What do you consider "tailgating"?

[butcher bergs]

I thought two car lengths or more at 30 mph was good enough.......until recently.

I was told by a co-worker that if I "tailgated him like that again [he'll] own me and my truck."

Thought to myself: "threaten me over some bullshit?"



I responded with "if [he] want[ed] to pick blue bumper out of [his] ass for a month, feel free to slam on [his] brakes."

Scenario:

Leaving work and cruising down Lowell Rd (a 4 lane road at certain points). I was following this guy until he signaled a lane switch left at which point I started to creep up to pass on by. Instead of changing lanes like a normal person, he needed to use 500 feet of road (stradling lanes and directional flashing away) before I "helped" him make the lane change by creeping up going around him with plenty of room to spare. Apparently he felt the need to cry about it.

So, what do you consider "tailgating"? I always thought it was a place you drank beer before the Pats went out on the field...

[NEWTREADS]

Driver ed was 20 years ago but I think it was 2 seconds slow count one one thousand two one. Shit you know.

[butcher bergs]

Well, I'm on the FZ1 tonight so we'll see what he has to say when I rip by him in wheelie, middle fingers flying...

I'll be sure to do the one-thousand-count just to be certain.

[Nikon]

Depends on the conditions and speed. If you are going 90 on snow and ice 2 seconds aint gonna cut it. I was at an advanced driver school last week for police and we did a drill following a car at 35feet or so at about 50mph. 1 car would not have hit the other. I would have been in the back seat of the other.

A LOT of people follow way too close and don't even realize it.

[Woodsy]

It depends on reaction time. If you and the car ahead of you have the same braking capability then you can be on his ass no problem as long as you have enough space to allow you enough time to see his lights and hit your brakes. unfortunetly most people are not paying attention while driving a car (see cell phone thread) and do not have this time. i say 40-50 ft should give you ample time to react and either brake hard or change lanes or both.

[KillBill]

If I can't see their license plate in my rear-view.....i give em' a little brake check

Motherfucker in a minivan last night on Route 2 got a brake tap and then I turned and looked back and just pointed at them. They got the hint and backed off.

[MissTwisties]

Same here...I need to see the license plate in my rear view mirror or they get a brake light check. I hate people tailgating. If they follow me real close, I might as well just brake real hard in their face...if they rear end me...oh well. I don't tailgate people and keep enough distance to give me time to react if THEY brake suddenly in front of me. If they are too slow and not moving their ass in the slow lane, I will flash them my high beams first (works 75% of the time and they move aside) or pass them on the right if they are stubborn assholes.

[mikeb]

I thought two car lengths or more at 30 mph was good enough.......until recently.

I was told by a co-worker that if I "tailgated him like that again [he'll] own me and my truck."

Thought to myself: "threaten me over some bullshit?"



I responded with "if [he] want[ed] to pick blue bumper out of [his] ass for a month, feel free to slam on [his] brakes."

Scenario:

Leaving work and cruising down Lowell Rd (a 4 lane road at certain points). I was following this guy until he signaled a lane switch left at which point I started to creep up to pass on by. Instead of changing lanes like a normal person, he needed to use 500 feet of road (stradling lanes and directional flashing away) before I "helped" him make the lane change by creeping up going around him with plenty of room to spare. Apparently he felt the need to cry about it.

So, what do you consider "tailgating"? I always thought it was a place you drank beer before the Pats went out on the field...

i have zero tolerance for people who get in my face with shit like that. people need to check themselves, if you feel i wronged you on the road fine tell me in a no confrontational way or be prepared for fucking combat.

i consider tailgating less than two car lengths at the speed limit or over. if your driving under the speed limit and it isn't a blizzard your an asshole and i'm probabley two feet off your bumper.

[imkindafkedup]

I was always told to give 1 car length for every 10mph, which would be great and all but if you give 5 car lengths to the car in front of you on the high way then you just need to deal with some jackass cutting in and now you only have 2.5car lengths. I'll admit I'm one who follows the car in front of me way to closely (in car and on bike), but I've yet to hit someone. *knock, knock*

[MissTwisties]

I was always told to give 1 car length for every 10mph, which would be great and all but if you give 5 car lengths to the car in front of you on the high way then you just need to deal with some jackass cutting in and now you only have 2.5car lengths. I'll admit I'm one who follows the car in front of me way to closely (in car and on bike), but I've yet to hit someone. *knock, knock*

You follow close even on the bike? That's disaster waiting to happen.

