For people who ride on others’ bumpers in traffic: Why do you do it, and how do you feel when someone rides on your bumper?
Posted by realjbj@reddit | driving | View on Reddit | 131 comments
Past_Lock_2039@reddit
My step mom would ride peoples bumpers so close we couldn’t see their license plates and I don’t know what for
fitava79@reddit
I try not to, but sometimes I get impatient with left hand campers, especially when there is a huge space in the right lane up ahead, often times that I need to get into for a right turn coming up and the cars behind us are stacked so there is no way to get over without cutting someone off. Otherwise I’m usually chill and try to not follow too closely.
What I don’t understand, and what I witnessed today, are tailgaters on non busy 4 lane hwys. The break lights of the vehicle a good distance up ahead kept lighting up. I was wondering what they kept braking for. Then I see this car in front of them so close that you could barely see the other car. The HWY was not busy. I was behind them for miles and this car kept right up the tail end of the car in front. The left lane was empty most of the time and they never passed. They eventually took a right turn one before mine and the other car kept on straight. I don’t understand this. Why tailgate someone when you can just pass them. Makes absolutely no sense to me.
Also my annoyance was this person’s constant breaking too. I keep a very far distance from those people. If you have to keep breaking because you that close to someone, you’re too close, freaking pass them already or back off. I felt sorry for that car in front.
Forward_Awareness_53@reddit
Don't care at all if u are on my ass. If im holding up the line ill get over. If we are in traffic i dont care.
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
Why are you paying so much attention to what's behind you? Keep your attention in front of you where it belongs.
Vivid_Way_1125@reddit
This is so stupid and dangerous. One of the things that is affected by what's behind you is the gap you keep in front of you. If you aren't paying attention to what's behind you, how can you possibly ensure a safe braking distance?
Then there's cyclists, motorcycles and emergency vehicles trying to filter through; where it's your legal obligation to scan and not be a danger for them. In your test you're taught to check your mirrors frequently and definitely before and after every maneuver.
If you don't pay attention to what's behind you, you're an incredibly dangerous person. How this could ever need explaining to someone is mind boggling.
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
You need to check your rear occasionally, but 90% of your attention should be forward, where your 2000 pound car is going. You can't control what's happening behind you, and the more you are distracted by things behind you, you more dangerous you become....a 2000 pound uncontrolled missile hurling down the road.
You need to check your rear to change lanes. You need to check you rear occasionally for emergency vehicles. Other than that you attention needs to be forward. If someone is tailgating you, there's nothing you can do. If you use your car to try to drive someone else's car, you can cause an accident. Don't they teach these things in driver's training anymore? I've seen people say they'll slow down to try to make the tailgater back off. This impedes traffic, causing congestion, which leads to accidents. Impeding traffic is against the law BTW. Never use your car to drive someone else's car.
This sub just shines a light on how many drivers are poorly trained, if they trained at all.
Vivid_Way_1125@reddit
Well that's all complete nonsense. You're tonight to check your mirrors frequently for your test, and the highway code says you should pay attention to what's behind you and alter your driving accordingly. If you're barely paying attention to what's behind you, how are you watching out for filtering bikes and emergency vehicles?
This sub shines a light on how many drivers are poorly trained, if trained at all, yet act like they know what they're on about.
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
46 years, over a million miles on 3 continents, in the densest traffic areas, no accidents. If they're teaching you to check your mirrors that often now (they used to tech you that your main focus is forward), then maybe I should write them and tell them to go back to the old method. But frankly, I don't think many drivers are being trained anyway.
Vivid_Way_1125@reddit
Oh right... So middle aged man drives without due care and attention, gets away with it for a while because everyone else is compensating for him, thinks he knows everything. 👏 Think that's all we needed for today.
You've still not managed to explain how you can be aware of filtering bikes and emergency vehicles, and ensure you have a safe braking distance, if you dont really care about what's behind you.
The mantra has always been to frequently check your mirrors. Infact it used to be that you were told to turn your head to check your blind spot, so whatever you're spouting is really very very wrong.
Funny, the worst tail gaters and overly aggressive road-ragers tend to be middle aged men.. can't be right, if being old is enough to qualify you as a good driver, alone.
