From: aalis@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu (Al Bundy)
Subject: Re: Tailgaters abound!
Organization: San Francisco State University
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1992 08:38:44 GMT

In article <1992Aug15.053956.14051@sarah.albany.edu> pv9955@albnyvms.bitnet writes:
>I just recently moved to Saratoga, NY from New York City.  I was born and
>raised (and learned to drive) in Staten Island, though most of my time was
>spent in BROOKLYN, where "only the strong survive."
>I was told that Upstate NY drivers are much more competent and more curteous
>than people in NYC.  I have no opinion on this (read: I do not neccessarily
>agree), but I would like to make one MAJOR complaint about
>Upstate NY drivers:  TAILGATING!
>I forgot what the accepted distance between cars is, that I learned in Driver
>Education.  I think it is "three seconds" from a fixed point on the side
>of the road.  
>Now, I consider myself to be a fairly aggressive, though cautious, driver.
>Hell, I drove in Brooklyn!
>But I NEVER tailgate, or even follow a little close.  When I moved up here
>to Saratoga, I noticed that almost EVERYONE tailgates!
>It is not limited to one class of drivers.  Truck drivers are the worst, and
>the other teenagers (I am 19).  But "middle-aged" people  and "older" people
>are equally annoying.  I won't even single out a particular sex; men and
>woman ALL follow too closely.  If somebody is not tailgating me, I can see
>the person in front of me tailgating the person in front of him/her.
>Whether I am doing 40mph in a 35 zone, or 65 mph on the highway, there will
>always be at least one ass who does not leave enough room.
>
>There is a common courtest between drivers.  When somebody wants to pass,
>they will "flash to pass" or flick their high beams at the person in front.
>If somebody flashes me, I will move over and let that car go.  
>But up here, if somebody wants to pass, they will approach at a fast speed
>and stick to my ass.  No lights.  They just expect that I will move over.
>
>I assume that most people who read this board are "aggresive" drivers.
>Please be aware that there is a BIG difference between being aggressive and
>being stupid.  There is nothing wrong with speeding in my mind.  There is
>nothing wrong with flashing the lights to pass a "slower" car.
>But tailgating is:
>1.  illegal
>2.  Annoying
>3.  DANGEROUS AS ALL HELL!!!
>
>If you like to pass cars, please have some courtesy for the other cars on the
>road, especially the ones in front and back of you.  Do not do anything to
>piss off the cars in front or in back of you.
>Have good communication skills.  Flashing lights works great!
>Please be careful not to tailgate.  If everybody could read this, there would
>be far fewer highway accidents.
>
>What experiences do people have about tailgating, Upstate NY driving?
>I have been told that the "lousy" drivers are the NYC drivers staying upstate
>fro the Summer.  But these people are mostly local (men going to work, "kids"
>with their friends, tow-trucks with local addresses.  I can tell that most
>of these people whom I like to avoid are local, not out-of-towners.
>Besides, in the two years that I had my licence in New York City, I have 
>been tailgated only ONCE!  Not twice a day, every day, like up here!
>
>I know I cannot teach these people the rules of the road, but what suggestions
>can people offer in avoiding tailgaters, or dealing with them (other than
>violence) ?  I usually tap my brake, just enough so the lights come on, but
>not so the car slows down.  But most people do not get the hint that they are
>too damn close.  Only one man (a "family man" in a Ford Aerostar) got  the
>hint, and he backed off a few feet.  But why would anybody follow so closely
>at 70mph?!  (Traffic was moving at 65).
>Sometimes, if I am really pissed off (if the guy behind me is not a big 
>mean lookin' guy), and there is a double yellow line, I will slow down to
>20mph, or even slower.  But this does not tell the tailgater anything, it 
>just pisses them off too!
>
>Thank you for listening to my trouble.
>If anybody has any responses, please send them via EMail, as I have trouble
>reading this board (though posting works fine).
>
>Sincerely,
>Peter Volpe
>native of New York City!

When you were tailgated, did you drive on the leftmost lane?
If this is the case, unless there is only one lane, I won't 
necessarily blame the tailgater(s).
There is nothing more annoying than someone who drives on 
the left lane without observing the traffic behind.  Even 
though he/she might go with the flow of the traffic, some
people just have/want to go faster, and that's what the
left lane for.
Most of the time I drive around the speed limit, and I try
not to use the left lane unless I have to go fast, but when
I do, there is ALWAYS SOMEONE who thinks that his speed is
the fastest in the freeway :( even though there are other
slower lanes that open.  In this situation, I have no choice
but tailgating for couple seconds hoping that he/she will
move (I won't tailgate if the next right lane is not open).
If this person insists to stay in the left lane, I have to
pass from the RIGHT which I am not suppose to do.
I can still tolerate slow driver (especially old people,
in an old clunker) as long as they don't stuck in the
left lane, but I have no compassion for idiots in late 
model cars going so slow in the left lane (well, let's
just say idiots, no matter in old/new car :)
Just today, I was driving I-280 south from San Francisco,
when there was this white Chevy Beretta going sooo slow
in the left lane, even though the lane to the right is 
open (there are 4-5 lanes total).  The driver didn't notice 
couple cars behind including me trying to go faster.  So
I pulled up to the right and pass him politely, and drive
SLOWER than him to let him feel how annoying it is.  I felt
good when seconds later he signals to the right.  I dunno
if he appreciated me or thought that I am an idiot/as*h*le.

Note: this is not intended to flame the original poster, it's
      just a tailgaters point of view, in this case as a victim.


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