What do you do for stupid tailgaters?

[92hawk]

I had a box truck tailgating me through town and i slowed down a bit to get their attention to back off and they did, but 5 miles out of town i look in my mirrors and it was within 10 feet of my bike, so i proceeded to flip them off but the box truck drive wouldn't stop and i slowed down to 40 mph and they would proceed to TRY TO PASS ME and i would slowly speed up so they couldn't get in front of me. I turned around when they were within 5-6 feet next to me and saw that the two guys laughing thinking putting MY LIFE in danger was funny. Now i was so pissed that all i could do was flip them off, but i want advice the next time someone decides to run me off the road, because I've had a white BMW pass me at 90mph withing feet of my nighthawk one time and i was scared for my life then too as when i saw them coming in for the pass it was a split second thing. I don't wanna die on my bike, and i need a crafty way of getting those pesky MORONS of my back. now i could have directed these two fellows to my buddy house and have his dad handle them as he is a police officer (corrections officer) and pretty damn built. but i didn't think of it at the time, but I was told that spark plug ends work well and my other friends dad said BB's or ball bearings would also get them away. i don't like the ball bearing idea as I'm concerned for other biker's safety but the spark plug idea sounds good. although many of you may have SAFER alternative's but I'm angry when this happens and nothing short of arresting these people for attempted murder charges or wreckless driving would help me calm down at those moments LOL 

[DWR577]

Rage is never the answer. Anything you do to them will just escalate the situation.

In the case of some random sexual-intellect* following, if I can safely do so I'll pass a vehicle in front of me to get it between me and the buttwipe following too close--OR, I'll pull over and let them go their merry way.

For the people who think it's "funny" to tailgate a motorcycle; where I live is nice and curvy, I won't slow down for any of the curves and laugh as they have to stand on the breaks hard to make the curve.

Sparkplug ceramic, BBs, nuts and bolts, or anything else you use against them is a physical attack meant to damage their property...  it's never the proper response to an idiot being unsafe.

The Rules of the road are about "Right of Way".  I however, refer to it as the "Right of Weigh"--a cage weighs much more than I do therefor I get out of their way. Even if they're the ones goofing up.

You're on a motorcycle, ride it like everyone else is trying to kill you.  You won't be far wrong and you won't get pissed-off when some random idiot does what you figured they were going to do to begin with.

Stop lights are the ones that scare the bejebus out of me...  way too many times people pull right up to within a foot or two of my rear end.






*I coined that term so I could call someone a "effing idiot" in polite company.

[Poligrafovich]

Wisdom from an earlier thread...

Do you really want to be in front of a hostile who hates you enough that he's actively hating you? Remember that attempted murder is ok in the minds of most cagers and they are the ones driving assault vehicles.

Behind you they're a threat. In front, they're entertainment.

Throttle to Idle.

• Teach them a lesson.
  
• Ride safely.

Pick one.

[scoathy]

pull over and let them go on their way. problem solved

[ariwhiteboy]

pull over and let them go on their way. problem solved

+1

[Money]

I had a little bit of reverse rage tonight.  Some guy was tailgating me, I tried to wave him by and he just kept on.  After he started straddling the center line and not passing me I started slowing down and moved off to the side.  He then pulled up next to me and was yelling about something, so I stop assuming something is wrong and proceeds to about how I cut him off and it made him mad and he's got my license plate number and blablabla (guess he didn't see my signal?).  I'm a very non-confrontational person, however when it comes to this type of scenario in the past there wasn't anything short of a gun that would stop me from sharing my thoughts on the matter, and telling him where to stuff his.  However, even in his Subaru Impreza, he's at a significant advantage over me on my bike.  He was already steamed, I wasn't going to provoke the situation.  Whether or not I was right in the matter wouldn't have helped me if I ended up getting run off of the road.  I tried to apologize, let him have his self righteous moment, and I left unscathed.

Don't start nothin, won't be nothin.

