunately we might have a bit of explaining to do but chain lube is quite effective.
One Autumnal afternoon in my misspent youth I was parked up in the West End of London with a bunch of other Motorbike Couriers.
A young Kid on a 125cc shot up and parked in the middle of us and started talking excited gibberish.
Seconds later a Ford Escort convertible with 3 massive guys came round the corner the windscreen was completely obscured filthy with fallen leaves.
We scared them off.
Turned out they had in a row and the kid on the bike had Chain Lubed the car, in the ensuing chase every bit of road dirt in the West End stuck to their Windscreen.
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A 'safe' way to do the back-off is to badly adjust your windshield washer spigots to pee up and over the roof. Your choice of liquids. It's like the bad kitty sprayer made large and doesn't break anything.
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Interesting bit of footage on the TV news here a couple of days ago taken from the Go-Pro or similar helmet cam of a bloke who was rear ended at a set of lights in Canberra. He gets up and turns around and the driver of the car that hit him/her still has her phone in her hand in front of her face!
God help us!
Pete
yep.
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Assertiveness and motorcycle riding make a pretty poor mix. When I ride, I accept the fact that I am going to be mistreated. After all, I live in Miami, where I am constantly reminded why Hispanics could not break into NASCAR until 2003. No one here cares about safety, and even if they did, they are utterly devoid of driving ability.
When I'm on a bike, I just get out of the way and get over it.
If tailgaters get you down, do what I did. Get a giant diesel pickup. I can't even see people who tailgate me. They're back there flashing the lights and giving me the finger, and I don't even know it until they zoom around me.
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Chain lube. I like that - cheap. I just need a convenient dispensing method. Who makes an electronically activated spray nozzle depressor ?
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I have not been a professional trucker but I have driven farm trucks and truck/trailers with 30+ tons of honey bees on board cross country. Every car driver should have to drive a large truck or semi a few times in traffic, etc. and I would guess from then on they would be a much better more attentive and polite driver. Maybe tie a bee hive onto the bike of your bike as I don't remember having much tailgating even though in a vehicle the windows were all up. ;D
GliderJohn
I'm not generally down on truckers, but I've noticed something lately both in my car and on my bike on big highways.
Sometimes, whether I'm in the fast, middle, or slow lane, and I'm boxed in, can't change lanes to either side, and I'm as close to the car in front of me as I feel safe, a giant truck will tailgate me worse than anyone has ever done in a car. I mean 60 or 70 MPH and ten feet off my bumper, a single bar on his grill filling my mirrors. And it wasn't like it slipped up on them and they back off; they get there and STAY there. I don't know what they're doing or why they do it, but if I was ever wishing I could shoot a big something (load of "00" buckshot, etc) into their grill, that's when it is.
This happens more often with big commercial trucks than it does with cars. Why would someone who is "supposed" to be a "professional" driver do something as dangerous, as threatening, and and as non-value-related as that? He can't possibly get anything out of it ... ?
Lannis
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Beep, Beep! Much to my surprise!
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/Penderic/nipplering-GG_zpsk8syupjj.jpg)
:D
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Too many times it is another truck I have to deal with. I do my best to just let them go. Sooner they are by, sooner they are gone. I put up with the other drivers sh!t enough, so I really don't want to on the Jackal.
And those drivers are not the professionals. Just because you have a CDL and can drive the truck, doesn't make you the professional. I have seen many drivers with a few years behave and drive more professional than drivers with thirty years. If you really want to do something about it, snap a pic of the name and DOT number on the side of the truck, I bet their safety officer would like to know.
It's not the type or size of vehicle, it's the brain operating the vehicle.
I'm not generally down on truckers, but I've noticed something lately both in my car and on my bike on big highways.
Sometimes, whether I'm in the fast, middle, or slow lane, and I'm boxed in, can't change lanes to either side, and I'm as close to the car in front of me as I feel safe, a giant truck will tailgate me worse than anyone has ever done in a car. I mean 60 or 70 MPH and ten feet off my bumper, a single bar on his grill filling my mirrors. And it wasn't like it slipped up on them and they back off; they get there and STAY there. I don't know what they're doing or why they do it, but if I was ever wishing I could shoot a big something (load of "00" buckshot, etc) into their grill, that's when it is.
This happens more often with big commercial trucks than it does with cars. Why would someone who is "supposed" to be a "professional" driver do something as dangerous, as threatening, and and as non-value-related as that? He can't possibly get anything out of it ... ?
Lannis
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I'm not generally down on truckers, but I've noticed something lately both in my car and on my bike on big highways.