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
Told to check your blind spot WHEN MAKING A LANE CHANGE!!! Did they tell you to check all you blind spots...left, right...when you're making a left hand lane change? No! You check the left blind spot, BECAUSE THAT'S THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.....WHERE YOUR FOCUS SHOULD BE.
It's not a difficult concept.
Vivid_Way_1125@reddit
They tell you to do a quick scan of all your mirrors before any maneuver so you're aware of everything that's around you.
Anyway, you're never going to improve. Even when you're told the highway code says you're wrong you won't budge.
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
Without due care and attention? Your reading comprehension sucks, like your driving. My attention is focused where it needs to be focused, not where it shouldn't be. That's how I've avoided accidents. My 2000lb missile is hurtling down the road at 50+ mph, and there's not a damn thing I can do about things happening behind me, which BTW is not where the 2000lb missile is headed. Why do you think the law states the car that rear ends a car in front of them is liable? Because the car in front is not responsible for what happens behind him. You are responsible for what happens in front of you. You can't do anything about what happens behind you, and the more attention you give to your rear, the less attention you give to your front, where your attention belongs.
The mantra shouldn't be "frequently check your mirrors" and it never was before. It was "check your mirrors occasionally, or when you're going to change lanes". If they're teaching people to divert their attention from where it belongs, to their front, then no wonder accidents have gone up and there are so many lousy drivers on the road today.
Vivid_Way_1125@reddit
So you don't check for filtering bikes or emergency vehicles and you're saying the highway code is wrong....okay.... 👏
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
How do you ensure you have a safe braking distance by looking in your rear view? lol
Admiral_peck@reddit
Being a good driver.
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
You need to check your rear occasionally, but 90% of your attention should be forward, where your 2000 pound car is going. You can't control what's happening behind you, and the more you are distracted by things behind you, you more dangerous you become....a 2000 pound uncontrolled missile hurling down the road.
You need to check your rear to change lanes. You need to check you rear occasionally for emergency vehicles. Other than that you attention needs to be forward. If someone is tailgating you, there's nothing you can do. If you use your car to try to drive someone else's car, you can cause an accident. Don't they teach these things in driver's training anymore? I've seen people say they'll slow down to try to make the tailgater back off. This impedes traffic, causing congestion, which leads to accidents. Impeding traffic is against the law BTW. Never use your car to drive someone else's car.
This sub just shines a light on how many drivers are poorly trained, if they trained at all.
Admiral_peck@reddit
They didn't teach me shit at driver's training besides what the basic signals mean. My driver's test was a 10 minute 1/4 mile loop through 3 intersections in rural west Texas. I learned everything I know about driving from my parents and the internet.
So basically wouldn't call myself poorly trained, I would call myself untrained and self taught, and considering the only accident I've ever been in was being squeezed between a big rig and a guard rail while penned in by drivers right in front of and behind me, I'd say I'm doing alright. I do speed my ass off, and I almost always just let tailgaters pass no matter the speed, and I almost always chill in the right lane on multi lane highways unless I'm passing or otherwise have a reason to be in the left. (Including not having space to get over. I avoid turning left onto busy streets when I can, since I'd rather go around the block than make a dangerous turn (except on i-20, you miss that ramp, and you're making an unplanned day trip to the next city)
Pup111290@reddit
You should always be aware of the entirety of your surroundings when driving. Focusing just in front of you is dangerous
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
You need to check your rear occasionally, but 90% of your attention should be forward, where your 2000 pound car is going. You can't control what's happening behind you, and the more you are distracted by things behind you, you more dangerous you become....a 2000 pound uncontrolled missile hurling down the road.
You need to check your rear to change lanes. You need to check you rear occasionally for emergency vehicles. Other than that you attention needs to be forward. If someone is tailgating you, there's nothing you can do. If you use your car to try to drive someone else's car, you can cause an accident. Don't they teach these things in driver's training anymore? I've seen people say they'll slow down to try to make the tailgater back off. This impedes traffic, causing congestion, which leads to accidents. Impeding traffic is against the law BTW. Never use your car to drive someone else's car.
This sub just shines a light on how many drivers are poorly trained, if they trained at all.
