Don't let tailgaters affect your driving or cause you to strap any extra crap to your vehicle (which BTW may get you into trouble if you did end up causing an accident with your rigged "equipment", or even being in an accident that was the other driver's fault).
If you're going too slow, impeding traffic, you need to speed up REGARDLESS of whether someone is tailgating. I do not mean till the tailgater is happy, backing off, but within REASONABLE limits. You should never need to exceed the speed limit by more than 5 MPH or enough to feel unsafe, and if that doesn't get the tailgater off your ass then just slow to the speed limit and stay there.... stay at a constant speed so the tailgater can then decide what they're going to do, whether it be backing off or planning when to pass based on your constant speed... causing (or being in) an accident one time out of 1000 is way too often.
If you're in the left lane and the right lane is open, you need to get in the right lane, the left lane is for PASSING ONLY. If you're stuck behind someone who shouldn't be in the left lane, flash your lights and/or honk, give them a few seconds then pass on the right, IF it is safe to do so. If traffic is hectic enough that you can't safely pass on the right you definitely shouldn't be tailgating.
If it's nightime and a tailgater is blinding you with their lights, you should slow down to a speed that is safe for YOU while being partially blinded... not faster or slower.
If you're in such a hurry to get to the (store or wherever) you ought to have your ass thrown in jail for a while to reflect on time-management... There have been plenty of BS hypotheticals posed for reasons to tailgate but we know that's not the typical reason. The typical reason is immaturity. If there is some life-or-death situation causing you to tailgate then you should have hazzard lights on, be flashing headlights and honking the horn like crazy... odds are that will get people out of your way, though if you do that of course you become more obvious to police so I wouldn't suggest doing so if it's not an emergency.
The bottom line is to act courteous and respectful on the road. Don't tailgate, thinking you'll MAKE someone change their driving style, and don't depart from an as-safe-as-possible a driving style to affect the actions of the tailgater... As-safe-as-possible means consistent speed appropriate for the road, NOT slowing down unless the tailgater is making your driving more difficult for (whatever reason). If they're following close enough to make you nervous then perhaps you SHOULD slow down a slight bit as you are not going to be as capable a driver while nervous as when calm.
This is coming from someone who usually exceeds the speed limit but does not tailgate, though I think there is a middle ground here, approaching a vehicle from behind but staying back a bit does let the driver in front know that they're somewhat 'in the way', but close enough to be a tailgater is just plain stupid because if you have a larger distance you can be accelerating towards that car when you do end up with a chance to pass them, making the passing easier.
If your life is so busy that you feel you need to speed up drivers that're already going the speed limit, to get to your destination quicker, I suggest you cut back on the caffeine and come to the realization that there is almost no difference in travel times resulting from tailgating... if you don't have a minute extra to get where you're going then you don't have time to post here at AT either. If you just have a need for speed, save your pennies and buy a game or two.
Facebook
Twitter