Asshat Drivers

[slippy]

for those who find themselves oft tailgated a really simple and stunningly effective way to stop it is to wash your windshield. Works almost every time, I have no idea why though.

I usually drive a bit out of my lane so I can kick up gravel on their windshield. It works better in winter when there is tiny pebbles from the sand truck everywhere. It doesn't work well at slower speeds though.

[cj001f]

I usually drive a bit out of my lane so I can kick up gravel on their windshield. It works better in winter when there is tiny pebbles from the sand truck everywhere. It doesn't work well at slower speeds though.

If it's dry conditions a little weaving a la F1 warmup lap works wonders.

[funkendrenchman]

The question is - why are people tailgating you? If you are going 80 mph in the left lane, then maybe that is why. I'm sick of these fucking idiots who think they can just camp out in the left lane. Why not just move over when you know you can move over.

Stupid old people in the left lane going 15mph OVER the speed limit!

I hate left lane drivers too, but if they are already going quite a bit over the limit I just let them cruise a little ways in front and find any cops for me.

[PaSucks]

The question is - why are people tailgating you? If you are going 80 mph in the left lane, then maybe that is why. I'm sick of these fucking idiots who think they can just camp out in the left lane. Why not just move over when you know you can move over.

The max speed limit in PA is 65, so 80 is actually pretty fast. That being said, I don't camp in the left lane. I tend to do about five over the speed limit because I can't afford tickets. If that isn't fast enough for someone, they can pass me. If they don't want to pass me and just want to ride my ass, I just take my foot off the gas and see how long they stay behind me as I coast to a stop. Typically by the time my speed hits 45 they pass me, often with a one finger salute.

[funkendrenchman]

Still working on the edit function... Forgot to add the kicker before posting.

Did anyone see the two SUV wrecks on the way up to Kirkwood yesterday on 88? Too fast for the conditions and they just rolled over when they hit a small patch of ice. On a different note I was heading up 88 about a month ago when I got passed on 88 by an asshat in a WRX at the crest of a hill, the driver was kind enough to show me his bird mid pass - a cop was waiting on the other side and picked him and the car infront of him off. The cop waived me by.

Ya, he did:

(Edit: PSA to Gay Area SUV drivers: If you're gonna drive like a NASCAR hick on a curve and roll over on hwy88, please have the FUCKING CONSIDERATION to roll over by the side of the road instead of the middle of the road, so that other drivers can get by. Thank You)

[Below Zero]

find any cops for me.

That's what my Passport is for.

Even though I drive fast, I still get over into the middle lane if it is open, so for those of you who think, well I'm already going 15 mph over the speed limit, I'll just stay in the left lane - wrong, just move over, is it really that difficult?

Edit: I am not a tailgater. I don't let the left lane campers bother me anymore. I just wait for an opening, gun it and go around. No salute, or anything. Maybe a quick look to see who is driving and that's about it.

[Sensisnow]

Last thurdsay, while driving home from a Pens game, I am sitting behind a minivan at a t-intersection red light. We are on the street in the T where you can only go left or right, not straight. There is no turning lane. It is late, there is little traffic on either road, and the guy in the minivan sat there with his right turn signal on. He sat for a good ten seconds with no cars coming, so I blipped my horn, just trying to remind him that he can turn.

My blip had no effect, so I gave him a double blip, and again, go nothing, although I know he heard it because he pulled up a few feet and stopped again. This time I laid on the horn until he got annoyed and made the right. As he is pulling out his woman in the passanger seat flips me the bird, so naturally I flip one back as I pass them when they pull into a turning lane a few hundred feet after making the right red.

Ok, so the story kind of sucks, but I am just wondering, was I wrong to honk? I probably shouldn't have given them the finger back, but did I derserve to be flipped off for honking when they were being pretty damn stupid?