Pup111290@reddit
I did drivers training for CDL before I got it, and even in that you are supposed to be keeping your head on a swivel and checking mirrors every 7 seconds, scanning not only in front of you but also the sides, as well as we were taught to slow down if being tailgated to lessen the chance of the tailgater hitting you and to make it easier for them to pass
DolphinSquad@reddit
Part of being a good driver is knowing what is going on around you at all times - including behind you.
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
You need to check your rear occasionally, but 90% of your attention should be forward, where your 2000 pound car is going. You can't control what's happening behind you, and the more you are distracted by things behind you, you more dangerous you become....a 2000 pound uncontrolled missile hurling down the road.
You need to check your rear to change lanes. You need to check you rear occasionally for emergency vehicles. Other than that you attention needs to be forward. If someone is tailgating you, there's nothing you can do. If you use your car to try to drive someone else's car, you can cause an accident. Don't they teach these things in driver's training anymore? I've seen people say they'll slow down to try to make the tailgater back off. This impedes traffic, causing congestion, which leads to accidents. Impeding traffic is against the law BTW. Never use your car to drive someone else's car.
This sub just shines a light on how many drivers are poorly trained, if they trained at all.
SakaYeen6@reddit
I wouldn't expect these people follow this subreddit, if they did I'd imagine they get outed pretty quick.
StrangerGlue@reddit
LOOOOOOOL this sub is absolutely teeming people happy to justify why they follow too close. Every single time it comes up. And they get the majority of upvotes, and people who call them out usually end up in the negatives.
Begone-My-Thong@reddit
And they're obsessed with mentioning "STAY IN THE RIGHT LANE" no matter the context
Sobsis@reddit
They're here. Just mention not using the passing lane as your personal speed track and they will crawl out of the walls
whatevertoad@reddit
People don't ride my bumper because I am driving the flow of traffic or move over. I expect others to do the same
Notabizarreusername@reddit
I do it when I'm in the left most lanes and the car in front of me is going too slow for the flow of traffic...i.e. me. All in the hopes that a neuron will fire in their head that will make them move over like they should have done before I was on their ass.
Reverse the role, I will immediately move over if somebody is riding my ass.
On a trip from socal to Vegas I had a real genius to deal with. I like to do 100 mph going up the mountains. Since you're less likely to find a cop on a steep upgrade vs down. Anyway, had this guy who wouldn't move so finally went around him. Fly up the hill then drop to 80 downhill and get in the right lane. Here comes bozo who couldn't keep up uphill, but boy can he fly downhill. He starts riding my ass like I did to him. Only difference is i did it in the left lane, he did it to me in the right. So I brake checked his ass hard. He flew downhill the rest of the way and I passed him on the next uphill again. Anyway....
Kitchen-Somewhere445@reddit
I assume that they are doing it because they want to make you uncomfortable and either speed up or move over. My reaction is to slow down because I need to leave more room between me and the car ahead for a safe stop!
375InStroke@reddit
I've never had anyone on my bumper. Wonder why?
knatehaul@reddit
I'll self-incriminate and confess to be a tailgater, but I only do it when someone is driving under the speed limit in a lane that isn't the right-most lane. My prerogative is to hopefully scare them or piss them off. Is it right? No. Would it happen if folks would stay out of the left lanes when they aren't passing? Never. For the record, If I'm in the right lane I give two car lengths.
To answer the question about how I feel when someone rides my bumper... It rarely happens to me because if I notice someone driving faster behind me I merge to the right to get out of their way. If someone rides my bumper when I'm in the right lane I like to see how slowly I can go before they realize they can pass me. My record is about 35mph in a 70 zone. There were two wide open lanes for the person to pass me. I wasn't clogging up traffic to fuck with the person or anything.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
Honestly I’m not even mad at this. Going under the speed limit makes me want to tailgate too but my problem is when I’m doing 15 over and I can’t even switch lanes and they’re still tailgating
knatehaul@reddit
Yeah. That person is a maniac for sure. I don't understand that person especially when there's a bunch of traffic ahead of you too. What are they trying to achieve?
Gonnabehave@reddit
When someone is on my bumper I feel like “oh gee I just be going slow like an idiot where can I safely pull over so they can go on their way I’m an idiot for going this slow what a fool I am”
When I am on someone’s bumper I’m usually thinking “this lane if for people moving faster move over fool”
PhunkJeezyFresh@reddit
I don't tailgate people. I want to make that clear from the outset. I think it's really dangerous, you're putting other people's lives at risk just to get somewhere faster, it's not courteous and driving agressively makes you more prone to mistakes/death.
