Oppopinions

"Patrick Nichols" (pnichols)
03/11/2016 at 10:30 • Filed to: tailgating, oppopinions

FP article got me thinking. Then I had the want to reply. Then I got Kinja’d. Then I remembered I don’t care what the FP thinks and its better discussion on Oppo. Am I an asshole?

So a couple scenarios:

2 Lane highway, both lanes occupied by people doing roughly 63 mph, no one ahead of them. I got in the left lane and approached tailgating level, while keeping about 1.5 car lengths between us. Driver in right lane sees that the other driver isn’t going speed up and pass so they kindly slow down a little. At this point the car ahead of me continues to stay in the left lane and begins to slow down further (with their brakes). After about 30 seconds I’m doing 55 (in a 65) behind them so I get in the right lane and floor it by them. As I pass they give me the finger and swerve into my lane while we are dead even. I put my foot down a little further and drift into the breakdown lane just to get by and then back to the lane and do 80 for a bit to put some distance. Am I an asshole?

In rush hour traffic (in NH so not really stop and go but everyone is doing 45-50), 2 lane highway, I am in the left lane as a lot of traffic is entering and there is a line of cars ahead of me and to the right. Driver behind me is tailgating pretty badly (probably about 2 feet between us). I press the brake pedal just far enough to make the light go off without actually using the brakes (because I don’t want to be bro-dozed by the coal-roller behind me). I do this 3 or 4 times effectively before traffic gets a little lighter and I can get in the right lane so they can tailgate the guy in front of me. Am I an asshole?

Share your tailgating stories (even the sports/events kind) here because its Friday and I’m bored at work.

DISCUSSION (24)

MarquetteLa > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 10:36

1. Definitely not an asshole.

2. Tailgating for no reason with massive traffic ahead is dumb. Brake checking is also dumb though.

Berang > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 10:38

1: tailgating for whatever reason always makes somebody an asshole.

2: No, because see above.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 10:42

The first scenario is a perfect example of dog-in-the-manger cruising. “I don’t care how fast I go or don’t go as long as people don’t pass me.” It’s like having an impromptu prisoner’s dilemma of speeding with people next to you - I see it all the time.

BBlades > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 10:42

Both moves are overly aggressive. Going into the breakdown lane, brake checking, there are a number of ways this can go south very quickly, and to what end?

Patrick Nichols > MarquetteLa
03/11/2016 at 10:43

I get the brake checking is dumb, but is it also dumb if you don’t actually decelerate at all? I like to think flashing my brake lights is just a less than polite way of telling the person to back off. Especially on this stretch of road, where people often do suddenly brake for people trying to change lanes, not paying attention, etc. After seeing the vid on the FP I feel a little more trepidation to do it again, but sometimes your emotions get the better of you.

Patrick Nichols > Berang
03/11/2016 at 10:44

True, patience is a virtue I do not always have.

jdmrookie > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 10:46

You aren’t an asshole in scenario one. You were just trying to pass, I do not understand the other drive in the left lane at all!? Why would you slow down to below the speed limit!? Number two seems pretty sensible as well, it’s usually touch-and-go until traffic frees up. It’s either go slow steadily or move quickly knowing you will be breaking shortly.

I know enough that if I am EVER in the left lane, and someone is barreling towards me, I am moving the fuck out of the way. Likewise, If you are holding up the left lane, I will undertake you to pass. The only time I can’t really accommodate a driver trying to pass is when it’s a single lane. IF you are sitting on my ass at that point, flashing your high-beams repeatedly, then I will do the speed limit and nothing more.

citizennick > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 10:47

#1. No. This happens all the time to me. Just recently I did a 12 hour stint to Houston. I notice SOOOO many people slow down as they pass a semi. Wtf is that? Get past them right away please. On the way back I passed a guy 6 times because he refused to use cruise control. At one point I’m guessing he’s doing 80 in a 65 and then I end up passing him soon as he drops it down to 60.

#2 No. That guy camping on your ass in traffic is not getting home anytime sooner for doing that, he’s an asshole. As long as you're keeping up with the flow of traffic in front of you I see no issue.

Patrick Nichols > BBlades
03/11/2016 at 10:48

To be fair if I didn’t go into the brake down lane the other drivers car would’ve been in my lap as he swerved. I got out of it as soon as it was safe to do so, but I had no desire to go to the hospital over someone trying to run me off the road.

