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I agree that tailgating is unsafe and one could view the behavior as idiodic but there's usually a reason it's happening... to signal to you to move the fuck over.
If you are camping in the passing lane of a highway/freeway - I argue you are just as much of an idiot.
Risking everyone's lives because you want someone to move over is not acceptable.
OP is right and you should think about that.
Wow. Where did this fantasy situation come from?
It's just what comes to mind when people mention tailgater's.
I'm sorry for your lack of imagination.
I forgive you
I didn't do anything that requires forgiveness but if it makes you feel better....
Most instancss I have experienced of tailgating are when people want to drive too fast or unsafely:
I'm going more or less exactly 50 kph, which is the speed limit in the city, but someone thinks because the street is broad and straight they should be able to go 70+.
I know the route and know some dangerous curve or sudden intersection behind a curve is up ahead so I slow down but someone behind me doesn't like it.
Sure it happens that people are going too slow. Even then it's no excuse to tailgate. All that does is make everything less save for everyone including you. You can honk or overtake at the next opportunity, but all you achieve by tailgating is risk your own life.
I merely propose that the original claim that 'tailgater's are idiots' is only half the truth and it ignores that more often than not, both parties involved are being idiots.
Folk on the receiving end of the tailgating treatment often seem to not know about or care to respect their local laws on remaining L/R, except to pass. They appear to be ignorant of laws requiring one to pull over and allow traffic to pass if it impedes >N vehicles.
Does it excuse tailgating? No, of course not. But it certainly explains the cause of the frustration and anger that leads to it for other drivers who do care about such laws.
It may be your opinion that someone else is going 'too fast' but unless you're an officer of the law, that's not really your job to enforce. If someone wants to find out the hard way how sharp the bend is up ahead, I say let them.
Tailgaters are clearly giving off an unwritten signal for 'you're in my way' and want to engage you in their risky behavior. I'm inclined to let them continue doing so in front of me rather than behind. More often than not however, I see tailgating escalate to brake checking, road rage, and two idiots clinging onto their senses of righteous indignation.
Just move over.
Seconded. The number of people who stay in the left lane at or below the speed limit, watching people pass them on the right to get by, is too damn high. I have no idea what possesses someone to do this but in my area there is no shortage of them.