That being said. I 1000% understand why people do it.
People who hog the left lane, who just stay there while they aren't passing anyone drive me fucking bananas 🍌 If you're in the left lane and NO ONE is in front of you. You are done using the left lane. GET OUT ! Left lane is for passing, period.
So many times I've been stuck behind some asshole who's hogging the left lane, and I'm debating wether or not to pass on the right. Then Big Truck McMoveYouCunt comes barreling down the left lane and starts breathing down my bumper. Every time, I go right, get out of his way, he rolls up to SUV McHogsALot and basically pushes the idiot out of the way. I get behind Big T and we both end up passing.
Literally 9/10, if no one is in front, the tailgater will then leave the left lane. If they slow down, I can pass them, if they speed up. I just stay in the middle lane as they zoom off.
IMO, if people didn't hog the left lane, you'd get rid of the majority of tailgaters.
But then again, some people are just stupid and will tailgate you while you're in the right lane/on a residential/in your driveway 🤷♂️
nadines_tees@reddit
I have a lady who rides me every morning from school drop-off until i get to work (we follow the same route every day) slowly I've been getting her to back off just by driving slower and irritating her, but it's been a process. She truly wouldn't care if someone did it to her judging by the way she drives and watching her in my rearview.
ponyo_impact@reddit
you could let her go around and save both of you some stress.
but that wouldnt be fun right?
nadines_tees@reddit
No, it not that. We literally follow the same path, most of it 2 lane with no passing zones.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
😂 How do you always end up in front? I would let her get a head start
insta@reddit
i do this when they're camping in the left lane and aren't moving with flashes from the high beams.
if it happens to me, i move over a lane to the right, just like i expect other drivers to do.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
Even going 15 mph over the speed limit yall call it camping. 😂I really hope yall don’t get unlucky one day and come across somebody who doesn’t have any fucks left to give all because you needed to get to your destination 5 min faster
insta@reddit
it's pretty simple:
are the people behind you wanting to go faster than you?
* no -> no problem
* yes -> can you move to the right?
* * no -> no problem
* * yes -> move over
realjbj@reddit (OP)
It’s obviously a problem if you’re flashing high beams. And if I’m exceeding the speed limit then it’s on you to go around me or either deal with it bub
insta@reddit
i don't know why you find the flowchart complicated. it's two branches. you go through a more rigorous decision tree making breakfast for yourself in the morning.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
I’ll keep it in mind Just keep flashing those high beams and hopefully you get those extra 5 minutes at whatever function you attending. It’s your world we’re just living in it 🌎
Key-Lead-3449@reddit
The other day this guy rode my ass for miles and then blared his horn at my as he was finally making his turn. It was 3pm in a busy part of town on a weekday. There was a string of cars in front of me. Like I just want to know what the fuck they expect?
ponyo_impact@reddit
the horn at the end was so you couldnt follow him as easily
I did that to a truck the other day. Made sure to wait until i was mid turn to blast him with the horn and give him the bird. that way he couldnt really come after me without breaking hella laws or waiting to make a U turn Lol
LividWish9553@reddit
fuck yeah
Bitter-Iron8468@reddit
I dnt want to get brake checked so I dnt do it
MarineOG@reddit
I don't brake check, just foot off the gas until they back off or pass. Especially at night, if I can't see your lights in my mirror then I don't feel safe enough to go the speed limit.
Bitter-Iron8468@reddit
Same. I do that too of I have to
wikkedwizzard@reddit
I think that this behavior is somewhat caused by aggressive drivers that weave between lanes, trying to get through congestion and save a few seconds. I believe this, because I find myself following more closely than I normally would, to prevent aggro assholes from cutting in front of me. I'm trying to get better about this LOL
realityinflux@reddit
I think that's a big part of it--a lot of drivers are in a mode where they are "defending" their position in traffic. Others think that's the fastest way to get where they're going--using some sort of twisted, ignorant logic. Some others, it seems like, just have a higher tolerance for risk, and they will tailgate you simply because you're in front of them, even though they seem happy to go the speed you are going. Pretty sure everyone in the comment thread here agrees.
cr250250r@reddit
I follow just close enough in traffic to deter most people cutting in. Lol. But I’m not gonna ride everyone’s ass to keep all people from doing it. Haha
RhoOfFeh@reddit
Decades ago I discovered something interesting. Many of the most aggressive drivers seem to skip those big opportunities I leave by following at distance and try to get in front of just one more car.
