Top tailgating cars for you?

[mike_mike]

If there's a Toyota Corolla on the road... they're most likely pinned to my tail regardless what speed i'm going.

If there's a Chrysler/Dodge minivan on the road... they're probably tailgating me again, regardless of the speed i'm going. If i'm on the bike, said minivan is being driven by someone who has a vicarious smirk on their face and usually goes the extra mile to check out what the people on the motorcycles are doing..










How about you folks? I imagine everyone has their favourite vechiles they often watch out for on the roads in their car or on their bike.

[RVertigo]

You know...  I don't think I've noticed a trend in tailgaters' cars...

I've noticed a trend with bad drivers, but I think I'll keep it to myself. 

[Phaedrus]

Hm, I rarely even have a tailgating problem. My area is not exactly a high traffic area, either.

I have noticed that mini-vans like to get in front of me and drive as slow as possible, right in the stretch of road that I consider a "sweet spot". They also then like to slam on their brakes, use no turn signals, and turn about 1/4 mile before I do. Everywhere I go it seems. 

When I am kind of the world, there will be an additional lane added for all mini-vans.

[Cal Price]

Oh Lor, I had not noticed any trend either, is this something i have missed and should be worried about?

What gets to me most around here where we have quite a bit of in-town 40 limit dual-carridgway is sitting behind two vehicles alongside one another both doing 30-35 mph. There's always something isn't there.

[natedawg120]

I get tailgated regularly but not by the same type of vehicles.  The problem with my 'neck of the woods' is that being a college town a lot of boneheaded kids like to street race with there ricers.  I have on numberous occations been on my bike and they will come up behind me going 80+ in a 40.  Then one slams on the brakes and goes around me, i always get as far away from them as i can cause i would like to live to see tomorrow.

[LimaXray]

Being from Northern NJ, everyone drives super aggressively like they are on crack and tailgating is common.  Most people won't tail gate unless you're going too slow, but there is the occasional jerk who will be in you trunk even when you're doing 15 over.  I tailgate all the time but never to motorcycles or anyone who is going a reasonable speed (the speed limit is NOT a reasonable speed here).   

What tends to piss me off are some minivans on the highway.  (no offense to any minivan drivers out there of course) Every time I drive between my home in NJ and school in NY, I get at least one duck in a minivan (its ALWAYS a minivan) who will ride my ass (I do like 75-78 because I know they ticket in NY for doing 80) until they can pass me doing a good 85.  About 3 minutes later they slow down to like 70, and I'll have to pass them.  This whole process then repeats itself.  After about the 3rd time the jack ass does this, I want to run the guy off the road and explain to him why he sucks at life.  My question is do minivans not have cruise control or does the driver not know how to use it?  Do they not realize how unsafe it is to not maintain a constant speed?

I think there are more noticeable differences driving trends based on location.  Like I said, us Jersians are aggressive, and a lot of people don't like us because of that.  On the other hand, drivers in NY(away from the city) and PA tend to be a lot more calm and passive, and drive us NJ types up the wall.

[Onlypastrana199]

  NY drivers are scared to get a ticket cause you can't fight speeding tickets anymore. No more lawyer no more court dates, nothing. You get a ticket you get the fine and the points and youre screwed. Mass people scare me...ive never seen anyone from Mass whos had their car for more than a month who didn't have at least one dent in it...

[aaronstj]

It's been my experience the the bigger the truck, the more of an ass the driver is.  The huge, $35,000 raised Ford F-gazillions driving through town are the worst.  I've also noticed (while driving mty stick) that the nicer the car, the closer the pull up to you when you're stopped pointing up a steep hill.  It's like they want you to slip and take out their front bumper.

The real trend I've noticed, though, is that republicans can't drive, at least around here.  If someone has a W sticker, they're guaranteed to drive like a jack ass.

[Old Mr. Wilson]

Down here a HIGH percentage of all wrecks are caused by tailgating. Since Katrina's victims have gotten here with an increase of about 70K new people, it's even worse. I have to leave at 6 in the a.m. to be at work for 6:30. I drive (in my car) from 75 to 80 mph all the way in. But that's NOT fast enough. I have people riding my ass, flipping me off, screaming and sh_it while driving hell bound. It's really insane. I see wrecks "all the time", most caused by jamming up someone's ass-end. Some very very serious. Everybody is in a damned hurry. They left late..........always late and trying to "make up for it". Talking on those godforsaken cell phones, shaving, and even putting on makeup. All while driving 20-30 miles over the speed limit! It's a recipe for disaster. I see very few motorcycles going in. It's just too damned dangerous. Plus the roads here are constructed from broken concrete. I think we've been voted worst roads in the USA. It has been said that Vietnam has better roads than South Louisiana and has even more jungle and swamps (common excuse given by road construction managers when confronted about shitty roads). So be safe!

[roguegeek]

I think I've just been lucky these past two years of riding in SoCal. Aside from the occasional person who tries to box me in while I lane split, drivers have been aware of me and, in turn, been pretty courteous. I don't get the tailgaters or guys who try to keep up and cut off. I'm also riding 40 miles of the 710 everyday and if you know that freeway, it's a major shipping freeway. Lots of traffic and lots of truckers. My temper flares every time I have to drive my car to work now.

What I do notice is any kind of Ford drivers, especially Mustang and F-series pickup drivers, are just complete assholes in general when driving.

[Egaeus]

The real trend I've noticed, though, is that republicans can't drive, at least around here.  If someone has a W sticker, they're guaranteed to drive like a jack ass.