I would've done the same thing. At the intersection just outside of my office the left turn arrow only stays on for 2-3 seconds at most, allowing only 1 or 2 cars to pass through before turning red. Well if the first car in line doesn't go right away, then no one else can make it through and the intersection is so busy that you have to wait for the next light sequence. There's not a day that goes by when I don't get stuck behind some asshat on their cell phone, looking in the mirror, or just staring off into nowhere. If that light changes and I don't see their brakelights disappear immediately, then I'll lay on the horn until they move. I'm sick of drivers that seem to pay attention to everything besides the road and their surroundings.

[Sensisnow]

That's what my Passport is for.

Even though I drive fast, I still get over into the middle lane if it is open, so for those of you who think, well I'm already going 15 mph over the speed limit, I'll just stay in the left lane - wrong, just move over, is it really that difficult?

Exactly (only I rock the V1). See those signs that say "slower traffic keep right"? They're there for a reason! If you're in the left hand lane and someone is coming up behind you.....MOVE OVER! I don't care if you're doing 85 in a 65, I'm still going faster than you so kindly move over and let me pass.

[funkendrenchman]

Edit: I am not a tailgater.

Can we survery those that have been in your passenger seat?

[Below Zero]

Can we survery those that have been in your passenger seat?

Hahaha. Ok, maybe sometimes Seriously, though, I try not to do this.

[Son1cdeth]

wrx wagon owner here. Think I drive pretty mellow (no tickets, 65k miles, still on stock clutch). Also usually driving in the right lane on the joke known as i70.

I do agree with Lemon. I got my car in early 2003, and since then I've seen alot more people with these cars driving like total idiots. Can't tell you how many times I've had another come one up on me, and I'm thinking 'cool, another Wrx', then he cuts me and 2 other cars off and he flys by!

[Below Zero]

and I'm thinking 'cool, another Wrx', then he cuts me and 2 other cars off and he flys by!

Fuck, sorry about that dude.

Edit: Is it really cutting somebody off, if they don't have to brake?

[homerjay]

My daily commute is through a certain stretch of I-70 that can be hairball in bad weather. My front wheel drive car with good snow tires is exceptional, because I don't drive like a jackass. Every day it snows, and that has been lots of days this winter, there is an accident. My informal data shows that people passing me way too fast and subsequently ending up in the ditch (or atop a jersey barrier) are in F-250 type trucks and Audi's.

[lemon boy]

As far as the left lane issue goes:
Us 'Murikans problem with it is that we call it the "fast lane" instead of the "passing lane" and it has important ramifications on how people view its usage.

PaSucks- You my man are what's known as a passive-aggressive road rage facilitator. I used to be one myself and while I do miss the unique pleasure of knowing just exactly how to blow some fuckwad's gasket and ruin his day (mexican roadblock = favorite)...after a number of years and a number of "incidents" with those people I've decided it ain't worth the people who want to fight or those who feel like comitting seppuku with their little ricer on my bumper and/or who'll go on to wipe out some poor family of 6 a few miles down the road cause they're still driving mad. Now I just let them go about their day.

And a sobering thought for the P-ARRF's and for you ragers: there are as many guns in this country as people (actually more IIRC) and lots of folks (me included) ride around with them a good % of the time.

BZ: A cutoff is strictly defined as getting over in such a manner as to preclude any chance of collision avoidance should any party have to bust into the brakes hard.

[MarsB]

See those signs that say "slower traffic keep right"? They're there for a reason! If you're in the left hand lane and someone is coming up behind you.....MOVE OVER! I don't care if you're doing 85 in a 65, I'm still going faster than you so kindly move over and let me pass.

Bingo. If only the jackassses with the "Back Off" Yosmite Sam mudflaps and the "I brake for tailgaiters" stickers would learn this simple lesson. It's all about consideration, holding the left lane out of spite is just being a fuckwad. I long ago learned not to camp in the left lane, regardless of speed. Certain states actually make it illegal (passing lane only). I drive in the right lane 99% of the time when it's feasible.

[Sensisnow]

I usually drive a bit out of my lane so I can kick up gravel on their windshield. It works better in winter when there is tiny pebbles from the sand truck everywhere. It doesn't work well at slower speeds though.

