DU members do you TAILGATE (as in ride up people's butts on the fwy)

[Carni]

Rant moment...

If I have one more son of a bitch in a large truck or SUV tailgate me in my mid sized CAR on the highway...I may kill someone.

I'm in the damned right lane and I am doing 70- WHY? WHY?
Do people in trucks and SUV's feel the FREAKING NEED to tailgate a person in the God damned right lane?

Are any of my people here at DU doing this or are all of the IDIOTS doing it Bush apologist/ GOP DORKS and pondscum?

(BTW I think maybe you should all lie about this and claim to tailgate... because if I start thinking these SOB's are all Republicans on top of it, I may get even more psychotic!)

I'M LOSING IT! ACK!!!!!

[seeker4ever]

1. I'm with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a rather long and heated debate here on DU about this. It seems impatient, pushy, assholistic behavior is not entirely limited to the right side of the isle.

Some dolts consider driving within 5 miles of the speed limit to be deserving of tailgating and moreover place any blame for accidents that my result from said dip-shit tailgating behavior with the evil safe driver!

Moronic on all levels.

[Beaverhausen]

2. Do you have any bumper stickers?

I think the rude behavior shown toward me lately on the road is due to my Kerry bumpersticker...because I'm an excellent driver!

[Carni]

7. Actually no!

I have a yard sign but no bumpersticker!

I drive with my eight year old in the car on the Xway a lot and I fear being run off the road with her in the car (sad but true!)

I can't believe these freaking people in trucks...

Tonight some dweeby guy in an extended cab pick-up rode my ass (beeping because I didn't exit to his satisfaction)

Then he pulled up next to me after we exited and started shouting abuse, curses etc.

He got it right back because I was so mad that I hoped he would shoot me just so he could get caught and spend many years in jail.

I lost it and I am SURE he was a Bushite!
(I won't repeat what I called him here lol)

[The empressof all]

3. It's an incredibly stupid and selfish thing to do

Let alone dangerous. No Democrat in their right mind would ever do such a thing---Would they????

[Carni]

9. I didn't think so...

And now I will become even more psychotic! ARRGGGHHHH! LOL

[liberalmuse]

4. Never!

I stay a respectable 5 feet away. (I'm kidding) I do not like tailgaters, but while I can ignore them in the city as long as they don't slam into me, they piss me off on the freeway because they are pretty much endangering the lives of everyone within a 250 foot radius by their actions.

Trucks and SUV's are evil. They just have too much power and turn the average human being into an asshole.

[lightbulb]

6. Sadly, it seems that about 50% of those on the road

Have no comprehension of the concept of "safe following distance" or of "left lanes fast, right lanes slow". Can't drive for 10 minutes without either getting stuck behind a camper van going 55 in the fast lane, or getting passed on the right by some bozo in a Hummer while trying to exit the freeway. It is wayyy too easy to get (and keep) an driver's license in the US, IMHO. Maybe those of us on motorcycles are just too sensitive to such things.

[Carni]

10. I agree with you the city tailgaters don't bother me that much

But the expressway ones are a whole other ball game!

[Radical Activist]

5. If they drive a SUV and tailgate

they are probably Republican. They sounds like assholes.

[Chovexani]

8. Bonus points for talking on cell phones

I see this shit ALL THE TIME on 695 when I visit family in Maryland.

[BlueHandDuo]

11. No, I don't tailgate, but...

...I drive a small compact car anyway.

Some people just hate having anyone in front of them, and they'll do anything to intimidate you into getting out of their way.

[Digit]

12. I notice it is mostly women....go figure, and I am a woman, also!

I look in the rearview mirror and say, "Get off my ass, bitch!"

[miss_kitty]

13. One of my fave bumper stickers addressing this rudeness is

"If you're gonna ride my ass, at least pull my hair!"

so naughty :spank:

[Chovexani]

15. LOL

Too funny. :)

[Nikia]

14. I like to keep safe following distance

I am a nervous driver. I am always afraid that I'll get in an accident. I would not do anything to make it more likely. Actually, I have gotten more comfortable driving in the past year (I'll have had my license for three years in another couple months). It does make me nervous when someone is tailgating. I am comfortable with my vehicle now and do usually try to pull away unless they stay with me in which case I slow down or take a detour. Luckily I don't drive in urban traffic much so these things are usuaully easily done.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

16. Idiots can only be idiots.

Just stay relaxed, switch lanes as soon as possible, and slow until they're well past. They will end up doing something stupid, and your only hope is for it to happen far in front of you or far behind. This is the sort of thing that creates road rage, stupid high-speed stunts, and inevitably injury and death. Avoid it. Take a deep breath, understand you can't change them, and get out of their way.

And if you have a cell, call 911. That's what it's there for.