It almost feels like a cheat code.
cr250250r@reddit
In my car that works great. In my truck it seems like I’m always the ‘just one more car’. Haha
realityinflux@reddit
Well, yeah, that's the problem with the "two-second rule." Like, how many cars can pull in front of you in two seconds? At the phone company, there was, unbelievably, a 10-second rule, where as cars pulled in front of you, you kept slowing down to maintain the 10 seconds gap until ultimately you were going backwards.
Due_Bowler_7129@reddit
I don't ride bumpers. If someone's riding my bumper then they're definitely in a hurry 'cause I drive fast. So, if they're on me and I can switch lanes then I do just that, especially if I'm in the passing lane. In fact, I do that a lot. I let them go ahead and they can ride the next guy's ass and hopefully bully him out of the lane so we can both vroom-vroom.
JimmDunn@reddit
i know a lady that "locks on" to the car in front of her so she doesn't have to think very much - she let's them do the driving for her. she doesn't worry about speed or anything, her only job is to keep close so no one can get in.
when the car stops unexpectantly she almost always rear ends them.
(i stopped riding with her)
fijimermaidsg@reddit
It's what drunks do!
LongJohnBill@reddit
I had her following me on the interstate a few years ago. For an hour she was on me. I'd speed up, she's there. I'd slow down, she's there. Years later I realized that probably she didn't want to do any thinkin', she was just the caboose. Very annoying.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
That would drive me crazy!! I never considered that somebody could be that oblivious to actually think that’s a smart way to drive but I’m not surprised either
SkeletorsAlt@reddit
Me too, but I think what the top level commenter describes is very common now. Twenty years ago tailgaters were usually the most aggressive drivers in the road, but today I think they’re just people who want to go into autopilot so they can concentrate on their phone call or whatever.
fitava79@reddit
That sounds like one of those drivers where you as a passenger would love to have a break on your side of the car. I’ve ridden with people like that before. It’s scary.
InfiniteInventory@reddit
She sounds dumb af
tregnid_gooser@reddit
Yeah, exactly. These are individuals with very shortsighted intelligence.
MRSHELBYPLZ@reddit
I don’t like when other drivers get too close to me like her. Ruining my peaceful drive and shit
realjbj@reddit (OP)
Not to mention she is putting all faith into another persons unpredictable driving skills and awareness thats insane
fijimermaidsg@reddit
I don't look in the rear view unless I have too, am keeping an eye ahead! If they crash into me, it's their fault.
Crafty_Tree4475@reddit
Someone driving on my bumper means I go real slow. Someone with bright led lights means I go real slow. You tailgate or have bright led lights your gonna have a bad time.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
Lol especially when they decide they wanna flash their lights while tailgating. I guess to annoy you or whatever😳 Oh you must really wanna be late
NoSprinkles4279@reddit
Because most of the time its slow drivers clogging up the fast lane (left lane.) So ima ride ur ass to indicate to move or ur too slow.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
Ok so when they don’t speed up or move over then what?
NoSprinkles4279@reddit
Then i just wait till i see an opening and pass em.
Ekkeith15@reddit
If there's space between my front bumper and the car in front of me. Some idiot doing 20 under the limit will cut me off. I don't like to be that close, I just have to be
PapaDeE04@reddit
This was years ago, but I saw a guy doing it to someone, so I did it to him. He lost his shit real quick, it was kinda scary because he started following me, but went a different way after about a half mile.
Zromaus@reddit
If it only took him half a mile to turn off I’d argue he more or less just got behind you rather than followed you anywhere lol
PapaDeE04@reddit
Without going into all the details he did end up behind me - I only tailgated him for about a block. But once he did end up behind me the middle finger, yelling and aggressive tailgating made me think he didn’t “just” get behind me.
Happy now detective? Does my experience now satisfy whatever dumb fucking criteria you’re trying to hold me to?