What works even better, or if the previous countermeasures have proven ineffective, is to throw it down into second gear doing around 60mph or so. Most people won't even know what hit them. I had to employ this method last night when I somehow got stuck between 2 rednecks that were trying to have some fun with me (truck in front slowed to 20mph while the car behind tailgated me) on the interstate on ramp. The bastard maintained a good 3-4 car lengths behind me after that one

[Below Zero]

BZ: A cutoff is strictly defined as getting over in such a manner as to preclude any chance of collision avoidance should any party have to bust into the brakes hard.

So if a Yukon is going 80 mph in the left lane and I move into the middle lane and squeak between the Yukong and the Expedition in front of me in the middle lane, is that cutting off the Yukon in the left lane? Oh, with this hypothetical, there is no one else in front of the Yukon in the left lane.

[Slider&BucketO'nails]

I am all for driving fast to and from the ski area in your subie, I pass cars in the passing lane all the time - just don't tail gate me when I am behind a long string of traffic and flip me the bird. It does no good to pass in these situations.

[Below Zero]

Certain states actually make it illegal (passing lane only). I drive in the right lane 99% of the time when it's feasible.

Oh yeah, that law works so well here in CO

[funkendrenchman]

What works even better, or if the previous countermeasures have proven ineffective, is to throw it down into second gear doing around 60mph or so. Most people won't even know what hit them. I had to employ this method last night when I somehow got stuck between 2 rednecks that were trying to have some fun with me (truck in front slowed to 20mph while the car behind tailgated me) on the interstate on ramp. The bastard maintained a good 3-4 car lengths behind me after that one

That sounds like a great way to cause an accident and, in a state where neither driver is at fault, an even better way to raise your insurance rate. Maybe you could even injure someone too.

Driving isn't a game.

[MakersTeleMark]

My daily commute is through a certain stretch of I-70 that can be hairball in bad weather. My front wheel drive car with good snow tires is exceptional, because I don't drive like a jackass. Every day it snows, and that has been lots of days this winter, there is an accident. My informal data shows that people passing me way too fast and subsequently ending up in the ditch (or atop a jersey barrier) are in F-250 type trucks and Audi's.

My daily commute is through a certain stretch of I-70 that can be hairball in bad weather. My [F250] with [newer tall skinny BFG AT KO's] is exceptional, because I don't drive like a jackass. Every day it snows, and that has been lots of days this winter, there is an accident [or 3]. My informal data shows that people passing me way too fast and subsequently ending up in the ditch (or atop a jersey barrier) are in [compact pickups with no weight in the rear, semi's, CME vans] and Audi's.

[lemon boy]

BZ- if you're squeaking anything then I think you know the answer. Besides, even if there's no cars ahead of either vehicle that isn't the only reason you might have to get on the brakes (rocks, deer etc...).

(and not directed at anyone):

*277, I do report aggro asshat drivers conditions permitting.

[funkendrenchman]

*277, I do report aggro asshat drivers conditions permitting.

*CSP if you forget the numbers

[homerjay]

My daily commute is through a certain stretch of I-70 that can be hairball in bad weather. My [F250] with [newer tall skinny BFG AT KO's] is exceptional, because I don't drive like a jackass. Every day it snows, and that has been lots of days this winter, there is an accident [or 3]. My informal data shows that people passing me way too fast and subsequently ending up in the ditch (or atop a jersey barrier) are in [compact pickups with no weight in the rear, semi's, CME vans] and Audi's.

You forgot Fedex trucks.

[Below Zero]

BZ- if you're squeaking anything then I think you know the answer. Besides, even if there's no cars ahead of either vehicle that isn't the only reason you might have to get on the brakes (rocks, deer etc...).

(and not directed at anyone):

*277, I do report aggro asshat drivers conditions permitting.

I'm seriously not trying to be a dick here, but from a legal perspective, is my hypothetical breaking the law?

277? What's that? A hotline or something?