[shutterbug]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[JOYRIIDE1113]

I start driving slowly until they pass.

[shutterbug]

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]

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]

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]

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]

I throw my own poo at them

[mjh93sa]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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