Sunday, November 14, 2010

Tailgating Idiots

Hi guys! Sorry about the lack of posting. This one is from my ranting archives, however it is still extremely relevant cause this happened to be again just last week.

While driving to work this morning, I was tailgated by a very irate woman. I have no idea what it was that I was doing that made her so angry, I was not driving under speed, I wasn't taking up two lanes and I wasn't abusive to her first, so what was her problem and why did she pick me to tailgate out of everyone on the highway?

I could see her in the rear view mirror very clearly as she was that close. You know how normally you can see the whole front of the car behind the back of your car? Well I normally consider tailgating where I can't see a space between my car and the other car, but in this case, I could only see her front windscreen. Nothing of the bonnet. That’s how I could tell she was angry. Real angry.
It’s not like she couldn't see the car, its bright freaking yellow for Pete’s sake. If had have been in my own car, I seriously would have contemplated tapping my foot on the brake while keeping my foot on the accelerator just to scare the living crap out of her, but I was in my sister's car, so I didn't and I just put up with it. I changed lanes so she could go around, but no, she was angry at me and followed me into the lane and continued to tailgate.

I really have no idea what her problem was, maybe she was just a weirdo, who knows? So anyway, basically she followed me the whole way until I left the highway, it was really nerve wracking. I don't know why some people think that it is a good idea. It is just so dangerous and stupid. People like that cause accidents. I hate people who tailgate; the fines for it should be much more severe. Not only is it only dangerous and stupid, it is a form of intimidation and bullying. It is ridiculous that so many people do it and get away with it. I have been tailgated a fair few times, not for any reason that I was aware of. I am not willing to speed just because the car behind me wants to. If it's a problem, go around, don't try to scare me into going faster.

That's it from me today.

Be awesome to each other.

3 comments:

Donna said...

My rant for this one is kind of the opposite side of the coin. Okay, I'm going down the road and in a little bit of a hurry. There is a car off to one side in a parking lot that suddenly at the last minute pulls out in front of me, then drives 25 miles an hour. The speed limit is 40 and I was doing 45 before I had to slam on the brakes for this bozo. I'm like, what's the damned hurry to cut me off? And then to drive so slow? Why couldn't they wait for me to pass, then they could take their sweet everloving time without annoying the hell out of anyone. But no, I didn't tailgate them anyway, I just swore a lot.

Bec said...

Hi Donna,

I totally get where you are coming from. It is just as reckless and dangerous for drivers to do that as well! One of the things that annoys me the most are people that do not know how to merge from an on ramp onto busy highways.

And there is nothing wrong with swear at morons. That does not add to the danger.

I do understand that some people are such bad drivers that they should not be on the road, but I do not think that a person should make the road even more dangerous by tailgating them to try and scare them.

Bec

GabZ1985 said...

I never think twice about pressing on the break pedal while on the accelerator to let people know they're too close. At first I just gently tap the break twice fast, so they can see the signal. If they don't I do it slower. And if they still didn't back off, I just press on it. Never had any problems after that. I do it regardless of the car I'm in. Tailgating shouldn't be allowed, and these people should understand that it's dangerous. I follow the speed limits, sometimes go a little faster, but I, too, refuse to go faster just because they're stuck to my backseat. What that woman did, switching lanes when you did, that was ridiculous! I guess you were her scapegoat that morning.. :/