What to do about tailgaters?

[beanz]

Right, this should be an interesting topic, once it gets going...

I'm still a nooB to this whole motorbiking thing, so am trying to get as much road-time in as possible. And as well as all the exillerating things, like leaning over in the wet, and pulling out into fast moving traffic, I'm finding that more and more cagers are following much to close! One guy today was about a metre behind me!!

Normally, in my split personality as a driver, I'd do one of two things. 1) Drop a couple of gears, and listen to the whistle of the turbo as I leave the dumbass in a dust cloud, or 2) Jam on the brakes, and drive really painfully slow until a double lane bit comes up, then goto #1.

So what to do on my RG150, on a learner licence, with no L-plate? Option 2 isn't really the safest plan of attack. And my Suzy can't really accelerate in a way that would impress both me and the bastard behind me.

So what to do???!

I guess I could bring in option #3, to just ignore it, but that somehow goes against my religion. I guess I could lift my ass, and pull a browneye... Or pull the fingers (or fist, in classic NZ Harley-Styles).

Would be keen to hear from other riders, who find satisfying solutions to this type of situation.

[James Deuce]

Pull over and let them go. They'll kill you if they don't stop in time if they need to.

[White trash]

Stop slowly right in the center of the road so they can't go around. Climb of the bike and they'll either reverse away REAL quick or sit and watch you kick the living shit outa their headlights.

Really constructive but it might give them the message

[Deano]

Sometimes turning to look at the driver (safely of course) is all that is required for them to get the message.

Failing that, wave them back or if confident enough, flip them the bird, remembering you may not have the acceleration to make a quick getaway if the prat decides to be even more stupid.

Ive heard, and would never condone this sort of thing (yeah right) but ball bearings or a spark plug casually dropped onto the road can do BAD things to a car's grille, headlights, radiator etc, as they flick up into the oncoming vehicle. Could get ugly though if you took out their windscreen, although hard for them to say it wasn't already on the road and flicked up from your back wheel if you do it discreetly enough - hey, looks like some road hazards (debri on the road) can come in handy when required.
I heard a story once about a biker who was being tailgated, and harassed by a smartass driver - the biker let them pass, then took off his helmet and smashed the rear screen of the car with it - I understand he got in a power of shit over it though, but sends a good message out to driver's not to F@$K with bikers.

[Motoracer]

Accelerate and make distance for yourself then pull huge rolling stoppie right infront of them *jokes*

I'd just pull over to the left and let the dickhead pass and not worrie about it.

The stoppie method does work but its somewhat excesive use of a motorcycle in order to scare cagers behind. I've only tried it once in my life but that was for an extream case and also I was a bit younger and more stupid then.

[Wenier]

Stop slowly right in the center of the road so they can't go around. Climb of the bike and they'll either reverse away REAL quick or sit and watch you kick the living shit outa their headlights.

Really constructive but it might give them the message

Haha yea thats a good idea jus make sure the person aint gona come after ya for it. Probably go with the let em past cus the cagers can b real inconsiderate although pullin the finger can give em the message sometimes and theyll back off rather quickly. Enjoy ya riding

[Deano]

Pull over and let them go. They'll kill you if they don't stop in time if they need to.

But they won't LEARN anything from the experience, and most likely keep doing it.

Fight fire with fire.

I HATE being tailgated while on a bike. In a car I just slow down until they get the hint.

[Big Dog]

Learn your flash point.
= the point where your breaklight comes on but your brakes don't.

Flash them a few times before you move over to let them pass this helps them to know you are there, and may focus them on the fact your indicator is now blinking (or even better make them realise what a wanker they are).

Sometimes they genuinely don't see you. I did this once and the blue rinser had not seen me at all. So her reaction was to stand on the brakes go, into a four wheel lock up and hit a parked car.

NMP= Not my problem.

Objective acheived, I survived.

Having been the other driver once or twice (young, stupid and late for work, not a good mix.) the guilts hurt more than the finger. The finger just escalates the problem, by making the recipient angry, which to them places you as the dickhead in their minds.

