Tailgaters
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4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Stanly County, NC
Tailgaters
The whole issue is a major peeve of mine, no matter what I’m driving. Yesterday I was on my way home from work at about 5:15 pm, right around sunset. It’s a 4 lane state highway, grass median, speed limit 55. I’m running with traffic at around 60-65 in the left lane...I avoid the right lane thru there, too many people suddenly slow to turn right. I see some guy in a newer model Ford Taurus coming fast in the right lane, he dives behind me about 6’ off my rear tire, and doesn’t back off. I can’t move over, there’s a car next to me...same car he got behind me to pass. I’m 2 seconds behind the car in front of me, so speeding up just traps me behind him and Super Sphincter behind me. I turn and glance back, hoping he gets my upset, but no...he’s only backed off to 10-12’. I give him brake lights without slowing, and he doesn’t slow. Every piece of “professional” advice I’ve ever heard (I’ve driven for a living since 1986) says slow down. So I roll out of the throttle a bit, he flashes his lights, so I give him brake lights again. By now we’ve BARELY cleared the car that was on the right and Bozo jerks right and flies by...his left tires IN MY LANE. When I got my breath back, I gassed it, but he quickly turned left and I let him go. I was still shaking when I got home. Thoughts? Suggestions?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,602
Likes: 9,927
From: Florida's gorgeous East coast
"When I got my breath back, I gassed it, but he quickly turned left and I let him go."
Good Choice.
Whenever I see someone succumbing to the lure of "road rage revenge"...I'm reminded of a phrase from my uncle Nunzio about such people:
sta cercando la morte.
Good Choice.
Whenever I see someone succumbing to the lure of "road rage revenge"...I'm reminded of a phrase from my uncle Nunzio about such people:
sta cercando la morte.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,666
Likes: 2,952
From: Mostly Florida, some Michigan
That's one of my pet peeves too. Normally I'll just either change lanes (if I can) or slow until they pass. It's not worth escalating to a confrontation, they won't change their ways anyhow.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,728
Likes: 3,073
From: Brighton, MI
Just move over and let the jack off go ahead of you then get back in your preferred lane. While driving in a cage it's a different story, your protected. But on a bike your vulnerable, and you gotta watch out, idiots everywhere...let him go be an idiot behind someone else. I know the type, they are in a hurry and expect everyone else to get out of their way...YD
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,752
Likes: 3,272
From: West Central Florida
Thats why in the old days you carried pinballs in your coat pocket. With enough practice you could bounce it right through the radiator.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,728
Likes: 3,073
From: Brighton, MI
Reach in your jacket pocket and grab a hand full of ball bearings, put hand back on left handlebar grip, and slowly dribble a few out of your hand as you ride...however some are too stupid to know whats happening and the ones that do will get pissed and try to run you over, so best advice is let em go on by. YD
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 578
Likes: 522
From: Durango CO
Just keep right except to pass. Sometimes it's easier to sit in the left lane thinking no one should be going faster than this but if you keep right traffic moves smoothly and you don't have these problems.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,530
Likes: 2,556
From: Lititz Pa
Move the hell over left lane is for passing and you wont have any problems. After being a over the road truck driver for 45 years your are the person who the pain in the ***. If your going to ride the left lane look in the mirror if you see someone coming up to you move the hell over, I do when riding in the left lane. I think I know your are going to have some kind of a comment so jest to let you when I retired I had over 3.5 million miles without a accident and have the awards to prove it.