Zromaus@reddit
Holy shit, it’s clear my comment really worked you up
PapaDeE04@reddit
It did, I’m sorry, maybe you weren’t, but I assumed you were calling me a liar, I hate that.
Zromaus@reddit
That was not my intention! I was being a bit hypersemantic but my intention wasn't to call you a liar, I'm sorry it came across that way.
PapaDeE04@reddit
No worries and thanks! Bit stressed at work, I should stay off Reddit when I’m in this frame of mind.
Zromaus@reddit
That's my constant Reddit state of being unfortunately -- I'm constantly alt tabbing between work and Reddit and I find my mood tends to rub off lol
Unabashable@reddit
I’ve (stupidly) done that too. People that would crawl up my ass no matter what speed I go, so I let them take the lead, and while I don’t “tailgate” them I also don’t let up off the gas one bit. And what I’ve noticed is they start getting “proprietary” once they start hitting their “comfortable speed too”. Some of them tapped out and were like “ok I’d like to get off this ride now” while others started to get squirelly and started brake checking and shit, so now I feel much safer with them behind me than I do in front of me. If you’re gonna tailgate me I take the opportunity to “save on some gas”. I either start coasting until they get tired of the ever better view of my ass and go around because “if my regular speed wasn’t good enough for you let’s see how much you like slower” or until they fuck back off to a respectable following distance. I will not be intimidated especially when your ass would be at fault because it was too impatient for its own good.
DumbCDNPolitician@reddit
I had some fucking morons do this to me. Every lane I switched hes up my ass. I slowed down,let him pass and rode his shit for 2 miles. This is 6am in the morning, the roads are clear, why the fuck are you up my ass.
Unabashable@reddit
I had someone do this to me too. Only difference was it was a cop. When they finally turned on their lights and pulled me over they said they were “pacing” me. Really? Because it felt like you were “pushing” me dickhead.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
😂 this me all day. I’m like oh you in a rush? We’re gonna learn about patience today. Although I do prefer them in front of me to let them go about their day
MRSHELBYPLZ@reddit
Why do people do that? The following aggressively like it’s a chase scene from a movie, and then they realize their exit is coming up and they just dip out. People are so funny
Unabashable@reddit
As with any “feud” on the road “everyone’s an asshole but me”.
tonydaracer@reddit
My wife does this and it bugs the shit out of me.
I have witnessed her accelerate just to ride the bumper of someone 1/8 mile in front of us on the highway. Then she complains that they're going to slow, even though they're doing 5 over, and she has room and has had room the entire time on either side to pass them. Then after a minute, like most people, she'll finally get frustrated enough to pass, and then complain that it's entirely their fault. Even though she (like most people) could've just passed from the beginning, and was already trying to go 15-20 over anyway. And she'll stay within a coupe's-length of their bumper regardless if we're going 80, 65, 25, regardless if we're on an open highway or in a suburb. I have tried many times to talk to her about it and it's become a hot-button so I've since decided to just ignore it as best I can. It spikes my anxiety because one of these days she's going to do it to a dude who is on the edge and will snap, and it's common out here for people to pull firearms on each other in these situations and she doesn't believe in carrying one for personal protection, and she hates when I carry mine.
Then she says my driving freaks her out because I just do things, I don't wait for other people. In this situation, I've already analyzed the surrounding environment, both in front and behind, and determined that instead of sitting on the person's bumper, I'll just pass from the start, and if I can't pass, I'll sit at least 2 SUV-lengths behind until I can pass, to which she says it's too much space. Assuming I want to pass, most of the time I just camp in the right lane with cruise control set to the speed limit, to which she complains that it's too slow and that cruise control "gives me motion sickness".
blissnabob@reddit
I remember as a young and inexperienced driver, I was in slow moving traffic on my way to work. The car in front broke down and could not be moved.
I was too close to them to get around them, the car behind me likewise, and so on.
It was nearly 10 minutes before all of the affected cars could organise reversing and overtaking before we could get on our way.
I was frustrated at the time, but extremely grateful to learn a lesson in the safest way I could.