I flash my brakes before slowing down for any predictable reason on the grounds that just because you saw the hazard does not even mean that the person behind you is even facing the right direction. (you don't have time in and emergency)

When braking I aim for the part of the lane where if I was hit from behind I am least likely to hit the car in front of me on the theory that if it is possible for me to miss them it is possible for the car behind me to miss me and either use the space to stop safely or skip me and hit them.
Either way NMP.

There are old riders and there are young riders.
If you are a young rider and never want to be an old rider its quite easy, ignore all the rules of defensive driving.

Keep the black bits down and the shiny side up,
Big Dog :spudwave:

[madandy]

If your are uncomfortable with the prat following too close either accellerate away to a comfortable distance or allow them to pass.As you pull in behind them they may realise why.
You must relax a little and remember not all offenders can be educated.I've kicked a few doors, mirrors and rear panels in the last wee while but only those who really deserved it-like nearly killed me.Some people are so ignorant even shaking your head at them as you pass by is a waste of energy...save yours for when you really need it.

[Big Dog]

Fight fire with fire.

If you want to fight fire with fire follow them to their destination wait politely for them to get out of the car.
Make sure they are not patched or your serious physical superior.
Explain that you have followed them here and why.
Explain the cosequences of killing you to them, and to your family.

If they don't want to listen explain to them, politely, that the alternative was to call the police and have a ticket issued to them.

I have done this twice.
Both times they apologised immediately.
Both times they thanked me for my time.

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Yes I know my size may have had something to do with it. But either way two macho males in their mid twenties publicly apologised through tears, and obvious distress, to a teenager despite the fact that neither had any clue why I had followed them until I told them.
I don't think either of them is in any great hurry to tailgate again.


Taking the mercenary approach might make you feel better but it won't make you or anyone else any safer.

If some MF threw anything at my car from a motorbike I'm not sure I wouldn't back over said bike a couple of times. And even if I had been in the wrong, and I did manage to restrain myself, you better believe I would be seeking legal recourse.

[Ms Piggy]

Sometimes turning to look at the driver (safely of course) is all that is required for them to get the message.

This is wot I normally do and they get the message.

Basically it's best not to let yourself get upset about it, it goes against the grain I know but it's not worth it. Advice I was given by KBers when I first started riding & got really angry about stoopid cagers.

[Deano]

Taking the mercenary approach might make you feel better but it won't make you or anyone else any safer.

If some MF threw anything at my car from a motorbike I'm not sure I wouldn't back over said bike a couple of times. And even if I had been in the wrong, and I did manage to restrain myself, you better believe I would be seeking legal recourse.

1. I turn and look at them first
2. If no response then I wave them back
3. If they don't get the message by then they obviously don't care about the road rules or biker's safety, so F@#k em, out comes the bird, then I accelerate away.
4. If they want to follow me till I stop, so be it, I will certainly give them an earful, but that's often how fights start, and we wouldn't want that.

How come the cops are so hot on speeding, but you never see one pull someone over for tailgating, even when it is right under there nose.

2 second rule ? Try it and see how many wankers jump into your buffer.

[KATWYN]

Pull over and let them go. They'll kill you if they don't stop in time if they need to.

This is the best way.

I was riding in a group once in the wet and it was raining,this guy was tailgating the lot of us really close- someone gave him a nasty look- and the guy just went psycho, and then drove into the middle of the group & harrassed everyone, weaving the car trying to push bikes to the left of the road and tailgating worse. i'm surprised no one was taken out that day. it was really scary.

Don't worry about trying to stop the car drivers future behaviour by reacting in a way that will put your life at risk, they will always do it again to someone else.

Leave it alone, let them go.

[Kickaha]

Stop slowly right in the center of the road so they can't go around. Climb of the bike and they'll either reverse away REAL quick or sit and watch you kick the living shit outa their headlights.

Really constructive but it might give them the message

I feel this doesn't quite go far enough,I favour dragging them out of the car and shooting them through the back of the head.

[Racey Rider]

Here's a similar thread which gives a good response to such things.

...... It seems the guy in the green jeep behind me took exception to this and started to tailgate me rather closely.
.......I blew him a kiss (Kiss hand, wipe on butt, blow and smile sweetly)
As he took off again I looked over at the car next to me and shrugged my shoulders. Everyone in it was having a good laugh ...

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