What to do about tailgaters?

**Deano** · 6th May 2004, 19:38

Originally Posted by KATWYN

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.

I've got a tinted visor so pretty hard to see what sort of look Im giving. But as far as doing nothing about it - Psych 101 - to change behaviour there must be consequences - positive consequences for good behaviour and negative consequences for bad behaviour.

When the honey fails, poor some vinegar on it.

**El Dopa** · 6th May 2004, 20:15

Originally Posted by Kickaha

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.

....and then stringing the corpse up at the side of the road to rot, to encourage the others to think twice.

I hate tailgaters.

**Jackrat** · 6th May 2004, 20:19

In your case you have no other choise but to let him go past,,just be prepeared for him not to move right out of your lane when he does.
Let him go even if it means pulling right over.Don't give him the bird or threaten him in any way,,your on a bike if it gets nasty you won't win.
This sort of thing is going to happen a lot,,more so while you are on a small bike.Just get out of their way and continue in the knowlage that you are having a far better day than them.

**BritStorm** · 6th May 2004, 20:22

The real problem is that the guy behind is too close to stop in an emergency so the first thing to do is leave a bigger gap between you and the vechicle in front so you have much more time should the need arise. Hopefully, he too will stop in time to avoid hitting you. Make your gap bigger and then take your pick from the advice above.

**madandy** · 6th May 2004, 20:24

Originally Posted by KATWYN

.

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.

Well said KAT.

Ignore suggestions of mobile retribution-
Unless you WANT to be knocked off your bike.
Pulling along side at lights and traffic ques at roundabouts or stop signs is a safe place to politely(at first) remind them of your rights and their obligations as fellow road users.

.

As for hangings and shootings and the like.

(Kickaha and el dopa the lawnmaster rider!)..have you ever actually done this or are you two full of bs?
I recall the origin of this thread being a New rider

asking for some thoughtfull replies and advice from some more experienced riders regarding tailgaters.

**Kickaha** · 6th May 2004, 20:40

Originally Posted by madandy

Ignore suggestions of mobile retribution

Sorry weren't you saying something about having kicked doors,rear panels and mirrors.

Taking the piss aside,I just move over and let them through,although I aren't above the odd "gesture" in their direction.

I did find a correlation between the type of bike I rode and how people treated me,on a nice quiet Jappa I was more likely to get tailgated,pushed off the road than on my noisy old Ducati,I think perceived threat value comes into this.

**KATWYN** · 6th May 2004, 20:43

Originally Posted by Deano

I've got a tinted visor so pretty hard to see what sort of look Im giving. But as far as doing nothing about it - Psych 101 - to change behaviour there must be consequences - positive consequences for good behaviour and negative consequences for bad behaviour.

When the honey fails, poor some vinegar on it.

I agree with the operant conditioning thing. But choose when to poor vinegar on it....like when you are safetly tucked away in a four wheel
drive with bull bars....not on a motorcycle.

The vinegar that teaches the tailgater a lesson may be YOUR life. If you want to sacrifice your life to create an aversive reaction for the driver in the future thats fine....but I say NO THANKS

**DEATH_INC.** · 6th May 2004, 21:23

Originally Posted by Deano

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.

I've been pulled for tailgating a taxi in my 4WD (yep I'm one of those wankers...)that insisted on doing 80kph in the rh lane on the southern and wouldn't move over.....I complained to the

too but all he said was 'if he'd moved over I'd have got you for speeding'
Yer right about the 2 second thing too,you've just got to leave any gap and they're in

When I get a tailgater (yes,occasionally there's people going faster than me

) I generally

I think most get the hint......
I think generally the advice to just pull over and let 'em go is prolly the best though unless yer willing to risk life/motorcycle pissing them off.Or yer as big as Big Dog.....

**Deano** · 6th May 2004, 21:25

Originally Posted by KATWYN

I agree with the operant conditioning thing. But choose when to poor vinegar on it....like when you are safetly tucked away in a four wheel
drive with bull bars....not on a motorcycle.

The vinegar that teaches the tailgater a lesson may be YOUR life. If you want to sacrifice your life to create an aversive reaction for the driver in the future thats fine....but I say NO THANKS

Im fortunate to have enough grunt to get the F@$k out of a tailgating situation, hence my reply. (Unless they are on a multi Japa)

Each to their own, but I like to let people know when they are doing something that could endanger my life, or they will carry on doing it - ignorance is bliss.

The tailgater you let get away with it, may end up taking out the next motorcyclist up the road cause they continued to follow too close, none the wiser for it.

**jrandom** · 6th May 2004, 21:28

Or, to restate, if you don't:

(a) have a five million horsepower turbo Kwak that wheelies off the throttle in sixth gear; and/or

(b) weigh 250kg and cast dread into patched-up gang members by glancing in their direction,

learn to practice the gentle art of diplomacy.

**Skyryder** · 6th May 2004, 21:29

Originally Posted by Jim2

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

Best advice on the board. You have a small bike. Wait until you can ride and have something bigger before your testosterone takes over.

Stay cool. Stay sharp. STAY ALIVE.

Skyryder

**KATWYN** · 6th May 2004, 21:30

Originally Posted by Deano

The tailgater you let get away with it, may end up taking out the next motorcyclist up the road cause they continued to follow too close, none the wiser for it.

Hopefully the motorcyclist up the road has the same thoughts. "Just pull over and let the road terrorist go"

**Deano** · 6th May 2004, 21:34

I think each situation requires its own reaction, depending on the response of the driver - if a subtle look over the shoulder at them makes them back off, cool. If they ignore the 'wave back' then out comes the finger. Honey first, then vinegar, so I also choose when to apply them.

Discretion is probably the better part of valour if on a small bike.

Coincidentally, combined they are good for sore throats.

**Skyryder** · 6th May 2004, 21:37

Originally Posted by Kickaha

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.

Said something like that to a cop once. "The fucker's brain dead so what difference does it make?" Should have seen the look on the cops face. That's a long story maybe for another day.

Skyryder