Handling Tailgaters

shutterbug · 02-24-2006, 01:12 PM

I've seen a few threads recently about tailgaters, and I was just curious how everyone handles them. I'm talking of specific situations where there is traffic ahead of you, preventing you from accelerating, and traffic to adjacent lanes, preventing you from switching. The tailgater is right on your ass for no apparent reason.

As for me, when I'm in a particularly crappy mood, I'll spray my windshield wiper fluid. Normally though, I'll just glare into the rearview mirror (which of course has zero effect but makes me feel slightly better). I've seen other people in this situation lightly tap their brakes--not enough to decelerate all that much, but just to light up their brake lights.

obLu · 02-24-2006, 01:16 PM

Yup, drag the brakes a little and get them to wake up from la-la land or get them off the cell phone.

Maybe it's the part of the country I'm in, but 98% of the time if traffic's lousy people are tailgating because they're not paying attention; not out of malice.

London320d · 02-24-2006, 01:21 PM

The most important thing to do is to make sure that there is enough space in front of you so that you will not need to do any sudden braking. If the idiot behind you will not leave enough space, then you need to make sure that he will not need the space that he does not have. To do othewise leaves you with the possiblity of ending up with a non-BMW shaped BMW.

Once that space is secure, then have your fun (in ways that I cannot of course condone

)

eleven24 · 02-24-2006, 01:23 PM

One little trick my dad taught me some 17 years ago when I was learning to drive is to turn on your hazzard flashers for a second. It generally has the same effect as the brake lights going off in that the person behind you gets a little wake up call.

Geneb2450 · 02-24-2006, 01:24 PM

In Tampa tailgating is the norm :mad: . I turn my headlights on/off if it's daytime. Looks to the idiot behind me like I'm hitting the brakes. At night, I brake and hit the accelerator multiple times until they get annoyed and pass me (usually also making rude gestures in my direction).

england1987 · 02-24-2006, 01:30 PM

I love to do the windshield washers, and I slow down a lot. this pisses them off to no end! Its great fun. And if my turn off the main road is soon, then I turn on my indicator really early and brake, making sure that they can't pass me bu being to far to the left

2006bmw · 02-24-2006, 01:42 PM

Here in LA, we just let the tailgunner take care of the problem.

JOYRIIDE1113 · 02-24-2006, 01:43 PM

I start driving slowly until they pass.

shutterbug · 02-24-2006, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenB

Here’s an idea, just get the hell out of the way. The highway would be much safer if people would practice lane discipline and get out of the way of faster moving vehicles. All of our passing would be done on the left, there would be fewer accidents and road rage would be all but eliminated.

Well, in the situation I'm describing, there is traffic in adjacent lanes, so no switching. In cases where there is room in the next lane, I totally agree with you.

ben1364 · 02-24-2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOYRIIDE1113

I start driving slowly until they pass.

This is the best advice seen yet on this thread. One should also help the tailgater to pass and move on. From personal observations, tailgaters are simply frustrated people caught behind left lane bandits for mile after mile. Courtesy to them is usually rewarded.

David328M-Sport · 02-24-2006, 02:38 PM

i slow down gently without brake lights, enough for them to move on whilst i enjoy my drive.

yes, they overtake without issue. nice and easy.

ben1364 · 02-24-2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David325Australia

i slow down gently without brake lights, enough for them to move on whilst i enjoy my drive.

yes, they overtake without issue. nice and easy.

Very sensible, David.

ward · 02-24-2006, 02:40 PM

I throw my own poo at them

mjh93sa · 02-24-2006, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenB

... All of our passing would be done on the left...

I always overtake on the right!

The closer a tailgaiter gets the slower I go.

Having Xenons with headlamp washers means you can also give them a good soaking. I've never had a convertible tailgating, so I haven't been able to see what the reaction to that would be (yet)!

karbosshack · 02-24-2006, 02:54 PM

How do you give them a good soaking when they are behind you???? I don't have HWS but what about the regular windshield wipers???

I just let my foot off the gas and turn my hazards on

SteveMD · 02-24-2006, 03:00 PM

I give them the good ol' British two-fingered salute which not many people here understand but it gives me the satisfaction.

Then I turn the washers on them and yell "Bollocks" if they ever pass me.