[Jim]

If I can't see their license plate in my rear-view.....i give em' a little brake check

Motherfucker in a minivan last night on Route 2 got a brake tap and then I turned and looked back and just pointed at them. They got the hint and backed off.

same here, but my limit is if i cant see the headlights.

[TTD]

In dry conditions, stick with the 2 second rule and forget about measuring car lengths.

Most people follow at 1 second or less... which is not enough to react to brake lights and stop.

If I'm on a single lane road, doing 5mph over, and you're on my ass... you'll get brake checks or if I'm real pissy, I'll just start doing the speed limit. NOTE: If you're on a bike, I will waive you past on the first straight with no cars coming.

The people that really piss me off is when we're on a crowded highway... and people feel the need to tailgate. If you look up, you'll see that there is no where to go. Yeah, you could weave in and out of traffic and get somewhere 45 seconds quicker... or you'll cause a lot of problems and maybe shut down the road for 2 hours.

Conversely, if you're on the highway ... do NOT stay in the LEFT lane if no one is in front of you. I don't know why people have trouble with this very simple rule... STAY RIGHT except to PASS.

[Doc]

I have noticed MANY bikes following WAY to close to the back of a car. Sure you can stop in time but it doesn't help the driver feel any less distracted with you 10 feet off his bumper doing 65 on the highway...

[The Snowman]

Conversely, if you're on the highway ... do NOT stay in the LEFT lane if no one is in front of you. I don't know why people have trouble with this very simple rule... STAY RIGHT except to PASS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

I wish more people thought like this. I hate when someone going the speed limit on a highway sits in the fast lane, while people are forced to go around them on the right.

I normally to 5 over in the cage on the highway, so as soon as I clear passed cars, I move right.

[kbroderick]

I have noticed MANY bikes following WAY to close to the back of a car. Sure you can stop in time but it doesn't help the driver feel any less distracted with you 10 feet off his bumper doing 65 on the highway...

And it doesn't help much when they jump on the brakes mid-corner because they spilled their espresso...

[ThisBitch]

I allow 2 seconds in the car and 3 on the bike.

[Hauptman]

i have zero tolerance for people who get in my face with shit like that. people need to check themselves, if you feel i wronged you on the road fine tell me in a no confrontational way or be prepared for fucking combat.

i consider tailgating less than two car lengths at the speed limit or over. if your driving under the speed limit and it isn't a blizzard your an asshole and i'm probabley two feet off your bumper.

+1 booya!

[seth399]

I consider tailgating when someone is driving like a douche and i pull within 5 feet of them and turn on my Hella lights in my grill (which usually go straight to their rear view mirror)...thats only if they are a super douche that shouldn't be driving (75% of people on the road....)

[ThisBitch]

As I was putting on lipstick and pantyhose on 93 this morning, I almost asspacked a red Ford Focus and thought to myself, maybe I should increase my following distance 1 car length for every thing other than driving I'm doing while driving.

[Ken C]

Be careful. Emotions lead to poor judgement.

Tailgating is everyone's pet peeve, including tailgaters! Taligaters don't often realize that theya re tailgaters. Until they try to count off two seconds of following distance.

[seth399]

As I was putting on lipstick and pantyhose on 93 this morning, I almost asspacked a red Ford Focus and thought to myself, maybe I should increase my following distance 1 car length for every thing other than driving I'm doing while driving.

you would get the eyes of God in your rearview why not just put that stuff on at home and take 3 more minutes before leaving??

[The Snowman]

you would get the eyes of God in your rearview why not just put that stuff on at home and take 3 more minutes before leaving??

You see so many women putting make-up on while driving. Getting up a few minutes earlier would solve this.

[ThisBitch]

I was kidding... As much as I might need it, I don't generally wear makeup.

[RandyO]

A LOT of people follow way too close and don't even realize it.

understatement of the year

[Kham]

Be careful. Emotions lead to poor judgement.

Tailgating is everyone's pet peeve, including tailgaters! Taligaters don't often realize that theya re tailgaters. Until they try to count off two seconds of following distance.

if that's the case then make sure you account for double time ahead of you. another words if someone tailgate you then allow 4,5,6, or more seconds ahead of you. they will eventually pass or you scoot over.