I see that a lot here too.  I get cut off by more W's than anything.  I guess they think they are entitled to hog the road just like they hog the gas....

[yamahonkawazuki]

Oh Lor, I had not noticed any trend either, is this something i have missed and should be worried about?

What gets to me most around here where we have quite a bit of in-town 40 limit dual-carridgway is sitting behind two vehicles alongside one another both doing 30-35 mph. There's always something isn't there.

yeah but cal dont you live in an are that can sometimes be notorious for trasffic/tailgating etc?

[yamahonkawazuki]

sorry i apologise for my smei drunk a$$ attempt at an intelligent reply 

[ajgs500]

I live in the city everyone tailgates here, even when I drive the cage.  Butan alarming number of W's drive like crazy MF'ers, I usually dont let them get over, even if they have their turn signals on. LOL LOL 

[Caffeine]

I've posted on this topic before.   People in South Florida LOVE to tailgate motorcycles!    Not really any type of vehicle or driver demographic.   Young, old, minivan, truck, sedan, ricer...I've had them all on my butt.     I've learned to just change lanes & slow down a bit until they get past me.   

Ways to Get a Tailgater to Pass You:

1:  Pull over.    Works every time.    Unless it is a police car with blue lights flashing, in which case he will probably pull over to chat and look at your license.

2:  Slow down, move to the right side of your lane (left side in UK) and make a "pass me" motion to the offending car.   No middle fingers!

3:  Change lanes.  It's not likely they will change lanes with you unless they are *following* you.    As the GS is such an amazing vehicle in both style and engineering, people often follow me to get a closer look.
It is a burden we all must bear!

4:  If road conditions do not permit passing, and pulling over isn't an option, give them a gentle "back off" motion with your hand:   Palm facing backward, arm and fingers extended downward, with a slight wave of the hand.

5:  Throw your empty beer bottles at the car behind you.   You need to empty your beer bottle holder anyway to make room for a fresh one out of your insulated tank bag. 

But seriously, I have noticed that when there is someone tailgating me, there is usually a passenger in the car, or the driver is talking on his phone, in which case I think they are just distracted and probably don't realize they are tailgating.

[LimaXray]

When someone tailgates me I like to play a game I call 'who can be the biggest duck'

It goes like this:

first, when the jerk is already up your ass, you downshift, causing you to slow down suddenly without your brake lights coming on.  If they hit you, complain your neck huirts, and you win!

If they don't hit you, maintain a speed at least 10 MPH below the speed limit, make sure they realize they pissed you off and that you are now playing 'who can be the biggest duck'.

Maintain this slower speed in the lower gear until you reach a passing zone.  When the jack ass trys to pass you, open up the throttle just enough so they just barely can't get by.  Once they give up and get back behind you, resume your slower speed

Keep repeating this until the bastard turns or gives up and backs off, in which case you win and can return to a more comfortable pace.  If the guy pulls out a gun, you should promply pull over allowing him to pass and win the game; unless of course you too have a gun in which case you should whip yours out now.

[TragicImage]

I got in trouble for "whipping it out" one time.


but thats a different story.

[roguegeek]

When someone tailgates me I like to play a game I call 'who can be the biggest duck'

It goes like this:

first, when the jerk is already up your ass, you downshift, causing you to slow down suddenly without your brake lights coming on.  If they hit you, complain your neck huirts, and you win!

If they don't hit you, maintain a speed at least 10 MPH below the speed limit, make sure they realize they pissed you off and that you are now playing 'who can be the biggest duck'.

Maintain this slower speed in the lower gear until you reach a passing zone.  When the jack ass trys to pass you, open up the throttle just enough so they just barely can't get by.  Once they give up and get back behind you, resume your slower speed

Keep repeating this until the bastard turns or gives up and backs off, in which case you win and can return to a more comfortable pace.  If the guy pulls out a gun, you should promply pull over allowing him to pass and win the game; unless of course you too have a gun in which case you should whip yours out now.

Sounds extremely stupid to me. Not only are you putting yourself in danger, you're making all motorcyclists look bad. Do what the MSF course taught ya and move to the side.

Now when I'm in my car, I'll do it.

[LimaXray]

Sounds extremely stupid to me. Not only are you putting yourself in danger, you're making all motorcyclists look bad. Do what the MSF course taught ya and move to the side.

Now when I'm in my car, I'll do it.

Oh yeah it IS extremely stupid, no doubt about that, but hey thats the point of 'who has the biggest'... i mean 'who can be the biggest duck' 

[mike_mike]

When someone tailgates me I like to play a game I call 'who can be the biggest duck'

It goes like this:

first, when the jerk is already up your ass, you downshift, causing you to slow down suddenly without your brake lights coming on.  If they hit you, complain your neck huirts, and you win!

If they don't hit you, maintain a speed at least 10 MPH below the speed limit, make sure they realize they pissed you off and that you are now playing 'who can be the biggest duck'.

Maintain this slower speed in the lower gear until you reach a passing zone.  When the jack ass trys to pass you, open up the throttle just enough so they just barely can't get by.  Once they give up and get back behind you, resume your slower speed

Keep repeating this until the bastard turns or gives up and backs off, in which case you win and can return to a more comfortable pace.  If the guy pulls out a gun, you should promply pull over allowing him to pass and win the game; unless of course you too have a gun in which case you should whip yours out now.

Being rear ended in a car is not fun - Why risk a lifetime back/neck injury to piss someone off?

I can't even imagine what being rear ended on a motorcycle feels like.  Someone hit me in September and thankfully i wasn't seriosuly injured.