Keep the space.
queefymacncheese@reddit
Usually has to do with the mindset of "if i let someone in front of me itll take longer to get through this traffic. You just gotta realize its not that big of a deal.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
It’s really not. If anything you save maybe 5 minutes
queefymacncheese@reddit
Not even 5 minutes. If youre stuck in traffic a car pulling in front of you may add seconds at most.
ponyo_impact@reddit
You say that until they cause you to miss the next light, then get stuck at the next 3 in a row.
I had that happen yesterday. Added about 6 minutes onto to my commute thanks to the dumb old volvo that whipped in front of me to then putter at 10 under the limit. Thanks old man.....
queefymacncheese@reddit
If the lights are that synchronized you'd likely have just gotten stuck at the next stoplight. Even then, the 6 minutes isnt going to go any faster with you riding their bumper.
ponyo_impact@reddit
not always true. sometimes i can get home in 6 minutes from work
other days i get hit with "the cycle" and it takes me 12-14.
i know i sound crazy but when your commute is short and has this many stop light its hard not track them. Im often stopped not moving for 70-80% of the time on the road.
my car tracks avg speed and even though this highway is a 55mph my avg speed over the lifetime of the car is 20mph LOL
TiredFever@reddit
You said it. A lot of people don't realize how a 10 second set back, can turn into a 10 minute set back total. Still, tailgating is unsafe so I don't do it. Sure 10 minutes might not sound like much, but when it happens more often than people realize, it adds up.
ponyo_impact@reddit
yup
i look at every car as a "dice roll"
theres an unknown chance, that your going to drive like my grandpa and im not taking it
I keep the room inbetween myself and the car in front of me tight. not "tailgating" but not large enough that you will ever feel the desire to squeeze in.
I notice someone pacing me on either side im going to "tighten it up" and possibly even downshift in preparation for you attempting to slide in. Not happening unless im zoned out not paying attention. It happens, but not often. Get behind me
queefymacncheese@reddit
Your methodology is only functional for society if other people dont use it, so its a pretty selfish way to drive.
fitfulbrain@reddit
If there are road space ahead but I am blocked from it.
That will never happen.
cr250250r@reddit
The only time I ever tailgate is when there is literally miles of open road all around and someone speeds up then cuts right in front of me but does not accelerate faster or sometimes even slows down. 99% of the time I’m going slower than most in the far right or 2nd lane driving something larger like my truck or pulling a trailer.
I just have to assume the person likes me being that close or they would have just got behind me or continued at the pace that they were when they passed me to get there. Haha.
No_Kaleidoscope_3546@reddit
I have no idea why people do this. I used to think it's aggression, but now i think it's just cluelessness on how dangerous it is. I try to maintain 5 or 6 car lengths minimum on the highway, but the problem is that someone always merges in the gap, and now I'm 2 car lengths behind them.
It's a constant struggle.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
Yes exactly then it slows you down to regain that safe distance. It’s always funny to see them speed in front of you just for them to see that there’s actually nowhere for them to go
Potential_Island_830@reddit
Also if there’s like 4 other empty lanes why don’t they ever just go around instead of trying to “prove” something to the person in front of them. Especially if the person they are tailgating is in the right line which is supposed to be for SLOWER traffic. When a person in front of me is going slower than I’d like I simply go around and move on with my day
realjbj@reddit (OP)
Exactly
RangerMatt4@reddit
If someone is riding my bumper and there is room in front of me, I’ll either speed up, or I’ll get over and get out of the way. If there is no room in front of me and they’re still riding my bumper then I simply don’t care because there’s nothing I can do and I mostly focus on what’s going on in front of me.
leonardo_davincu@reddit
You’re not meant to speed up in that situation. The opposite actually.
ponyo_impact@reddit
you sound like a left lane camper....
leonardo_davincu@reddit
You sound like you don’t have a clue.
RangerMatt4@reddit
I don’t care if it’s what I’m “supposed” to do. Theres lots of things we’re supposed to do. But once I speed up and get out of the way then I go back to my maintained speed.
danieldukh@reddit
found the left lane bandit
WorkingDogAddict1@reddit
Well, what do you mean by that? If you leave what reddit thinks is a "safe following distance" in city traffic, you literally will not get to your destination, people will continue to cut you off to infinity.
Professional_Fruit86@reddit
Actually, a lot of the things people do in heavy traffic make traffic worse. Tailgating causes phantom traffic jams, which further complicate the traffic in the area. Blocking people from changing lanes keeps more cars in that one congested area. If people were just as considerate in traffic as they are when it’s not busy, it wouldn’t get as bad as it does.