Sometimes, whether I'm in the fast, middle, or slow lane, and I'm boxed in, can't change lanes to either side, and I'm as close to the car in front of me as I feel safe, a giant truck will tailgate me worse than anyone has ever done in a car. I mean 60 or 70 MPH and ten feet off my bumper, a single bar on his grill filling my mirrors. And it wasn't like it slipped up on them and they back off; they get there and STAY there. I don't know what they're doing or why they do it, but if I was ever wishing I could shoot a big something (load of "00" buckshot, etc) into their grill, that's when it is.
This happens more often with big commercial trucks than it does with cars. Why would someone who is "supposed" to be a "professional" driver do something as dangerous, as threatening, and and as non-value-related as that? He can't possibly get anything out of it ... ?
Lannis
Over the years, I've found truckers to be the best category of driver, which isn't surprising. When I see a trucker acting irrational, I assume it is because he is overtired trying to make his deadlines, and is probably on a stimulant.
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I actually followed all of that, and I feel your pain. It reminds me of driving in Italy: Everyone on the roads is either a beat-up old truck (full of chickens in cages or whatever) poking along at 55 kph, or an Alfa Romeo wanting to zoom past at 180 kph.
Meanwhile you just want to drive a nice, normal 130 kph (about 85 mph), and everyone hates you. You can't win..
Been there and seen it!
Old giffer in the middle lane doing 55 clicks and me in the Alfa GTV on the inside lane doing 150
Whoa says I (or words to that effect) what do I do now??? Stayed on the inside lane and didn't lift - as in Italy drive like an Italian ;)
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It's worse than ever. Some of them get closer when I politely give the back off hand wave. Yeah, I know it's illegal to do but dammit, I'm thinking of adding smoke or flames from the exhaust. A bit of diesel through the emissions test bung at the header. Viberider shows a flame set-up. About 5k and hit the switch. "Bubble the paint for you sir?"
This has worked for me every time. If someone is riding my ass, I start weaving back and forth in the lane. The tailgating driver always backs off. I only do this on the bike.
Most of my tailgating experiences have occurred when I am in traffic behind a line of cars. There have been a few times it has happened on the freeway and for whatever reason the person tailgating did not want to pull into the left lane to pass.
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South Carolina legislator pass a Bill requiring the left lane to only be used to pass. Governor Stanford, of Appalachian Trail fame, yep that Mark Stanford, vetoed every bill that came before his desk and the Legislator would override all his vetoes except the one requiring folks to drive in the right lane except to pass and $100K for SCDOT to study motorcycle safety with out any USDOT strings attached. :BEER:
Matt
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Wow, went for my first ride this year and had an eventful day. Didn't make it a couple miles and had to darn near stop for some turkeys. The real ones! With feathers! Split the group so I was tip toeing through it. Got going and went on into Wichita. Stopped in a few places. Did some helmet window shopping. Started west on Douglas after a stop at a bicycle shop I visit regularly, and wanted to stop at a great fish place and get one of their catfish plates but before I could get through all the downtown traffic lights, there was an individual in a new mustang behind me who thought I needed advice on how to ride by driving up my left side and yelling at me, 'Your going to get hit riding that way' and I thought 'riding what way?', I hollered back that I had a red stop light in the way! He slowed down again and I hollered again that I look farther than just to the light in front of me. And he took off and had to stop at all the same lights I did. Go figure!
So I decided to just finish my shopping and head home. Skipping the catfish. Dammit it's a good place too.
Gee get yelled at for paying attention. Son of a..........
Hey Dusty is it time for Cedarvale yet!
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Quote from AMGeneral:
Started west on Douglas after a stop at a bicycle shop I visit regularly, and wanted to stop at a great fish place and get one of their catfish plates
Know exactly which place you are talking about. If I had not just had a grilled locally grown and processed T-Bone I would be mouth watering again. ;-T
GliderJohn
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I think a mounted camera and a flash trigger would be effective.
That reminds me of something which only shows my age:
A trucker I once knew had a bare bayonet socket mounted under the back of his trailer. Into the socket went a flash bulb with a scratched surface. Two screws mounted to fiber insulators on the dash made a switch to fired the bulb, which would shatter when it heated up as the filament burned. It was for tailgaters and people without enough sense to dim their headlights as they closed behind his truck. A couple of times people complained but the police who inspected the arrangement couldn't find enough evidence to cite him. Pro'ly couldn't find a flash bulb any more.
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I'm starting with a set of Hyperlights. Any one with experience?
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The other day I was tailgated by a young woman who was texting, emailing, whatever, in rush hour traffic. I pulled off the road to let her by. She was going to hit someone, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't me!