That's on a good day.

ben1364 · 02-24-2006, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenB

Here’s an idea, just get the hell out of the way. The highway would be much safer if people would practice lane discipline and get out of the way of faster moving vehicles. All of our passing would be done on the left, there would be fewer accidents and road rage would be all but eliminated.

Amen to this, Ken! From my observations most left lane bandits tend to be inattentive kids and inattentive old goats (my generation). I had some bumper stickers made up several years ago with the legend, "<Passing side/Suicide>"

ben1364 · 02-24-2006, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OilBurner

I always overtake on the right!

The closer a tailgaiter gets the slower I go.

Having Xenons with headlamp washers means you can also give them a good soaking. I've never had a convertible tailgating, so I haven't been able to see what the reaction to that would be (yet)!

Good show as long as you are in the UK Oz, Japan or another markets with right hand steering. Good drivers do the opposite here in the colonies.

blasman · 02-24-2006, 03:38 PM

A friend of mine uses a very dangerous technique for people tailgating him. He holds in the button on the emergency brake and lightly lifts up to apply some pressure to the brakes. The brake lights don't go on when you do this, which when riding with him a couple times he has done this scared the you know what out of me. The person behind us almost hit us (one of the reasons I don't use this technique). I must say though, most of the time the tailgater backs off.

M3ti Compact · 02-24-2006, 04:26 PM

I can accept that no matter how fast I go, there will ALWAYS be people who want to go faster than me- so if someone tailgates me, I move the hell over. Another thing, I don't cruise in the passing lane.

You guys thinking about revenge tactics gotta think AHEAD- you let the guy going faster to pass you ASAP, and voila, you can start following him, and they would be a bait car for any police speed traps ahead.

mjh93sa · 02-24-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenB

I had a feeling some wise ass Brit. would pipe up

Thats why I said "our"

At last our universal wisdom is recognised

RBBMWE46M3 · 02-24-2006, 05:09 PM

start slowing down, but dont use your brakes... right until they try to pass then speed up...repeat if necessary..

