Originally Posted by
Aylen
If someone tailgates me and I am doing the speed limit ( or just over) I will speed up enough to match the speed of the closest car to my right so the car tailgating me will have no other options. It is annoying to be in traffic, driving the speed limit, and having someone ride my ass like there is something I can do about it. I won't slam on brakes to slow down since that is dangerous but I might take my time getting over to let them pass. If they take the clue and back off I will speed up and change lanes to let them pass.
I am usually driving in the right lane (as I was taught) unless I have to pass on the left but often I can't due to heavy traffic .I don't know what a tailgater expects me to do in those cases. It is like they can't imagine what is happening past their own car. If I am on a one lane road and doing the speed limit it is even worse since the person should know I can't just let them pass in most cases. I will slow down to let them pass on the side of oncoming traffic if I see it is safe to let them pass me. If they don't ride my ass.
I like to drive fast too. Slow drivers can be just as frustrating to me some days. I still leave enough room to stop between cars based on my speed. I will just look for a break where I can safely pass them on the right if they are a left lane slow driver or on the left if it is a single lane road (if visual distance permits).
My ESE sister used to ride people's asses but not maliciously or out of frustration, usually. It's because she was talking too much and not paying attention. I am pretty vocal about her not tailgating when I am in the car with her even now due to her past behavior. She did this more in her teens but after a couple of accidents, she is more careful now.
If you are in the car with someone who drives fast while tailgating it would be wise to speak up or you might not get a chance to tell them gently later that this was unacceptable. Your life, and the lives of people driving around you, is more important than not hurting some aggressive driver's ego. Keep in mind you can't predict if the person in front of you is going to be like the SEE and slow down or even slam on their brakes but you can tell the person you are with to chill the hell out. If you have to, start insisting on driving if you drive. They should get the hint then.
I don't begrudge anyone's need for speed but if they are doing it out of frustration they are probably not very clearheaded. I used to race people when I was young but I have grown out of it. It was stupid and dangerous but I never felt I was putting people's lives in danger doing it because I was confident in my driving. I was not taking into account the unpredictability of other drivers so I was putting us all in danger. The LSE driving you must not take into account the unpredictable nature of other drivers or they don't care. Road rage is real and you might find yourself in trouble with some maniac, who does not like to be tailgated, shooting at you or following you home. That is what real vengeance looks like. :/ What you describe is spitefulness.
If your LSE, or anyone else, needs help leaving on time take the lead and give yourselves plenty of time to get where you are going safely. Take them to a racing track if it is just because they like to drive fast and need a release for that.
Not gonna lie, I have tailgated before when I felt rushed. I am more cautious now. Horn blowing is obnoxious and should be limited to signaling danger. There are laws against blowing your horn out of frustration in many places. Tailgating is considered reckless driving just about everywhere.