[Floridamtbiker99]

Simple solution to tailgaters...Someone told me this in the 1980's, I forget who but he always had it with him.   A water gun pistol filled with 10-20 wieght oil.   Someone gets to closed, Oil on the window, but Please Remember now you are esclating the situtation now.

Another person told me take thier license plate number.  Call the game warden and "Say I see this vehicle feeding bears, gators, and pouching wild game"   Please remember it is illegal to make false police/ official reports.    But the game warden has more powet then the state police.   They can actually pull you over and search you car for pouching, while a state police officier can not.

My 3 cents worth

[Bumblebee]

As long as you are angry, -->YOU<-- are your own worst threat.
In your original post I counted 17 separate active indications that you are thinking suicidally and only two that you want to live.

Ask yourself why you're trying to piss off the angry guy with an assault weapon who knows that murder is socially acceptable behavior. At the most, he will get a very minor slap on the wrist for killing you and he will be home on time for dinner and won't give it a second thought.

Dump the emotions. There's no room for that nonsense on a motorcycle or while operating any other vehicle. Actively control the environment around you. When they violate your safety buffer, deliberately put them somewhere safe.

   * Teach them a lesson.

Fairy dust. That is not going to happen.

   * Ride safely.

YOU are responsible for YOUR own safety. Get out of the way.



And, um, P.S. While thinking with anger like that while driving your cage, you are an active threat to the rest of us riding motorcycles. Think about it.

[coffee_brake]

As much as it sucks to do it, you gotta get the hell out of the way and let 'em go.

That, or become a statistic.

Motorcycle riding on the street depends on a certain level of personal maturity, and this might mean stepping down when you know you are right and just letting the cagers go. The alternatives are very, very dangerous. You think you can win against an angry cager? Nope. The maneuverability of the bike is only good for a very limited number of situations.

Check your emotions at the garage door. Angry, vengeful emotions at least. The joy and exuberance you get to keep while you ride. Let the cagers fester. They can only dream of our freedom. Get out of their way and let them rot in their smallness. Never, never aggravate them further. That doesn't mean cave in, it only means out-smart.

[jerjohn]

Bumblebee...you are a sage and a scholar

[FearThis SC]

Check your emotions at the garage door. .

+1   

[genespleen]

I had a box truck tailgating me through town and i slowed down a bit to get their attention to back off and they did, but 5 miles out of town i look in my mirrors and it was within 10 feet of my bike, so i proceeded to flip them off but the box truck drive wouldn't stop and i slowed down to 40 mph and they would proceed to TRY TO PASS ME and i would slowly speed up so they couldn't get in front of me. [snip]

Not excusing these guys' behavior, but (a) why would you be surprised that they would try to pass when you slowed way down to 40 mph?  and (b) why the hell would you SPEED UP to prevent them doing so?

All you did was actively turn the dial up on the mutual antagonism scale.  As a motorcyclist, *you're* the one who will lose out when that happens.

Either lose tailgaters for good, or let them by.

[JB1290]

The best thing you can do in that situation is turn on your right turn signal, pull off to the side of the road and let the jag go by. It's always best to wait on the shoulder of the road for a minute or two so the guy doesn't think you are now trying to follow him. Then, he won't have the opportunity to slam on his brakes while you are behind him and try to cause you to rear end him.

It's hard to be the bigger man but in the end, it just may save your life. Just remember...karma is a bitch and that guy will get his someday. 

[fishball]

For what it's worth while taking the msf course the instructor recommended in a tailgating situation that you should slow down incrementally and most drivers will back off.  If the situation persists then pull over, turn right down another street or change lanes in a safe and measured manner, essentially what is being recommended by many of the riders here.

You think you can win against an angry cager? Nope. The maneuverability of the bike is only good for a very limited number of situations.

^^ This is excellent rider wisdom.