02-24-2006, 01:12 PM	#1
shutterbug Private 18 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 330xi Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	Handling Tailgaters I've seen a few threads recently about tailgaters, and I was just curious how everyone handles them. I'm talking of specific situations where there is traffic ahead of you, preventing you from accelerating, and traffic to adjacent lanes, preventing you from switching. The tailgater is right on your ass for no apparent reason. As for me, when I'm in a particularly crappy mood, I'll spray my windshield wiper fluid. Normally though, I'll just glare into the rearview mirror (which of course has zero effect but makes me feel slightly better). I've seen other people in this situation lightly tap their brakes--not enough to decelerate all that much, but just to light up their brake lights. __________________ E90 330xi 6 MT/ SG / Black Leather / Aluminum / Sport / Cold Weather / CA / PDC / Blacklines / Aluminum Pedals / Alarm / Hardwired Passport 8500 / Momo Shift Knob / LUX 2.0
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02-24-2006, 01:16 PM	#2
obLu Major 50 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	Yup, drag the brakes a little and get them to wake up from la-la land or get them off the cell phone. Maybe it's the part of the country I'm in, but 98% of the time if traffic's lousy people are tailgating because they're not paying attention; not out of malice.
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02-24-2006, 01:21 PM	#3
London320d Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 275 Posts Drives: '06 E90 320dSE Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London, England iTrader: (0)	The most important thing to do is to make sure that there is enough space in front of you so that you will not need to do any sudden braking. If the idiot behind you will not leave enough space, then you need to make sure that he will not need the space that he does not have. To do othewise leaves you with the possiblity of ending up with a non-BMW shaped BMW. Once that space is secure, then have your fun (in ways that I cannot of course condone )
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02-24-2006, 01:23 PM	#4
eleven24 Foppa! 29 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2018 X5 xDrive35i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Furlong, PA iTrader: (0)	One little trick my dad taught me some 17 years ago when I was learning to drive is to turn on your hazzard flashers for a second. It generally has the same effect as the brake lights going off in that the person behind you gets a little wake up call. __________________ 2018 X5 xDrive35i past: 96 323ic \| 00 328i \| 06 330xi \| 11 Q5 \| 14 Touraeg \| 17 Q7 ~ 2011-2017: my era of darkness
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02-24-2006, 01:24 PM	#5
Geneb2450 Enlisted Member 5 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	In Tampa tailgating is the norm :mad: . I turn my headlights on/off if it's daytime. Looks to the idiot behind me like I'm hitting the brakes. At night, I brake and hit the accelerator multiple times until they get annoyed and pass me (usually also making rude gestures in my direction). __________________ 325i Artic/Black Leatherette/Aluminum Trim/Sports Package
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02-24-2006, 01:30 PM	#6
england1987 Second Lieutenant 24 Rep 280 Posts Drives: Z4 M coupe Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NC, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 Z4 M Coupe [7.50]	I love to do the windshield washers, and I slow down a lot. this pisses them off to no end! Its great fun. And if my turn off the main road is soon, then I turn on my indicator really early and brake, making sure that they can't pass me bu being to far to the left
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02-24-2006, 01:42 PM	#7
2006bmw First Class Privates 10 Rep 181 Posts Drives: '06 330i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: L.A. iTrader: (0)	Here in LA, we just let the tailgunner take care of the problem. __________________ Conceived: 10/26/05 Born: 11/08/05 Delivered: 12/17/05 \| 330i \| 6 M/T \| AW \| Terra \| Walnut \| SPP \| ZSP \| CA
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02-24-2006, 01:43 PM	#8
JOYRIIDE1113 Pirate 113 Rep 1,395 Posts Drives: Detailing Shark Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Miami-Kendall iTrader: (1)	I start driving slowly until they pass.
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02-24-2006, 02:38 PM	#11
David328M-Sport Brigadier General 101 Rep 3,566 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Estoril Blue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	i slow down gently without brake lights, enough for them to move on whilst i enjoy my drive. yes, they overtake without issue. nice and easy. __________________ 328i M-Sport, Estoril Blue, Carbon XP 35 Tint, front heated seats, black Dakota, Sports Suspension, Anthracite Headliner, HUD, Pro Nav, Sunroof, hk 600w, Bi-Xenon, 19" 403M wheels, Reversing Camera, DAB+, Xenon, BT Ext Connect, MST turbo intake pipe, MST Cold Air Intake, JB4 on Map 2 with Catless DP produces awesome performance in Sport.
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02-24-2006, 02:40 PM	#13
ward Major General 155 Rep 6,158 Posts Drives: F Join Date: May 2005 Location: T iTrader: (0)	I throw my own poo at them
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02-24-2006, 02:54 PM	#15
karbosshack First Lieutenant 16 Rep 350 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 328i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: AZ iTrader: (3)	How do you give them a good soaking when they are behind you???? I don't have HWS but what about the regular windshield wipers??? I just let my foot off the gas and turn my hazards on
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02-24-2006, 03:00 PM	#16
SteveMD Colonel 193 Rep 2,485 Posts Drives: 2016 F10 535i MSport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Raventown! iTrader: (3)	I give them the good ol' British two-fingered salute which not many people here understand but it gives me the satisfaction. Then I turn the washers on them and yell "Bollocks" if they ever pass me. That's on a good day. __________________ 2006 E90 330i (retired) 2009 E90 335i (retired) 2012 E70 X5 50i M Sport (retired) 2016 F10 535i M Sport
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02-24-2006, 03:38 PM	#19
blasman New Member 1 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 06 325 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	A friend of mine uses a very dangerous technique for people tailgating him. He holds in the button on the emergency brake and lightly lifts up to apply some pressure to the brakes. The brake lights don't go on when you do this, which when riding with him a couple times he has done this scared the you know what out of me. The person behind us almost hit us (one of the reasons I don't use this technique). I must say though, most of the time the tailgater backs off.
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02-24-2006, 04:26 PM	#20
M3ti Compact Private First Class 8 Rep 106 Posts Drives: E36 318ti, E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0) Garage List 1995 BMW 318ti [0.00] 2006 BMW 325 [0.00]	I can accept that no matter how fast I go, there will ALWAYS be people who want to go faster than me- so if someone tailgates me, I move the hell over. Another thing, I don't cruise in the passing lane. You guys thinking about revenge tactics gotta think AHEAD- you let the guy going faster to pass you ASAP, and voila, you can start following him, and they would be a bait car for any police speed traps ahead.
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02-24-2006, 05:09 PM	#22
RBBMWE46M3 blaupunkt 56 Rep 525 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi 6spman montego Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: THE REGION iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 x5 [0.00] 1972 R75/5 [0.00] 2008 335xi [0.00]	start slowing down, but dont use your brakes... right until they try to pass then speed up...repeat if necessary.. __________________ BMW ENGINEERS
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