Coping with Aggressive Drivers

[KD5NRH]

Then, I wish that I could eject 'Stop Sticks" off the back of my vehicle.

Get a few cheap bumpers from a salvage yard, some clamps that can be released by pulling, and some steel cable. When that bumper that doesn't match your car comes skidding out between your back wheels, your excuse is that you were able to straddle the chunk of road debris

[Dave2]

I lived there most of my life until I moved to Texas a little over 4 years ago (I'm 58 years old) and that law is either no longer in existence, or it is no longer enforced.

My understanding is that it's just not enforced.

Incidentally, such behavior annoys me a bit. I could be cruising along, thinking that a law is off the books, and pass a cop who's just having a bad day. Then I've got a ticket for doing something that I've seen the police themselves do countless times. If a law isn't going to be enforced, they should get rid of it.

[gigag04]

I had an SUV tailgating me down an icy side street a few days ago... So close I couldn't see their front bumper in my rear view mirror, and driving on ice with no clear pavement in sight... My non-CHL self would almost certainly have had a few choice words for the driver. My CHL-self just pulled over at the next opportunity and waited for them to pass before pulling in behind them.

As the car passed, I saw it was driven by a woman who was talking on her cell phone (while tailgating me on an icy road)...

I would've said something. Or had one of my partners track her down and cite her.

[chasfm11]

I had an SUV tailgating me down an icy side street a few days ago... So close I couldn't see their front bumper in my rear view mirror, and driving on ice with no clear pavement in sight... My non-CHL self would almost certainly have had a few choice words for the driver. My CHL-self just pulled over at the next opportunity and waited for them to pass before pulling in behind them.

As the car passed, I saw it was driven by a woman who was talking on her cell phone (while tailgating me on an icy road)...

I would've said something. Or had one of my partners track her down and cite her.

I would love to get you a position here in North Texas. Many of our local LEOs appear to shy away from writing tailgaiting/reckless driving citations. At the posted speed limit, I'm often followed by people where the front bumper is not visible under inclement conditions. I work hard to move out of their way but it isn't always possible. I'm puzzled why someone would follow that closely when the car in front of them has two more cars in front of it. That is a chain reaction collision just waiting to happen.

[rmr1923]

I'm puzzled why someone would follow that closely when the car in front of them has two more cars in front of it. That is a chain reaction collision just waiting to happen.

scientific research has proven that tailgaiting someone can and will make the dozens of cars in front of them speed up immediately

[MadMonkey]

I tailgated a bit when I was younger, but then I realized that I couldn't see ahead for brakelights... luckily I didn't screw up.

[MegaWatt]

A couple of legislative sessions ago I emailed several legislators asking them to increase the fine for being in the left lane without passing, up to the same as speeding 15 over the speed limit. I am convinced traffic enforcement is based on how much revenue it brings to the local jurisdiction. Not that the average LEO is not concerned about safety but why would a LEO spend the time to pull over and cite someone for something of low pay-back (though more unsafe) like impeding traffic flow or NOT actually passing in the passing lane when they can spend the same time with a bigger pay back like speeding 15 over the limit. My logic is if they made the fines at least the same, the LEO would then have more incentive for not only bring in their precious revenue but actually do something constructive about the traffic jams. I had a few sincere responses but most were just Thank You form letters.

I contend that at the front of every traffic slow down or jam is someone in the passing lane, cruising along, probably on a cell phone, driving at the same or slightly higher or slower speed, than the vehicle in the next lane over. I'm not talking rush hour type traffic, I'm talking normal driving around traffic, 10:00 AM Saturday. It doesn't even have to be on a freeway or interstate highway. It could be just the four lane road you take the store. These are the people that I assume think, "I'll be turning left in about four miles so I better get in the left lane".

So for the people unclear on the concept of "Slower Traffic Keep Right" or the very clear signs saying "Left Lane for Passing Only" here is an easy test:
Regardless of the speed limit or how fast you are actually going, look in front of you. Is there a long gap between you and the next car in front of you? Now look in the mirror. Are there two or more vehicles following close to you? (if it's only one car, they can easily be just a run-of-the-mill idiot) Have you noticed you've been alongside the same vehicle for a couple miles? Or have several people been passing you on the right? (quite possibly showing you the International hand sign of discontent) If the answer to these easy to understand questions is yes, MOVE OVER!!!! It's not your job to regulate traffic speed. That's what we pay the police to do. Remember, it's not speed that causes problems, it's the difference in speed. Anyone that ever drove in Germany can attest to this.

OK,,, I'm off the soapbox.

[texanron]

It doesn't even have to be on a freeway or interstate highway. It could be just the four lane road you take the store. These are the people that I assume think, "I'll be turning left in about four miles so I better get in the left lane".

If I'm driving on the freeway I only use the left lane for passing. However, if I'm driving to the store and the entrance will require a left turn, I will drive in the left lane at my typical 5 mph over the posted limit. If someone wants to go faster than that they'll have to wait for their chance to pass or until I turn. I don't want to have to worry is someone is going to let me back over in the left lane so I can make my turn from the lane I was already in. I'm not enforcing the speed limit, I'm driving to the store in the manner I feel is safest for me and my family.

[quidni]

I tend to keep right at the speed limit except when everyone around me is going much faster. Then I drive whatever speed is being dictated by the flow of traffic. I understand your desire to obey the posted limits. However, safety must always trump the law if fanatical adherence to the law creates an unsafe condition, and it is actually safer to drive the speed dictated by the flow of traffic. A driver who is going much slower than the prevailing speed of traffic is as much a danger to other drivers as is the driver who is racing through traffic at a much higher rate of speed. Both drivers create a danger to everyone because they disrupt the orderly flow of vehicles, forcing the other drivers into avoidance maneuvers that drive up the risk of accident exponentially.

My husband tells a story of a family trip through California when he was a teenager. His dad was (still is) a very careful driver, and mindful of traffic laws wherever he is. They were going through LA during rush hour (and in LA, it really is "rush" hour) and his dad was in the right hand lane doing his white-knuckled best to keep to the posted speed limit even though everyone else was going faster and trying to get around him. (out-of-state plates... didn't want a speeding ticket...) Eventually a police car pulled in behind him and the officer got on the PA and commanded "Speed up to match the traffic or get off the freeway!"

[sugar land dave]

My husband tells a story of a family trip through California ...

Now that, I do believe. As I used to tell my friends from out of state, there's the letter of the law, and then there is the law as enforced by by the LEO in your immediate vicinity. That is the law you most need to recognize. In other words, you don't mess with the high sheriff in Texas. You may be smart, but he is wise.