[natehawk750]

I know that what I'm about to say is in most part an unpopular response. Everyone is technically right here you should pull over and let them go on. I usually ride a little faster than most cars when I'm in traffic I like to move through traffic instead of being a sitting duck. I have a 100 mile commute from New Orleans to Baton Rouge whitch I regularly ride the bike on the way home a few weeks ago I was following to flow of traffic and as I was passing this car this lady whipped right into my lane she didn't even look to see if anyone was there. I saw her and sped up to get around her. I'm not sure what was going on in her mind because after that there where 4 other instances where it seemed apparently she was intentionally trying to hit me. She would cut me off and slam on her brakes. I calmly just watched her and as soon as I had a chance I let the bike rip and I passed her and went as fast as I could til I could nolonger see her in my rearview mirror. I know that this is not the popular response and some will say I put myself in more danger by doing this. I feel get in get out of traffic I. The quickest safest way possible I would rather bet way out I front on open roads. Just my .01

[jerjohn]

I ride the same way as you Natehawk. There are some people who see a motorcycle moving through traffic assume the rider is just an a##hole squid who needs to be taught a lesson. I do not weave in and out recklessly and I always change lanes with plenty of space behind so as not to "cut off" someone. I think there are those who simply are jealous that a motorcycle can navigate slow traffic much easier. I just pass em and go...

[roadrunner]

...
YOU are responsible for YOUR own safety. Get out of the way.
...

+1  ... thanks BB!

[k45]

Simple solution to tailgaters...Someone told me this in the 1980's, I forget who but he always had it with him.   A water gun pistol filled with 10-20 wieght oil.   Someone gets to closed, Oil on the window, but Please Remember now you are esclating the situtation now.

Really, really dumb idea.   Point a toy "gun" at someone and these days someone may point a REAL one back at you.  Maybe it was safer in the 80's.

Almost all the time that I have someone too close, I just drop my left hand down low and wave them back.   That works 99% of the time. 

If that doesn't work, you are stupid to antagonize someone with a lethal weapon (a car).   As many have said, get out of their way and let them be gone...and enjoy your ride.

Ken

[Hawks_Nest]

You don't need to downgrade yourself to get in their playing field.  You have more important business to take care: your safety.  Pull over to side of the road and 

[talespin]

pull over and let them go on their way. problem solved

+1 +1 +1 +1

There's no way to win this fight, and there's no sense in trying. Life is too short to waste your precious time and energy being pissed off.

[talespin]

It's hard to be the bigger man...

Not if you really ARE the bigger man. The bigger man (I'd prefer to say "person," actually) doesn't even have to think about it.

[talespin]

i don't like the ball bearing idea as I'm concerned for other biker's safety but the spark plug idea sounds good.

The spark plug idea shouldn't sound good. It should sound stupid, because that's what it is.

The idea that a motorcyclist preparing to ride would pack his pockets or bags with ammo to throw at cars is really repellent to me. That's not what riding is about. Yes, drivers are ignorant about being safe around motorcycles, but this is 100% NOT the way to deal with it.

Open warfare on the road between a bike and a car is pretty close to the most idiotic idea I've heard. Do yourself and every motorcyclist a favor and delete this from your list of things to do.

[talespin]

Whether or not I was right in the matter wouldn't have helped me if I ended up getting run off of the road.

Being "right" is nothing but your ego taking control of your actions. In my opinion, what's really important here is doing what will get you home in one piece to your family, friends, dog, cat, whatever. In my mind's eye, I'm seeing a gravestone with "Yeah, but I was right!" chiseled into it.

There are some things that I would die for. Being right and proving it isn't one of them. Lots of people are depending on me to stick around.

[Zeke]

I have a friend who says dragging your center stand (terrible to It, i know) and sending sparks sends the point across without causing them any damage to their car.  I've never tried this though.

[Messorius]

I have a friend who says dragging your center stand (terrible to It, i know) and sending sparks sends the point across without causing them any damage to their car.  I've never tried this though.

I could see that ending horribly. End gets caught in a crack or a tar snake and wham.

There's no message to get across, imo, there's getting out of the way. And all this stuff about throwing crap on the road; fine you get your jollies off on your tailgater, but what happens if he swerves and hurts someone? What happens if you nail someone else with it, another cager or biker? That's just what I need lying in wait on the highway, loose pieces of s???.