Ford Scorpio Forum - Print Page


    
      
        Ford Scorpio Forum
        (https://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
      

        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> Getting rid of Tailgaters
        
(Message started by: Big_Green_Tank on Feb 18^th, 2008, 10:08am)

Title: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by Big_Green_Tank on Feb 18^th, 2008, 10:08am

While I not recommending this I bet I am not the only one who uses this trick when getting tail gated.
I have found myself on numerous occaisions being tailgated but some daft sod and my trick (Legal or not) is to throw the rear fog lights on and off.
As I am still going at the same speed the tailgater disappears as if he stuck it in reverse.
They have all gotten the message and not got to close again.
I know this may start a discussion about inapropriate use of Fog lights but when someone is driving so close to you as to almost be able to connect on to the towbar, it is un-nerving and I think dangerous.

Note all of the occurances happened when the roads were quite so there was no chance of someone running into the back of the Tailgater Muppet!!

Bob

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by Highlander on Feb 18^th, 2008, 2:25pm

Thats a better idea than standing on the brakes like I usually do :)

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by taliban aka Cheekyboy2 on Feb 18^th, 2008, 4:00pm

you probably could get some kind of caution for incorrect use of fog lights but it'd be less than the charge of driving without due care and attention for the tailgaiter but more importantly its a good idea for your own safety whereas highlanders course of action (one i have done many times ::)) is actually quite dangerous; if the thingy head behind has basic intelligence problems so they tailgate, will they have enough ability to brake safely when you hit the anchors? or will you get a tonne (minimum) travelling at whatever speed (therefore increasing the mass) popping in to say hello through your rear screen?

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by Al_Sithi on Feb 18^th, 2008, 5:23pm

A mate of mine used to gradually slow down to about 10mph so that the tailgater would get fed up and pass- then he would usually return the favour with full beam on!

I might add he was an exceptionally skilled driver (still does motorcycle racing at 50+) and knew exactly what he was doing. His car at the time was a 3 litre Granada so the other guy had almost no chance of speeding away, and he was unbeatable in the corners whatever he was driving....

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by TRACEYS_LIMO on Feb 18^th, 2008, 6:05pm

highlanders got plenty of replacement cars so its not a bad idea

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Feb 18^th, 2008, 9:59pm

Careful :o
These 'tactics' could be veiwed as 'Road rage'...and the boys in blue take a fairly dim veiw of this type of behaviour.
Also be aware that another driver could note your number and report you for bad driving.

How about this...wait until you come to about 50yds from a speed camera and indicate left to stop and pull over to the kerb - then watch the tailgater overtake you and ( fingers crossed ) floor it. Big smile if you see a flash ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by Al_Sithi on Feb 18^th, 2008, 10:12pm

No chance of that- these days my mate mainly drives an LDV Pilot, and his other car is a Rover 75 :)

As for me, my Scorp's tailgate is so rusty no-one would place their car too close for fear of catching something ;D

And over here the police shoot tailgaters on sight 8)

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by moonster on Feb 18^th, 2008, 10:38pm

I like the speed camera idea, pull over and let them pass, as it probably suggests in highway code, then as they accelerate FLASH FLASH hehehehehe.

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by Daven on Feb 19^th, 2008, 7:45am

Slow down and let them pass - then keep up the same speed in the inside lane, with any luck the exit they want will be before your's and so you can stop them taking the exit! ;D

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by peteHull on Feb 20^th, 2008, 12:29am

What you need is a drop down sign which says.....

"Excuse me, but I have just noticed you in my rearview mirror and thought you may like to know about that green bogey you have stuck on your chin"....

}{ ;D }{ ;D }{ ;D

hth

Pete

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by Matt on Feb 20^th, 2008, 7:51pm

not proud to admit it (being IAM registered to!) but ive done the highlander method but as they've gone to over take speed up, matching their speed, so they cant pass legally or on single carriage way roads, leaving them stranded in the opposite lane, works every time though!

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by Highlander on Feb 21^st, 2008, 12:26am

I dont do that, i just brake :)

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by jonnycab on Feb 21^st, 2008, 2:18am

At night time when you get a tailgater with either their full beam on, or badly adjusted headlights.....I find that adjusting the rear view mirror so it reflects their headlights straight back at them is always a good one ;D

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by sector-9 on Feb 22^nd, 2008, 12:31am

The highway code's official answer on tailgaters is to increase the distance between yourself and the car in front. So I suppose if you were to brake you were just doing as the HC says! I used to do this, but even though I've got a towbar which would make a lovely mess of their front end - and them if it sets their airbag off - I really can't be bothered with having to stop and exchange details with morons (more likely to end in exchanging blows). Now I just take my foot off the throttle until they back off - they eventually figure it out...

Darren

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by gozz on Feb 22^nd, 2008, 10:37pm

I have suffered this (tailgating) whilst driving a hearse,after all we are a nuisance to those rushing to an early grave! When the antagonist eventually roars past,I point to the coffin behind me,and am sometimes answered with a rude finger or two.Their time will come !

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by TiberiuS on Feb 29^th, 2008, 10:04pm

This really gets my goat :)

Living in this part of the realm, it sometimes seems every other driver is a hooded chav with a 3 series and an attitude problem, worse if you drive late at night. A couple of times I've almost lost my rag (I'm only human), problem is that if you've both got even a reasonably fast car it turns into a kind of duel and you end up doing stupid, dangerous, irresponsible speeds very quickly.

Once I had this guy behind me in a Golf GTI, it was late, dark and I was already touching the limit and he could've easily gone around, I wasn't stopping him. But no, he sat there weaving in and out, glued to my bumper, revving engine etc. Eventually I slowed and pulled over a bit and as he passed he gestured. Now that DID put my back up, I kicked myself for a week afterwards over what *could* have happened over a moment of rage and showing someone I had the faster car just because they wound me up. I think my reaction genuinely scared him, maybe he thought twice the next time before jesturing the W word at someone...but it wouldn't have done me any favours to lose my license or worse :(

It's the same with the thing lately where on an unlit road as they come torwards you they decide to stick their main beams on. I get a bit of night blindness so if some joker flashes his high beams at me I'm blinded for 20 seconds afterwards, they get a quick flash to remind them I can't see, if they don't oblige they get my quads+fogs...350 watts of halogen normally does the trick after a few seconds.

Just seems that there's a type of overly aggressive, moronic driver on the roads nowadays with no idea of their or their car's limits and no respect for anybody else. I don't go out of my way to hurt anyone, I like to think I'm a laid back, respectful person behind the wheel although that's not saying I'm perfect, because I'm not ::)

Regards, Bruce.

Title: Re: Getting rid of Tailgaters
Post by TiberiuS on Feb 29^th, 2008, 10:14pm

on 02/20/08 at 19:51:31, Matt wrote:

Matt, please don't do that mate, that's the best way to cause a head on collision :(

If you speed up and the car behind closes the gap, the other guy gets stuck in the opposite lane, they either clip you or the car behind trying to pull in or worse, get whacked by anything coming the other way.