How do you handle tailgaters?
 

Of all the pet peeves I have with other drivers on the road, this one is near the top-- people in four-wheeled vehicles who follow you too closely.

Here's what I do:

1. First is spotting a tail-gater who is usually either in a hurry, an aggressive driver or a combination of both.

2. I'm constantly looking forward, to my sides and behind via my mirrors. I can spot an aggressive driver pretty easily now, because if they are far away and behind me in the same lane as me, they will almost "key in" on my bike and quickly catch up to me.

3. Ok, I know already the guy behind me is the bad type of driver....so I increase my awareness and keep my eye on him or her. Almost always, this type of driver will also begin following me very closely. And at traffic stops (red light) he will not leave an adequate space between his vehicle and mine, and will be too close to me even when we are stopped.

4. Solution: If the guy keeps on tail-gating me I will try my best to move over as soon as possible to another lane. If that is not possible I will just have to wait until an opportunity to change lanes comes.

5. If I am on the far left lane, or far right lane and there is an emergency shoulder lane (for stalled vehicles) I will even go as far as using those to enter.....while at the same time cutting my speed to let the guy tailing me pass.

6. Then I will get back into the lane I was in and take note of the license plates of the vehicle that was tail-gating me.


What do you guys do? Thoughts?

the official answer is:

1) create a bigger gap between yourself and the traffic in front of you and

2) look for an opportunity to pull off/let the tailgater past you.

i speed up the first time i notice it, if that doesn't do it i look the guy in the eye for about a split second( usually works most of the time), and if it still doesn't work i flip the bird at them as i drive off.

i had someone tailgate me for a week while following me to school(none of the above worked) , i got in front of him one day and did 15mph for 3 miles through town and he couldn't pass me, he didn't tailgate me anymore after that.

kill them all

Thanks for offering your advice people!

I also used to do the stare and the one-finger salute when people were being major jerks and tail-gating me to no end.

But where I live it's gotten to be too dangerous, with so many road ragers around. :(

That works for me!

marbles

deploy road spikes.

Try waving them to slow down and or to back off. That usually works. Rather then responding aggressively at first contact.

I have to say it's better to create some distance,i think we can all agree they are usually easy to spot so dont give em the time to do something stupid