The second one is a definite grey area that I should probably not do again, but I also have no desire for my car to be totaled when I actually have to brake for something ahead of me.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 10:50

If someone is tailgating, or I see that they’re approaching me very quickly, I just move out of the way. There’s no sense in doing potentially dangerous manoeuvers - you never know how an idiot whose tailgating is going to react to sudden braking, whether it’s control of their vehicle or control of their emotions.

Let them speed on, and I carry on my way - my only problem is when people get in front only to slow down again for no reason whatsoever, but I find that to be incredibly rare. Then again, I don't do a lot of highway driving.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 10:56

Gradually slow down without the brakes or with a light foot pressure, it tells them the message. If not coast. If someone is going slow in the passing lane and refuses to move, flash highbeams.

Trunk Impaired 318 > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 10:57

I think you’re good in all scenarios. Having to do 80 an use the breakdown lane isnt ideal but it was probably the best option. I also like to do the brake light flash without actually braking when Im in Philly traffic. If I can move over for someone who wants to tailgate I will but if its in traffic the brake light flash is a nice backup to have.

McMike > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 10:59

If the motorist behind me has decided that the appropriate distance is xx feet, then I have no choice but to be flexible and adjust my speed to make it safer for the both of us.

If the predetermined distance is 30', I gently slow down to a speed that’s safe for that distance.

Which is 10 mph.

Master Cylinder > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 11:00

#1 is maybe borderline if you were too close, but the left lane crusader is for sure 100x the bigger asshole in that situation.

#2 I’m OK with if you were just flashing lights and not actually brake checking. You’re just trying to send a message there.

I was once in a situation where I was trapped in traffic while one semi truck passed a line of other semi trucks on a two-lane highway. Everyone’s backed up in thr left lane and it’s obvious to anyone with two functioning neurons that we’re not goong anywhere until that truck passes. I’m on a motorcycle just following along in line and a guy in a big Audi swerves in from the right lane, cutting off the guy behind me, and proceeds to put his bumper about 5 feet from my back wheel. I try not to make aggressive moves in traffic when I’m on two wheels with nowhere to go and I decided flashing the brake light would be crossing a line with this guy who had already shown himself to be a hyperaggressive turdcatcher. So, I just waved with my left hand in a “give me a little space” motion, but even that was too much. Audi man lost it, stomps the gas and closes the small distance between us like he intends to hit me and slams on the brakes just shy of it and does this a few times for good measure. Fortunately, traffic finally opened up at that point and he raced off just to take the next exit. I hope that guy ended up with a series of very expensive timing belt breakdowns.

Patrick Nichols > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 11:04

Anyone who drives aggressively around motorcyclists (especially those who are riding safely) should have their license revoked with the disclaimer that they can only ride a motorcycle for the next year.

shop-teacher > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 11:14

Gadamn, talk about a code brown moment. What a dangerous piece of shit.

Master Cylinder > shop-teacher
03/11/2016 at 11:16

Code brown for sure. Any time you start seriously considering splitting lanes between two semis at 65mph you know you’re in a bad situation.

shop-teacher > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 11:16

Yeah, I’d say you crossed the line a bit on both of those. The left lane crusader in #1 is definitely a bigger offender, but you still should not have tailgated them.

Who among us haven’t pulled a dumb move or two though? The key is to learn from it.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 11:18

#2 I think is fine. I have no problem flashing my brake lights (or my sprayers) at a really bad tailgater, as long as I don’t actually slow down any significant amount.

Elumerere > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 11:21

Fuck, I hate aggressive drivers. The entitlement is yuuuge with that Audi derp.

shop-teacher > Master Cylinder
03/11/2016 at 11:29

Yeah, no doubt!

HammerheadFistpunch > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 11:36

1. no good was being done here, but if we had to play the game of biggest asshole, I think you loose the title to the obvious left lane vigilante.

2. Never brake check, even fake it. Better sollution? windshield washer attack. Just run your windshield washer so much that it flies up and over and soaks the windshield of the guy behind you. Same effect as the brake lights but the reaction isn’t “oh yeah?!” its more “wait, what?!” with an accompanying gap increase.

MarquetteLa > Patrick Nichols
03/11/2016 at 12:00

Yeah, I get it. I just tend to think of the possible outcomes of these situations. Even a faux-brake check can enrage crazy folks, goading them into doing crazy things. IMO it’s better to just keep doing a reasonable speed and move out of their way when you’re able to do so.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Patrick Nichols
03/12/2016 at 11:07

Oh, I like that!!!