Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
So, I went out to do some errands today. As I drove, I came upon some workers doing some roadwork and slowed down. The car behind me, which I saw in the distance, rapidly caught up to me. As I passed the workers, I sped up to the speed limit of 40. The car behind me did as well, but was so close all I could see was the hood. No license plate, no grill. So, I stepped on my brake to get her to back off. She stayed where she was, so I did a second attempt. Again, she stayed up close. OK, let's see how she likes this..I went from 40 to 20 ...fast. Well, that worked, she swerved, seemed to have dropped something and flipped me off. She went over to the right lane, which was going the same speed, and came along my side. She rolled down her window and started shouting out me, asking if I thought that was funny and that someone should teach me a lesson. I shouted back that she was the one who was tailgating me. Now, we're going downhill and she's trying to get ahead of me to cut me off. She might be stepping on the gas, but inertia, as my foot is off the gas and near the brake, has me going at the same speed of the car in front of her. Apparently, she was so angry, she didn't notice when I slowed down for the stoplight and traffic that she once again, almost rearended me when she changed lanes to get to the shopping center that she was driving to go. I sat at the light and notice she didn't get out for the 90 seconds I waited. Maybe time to think about her poor driving.
Later that day, I'm driving on a highway during rush hour. The problem with this highway is that there's two stoplights that appear in the middle of long stretch. Regular drivers will tend to slow down as highway patrol is waiting. However, I always go the speed limit (I get complaints I drive too slow from many people) and follow a 1 second (2 seconds in the rain or snow)for every 10 mph rule. I learned to drive on cars from the 60's and 70's, which didn't exactly stop on a dime. Apparently, one driver was from out of town. I stopped at the first light and started driving slowsly as not only was the next light down the way, but there were several semi-trucks in front of me. He came up to my bumper and backed off about three times before changing lanes. He came up alongside me and gestured and seemed to shout what was wrong with me through his closed window. Bad idea as he was tailgating the car now in front of him, which slowed down for the stoplight. He barely miss hitting it. Nonetheless, he kept tailgating as I got off the highway. I should mentioned the car that was behind me after he changed lanes did keep its distance.
Obviously, I don't like tailgaters. If you're in a rush to get somewhere, leave earlier. Changing lanes constantly saves you about 15 seconds. If I or someone brake several times, back off, which you should be doing anyways. If you don't, we'll have a rearend collision, I'll get autobody repair paid by your insurance, you'll get a traffic ticket as I would have called the police and you'll be out a car you, which you'll have to pay for as you'd be fault for the accident.
Later that day, I'm driving on a highway during rush hour. The problem with this highway is that there's two stoplights that appear in the middle of long stretch. Regular drivers will tend to slow down as highway patrol is waiting. However, I always go the speed limit (I get complaints I drive too slow from many people) and follow a 1 second (2 seconds in the rain or snow)for every 10 mph rule. I learned to drive on cars from the 60's and 70's, which didn't exactly stop on a dime. Apparently, one driver was from out of town. I stopped at the first light and started driving slowsly as not only was the next light down the way, but there were several semi-trucks in front of me. He came up to my bumper and backed off about three times before changing lanes. He came up alongside me and gestured and seemed to shout what was wrong with me through his closed window. Bad idea as he was tailgating the car now in front of him, which slowed down for the stoplight. He barely miss hitting it. Nonetheless, he kept tailgating as I got off the highway. I should mentioned the car that was behind me after he changed lanes did keep its distance.
Obviously, I don't like tailgaters. If you're in a rush to get somewhere, leave earlier. Changing lanes constantly saves you about 15 seconds. If I or someone brake several times, back off, which you should be doing anyways. If you don't, we'll have a rearend collision, I'll get autobody repair paid by your insurance, you'll get a traffic ticket as I would have called the police and you'll be out a car you, which you'll have to pay for as you'd be fault for the accident.
the more they stay on my ass, the slower I go. --they are jerks!
I also love watching the idiots who feel the need to RACE up to every stoplight....wait, and then race to the next one. MORONS. IF they went the speed limit they would have green lights!!
people who hit your car's rear-end are at fault! you are absolutely correct about that.
I brake for tailgaters!!
I do the same thing until they finally decide to get off my butt or pass me in the other lane
but i'll ask this cuz otherwise i'll never know :p
is a tailgater a person that's up your bum all the time?
:s
I finally realized that he was getting too mad, and was a danger. So I changed lanes so that he could pass me. And then (by now I was much calmer) he stuck his head ALL THE WAY out of his window and spit into the air.
The jerk spin onto my car!!!
Of course by now I thought it was funny that he did that. May have had a different reaction if I was driving a convertible!
How silly to get so upset while sitting in traffic. Being mad does not help anything...all it does is make the raging person ugly and wrinkly and raise their blood pressure.
I pity them. poor sods.
I got tailgated by a massive white van. I slowed down for some traffic lights at a pedestrian crossing. The arse behind me did not, and hit my car. No damage, but shook me a little. I loked in my mirror and he was shaking his fist at ME!! Tosser!! Lights changed, and I thought twice about getting out to ask him for his insurance details lol! Then he followed me through the twon, to the road my house is very near, so I kept driving round in circled until the feeble-minded jerk got stuck behind an ice-cream van.
What is it that makes drivers behave like this? Total bullies. I'm glad you stood your ground. Speed causes more deaths than any other cause in RTAs.
ps. i have been told that i have anger management problems. But i don't think i do. I know when i am angry, and i know when i am managing it....so i have come ot the conclusion that everyone else is crazy. lmao
OK, fine. But like I said, those would be the very thin minority of tailgaters. I DO HATE tailgating, and I brake for them too! I could have had one in the bed of my pickup last month, but I had already been in a wreck, and wasn't feeling up to another so soon. So, I hit the brakes, and let up just enough as I heard their breaks squeel, then hit the brakes again. They got the message.
I REALLY IS annoying (and unsafe, as so many have pointed out here).
very mean i know but damn i hate it.
Bistro, I appreciate you trying to give a different perspective...but tailgating is DANGEROUS. I've been rearended twice.....and was luckier than most, with only fused neck vertebrae to show for it. If you have an emergency then call an ambulance....or if you're that mother, have someone else drive you because you're not thinking straight. As for someone on screwed up meds....WTF are they doing driving in the first place!
I most definitely brake for tailgaters. Most of them do it out of spite, because how can you NOT know you're that close??? And if you're just careless, get off the road.
Oh geeze I got MYSELF started lol...one of my BIG pet peeves.