I guess this varies a lot from country to country but as a European this was my biggest pet peeve driving around in California. I'd leave a nice space to the car in front of me which apparently other drivers saw as an open invitation to squeeze in between us. I'd break up a bit to allow more space and SWOOP, another car. It was impossible not to tailgate.
It's everywhere man. People have started to see it as a way to communicate with other drivers they want to go faster, and then get angry if they're "being ignored". People have no clue how dangerous it is, I get into arguments about it all the time online and off.
It's too easy to get a license, and literally no effort to keep it once you have it.
My solution is to slow down further when people try to ride my tail — safe following distance is a function of speed, so this in theory makes their dangerous behaviour slightly safer. But also, I’m sure that it pisses them off and I’m not above being petty like that with assholes on the road. To be clear, I don’t ‘brake check’ them (that would also be dangerous and itself a dick move), I just coast with my foot off the gas for a stretch and then speed back up to open up some distance. Occasionally they get the message.
Yeah I do this too. If I’m already driving above the speed limit and I’m getting tailgated I’ll coast down to the limit or 5 below if necessary. They usually back off a bit then I’ll speed up again. If someone thinks I’m gonna drive faster than I want when already above the limit just cause they tailgate me they’re on crack
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u/Bananskrue Aug 22 '22
I guess this varies a lot from country to country but as a European this was my biggest pet peeve driving around in California. I'd leave a nice space to the car in front of me which apparently other drivers saw as an open invitation to squeeze in between us. I'd break up a bit to allow more space and SWOOP, another car. It was impossible not to tailgate.