People also need to plan ahead better, they can take an alternate route if they know it will be busy and plan to do so before they leave, and they should definitely stop waiting until the last minute to change lanes. I see that happening way too often in rush-hour traffic.
MRSHELBYPLZ@reddit
In some areas drivers will enter a intersection, knowing they don’t stand a chance at clearing it.
Then when the light changes, no one coming the other way can go
Playful_Original_243@reddit
I saw a SCHOOL BUS do this once. While the light was already yellow and no one was moving! I should’ve reported it but I couldn’t see the number.
19berzerker79@reddit
Add a second of follow distance for everyone 10 mph of speed
BYNX0@reddit
I live in NJ where heavy traffic is common all throughout the state. When there is heavy traffic, you need to stay close to the persons bumper in front of you, or a million people will cut in front of you. That being said, there’s never a reason to get close to someone’s bumper if there’s not heavy, slow-moving traffic
Twenty-Three23@reddit
Lol at the downvotes. Reddit is definitely full of the worst, most scared drivers on the road. If you live in a crowded area, and you give people an inch, they will take a mile every time and you will get cut off non-stop, resulting in a far more dangerous drive than staying close to the car in front.
ponyo_impact@reddit
They dont live in the real world. In these cities people drive as aggressively as they downright can.
Like you said give them an inch they will take a mile
ponyo_impact@reddit
Correct. NYC driver here and you can tell who has never driven in a real aggressive city before by the comments here
Leaving a big gap in NYC or NJ is like stamping "CUT ME OFF PLS" on your forehead.
ponyo_impact@reddit
"for those that drive 10 under the speed limit with nobody in front of you in perfect conditions, why do you do it"
CafeTeo@reddit
My mother drives like this.
It's just pure ignorance and zero self reflection in her case.
Gets angry they are not going faster, but will NEVER pass them.
And get's rip shit pissed when people "Tailgate" her, even though they are much further back than she drives from others.
My wife is similar, but never complains.
She drives very close to other drivers and comments on others tailgating her.
I point out she is a closer tailgater than those she calls tailgaters.
She ignores me and brushes aside my comments.
Neither my wife nor mother have much self reflection and neither ever really learn from their mistakes. So I feel 1 type of driver that does this is like them.
Naikrobak@reddit
If the traffic is heavy in both lanes, I’m keeping the distance between me and the car in front of me relatively close so cars behind me don’t see the “man this guy in front is going slow and I can get around him”. It’s not because I care if a handful of cars get past me, it’s more about people changing lanes aggressively to gain that 1 position is more dangerous and I don’t want to have to watch for people jumping into a small space in front of me.
I not “tailgating” meaning there’s a couple of car lengths in front of me open, but I’m not keeping 2-3 seconds either.
GuzziHero@reddit
Pedal bike, I wave them past as soon as it's safe.
If I'm in the car, I just don't my own thing, if I can make room for them to pass, I will.
In the truck I literally don't care.
On the motorbike, very few things stay close to me for long because I'll be zooming away soon.
I drove buses for nearly 3 decades and trucks now. Bad shit often happens if you tailgate so I just don't. There's no point in it.
NortonBurns@reddit
They don't notice if someone else does it to them.
Their 'sphere of awareness' is actually just a cone, extending just 6ft in front of them, and doesn't include the mirror.
Vast-Concept9812@reddit
Like anywhere, you give space when you in public as much as possible as respect. I've noticed most people who tail gait dont realize they do it or dgaf and they aren't from areas that snow heavily because if you tailgate in snow, you'll rear end someone.
Dunoh2828@reddit
In traffic? Like doing 1-5km/h? I do it if there’s an exit lane so cars behind can take it instead of when people leave 1 car length between them and make others wait for their exit.
Myzx@reddit
These people abandoned empathy and theory of mind long ago, so they will fail your question, unfortunately.
realjbj@reddit (OP)
Lmao honestly after posting the question it dawned on me that anybody who rides bumpers probably doesn’t have enough self awareness to realize that they do it or that it’s an issue so I guess I’ll never know
Myzx@reddit
I like your attitude. I hope the bad drivers in your area get better.