Is it appropriate to flash your headlights at slow drivers in the left hand lane?
Never ever flash your high beams at a driver in the fast lane. Indeed, not only does it blind oncoming drivers but that slow-driving driver in front. One suggestion(disregard what THEY are doing in the car), and if been following for a time and they ignore you--then safely and within the speed limit--pass on the right. If, as you indicate, the right lane has no room--then alas, either follow at a safe distance in the left lane--or look for a break in the right lane. In fact, depending on the state, it may be illegal to flash you head lights except in an emergency. You will get to your distination more safely nonetheless at 68 rather than 70. Moreover, flashing your lights may provoke unstable or unhappy drivers--and you may run into a road rage situation. Good luck but drive safe!
How do you deal with tailgaters, or if you are a tailgater yourself how do you justify yourself? (Drivers that drive too close to the car in front).
I switch on rear fog light (very bright red, brighter than brake lights) during not foggy weather. This is not available everywhere unfortunately. If that is not available, I would switch on hazards for one second. Then again in 10 seconds. If that doesn’t work I just reduce speed 50%, keep driving like that until distance goes bigger. And then resume like normal.I do not tolerate tailgating. I saved my butt (+rear bumper) by doing my procedure. 2 minutes later a small fox jumped on the road and I braked heavily. Tailgater did not crash into me because he was holding distance 2 minutes after my “teaching session”.PS! Some tailgaters will pass you when you reduce speed. That is OK if they keep on with faster speed. Sometimes when I resume cruise control (aka exactly the same speed I was going before) and tailgater is now in front of me driving slower I will pass him as soon as it is safe and will reduce speed in front of them 50% and this time when they try to overtake again I will not allow that. I might also call police as double violation is too much (violation nr1: driving behind too close and NOT PASSING and then violation nr2: driving in front of me and not letting me drive normally).Usually there are 2 types of tailgaters: idiots who don’t know how to drive safely (both genders, often women) and those who are aggressive (can’t pass due to traffic, usually men). It’s rare when I’m being tailgated because I drive exactly 11kmh/ 7mph over speed limit (too little for police to write any tickets) and fast enough so I don’t hold anybody. Also I just cruise behind if somebody in front of me drives 5–10kmh over the speed limit.PS! I do tolerate “tailgating” for a moment before overtaking. But not when it is illegal (aka solid line that doesn’t allow that or there is absolutely no possibility to overtake due to traffic). I understand that as “I will pass within seconds, be ready”.
What happens if you get reported for aggressive driving in NJ?
Aggressive driving has specific things that must be documented. "Targeted violations include speeding, red light violations, failure to obey stop signs and improper passing." Also it seems that while the incident can be reported, the police are still the ones that must issue the ticket. (http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/info/wireles... If the police do contact you, make sure that they know you witnessed the tailgating and other "aggressive" driver but it was not you. Stop and think, the car license number does not prove who was driving. That stretch of road more then likely will be watched several times in the near future. More then likely about the same time the incident occurred. So in that area or any close to that area, drive with caution. If you get a ticket, more then likely it is because you became careless and got caught more then you being targeted.
Have you experienced road rage when dealing with tailgaters?
Er, that is, road rage from the tailgater not you getting mad. I'm one of the million people out of there that despises tailgaters and does not practice tailgating. I'd love to find ways of dealing with them. Sometimes, I just speed up, other times, I just slow down and cruise at the speed limit. However, I tend to not do either too often in fear of incurring their wrath at, say, the stop light at the intersection where the person could just get out of his or her car and go all crazy violent on me. Has anyone been the recepient of a raged driver specifically related to tailgating? :/
Why do dump truck drivers tend to drive so aggressively?
I don't like to generalize or stereotype, but it seems like the majority of the dump trucks I see on the road are operated by drivers who think they are big sports cars. They drive too fast, tailgate cars, and change lanes rapidly and often. I don't notice this quite so often with other types of trucks and it gets very aggravating when the truck is peppering your car with stones and not allowing you to pass. One time I was even in a situation where 2 dump trucks pulled next to each other on a 2-lane road and hit the brakes, blocking traffic. I could see the drivers laughing to each other through the windows. Do dump trucks attract a certain sort of person to drive them? Is this just in New Jersey?
What is the best way to prevent cars from tailgating?
So your question proposes a multi-lane road and you are not in the left-most lane. The other bit of context needed is the traffic situation. One issue that seems to arise is that different people have been taught different things about how to use three lanes going in the same direction. I was taught that the rightmost lane is for the slowest traffic, the middle lane is for moderating faster traffic, and the left lane is for passing. I’ve talked to others, though, who were taught that the rightmost lane is for entering and exiting the freeway, the middle lane is for driving, and the left lane is for passing. As you’d expect, if you have someone who learned as I did following someone who learned the other way with the left lane in use and the right lane clear, the guy who is following may be annoyed at the guy who is leading.Beyond that, I’d also suggest assessing how the guy behind you is driving. I’ve had people who have come up behind me quickly who clearly want to get past me. As others have said, the best course of action is to get out of the way. Ideally, of course, the road would be sorted with the fastest drivers first and the slowest drivers last and we could all drive happily at our own speed.OTOH, I’ve also had drivers who have slowly come up behind me and then started tailgating despite having plenty of opportunities to pass. These people scare me. I believe that in many cases, they have a bit of road hypnosis. If I speed up a little bit, they’ll eventually catch up. If I slow a little bit, they will react slowly, but eventually slow until they are tailgating as before. However, if I do something sudden (accelerate strongly, or change lanes, or whatever), they will continue along largely as they were until they find another bumper to ride. Those are the folks who aren’t really looking out the windows while they drive and if something happens that requires emergency action on my part, it’s unlikely they will notice in time to take their own emergency action. I don’t want to be around when that happens, so with that sort of zombie tailgater, I’ll usually figure out some plan to be somewhere else, preferably ahead so that I won’t come upon the accident that they cause either.
Why do people tailgate in right-hand lanes?
Tailgating is fair in the fast lane....but that's it, that's the rules. Now I don't even want to begin about what goes on in the day...I think we all hate that. I guess it kind of doesn't help that I live in So-Cal, but I figured if there was any time that ignorant morons weren't endangering the road, that it would be the late night while everyone is sleeping. But unfortunately, I'm mistaken. I frequently drive between 12-3am for my trip home from work on a 4 lane freeway. Because of many recent stops by the police, (I think it's the tint in the rear) I've starting driving around 70mph's just +5 the speed limit, and I do it in the two right hand lanes. Problem is I'll be driving in either the right or next lane and someone is still compelled to either tailgate or drive as close as possible before they must change lanes, it drives me nuts! I've noticed that many people are scared to enter the fast lane at night, they just..ironically...use the next as a replacement. Now I don't really mind moving for that...but other then that? Kiss my ***! And the worst part is it's starting to happen more and more often. Is everyone really in that much of a rush these days? That they just throw courtesy and/or respect out the window? I just don't understand what the hell is going through their mind when there are two perfectly good lanes to choose to go AROUND and they just sit there behind you expecting you to move for them. Is everyone drunk?