Why I don't let tailgaters intimidate me

[bhskittykatt]

Especially on icy roads!

This was a whole bunch of suck and fail by all the drivers on the road, including me

A couple years ago, I was driving to work. It was snowy and icy. This road is normally 35mph, with most drivers prefering 40-50mph. I was going about 25, but the cars behind me were being pushy, so I went up to 30-35. Keep in mind, we seldom get snow up here, and very few people know how to drive in the snow. Even fewer can do it well.

Suddenly, up ahead, an oncoming car lost control. She's in the middle of the road, sliding SIDEWAYS down the street!

I tap my brakes. No good. There's absolutely no traction. All I can do is steer. I can't swerve left, because there's an oncoming truck behind this woman. I can't swerve right, because there's a telephone pole. My best bet is to hit this woman and try and land just a glancing blow. All around me I hear sliding as everyone is trying to stop. By now I can see the terrified look in this woman's eyes as she futily struggles to regain control of her car. I grip my steering wheel and brace for impact...

Magically, at the very last moment, she finds some traction. She whips across my lane to the shoulder and comes to a stop just as I pass her. I came within inches of hitting her!

The rest of the way into town, I drove much slower. The cars behind me backed off, too, since they were almost part of an accident as well.

Now, especially when I'm driving in the snow, I just ignore tailgaters. If anything, I slow down even more. I've learned my lesson!

[ditchdj]

If the roads are really bad I drive 15-20mph. That way, if you lose control and hit someone the very worst you're gonna get is a bruised bumper. What's wrong with that???

[AccountingDrone]

If the roads are really bad I drive 15-20mph. That way, if you lose control and hit someone the very worst you're gonna get is a bruised bumper. What's wrong with that???

because the stupid jackasses cant be bothered to actually leave early enough that bad roads makeing them slow down wont make them late.

Even when the roads are good, I leave early. I hate to be rushed and you can never tell when there is going to be a problem in traffic.

[IT Grunt]

When the roads are bad, I drive 20 or less, depending on how bad they are. Unlike many others who've passed me like bats out of hell over the years on roads that are basically ice skating rinks, I don't consider 4WD to be akin to invincibility. It /does/ make driving on bad roads a more stable experience, but I don't push my luck! So if a guy starts tailgating me, to hell with him. If he wants to pass and then drive at his suicidal speed, all the power to him. I prefer to stay alive and on the road, thank you.

[blas]

Excellent story with a good moral to it.

I'm sorry this had to happen for you to teach yourself to not let others bother you, but at the same time, there's a lot of us out there who get really scared or angry when tailgated in that kind of weather, and I hope this story inspires them to quit caring and keep driving safely.

[EvilEmpryss]

First thing we were taught when we got to North Dakota: Four Wheel Drive does NOT mean Four Wheel Stop.

So all the people who think that having a big SUV means that they have more control on icy roads are fooling themselves... they'll wind up in a ditch just as fast as anyone else.

[mikoyan29]

First thing we were taught when we got to North Dakota: Four Wheel Drive does NOT mean Four Wheel Stop.

So all the people who think that having a big SUV means that they have more control on icy roads are fooling themselves... they'll wind up in a ditch just as fast as anyone else.

I think if it's strict 4 wheel drive they will end up in the ditch faster because some wheels are applying more force than the others so they end up fishtailing. If they can't control the fishtailing then they spin out and end up in the ditch. It's amazing how many SUV's litter the side of the road after a big snowfall.

It's not the tailgaters that bother me so much, it's being sandwiched between a tailgater and someone in front of me that is going way too slow. Normally, I just want to go a speed where I'm not fishtailing or whatever.

[Pagan]

It's not the tailgaters that bother me so much, it's being sandwiched between a tailgater and someone in front of me that is going way too slow. Normally, I just want to go a speed where I'm not fishtailing or whatever.

Just because it's too slow for you doesn't mean it's too slow for them. And you're contradicting yourself, too. The people that are tailgaiting you think you're going too slow. Should you speed up to make them happy?

[Seshat]

Agreed, Pagan.

There are three major elements that determine what the safe speed is:
* skill and ability of driver
* condition and capabilities of car
* environment (incl road).

Of those three, you can only judge the environment - you can't judge the car or driver for the person you're behind!

[Cia]

Last year about this time the roads were slicker than snot. The speed limit was 35mph, I drive a 4WD Jeep and I'm going no more than 20mph when some jerk in a 2WD car starts to tailgate me. People are sliding to stops, sliding down hills and etc. and this moron wants me to go faster? No way! I eventually get in the left turn lane and the dude speeds by me going at least 30mph. The light turns red in the upcoming intersection and can you guess what happens? Yep he can't stop and slides right through. Luckily the other cars were slow getting started so he didn't hit anyone. Hope the dude peed his pants.

[BrenDAnn]

Just for the record, my Dad and I tested the 4WD in his 2000 GMC SIerra last week in a rather heavy snowfall. It fishtailed worse going around a curve with the 4WD on than it did without. Also, my uncle told me a story once about one of his neighbors going out in their 4WD vehicle, getting stuck in a ditch, calling someone else with a 4WD, and the secon person getting stuck as well! So, I say, forget 4WD! It's all an illusion!

[Shalom]

I think if it's strict 4 wheel drive they will end up in the ditch faster because some wheels are applying more force than the others so they end up fishtailing. If they can't control the fishtailing then they spin out and end up in the ditch.

I've been driving a 4x4 since 1994, and I'd tend to agree with the above. In all that time I only spun the thing out twice; both times I was going less than 10 MPH, and both times the 4WD was engaged. The problem with part-time 4WD is that there's no front differential, so when you lock the transfer case, three of the four wheels are constrained to turn at the same rate. This obviously causes problems when you try to turn, as the wheel on the inside of the curve is trying to rotate faster than it is able to, and is therefore more likely to break loose.

(In one incident, I was slowing for a red light. Had almost come to a full stop when the front of the car lost traction and started going left. I did a 270 into the intersection, coming to rest facing to the right on the cross street. (which meant that I now had a green light...) Fortunately there was no other traffic on the road: it was 2AM in a Buffalo snowstorm and all sane people were in their beds. You know how when these things happen and it feels like it's slow motion? Well, in this case it literally was in slow motion. I had a great view of all the storefronts on Hertel Avenue going by as I twirled leisurely past them. I suspect there was some ice below that snow.)

[mikoyan29]

Just because it's too slow for you doesn't mean it's too slow for them. And you're contradicting yourself, too. The people that are tailgaiting you think you're going too slow. Should you speed up to make them happy?

How am I going to speed up with a car in front of me? There's one of those laws that SC's can't break about Matter not occupying the same space at the same time.

And I understand your point about the person in front of me.....I try to leave myself enough distance in front of me, so that I don't re-arrange their bumper.

[Pagan]

How am I going to speed up with a car in front of me? There's one of those laws that SC's can't break about Matter not occupying the same space at the same time.

And I understand your point about the person in front of me.....I try to leave myself enough distance in front of me, so that I don't re-arrange their bumper.

Obviously you can't speed up with a car in front of you. My point was that you were saying the same thing about people going slower than you think they should be going is exactly what a person tailgaiting you is thinking.

I'm the one in control of my vehicle and I'll drive it at whatever speed I feel comfortable with in given conditions. Don't like it, tough.

[mikoyan29]

Obviously you can't speed up with a car in front of you. My point was that you were saying the same thing about people going slower than you think they should be going is exactly what a person tailgaiting you is thinking.

But I'm not tailgating the person in front of me. I'm trying to keep a good distance between myself and the person in front of me. When I see a good opening, I try to pass.